Best time to visit Thailand

Thailand is a great place to travel at any time of year, but it does have some specific climate zones. Generally speaking, the driest months are December to May, ideal for all types of activities in both North and South. We’ve put together some handy hints about what to expect weather-wise across North, Central and South Thailand to help you plan where is best to travel in Thailand throughout the year.

January is one of the best months for a holiday in Thailand, with good weather across the country. There is little chance of rain, you’ll find glorious sunshine at the beaches of the west coast, and if you’re looking for slightly cooler temperatures, you can find these in the north of Thailand.

Central Thailand

Make the most of the lower humidity in Bangkok to explore the Thai capital, with its temples, palaces, food markets and bright lights. It’s also a good month to discover the surrounding area, whether you’re planning a trip to Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai, the ancient temples in Ayutthaya or the ancient city of Sukhothai.

Beaches

You’re spoiled for choice if you’re looking for beaches, with some tempting escapes on the west coast – dodge the crowds at Ko Yao Yai, discover the limestone formations of Krabi, snorkel at Ko Phi Phi, relax at Ko Lanta or explore Ko Hai. You’ll find more tropical islands in the east of Thailand towards the border with Cambodia, including unspoiled Ko Kood, Ko Mak with its fantastic snorkelling, the waterfalls of Ko Chang, or Ko Samet, which is an easy journey from Bangkok.

It is the tail end of the rainy season in Koh Samui and the islands on the Gulf of Thailand, so if you want to be sure of sunny days, it’s a good plan to avoid that area this month.

Wildlife

If you love wildlife, the dry season is a great time to see Thailand’s elephants, with opportunities across the country – combine animal-spotting in a national park with beach time at Hua Hin, venture into the jungle at Khao Sok National Park, or head to the Elephant Nature Park at Chiang Mai in the north. In the east, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand’s oldest national park, with the chance of spotting elephants, wildcats and porcupines, plus bats and monkeys galore.

Nature

Now’s the time to get outdoors, hike in the hills of the cooler north or enjoy some authentic Thai culture, whether that’s eating with a local family or a homestay visit. Walk through the green hills of Pai, near the border with Myanmar, discover the temples and tea hills around Chiang Rai, or head out on a bamboo raft and trek as well as a stay in a Karen village. In the south, explore the rainforest and lakes of Khao Sok, while in the east of the country, you can cycle through Isaan, visiting the Khmer temple of Phanom Rung along the way.

Festivals: Thailand celebrates New Year three times over the year, including fireworks on January 1, and Chinese New Year (date varies, usually late January/early February), with dragon parades and dancing in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

During the third weekend in January, the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival celebrates the long tradition of producing beautiful hand-painted paper parasols in Bo Sang, near Chiang Mai, along with other crafts from across the Sankampaeng District.

Best for: Seeing the whole country, west coast beaches, elephant spotting, hiking

The temperatures are starting to rise as the dry season comes to an end, so it’s getting hotter even in the north of Thailand. But the last of the rain is passing on Thailand’s east coast, so the islands in the Gulf of Thailand are back on the cards again, plus it’s slightly quieter than January too – possibly the best time to visit Thailand if you want to explore every corner.

North Thailand

If you’re hoping to go trekking and hiking in northern Thailand, it’s the last month to enjoy dry weather without scorching temperatures until November and before the air pollution from the burning season gets too bad around Chang Mai. Travel to the hills for a stay in a Karen village, try bamboo rafting and trekking, or venture into the rice paddies and valleys of Pai, near the border with Myanmar. In Chiang Rai, explore temples and tea hills, or you can find ancient Khmer temples at Phanom Rung before cycling through Isaan in Thailand’s east.

Central Thailand

There’s plenty of history to be found in Central Thailand, including the temples and palaces of Bangkok, but also the former royal city of Ayutthaya and the ancient city of Sukhothai. For more recent history, learn about the infamous death railway at Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai, as well as visiting the waterfalls of Erawan National Park.

There are more waterfalls to be found at Khao Yai National Park, along with some of Thailand’s wild elephants. If you’re torn between seeing wildlife and lazing by the beach, it’s one of the best months to do both – the dry season is when to go to have the best chance of seeing elephants. In the east, combine Khao Yai with a stay at Ko Kood, Ko Mak, Ko Chang, or Ko Samet, where there’s very little rain and temperatures hovering around 28C.

At Hua Hin, not far from Bangkok, you can explore the national park before heading to the sand, while further south, stop off at Khao Sok National Park before hitting the beach. You’re simply spoiled for choice on both the west and east coast, with some great snorkelling this month, so it’s tempting to hop to several islands. The Gulf of Thailand has some of the best-known spots, including Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and turtle island Ko Tao, but you can also see dolphins at Khanom, and try your hand at being a castaway on Robinson Island. On the west coast, the dramatic limestone formations off Krabi and beautiful Ko Phi Phi are almost as well-known, but you can also venture off the beaten track to Ko Yao Yai, or discover the beaches of Ko Lanta or Ko Hai.

Festivals: The Chiang Mai Flower Festival takes place on the first weekend of February, with a parade and displays of chrysanthemums, as well as of the Damask Rose, which is only found in the city.

Chinese New Year often takes place this month (date varies, usually late January/early February), with dragon parades and dancing in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

Best for: Exploring the whole country, beaches, wildlife spotting, trekking and hiking

If you like it hot, hot, hot, March is the month for a holiday in Thailand. Temperatures are rising into the mid-30s, and even the cooler north is warming up. This month marks the start of the hot season, so it’s not yet as searingly warm as April and May, but if you’ve got your heart set on chilling out on sun-kissed beaches, it’s still a good time to go.

The crowds start to melt away, but it’s still possible to see the sights of Bangkok without melting yourself, as well as the ancient cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, or Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai.

Wildlife

It’s National Elephant Day this month, so why not celebrate with them at one of the national parks and rescue centres around the country? Find wild herds in the Kui Buri National Park near Hua Hin, head south to Elephant Hills at Khao Sok National Park or east to Khao Yai National Park, home to wildcats, porcupines and elephants.

Beaches

And if you’re looking for a chance to sunbathe, you can take your pick of the beaches. It’s the start of the diving season in the Gulf of Thailand, with some fantastic sites around Ko Tao, Ko Phangan and Ko Samui, and the possibility of pink dolphins at Khanom.

West Coast Thailand

On the west coast, it’s one of the best times to visit Ko Phi Phi and Krabi for snorkelling, more great chances to get underwater at Ko Hai, to relax at peaceful Ko Yao Yai or Ko Lanta, or visit the quieter islands in eastern Thailand, such as Ko Kood, Ko Mak, Ko Chang, or Ko Samet.

As peak season comes to an end, you could choose to support local community projects, such as a visit to Khlong Noi, not far from Surat Thani, to learn about village life and enjoy a homestay visit. Or head to the Anurak Community Lodge in Khao Sok National Park, where the staff and guides are from the local community.

It’s not the best month to explore the north. Smoke from agricultural burning makes the air at Chiang Mai feel very polluted until the rain starts, while temperatures are starting to soar at Chiang Rai, reaching the high 30C.

Festivals: Thailand’s National Elephant Day takes place on March 13, with activities arranged to highlight the animals’ importance to Thai life and culture, plus special blessings and meals for the elephants themselves. The traditional Shan festival of Poy Sang Long also celebrated in Myanmar, takes place between March 20 and mid-April in temples in north Thailand, where young boys participate in a rite of passage ceremony before entering a monastery as novice monks, some for only a week or two, others for longer.

Best for: Sunny days, beaches, celebrating elephants, snorkelling and diving, Bangkok and central Thailand

It’s the hottest month of the year during April in Bangkok, so if you’re wondering when to go to Thailand, consider whether you can cope with temperatures of 36C. It’s also very busy around Songkran, or Thai New Year which takes place from April 13-15, although it does give you a chance to join in the celebrations.

Central Thailand

It can be punishingly hot in the ancient cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai without much shade among the ruins and temples, but you’re also more likely to have them to yourself unless you visit mid-month. It’s also the hottest month of the year at Kanchanaburi.

Beaches

You’re guaranteed sun on the beaches, where it’s equally scorching, although the humidity is climbing in places like Krabi. But with the last of the good snorkelling, some great diving conditions and even the arrival of whale sharks at Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle around Ko Samui, there are plenty of reasons to head to the coast.

Cool off in the clear waters around Ko Tao and Ko Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand, or Ko Phi Phi, Ko Hai, Ko Yao Yai and Ko Lanta on the western coast. The quieter islands in eastern Thailand, such as Ko Kood, Ko Mak, Ko Chang, or Ko Samet are still a good bet for a sunny escape too.

Wildlife

The end of the dry season is also a good time for spotting wildlife, including elephants at Khao Yai National Park, Khao Sok National Park and Kui Buri National Park near Hua Hin.

Festivals: Thai New Year begins this month with the Songkran festival from April 13-15 (often lasting longer in Chiang Mai, from April 12-16). Water is thrown and poured over people to symbolise washing away bad luck, so prepare to get thoroughly soaked!

Best for: Beaches, snorkelling and diving, wildlife spotting including whale sharks

The wet season begins this month, so if you’re happy to brave the start of the showers, you can find fewer crowds and you’ll often have plenty of good weather between the downpours.

Beaches

If you’re looking for guaranteed sunshine, it’s a good time for a holiday in Thailand’s east coast islands, with better weather in the Gulf of Thailand – Ko Samui is a good bet this month, as well as spotting turtles at Ko Tao, relaxing on Ko Phangan or looking for pink dolphins at Khanom. The swells on the west coast are good for keen surfers too if you head to islands like Ko Lanta, although it’s rainier on this coast, and around Ko Chang and Ko Kood in eastern Thailand.

Central Thailand

Temperatures drop slightly in Bangkok after the worst of the heat in April, but the humidity starts to rise with the wetter weather. It’s quieter in the city if you’re planning to discover the capital’s modern side and its historic temples and palace, while you’ll also have to share the ancient cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai with fewer people. There isn’t much shade to protect from sun or rain, so go prepared though.

North Thailand

In the north of Thailand, the rain usually washes away the haze this month and transforms the scenery so the hills are greener and lusher. If you’re happy to dodge the occasional downpours, this can be a great month to get outdoors, before the rain turns all trails and paths into a sea of mud. Venture into the hills, where you can go trekking, bamboo rafting and visit a Karen village, or see the emerald-green rice paddies and valleys of Pai. It’s a little cooler but also wetter around Chiang Rai, and in Isaan in Thailand’s east, so while it’s possible to visit both, it’s not the best time of the year.

National Parks

The national parks are also bursting into new life after the first of the rains too. Khao Sok National Park is one of the wettest places in Thailand and somewhere you could find heavy showers year round, so it’s worth enjoying the rainforest scenery, elephant spotting and lack of crowds this month regardless.

Festivals: In Isaan, The Bung Ban Fai Rocket Festival marks the beginning of the wetter months, with huge numbers of rockets launched into the sky to encourage the rain to arrive, usually around the second weekend in May.

Best for: east coast beaches, exploring without the crowds, lush green rainforests and hill trekking

Although the wet season is firmly underway, it’s usually limited to short downpours as the worst of the rains haven’t arrived yet, so you can enjoy some of the last of the dry weather before the crowds of the European summer holidays arrive.

Beaches

It’s often windier at the coast this month, with the monsoon bringing some great surf swells for experienced surfers on the west coast, including at Ko Lanta. As in May, the best weather for sunbathing is at the east coast beaches, although there’s more chance of a late afternoon shower. The best islands to pick include Ko Samui, Ko Tao and Ko Phangan, as well as the coastal resort of  Khanom or Hua Hin, closer to Bangkok. The islands along the coast in eastern Thailand, towards Cambodia, tend to be rainy this month.

The rain has cooled temperatures down in Bangkok, although only to around 30C, so you’ll need to dodge the showers here as well while you sightsee. The heavier rains and worst humidity are yet to come though.

Nature

If you’re planning to get outdoors into the national parks or to do some trekking, the countryside is greener than ever and waterfalls are fuller, but trails can be muddier if you head off the beaten track, especially around the Golden Triangle. The rivers are also fuller if you’re planning bamboo rafting and trekking in northern Thailand, while the rice paddies and valleys of Pai will be a vibrant green.

You could visit the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai while you’re in the north too, while in the south Khao Sok National Park is humid and wet but is also bursting into new life, with a chance to spot elephants here as well

Best for: East Coast beaches, exploring without the crowds, green season in the national parks

Despite the increasingly wet weather, Thailand gets busier this month as school holidays begin, so go towards the start of July for both the driest and quietest days. It’s getting harder to dodge the rain though, and trekking is much trickier thanks to muddy trails and regular downpours so it’s not the best month to plan a holiday in Thailand if you’re looking to explore the countryside.

Beaches

This is not when to go to Thailand’s west coast either, with the sea getting rougher as the monsoon wind picks up. The islands off eastern Thailand, including Ko Chang and Ko Kood are also very wet this month, so for beach weather, look at destinations in the Gulf of Thailand.

Ko Samui is generally sunny, although it’s busy this month, while Ko Phangan is also getting more crowded. It’s a popular month for diving around Ko Tao, where turtles are beginning to nest on some of the island’s beaches, or you can head to Khanom, where there’s still a chance of seeing the pink dolphins.

Central Thailand

It’s humid and rainier in Bangkok as well this month, although you’ll tend to experience short, sharp showers rather than day-long drizzle. The crowds have left Ayutthaya, where you have a chance to experience Buddhist ‘Lent’ this month; Khao Phansa marks the start of a traditional three-month retreat during the rainy season, with ceremonies taking place at some of the former royal city’s ancient temples.

Festivals: One of Thailand’s most unusual festivals takes place in July, the Phi Ta Khon or Ghost Festival. Taking place in Dan Sai, Isaan, around four hours east of Sukhothai, people dress up in sheets and wear vibrant carved masks, with parades, dancing and rockets fired.

Khao Pansa (also known as Vassa) signals the start of a traditional monastic retreat during the rainy season, marked by events including the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival which takes place just before Khao Pansa, as well as ceremonies at temples across the country, especially Wat Pho and Wat Arun in Bangkok.

Best for: East coast beaches, festivals

This is the middle of the rainy season, and heavy rain is now common across the north of the country, so it’s harder to travel and treks and hikes are often extremely muddy, if they’re still possible.

Beaches

It’s also harder to find any guaranteed sunshine anywhere, although the East Coast is still the best place to head for some beach time, with Ko Samui among the best places to visit. Turtles are still nesting on Ko Tao as well, and Khanom is another good alternative, or Hua Hin back on the mainland. As school holidays are continuing this month, you’ll almost certainly have to share the sunnier corners with quite a few others though.

Bangkok and Central Thailand are rainy too, and while it’s not impossible to visit the capital or the ancient cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, it’s likely to be a wet and cloudy experience.

Festivals: The Buddhist festival known as Asahna Bucha Day usually takes place during August (or late July), commemorating the occasion when Buddha delivered his first sermon. Candle festivals are often held to celebrate, including some intricate wax creations displayed on floats during processions.

Best for: East coast beaches

When you’re planning the best time to visit Thailand, September is not the answer. The wettest month of the year, the country sees some of the heaviest rains this month, following on from weeks of increasingly torrential weather. Humidity rises this month as well, making any sightseeing less pleasant.

Hiking and trekking are not recommended this month either, with travel around the north of Thailand becoming increasingly difficult, and many paths reduced to a sea of mud. Spotting Thailand’s wildlife is also much harder with dense plant life and heavy showers meaning you’re less likely to see the animals.

While the east coast beaches have been a safe bet for sunshine for the past few months, the rainy season is approaching for the Gulf of Thailand, so the weather is getting more unsettled here as well. As it’s the middle of low season, if you decide to risk the weather, you’ll have the beaches almost to yourself, whether you head to Ko Samui, Ko Tao, Ko Phangan or Khanom. Hua Hin is another option if you’re looking for a sunny coast, with a better chance of good weather here than on Thailand’s west coast or eastern islands.

Festivals: There’s a national holiday on September 28 for Thai National Flag Day, marking the day the country’s flag was adopted.

Best for: Avoiding the crowds

The rains are finally starting to ease by the end of this month, with temperatures and humidity also dropping by late October. While you’ll still have unsettled weather, you’ll start to get drier days before the busier months of peak season – although it’s hard to predict exactly when these will arrive.

Beaches

The northeast monsoon is bringing wet weather to the Gulf of Thailand, and the islands off the east coast, including Ko Samui. But at the same time, the water is starting to calm on the west coast, and the islands there experience fewer wet days, so if you’re planning a beach break, it’s time to consider destinations such as Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, Ko Hai, Ko Lanta and Ko Yao Yai again.

Nature

Conditions can still be difficult if you’re planning any trekking or hiking, after the months of rain. However the jungles, rainforests and hill country are all lushly green this month, so you can enjoy some of the scenery at its vibrant best if you’re ready to chance the showers. Spotting wildlife isn’t always as easy this month, but you can still see elephants across the country: Kui Buri National Park near Hua Hin is one of the best to try until the dry weather returns. If you do head to eastern Thailand to Khao Yai, it can be unexpectedly cold at night, especially if you head into the mountains.

Bangkok is still distinctly wet this month, and with rainfall dropping dramatically in just a few weeks, it would be better to postpone a holiday in Thailand’s capital.

Festivals: The nine-day Vegetarian festival takes place during October, celebrating the belief that abstaining from meat during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will bring good health, marked in Phuket in particular.

The Lotus Throwing Festival, or Rob Bau, takes place in Samut Prakan on the Buddhist holiday of Awk Phansa, marking the end of the traditional three-month retreat for monks during the rainy season. A boat carrying a Buddha image is taken down the canal, with thousands of lotus flowers thrown as an act of making merit.

Best for: Exploring without the crowds, some west coast sunshine

The sun is back once more across most of Thailand, humidity drops and the drier weather of the winter season signals the start of peak season.

Central Thailand

It’s a fantastic month to explore the Thai capital of Bangkok before the crowds return in the run-up to Christmas. Head to Kanchanaburi to explore Erawan Falls this month too, with the water levels at their highest but the walk now dry and not too hot. It’s also a good month to discover more of Thailand’s history at the former royal capital of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.

North Thailand

The temperature in north Thailand is also starting to drop, with cooler mornings and evenings making it easier to hike. Head into the rice paddies and hills of Pai, stay in a Karen village as you trek and raft along the river, or enjoy learning more about Thai culture with a chance to eat with a local family or enjoy a homestay visit. You can even meet elephants at Chiang Mai. Around Chiang Rai, it’s a good month to discover the temples and tea hills.

Central/East Thailand

It’s also one of the best times to visit the eastern province of Isaan, cycling through the countryside and discovering the Khmer temple of Phanom Rung, or spotting elephants and other wildlife at Khao Yai. It’s easy to combine this with time at the beach at one of the tropical islands off the coast here. Ko Mak is known for fantastic snorkelling, while the waterfalls of Ko Chang will be full after the rains and unspoiled Ko Kood is perfect to see another side of the country. For an easy city and island combination, Ko Samet is a straightforward journey from Bangkok.

Beaches

You can combine wildlife and beach at Hua Hin as well, or further south, explore the rainforest and lakes of Khao Sok before heading to the islands off the west coast. Here, the seas are calmer this month and the beaches are bathed in sun making it a perfect time to visit Krabi, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta, Ko Hai and Ko Yao Yai. The east coast monsoon brings rainy days to the Gulf of Thailand but also signals the start of the short surf season here. The swells are less dramatic than on the west coast, so somewhere like Ko Samui can be a good option for beginners if you can brave the rainier days.

Festivals: The festival of lights, Loy Krathong, takes place at full moon in November marking the beginning of winter, with millions of candle lanterns placed on the water in small baskets, or krathong. Celebrated throughout Thailand.

The Yi Peng Lantern Festival also celebrates the end of the rainy season in early November, with a rainbow of coloured lanterns on display in homes and temples in Chiang Mai.

Best for: Exploring the whole country, hiking and trekking, national parks, west coast beaches, elephant spotting

It’s peak season for a holiday in Thailand this month, with some of the year’s best weather and a Christmas rush of visitors flocking to enjoy some tropical warmth. One of the few exceptions is Koh Samui and the islands in the Gulf of Thailand where the north-east monsoon is bringing rain again this month.

Elsewhere, it’s the perfect time to visit, whether you’re looking for sunny beaches, historic temples, national parks, trekking and hiking, elephant spotting or a chance to learn more about Thailand and its culture and heritage, with everything from eating with local families to a homestay in north Thailand or learning about village life in southern Thailand.

Beaches

For the best island escapes, head to the west coast – gaze at the limestone formations at Krabi, discover fantastic snorkelling at Ko Phi Phi, enjoy food and relaxation at Ko Lanta, or avoid the crowds at less-visited Ko Hai and Ko Yao Yai. There’s more sun closer to Bangkok in Hua Hin and over in eastern Thailand on the coast towards Cambodia; choose between Ko Mak, Ko Chang, Ko Kood and Ko Samet.

Nature

December is a great month to get outdoors too, with a choice of national parks to explore for some elephant spotting, from Thailand’s oldest national park at Khao Yai National Park, the rainforest at Khao Sok National Park, also home to Elephant Hills, or Elephant Nature Park at Chiang Mai in the north.

North Thailand

The north of Thailand is also the perfect place to go hiking and trekking, whether that’s in the green hills of Pai, in the remote hills to visit a Karen village, around the Golden Triangle, or the tea hills around Chiang Rai – expect it to start feeling cool in the early morning and evening this month. You’ll also find plenty of chance to get outdoors in Isaan, with cycling, exploring rice fields and orchards.

Central Thailand

Or soak up the city scenes in Bangkok, with its mix of modern buzz and ancient sites, as well as discovering more history at Ayutthaya’s temples and the ancient city of Sukhothai, as well as the darker recent history at the River Kwai, along with its beautiful scenery and waterfalls.

Festivals: There are several public holidays in December, including King Bhumibol Birthday Commemoration Day on December 5 and Constitution Day on December 10, as well as New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31.

Best for: Exploring the whole country, west coast beaches, trekking and hiking, ancient cities, Bangkok, national parks, wildlife spotting