When is the best time to visit Thailand?

Many people dream about it, and with airfares having literally dropped over the past few years, travelling to Thailand is now much more financially accessible. After an old article about where to go in Thailand, I’ll now explain when the best time to visit this country is.

Just to reassure you, there is nothing to be afraid of in a tropical country, apart from a bit of heat, sunburn and torrential rain. Things would be different if you were planning to go to Norway, Iceland, Mongolia or Patagonia, for example, where you could literally freeze to death on site.

In this article, I’ll try to guide you as best I can for your trip to Thailand. The idea is to optimise your stay in the country according to the climate, rain and heat, local festivals, activities such as trekking and diving, but above all the places you are planning to visit. Spending 2 weeks on Phuket’s beaches will be very different in terms of climate from discovering the mountains north of Chiang Mai. So, when should you go to Thailand? We’re getting to that. I spent almost 3 months travelling in Thailand in total, across several different seasons!

Let’s get to the heart of the matter. This is not an easy question when you know that Thailand stretches almost 1,800 km from north to south. We can agree that temperatures are not the same in Florida as in New York, right? Well, it’s the same here between Chiang Rai and Phuket Island…

Here are a few general points about the country’s main seasons, based on temperatures and rainfall, which are characteristic of a tropical climate. There are usually two, or even three, seasons.

Treks and visits in the north of the country (Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle)

Overall, northern Thailand remains less humid than the south. The entire area is subject to the southwest monsoon, mainly from May to September, when rainfall is heavy. July and August are the wettest months in northern Thailand, and the ones you should clearly avoid if you plan to go trekking there.

Ideally, you should focus on the driest period, from October to April in the north, while keeping in mind that March, April and May are the hottest months. Overall, I would therefore recommend considering the months from November to February, a period when rainfall is almost non-existent and average temperatures are mild, around 23/25°. Don’t forget to bring warm clothes if you go up in altitude near the borders with Burma or China. Temperatures can drop almost to 0°, depending on the area… I was in the far north in January, and a blanket and sweaters in the evening and at night definitely came in handy.

Bangkok

Thailand’s capital has a dry savannah-type climate. In concrete terms, the main difference compared with the north of the country is the temperature, which is much hotter in the centre, between 27 and 32° throughout the year. To avoid rain, you should avoid going there between May and October. Ideally, December to February is a great period for visiting Bangkok.

Ayutthaya & Sukhothai

These are the two most visited temple areas in Thailand, and many travellers stop there. Located in the centre of the country, they have more or less the same climate as Bangkok. The months from December to March are perfect for visiting these Buddhist temples, with very little rainfall and relatively mild temperatures. In the best-case scenario, if you can, go in December or January, as the heat starts to rise from March.

Isan and eastern Thailand

I know for a fact that very few foreigners venture into this rural part of the country. Rightly or wrongly? In my opinion, it is a very interesting region, and above all very authentic, far from the crowds and mass tourism you’ll find in the south.

If you plan to visit the area, you can follow the same recommendations as for Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, ideally December and January, the coolest and least rainy months. From June to September, the area is watered by the monsoon.

The south of the country is still much more visited than the north, with many tourists looking for white sandy beaches, coconut palms and diving sites. It is the perfect area for that, but be aware of the different weather conditions between the west coast, on the Andaman Sea, and the east coast, on the Gulf of Thailand.

The west coast

If your travel plan is to go on holiday to Phuket or the Andaman Sea for diving, be careful of the southwest monsoon, which generally runs from April to November. Yes, it is long, and the rains can be intense, sometimes causing major flooding in the area. Ideally, the months from December to March should be preferred. Even better, January and February are truly ideal for swimming and diving on the west coast.

The east coast

While the monsoon is active between April and November on the west coast of the country, the east coast remains relatively sheltered. The rainiest period across the Gulf is from September to November. The months from January to April are the least rainy on the islands, such as Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao, and ideally the “coolest”. However, the climate does vary with the monsoon when it comes to diving.

You’re probably going to say that with these temperatures, you can dive all year round in Thailand, right? Well yes, it is possible, but some months are preferable depending on the coast. I’ll give you broad ranges. If you are planning a diving trip in Thailand, don’t hesitate to check specialised diving websites to make sure you choose the right area.

To summarise roughly, the best diving seasons are reversed between the Andaman Sea, from November to May, and the Gulf of Thailand, from May to October. So, the western sites, such as Khao Lak, the Similan Islands, Phuket and Koh Phi Phi, will be the best choice from November to May. Eastern sites, such as Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Chang, will be more suitable for diving from May to October.

In my opinion, this is another very important point to consider when planning a trip to Thailand. Climate is one thing, but should it be the only factor when deciding when to travel around the country? During my year in Southeast Asia, I also realised that some places can be literally packed with tourists depending on the season. And I mean, really packed!

I increasingly plan to travel in low season, or even out of season. So yes, the weather will obviously not always be ideal, but in return, you will save money, especially on accommodation, and avoid hordes of tourists. For example, I recently went to New Zealand in October and came across very few people. So yes, it was the beginning of spring and clearly not very warm, but I was more than happy to avoid the busy December-January peak season… If I can travel away from the crowds and enjoy quieter places, I’d rather do that!

In short, all this to say that, in Thailand, the high tourist season is in full swing from November to February, with a peak in December and January. If you can travel out of season, that’s not such a bad idea, is it?

As an aside, I already told you above that I stayed on the island of Koh Lanta during the off-season. Everything was closed, or almost, not a soul in the streets, no tourists. And honestly, I had such a great time! Sure, it rained from time to time, but it was so peaceful that it didn’t even matter. Koh Lanta in high season must be packed with people… It’s up to you and what you want from your trip! By the way, avoiding the peak tourist season is one of the tips I recommend for a cheap trip to Thailand.

Even if this is probably not the main reason why tourists go to Thailand, I would say it is still worth considering. If you are passing through, for example during a world trip or a long Asia trip of several months, you will probably have some flexibility. In that case, arriving during local holidays in the country could be a good way to immerse yourself in Thai culture.

Below are some local festivals and celebrations in Thailand. If you are on holiday there, it may be worth taking part in one of them:

• Chinese New Year: celebrated every year in late January or early February, this festival is very important in the country. Many Thai people have Chinese origins. You’ll see big celebrations with lots of red in the Chinese districts of major Thai cities, and you can enjoy beautiful fireworks.
• The Full Moon Party: I grant you, this is not a local festival at all, but rather a tourist party. It takes place on Haad Rin beach on Koh Phangan, in the Gulf of Thailand, every month on the night of the full moon.
• Songkran, the Thai New Year: this is the New Year celebration in the Buddhist calendar. The festival takes place every year around April 12 to 15. Huge water battles are organised in most of the country’s major cities. A very fun festival you should experience!
• Visakha Puja: this festival remains the most important in the country for Buddhists, as it celebrates Buddha’s birth. Usually held in May, major ceremonies take place in the country’s main cities. Thai people go to temples and shrines for religious processions.
• Loy Krathong, the lantern festival: this wonderful festival takes place on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, in November. This celebration marks the end of the rainy season in the country. For the occasion, locals make lanterns and release them into the sky to let go of past mistakes and chase away everyday worries.

I’m coming to the end of this article. I hope you now have a better idea of when you should go to Thailand. In my opinion, the climate is important, especially if you want to avoid the monsoon season. Nevertheless, travelling in Thailand out of season can also be very interesting. If you are preparing your trip, I have written a complete travel guide on budgeting a trip to Thailand. If you are going to visit Thailand and like to plan ahead, you should look at accommodation in the country and try to book in advance, especially if your trip is during the busiest season.

Last but not least, even if Thailand is relatively safe, it is always a good idea to check with the Thai embassy in your country to see if there are any areas to avoid.

See you soon and have a wonderful trip to the Land of Smiles.

Written by Sylvain PONS

In 2012-2013, Mélanie and I went on a tour of Southeast Asia, spending over 3 months in total discovering Thailand and all that the country has to offer!

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