When to Visit Thailand? Where to Go by Season
Thailand is huge, and the weather changes from one coast to the other. The real question is not when to go, but where to go at each time of year. The month-by-month guide.
The best time to visit Thailand is from November to March, during the dry season. But you can travel here all year round, as long as you choose the right region. The country is big, and the two coasts of the South have almost opposite rainy seasons. When the sea is rough at Koh Lanta and Phuket, it is calm at Koh Samui and Koh Tao, and the other way round. So the real question is not when to go, but where to go at each time of year. I have lived in Thailand for more than three years, and I build every itinerary around the actual conditions of the moment. Here is the month-by-month guide, with a table to help you decide in a minute.
The table that answers everything
Four regions, twelve months. Green means the ideal time, orange means possible with a few showers or some heat, red means best avoided.
| Month | Bangkok and the centre | North, Chiang Mai | Andaman coast, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Phuket | Gulf, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | Ideal, cool mornings | Ideal | Good, sea sometimes rough |
| February | Ideal | Lovely, some burning possible | Ideal | Ideal |
| March | Hot | Heat and smoke from burning | Ideal, gorgeous sea | Ideal |
| April | Very hot, Songkran | Heat and smoke | Very good, hot | Ideal |
| May | Hot, first rains | First rains, cleaner air | Start of the monsoon, still some lovely days | Good |
| June | Short showers | Green, showers | Choppy sea, few visitors | Good |
| July | Short showers | Green, showers | Monsoon, limited excursions | Good |
| August | Short showers | Green, showers | Monsoon | Good |
| September | Wettest month | Frequent rain | Peak of the monsoon | Fair |
| October | End of the rains | End of the rains, green landscapes | Calmer from the end of the month | Gulf rains begin |
| November | Ideal, Loy Krathong | Ideal | Very good | Wettest month in the Gulf |
| December | Ideal, high season | Ideal, cool mornings | Ideal, high season | Rain possible, rough sea |
Remember one simple rule. From November to April, go to the Andaman side. From May to October, go to the Gulf side. Bangkok and the North can be visited almost all year, avoiding the burning season in the North from February to April, with a peak in March, and the heavy rains of September.
Understanding the three seasons
- November to February, the cool, dry season. 25 to 32 degrees, mild nights, clear skies. This is peak tourist season, with the prices to match.
- March to May, the hot season. 35 to 40 degrees, especially in the North and the centre. Dry, with a sea that is often gorgeous on the Andaman side.
- June to October, the rainy season. Intense but brief showers, often in the late afternoon, far fewer people, lower prices and lush nature.
What makes the South special is that the two coasts do not follow the same calendar. The Andaman coast, in the west, gets the monsoon from May to October. The Gulf of Thailand, in the east, gets its heaviest rain from October to December. At the same moment, the sea can be perfect on one side and unusable on the other.
Even in the rainy season, it rarely rains all day. Sun in the morning, a shower in the afternoon, and spectacular sunsets.
Month by month, where to go
January and February, the best time
Stable weather, pleasant temperatures and calm seas almost everywhere. You can string it all together: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Phuket, Khao Sok. The Gulf is good too from February. It is the ideal time for a first visit, and the one I recommend to families during the February school holidays.
Plan ahead
It is also the busiest time. Book six to eight months ahead, and up to a year ahead for the end-of-year holidays, to get the best prices and the best accommodation.
March and April, the hot season
Temperatures climb to 35 or 40 degrees. This is the time to favour the islands, Koh Lanta, Krabi, Phuket, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, where the sea is gorgeous and the breeze makes the heat bearable. Avoid Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, because of the heat and the agricultural burning that spoils the air from February to April, especially in March. From 13 to 15 April, Songkran, the Thai New Year, turns the whole country into one giant water fight. It is joyful, and you have to enjoy getting soaked.
May and June, the start of the rains
Against all expectations, a very good time. The rains are brief, often in the evening or at night, and the air in the North becomes clean again. The Gulf sees little rain, so head for Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, together with Bangkok and Ayutthaya. The Andaman coast gets less settled and the sea builds up, but you can still find excellent days there, with very few people and low prices.
July and August, the summer holidays
Thailand is still excellent if you choose your regions well. The Gulf islands, Samui, Phangan, Tao, have a steady sea, and this is the summer variation of my two-week itinerary. The North dresses up in green landscapes, full waterfalls and planted rice fields, a treat for nature lovers. Hua Hin and Pranburi, three hours from Bangkok, are little affected by the rain and have a local feel with some lovely national parks. Avoid Koh Lanta, Krabi and Phuket, in the middle of the Andaman monsoon, where boat trips run at a slower pace and marine parks such as Koh Rok are closed.
September and October, peak humidity
September is the wettest month almost everywhere, especially on the Andaman side. It is still showers, not continuous rain. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai remain doable, but skip the Andaman islands. The good news is that from the end of October the Andaman coast calms down noticeably, the sea settles, excursions resume and the landscapes are a brilliant green. It is an excellent window between two seasons, with few people and prices that are still gentle. Be aware that this is also when the rains arrive in the Gulf.
November and December, high season returns
November is beautiful in the North and the centre, with Loy Krathong, the festival of lights at the full moon, and the Yi Peng lanterns in Chiang Mai. The Andaman coast reopens its marine parks. The Gulf, meanwhile, is in full monsoon, so this is the month to avoid for Koh Samui. December is ideal everywhere except the Gulf, with big crowds and the highest prices of the year around Christmas and New Year.
Khao Sok, the special case
This tropical jungle stays humid all year, but it casts a spell on nature lovers. From December to April, conditions are at their best, with plenty of sun, little rain and easy hikes, but more people. From May to October, the scenery is transformed: intensely green jungle, powerful waterfalls, very active wildlife, almost nobody around and reduced prices. Even in the monsoon, a night on Cheow Lan Lake remains one of the finest experiences in the country.
Travelling during school holidays
Many of my travellers live in French-speaking Switzerland, France or Belgium and go during school holidays. Here is where I send them.
| Holiday | Where to go | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas and New Year | Andaman, North, Bangkok. Book a year ahead | The Gulf, rain possible |
| February break | Anywhere, the best time of the year | Nothing |
| Easter, April | Andaman and Gulf islands, Bangkok early in the morning | Chiang Mai, heat and smoke |
| Summer, July and August | Gulf, North, Hua Hin | Koh Lanta, Krabi, Phuket |
| Autumn, October | North, Bangkok, Andaman from the end of the month | The start of the month on the Andaman islands |
Prices by season
High season runs from November to February, with a peak from 20 December to 10 January when island hotels sometimes double their rates and impose minimum stays. March and April stay expensive on the islands. From May to October it is low season, accommodation drops by 30 to 50% on the Andaman coast and flights are easier on the wallet. On a tight budget, May, June and October are the best compromise between weather and price.
The questions I get
Can you go to Thailand in August?
Yes, by choosing the Gulf for beaches, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao, and the North for nature. Not the Andaman coast.
Which is the cheapest month?
September, but it is also the wettest. For a good balance of weather and price, go for May, June or the second half of October.
What is the best time for Koh Lanta?
From November to April. The marine parks of Koh Rok and Koh Haa are open, the sea is calm and the sunsets are the best of the year. I talk about Koh Lanta in detail in my two-week itinerary, and it is where I run my Girls Trips.
And for a honeymoon?
January, February or March on the Andaman coast, for the most beautiful sea and the longest sunny days. Book early.
In short
You can travel in Thailand all year round, it all depends on the destinations you pick for each period. The most common mistakes are choosing the wrong coast, piling up too many journeys and building an itinerary without thinking about the season. That is exactly where I come in. I build your itinerary around the real conditions for your dates, with a complete travel book and local recommendations. The first conversation is free, and the answers to other questions are in the FAQ.
