What is the best time to visit Thailand?

Best Time to Visit Thailand

The best time to travel to Thailand is during the dry season from November to April and the cool season from November to February.

Dry Season in Thailand

The dry season in Thailand is from November to April and is the most popular time to visit. During this season, temperatures are warm and pleasant, ranging from 25-35°C (77-95°F). The days are mostly sunny with little rainfall. This season is ideal for outdoor activities such as trekking, beach trips, and exploring the country’s many islands. Popular attractions such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok and the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar are also open during this time.

Cool Season in Thailand

The cool season in Thailand is from November to February and is the best time to visit for those who prefer cooler temperatures. During this season, temperatures range from 18-30°C (64-86°F). The days are mostly sunny with little rainfall. This season is perfect for sightseeing and exploring the country’s many temples and historical sites. Popular attractions such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok and the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar are also open during this time.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Thailand

Thailand in January

Weather

January in Thailand is generally warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from an average of 24-31°C (75-88°F). Rainfall is also common during this month.

Events

• Thai New Year (Songkran): Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year celebration, usually held from April 13-15. During this time, people take part in water fights, visit temples, and enjoy traditional Thai food.
• Loi Krathong Festival: Loi Krathong is a festival of lights celebrated throughout Thailand. People release small, candlelit boats (krathongs) into rivers and lakes to symbolize the letting go of negative energy and the beginning of a new year.
• Lopburi Monkey Banquet: This annual event is held in the city of Lopburi, where locals prepare a feast for the city’s wild monkeys. The monkeys are given a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other treats.
• International Kite Festival: The International Kite Festival is held in the city of Chiang Mai, and features kite-flying competitions, traditional Thai music, and food.
• Phi Ta Khon Festival: This traditional festival is held in the northeastern province of Loei. It features colorful parades, traditional music, and costumes.

Thailand in January

Weather

January in Thailand is the start of the dry season. Temperatures are warm, with an average high of 31°C (88°F) and an average low of 24°C (75°F). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of 5mm (0.2in).

Events

• Loi Krathong Festival: The Loi Krathong Festival takes place on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, which usually falls in November. During the festival, people launch small boats called krathongs into the water to bring good luck.
• Makha Bucha Day: Makha Bucha Day is a Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day when 1,250 of the Buddha’s followers gathered to hear him preach. It is celebrated on the full moon of the third lunar month, which usually falls in February.
• Chinese New Year: Chinese New Year is celebrated in Thailand with parades, fireworks, and other festivities. It usually falls in late January or early February.
• King’s Birthday: The King of Thailand’s birthday is celebrated every year on December 5th. This is a national holiday and is marked with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.
• Songkran Festival: The Songkran Festival is a traditional Thai New Year celebration that takes place in April. It is marked by water fights, parades, and other festivities.

Thailand in March

Weather

March is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, with temperatures reaching an average of 32-34°C (90-93°F). The humidity is also very high, making the heat even more intense. Rainfall is also common during this month, with an average of 12-14 days of rain.

Events

• Makha Bucha Day – A Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day when 1,250 of Buddha’s disciples spontaneously gathered to hear him preach. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month.
• Songkran Festival – This is the traditional Thai New Year celebration, which takes place from April 13-15. It is celebrated with water fights and parades.
• Chiang Mai Flower Festival – This festival celebrates the beauty of the flowers of Chiang Mai. It includes flower displays, parades, and cultural performances. It takes place from March 3-5.
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival – This festival celebrates the Chinese community in Phuket. It includes parades and street processions, as well as vegetarian food stalls. It takes place from March 16-24.
• Loy Krathong Festival – This festival celebrates the full moon of the twelfth lunar month. People release krathongs (floating vessels) into the water to symbolize the release of their sins. It takes place on the full moon day of the twelfth lunar month.

Thailand in April

Weather

April marks the beginning of the hot season in Thailand, with temperatures ranging from 30°C to 35°C (86°F to 95°F). Rainfall is common during this month, so visitors should come prepared for wet weather.

Events

• Songkran Festival: This traditional Thai New Year celebration takes place from April 13th to April 15th. Songkran is celebrated with water fights, parades, and other festivities.
• Thai Boat Racing Festival: This festival takes place in Phuket from April 12th to April 14th. Local teams compete in traditional boat races, and the event also includes parades, cultural performances, and fireworks.
• Loy Krathong Festival: This festival takes place on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. During this festival, people make small boats out of banana leaves and set them afloat in rivers and canals.
• Phi Ta Khon Festival: This festival takes place in Dan Sai, Loei province from April 10th to April 12th. Participants dress up in colorful masks and costumes and parade through the streets.
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival: This festival takes place from April 29th to May 7th and is celebrated with parades, firewalking, and other activities.

Thailand in May

Weather

May is the hottest month in Thailand, with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (95°F). The humidity is also very high, making it quite uncomfortable. Rainfall is also common during this month, with an average of 10 days of rain each month.

Events

• The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is held each year in May. This is a traditional ceremony that marks the beginning of the rice-planting season. It is attended by the King and Queen, and is a popular event for tourists to witness.
• The Songkran Festival is held in mid-April to mid-May. This is the traditional Thai New Year celebration, and is celebrated with water fights and parades.
• The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is held in May each year. This festival celebrates the beauty of the region’s flowers, and includes parades, competitions, and performances.
• The Phi Ta Khon Festival is held in the northeastern region of Thailand. This is a traditional Buddhist festival that celebrates the legend of Prince Vessantara. It is celebrated with colorful costumes and parades.
• The Lopburi Monkey Banquet is held in May each year. This is a unique event where locals offer food to the monkeys of Lopburi. It is a popular event for tourists to witness.

Thailand in June

Weather

June is the start of the rainy season in Thailand. Temperatures remain hot and humid, with an average temperature of 27-32°C (80-90°F). There is usually a lot of rainfall, with an average of around 200mm (7.9in) of rain per month.

Events

• The Queen’s Birthday (June 3rd) is celebrated with a public holiday, and the day is marked with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.
• The Loy Krathong Festival (June 12th) is a traditional Thai festival that celebrates the full moon. People make small boats from banana leaves and flowers, and float them in the river.
• The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (June 15th-25th) is an annual event that celebrates the Chinese culture of the island. There are processions, street performances, and vegetarian food stalls.
• The Chiang Mai Flower Festival (June 27th-29th) is an annual event that celebrates the beauty of the city’s flowers. There are parades, flower competitions, and other festivities.
• The Hua Hin Jazz Festival (June 28th-30th) is an annual event that celebrates jazz music. There are performances from local and international jazz musicians, as well as food and drink stalls.

Thailand in July

Weather

July is the hottest month in Thailand, with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (95°F). The humidity is also very high, making it feel even hotter. Rainfall is common during this time of year, so it is important to bring an umbrella or raincoat if you plan to visit Thailand in July.

Events

• The Full Moon Party is a popular event that takes place on the island of Koh Phangan. Thousands of people gather on the beach to enjoy the music, fireworks, and other festivities.
• The Naga Fireball Festival is held in the city of Nong Khai. During this festival, thousands of glowing balls of fire are said to appear in the sky.
• The Red Cross Fair is held in Bangkok. This event features a variety of activities, including traditional Thai performances, games, and food stalls.
• The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is held in the city of Phuket. This festival celebrates the Chinese culture and features a variety of vegetarian dishes.
• The King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is held in the city of Hua Hin. This event features teams of elephants competing in a polo match.

Thailand in August

Weather

August marks the beginning of the wet season in Thailand. Temperatures remain hot and humid with average highs of 33°C (91°F) and lows of 25°C (77°F). Rainfall is common throughout the month, with the heaviest rainfall occurring in the south of the country.

Events

• The Queen’s Birthday is celebrated on 12th August. This is a national holiday in Thailand and is celebrated with fireworks, parades and other festivities.
• The annual Vegetarian Festival is celebrated in Phuket during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in August. This festival is celebrated with vegetarian food, street processions and firecrackers.
• The Full Moon Party is held on the island of Koh Phangan in August. This all-night beach party is one of the most popular events in Thailand and attracts thousands of visitors from around the world.
• The annual Elephant Roundup is held in Surin province in August. This event is a celebration of the traditional elephant-keeping culture of the region and features elephant performances, parades and traditional Thai music.
• The Chonburi Buffalo Races are held in August. This event features traditional buffalo races and is a popular tourist attraction.

Thailand in September

Weather

September marks the end of the wet season in Thailand, with temperatures ranging from 25-35 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is still common, but the humidity levels are lower than in the summer months.

Events

• The Queen’s Birthday is celebrated on August 12th, and is a national holiday. The day is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.
• The Loy Krathong Festival is held on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, which usually occurs in late October or early November. People make krathongs, or small boats, out of banana leaves and flowers, and float them down the river.
• The Vegetarian Festival is held in October and is a nine-day celebration of vegetarianism. During the festival, people abstain from eating meat and other animal products.
• The Songkran Festival is celebrated from April 13th to April 15th. It is a traditional New Year’s celebration that includes water fights, parades, and other festivities.
• The King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is held in Bangkok in September. It is a charity event that raises money for elephant conservation.

Thailand in October

Weather

October is the start of the dry season in Thailand, with temperatures ranging from the low 20s to the mid 30s Celsius. The humidity is relatively low and the sun is out for most of the day.

Events

• The Vegetarian Festival is celebrated in October in Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations. It is a nine-day celebration of Chinese origin, featuring vegetarian meals, street processions, and the piercing of devotees’ faces with metal rods.
• The Loy Krathong Festival is held in October in many parts of Thailand. It is a festival of thanksgiving, in which people float small boats made of banana leaves and flowers on rivers and canals. Fireworks and lanterns are also released into the sky.
• The Surin Elephant Round-Up is held in October in the province of Surin. It is a three-day event that features elephant shows, parades, and competitions. It is a unique opportunity to see the majestic animals up close.
• The annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival is held in Chiang Mai in October. It is a three-day event that features flower displays, parades, and cultural performances. It is a great opportunity to see the beauty of the city’s flowers.
• The annual King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is held in Hua Hin in October. It is a three-day event that features elephant polo matches, cultural performances, and a parade of elephants. It is a unique experience that should not be missed.

Thailand in November

Weather

November in Thailand is the start of the cool season. Temperatures begin to drop, and the humidity is lower. The average temperature is around 28°C (82°F).

Events

• Loi Krathong Festival: Celebrated on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, this festival is a time for Thais to pay respect to the water spirits. People light candles and float them on banana leaves or small boats made of bread.
• Chiang Mai Flower Festival: This festival is held in the city of Chiang Mai and celebrates the beauty of the flowers grown in the area. There are parades, beauty pageants, and a variety of other activities to enjoy.
• Lopburi Monkey Banquet: This event is held in the city of Lopburi and is a unique experience. Monkeys are fed a variety of fruits and vegetables in a large banquet.
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival: This festival is held in the city of Phuket and celebrates the Chinese culture. During the festival, people abstain from eating meat and instead eat vegetarian dishes.
• King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament: This event is held in the city of Hua Hin and is a unique experience. Teams of elephants compete against each other in a game of polo.

Thailand in December

Weather

December is the start of the dry season in Thailand, with temperatures ranging from 24-32°C (75-90°F). The humidity is usually high, and there is very little rain.

Events

• The King’s Birthday is celebrated on December 5th. This is a national holiday and many Thais celebrate with fireworks and decorations.
• The Loy Krathong Festival takes place on the full moon of the 12th lunar month. This is usually in November or December, and people celebrate by releasing floating lanterns and krathong boats into the water.
• The International Beach Volleyball Championships are held in Pattaya in December. This is a popular event for both locals and tourists.
• The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is held in the first week of December. This is a celebration of the city’s flowers, and includes parades, competitions, and performances.
• The King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is held in Hua Hin in December. This is a unique event where teams of elephants compete in a game of polo.