Thailand Thailand: when to go? Weather and advice month by month Travel to Thailand 4.8 (4)Looking information about the climate in Thailand, what will the weather be like during your next stay in Thailand? You've come to the right place! The idea of this article is mainly to explain to you month by month what the characteristics of each season are with the advantages / disadvantages to come during such and such a time of year in Thailand.I won't go into detail about specific places and cities here, but will focus on the regions as a whole. This is an opportunity to answer classic questions like "is Thailand really worth avoiding during the rainy season?", and how to make the most of it.To complete, if you want more information about the climate of Thailand, there are several sites that cover the subject in more detail. Summary hide The 3 seasons in Thailand 1- the weather in Thailand in January 2- the weather in Thailand in February 3- the weather in Thailand in March 4- the weather in Thailand in April 5- Weather in Thailand in May 6- Weather in Thailand in June 7- Weather in Thailand in July 8- Weather in Thailand in August 9- Weather in Thailand in September 10- Weather in Thailand in October 11- Weather in Thailand in November 12- Weather in Thailand in December But specifically, when should you come to Thailand? The 3 seasons in ThailandA quick reminder, in Thailand, We can actually distinguish three seasons. If there are globally two very distinct periods, said, dry season, and by opposition, a wet season, the intermediate phase is considered as a season in its own right. Which gives:from November to February : It's winter in Thailand, so yes, it has nothing to do with a European winter, but it translates here into generally milder temperatures (around 30°C) and lower humidity (so it feels more pleasant). It is a season that is particularly more pronounced in the north of the country, where nights can be cool, especially with the altitude of course. For all these reasons, it is the season favored by most visitors to Thailand. And yet, it does not only have advantages, I will detail that below.from February to May : Summer season, which is part, with winter, of the so-called "dry" season but the latter is distinguished from winter by a significant increase in temperatures. April is normally the hottest month of the year, with temperatures commonly around 40°C, combined with a high humidity level, therefore heavy heat. If it's okay to visit the south of the country, I can't tell you the state of nature in the north, dried out by several months without rain.from May to November : rainy season (or wet season if you prefer). It is explicit, it is a season where the probability of raining, sometimes violently and suddenly, is possible, even if it varies according to the months and regions. This is precisely what I want to detail in this article by mentioning here, that this season, although generally avoided, also has many advantages and I tell you right away: NO, it does not necessarily rain constantly!I would like to point out that if the months as mentioned are staggered, it is because the change of season occurs precisely in the month in question, namely that roughly, we go from the rainy season to winter during the month of November, that summer arrives during the month of February (generally at the end of this month) and therefore you can guess the rest, that the rainy season starts during the month of May.1- the weather in Thailand in JanuaryJanuary is therefore part of what is called "winter", as mentioned above. It is considered a very good time to visit Thailand for several reasons.+ For the positive points: The rainy season is over everywhere (north and south), which means good weather, blue skies, and since it is winter, more pleasant, less muggy temperatures.In the mountains, it can even be cool or cold at night. It is a good month to visit the north of the country and observe the seas of clouds from the viewpoints overlooking the misty valleys in the morning. You can also see the superb sakuras, these ornamental trees in bloom, especially famous in Japan (but which bloom there in April).– For the negative points: Obviously, the disadvantage is that it is a particularly touristy month, everyone is looking for the ideal weather and in addition, it is a period when people move around a lot due to the succession of Christmas, New Year, in the middle of school holidays.This results in higher rates than off-season (up to +50%!) and little chance of enjoying your beach alone.Phang Nga Bay in January.Northern Mountain in January.Sea of clouds at Phu Chi Fah in January.Landscape in Chiang Saen.Beach in the north of Phuket last January.Dry rice field in January.Blossoming trees in northern Thailand in January.Yes yes, it can be cold in Thailand! (well it was at 2500m too…)2- the weather in Thailand in FebruaryFebruary, while still in "winter", marks the transition to our "summer". This means that the weather can warm up and can give some hazy views and yellowing vegetation. If not in late January, you might be seeing the Chinese New Year, which is quite marked throughout the country, given the large number of Sino-Thai people.+ For the positive points: It remains a good season, because there is no rain, which is the main criterion for those wanting to go to Thailand. The north is starting to lose its splendor, there are not too many people to visit these regions.– For the negative points: There are still quite a few people in the south, because it is still high season, whether on the Andaman Sea or the Gulf of Thailand.As mentioned, the north becomes less attractive, knowing that it has not rained for several months, the vegetation loses its splendor, drying out. It is also this effect of water evaporation that gives a common heat haze during this month although not as important as in the following months.Finally, and because it is often the reason to visit the north, there are normally no rice fields (at least, not as many as in high season, because if some replant, it will never be as green and extensive as in a good season for that).3- the weather in Thailand in MarchMarch marks the beginning of summer, which is the hottest time of the year. While it is hot all year round in Thailand anyway, March and summer mean higher temperatures than the rest of the year and high humidity.+ For the positive points: It's starting to get less crowded. The heat is not really a problem and less important if you go to the south. It's therefore a very good time to visit the islands, whether on the Gulf of Thailand side or the Andaman Sea. If your stay is not focused on nature, it's still a good time to go for a trip to the Issan region and admire the beautiful Khmer temples like in Phimai.The level of rivers and streams is dropping, which allows you to enjoy temporary activities like eating with your feet in the water.– For the negative points: It's a humid heat, which can quickly become stifling if you don't tolerate high temperatures well. Visiting Bangkok in this heat can quickly become exhausting even if it remains entirely feasible, by combining short cultural half-days and shopping afternoons in the cool or at the hotel pool.In the north, heat haze is systematic and vegetation is dry and dull, clearly not the best time to appreciate the normally lush jungles and mountains of northern and western Thailand.Misty landscape in Ban Krut in southern Thailand.Ko Mak Island in March.Misty landscape in Phatthalung in March.Rice paddy visible in March in northern Thailand.Heat haze in March.Another example with foggy landscape.Same landscape without the heat haze (here in August)And without the fog, it really changes the game!4- the weather in Thailand in AprilThe hottest month of the year in Thailand and the most significant Thai New Year, known as the water festival.+ For the positive points: If you enjoy local festivals and partying, you might enjoy the Thai favorite. Songkran is widely celebrated on April 13, 14, and 15 throughout the country (although mostly on April 13 only in the southern part of the country).It is nicknamed the water festival because it consists of watering each other joyfully, a sort of giant water fight particularly appreciated in this very hot month. It is always a good time to visit the islands of the Gulf of Thailand.If you are going to the Issan countryside, it is a good time to observe the low level of the Mekong and see this curiosity that is Sam Phan Bok, a sort of “canyon” composed of cavities and rocks dug by the flow of the mythical river bordering Thailand.– For the negative points: Around New Year is a busy time as Thais travel a lot to see family. Expect full transport and full hotels around mid-April.It is very hot, temperatures climb to 38-40 with a feeling regularly exceeding 45°C. The weather begins to deteriorate on the Andaman Sea side although it remains normally acceptable compared to the height of the rainy season which comes after.The vegetation in the whole north and the central plains is dried up, everything is yellowed, dull, bare, in short, more arid and the waterfalls are sometimes dry for want of a thin trickle of water, not great.5- Weather in Thailand in MayMay marks the beginning of the rainy season. Which also starts quite strongly because it is generally a rainier month than June. Several local festivals take place there, notably in Hua Hin, the rocket festival in Yasothan in the northeast or The Sacred Furrow Ceremony in Bangkok.+ For the positive points: Thailand is deserted, if you don't mind the unpredictable weather, you'll at least be more peaceful. Also, and this is something many people don't realize, the rainy season is not insurmountable. Thunderstorms are often characterized by downpours in the late afternoon and the rain, if it falls hard, rarely lasts more than an hour in this month of May.The arrival of the rains fills the waterfalls again and the vegetation regains its colors.– For the negative points: When it rains, it rains... The storms can be violent, in the south it can mean rough seas and no swimming on certain days. In the north, still no rice fields and the mud can make walks and treks in the forest less fun, in addition to a greater number of mosquitoes.Blue sky of Bangkok on a June day.The same day a little later…And boom, it falls.6- Weather in Thailand in JuneThe month of June is a completely "off-season" month, because it is not very attractive in terms of climate/holidays, but that remains an impression, because it is not the worst of the year.+ For the positive points: Between the storms, we can see nice lulls that can actually last a good part of the day. The north and the central plains are not that watered compared to the south of the country, nature is beautiful and becomes lush again.There are no school holidays and people avoid the rainy season, the prices are very attractive and there are far fewer people than in high season.– For the negative points: The humid heat remains quite present and the rice fields are still not there in the north. The south can get quite soaked (on average more than 300mmm over the month).7- Weather in Thailand in JulyWe are entering the third month of the monsoon, rains are common, but the blue sky remains visible intermittently, the summer holidays bring many families who generally have no regrets about coming at this time.+ For the positive points: It is certainly not the optimal period to enjoy beautiful non-stop sunshine, however, just like in June, the sun regularly shows itself through the cloudy sky (which allows you to enjoy a little welcome shade intermittently). As it is still the rainy season, it is an "off-season" period, therefore with lower prices and less crowds in tourist places.It is the arrival of the rice fields which are planted mainly during this month of July, combined with nature which enjoys a humid soil sublimating the forests, it is therefore a good period to appreciate the mountains of the north and go up to the regions of Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai.To the south, the Gulf of Thailand benefits from significant sunshine since the rains are mainly at the end of the day and at night, so Ko Samui, Ko Phangan or Ko Tao are possible options at this time.– For the negative points: If in the Gulf, the weather remains pleasant, it deteriorates towards Phuket and the Andaman coast. The rains can be torrential and if there too it never lasts long, the intermittences of rain could prevent a complete day of relaxation.Gray sky of Bangkok in July.Blue sky of Bangkok, the same day.Cloudy sky in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand.Cloudy sky of Hua Hin.Same day in July towards Hua Hin.8- Weather in Thailand in AugustBasically the same observation as for July, with perhaps slightly lower temperatures, therefore more bearable overall.+ For the positive points: We are still not at the worst of the rainy season, there are still nice lulls, especially on the Gulf of Thailand, and even in Phuket, we can have nice surprises.The forests are dense and green, and rice fields are present throughout the country, from the central plains to the mountains of Chiang Mai.– For the negative points: School holidays can bring crowds to tourist spots and the rains become more regular (so you normally won't escape them)Very green landscape at the Tak Dam in August.In contrast, same place in March, with the heat haze... 9- Weather in Thailand in SeptemberHere we are entering a month that is starting to be particularly bad across the country...+ For the positive points: Well there are not many people then... There is a slight improvement compared to August in the far south, so if you choose an island, prefer the Tarutao archipelago, where Ko Lipe is located. Otherwise towards Ko Samui, will be less bad than the coast towards Phuket and Krabi.Overall, nature is beautiful since it is well watered and the rice fields will be magnificent and very green.– For the negative points: Gray weather, in Bangkok, the plains, the north, it can be gray all day, rain from the morning, certainly, not hard like in stormy weather, but it is not necessarily unpleasant. For the south, forget about sunbathing, the sun will be barely visible.Gray September skies in Bangkok.Blue sky in Trang on a September day, southern Thailand.A beautiful September sunset in Bangkok.10- Weather in Thailand in OctoberStill the rainy season even if we are reaching the end in the northern part of the country.+ For the positive points: Still out of season so overall appearance more peaceful and less crowded. Arriving in the 2nd half of the month, the Andaman Sea remains possibly possible even if the moments of good weather risk remaining episodic.In the north, too, the rains should begin to lessen at the end of the month. The rice fields are at their peak, the forests overflowing with greenery. Temperatures are warm without being excessive as in summer.– For the negative points: It's still the rainy season... Especially in the Gulf of Thailand area, which is still very humid at this time of year.Bank of the Chao Phraya which floods the banks, current during this period.Flooded street after heavy seasonal rain in Bangkok.The sky is gray in Bangkok.Stormy skies in Amphawa.Hiking in Khao Yai National Park in October.Green rice fields near Chiang Mai in October.11- Weather in Thailand in NovemberWe are entering the beginning of winter, temperatures are becoming milder, it is also the end of the rainy season in the plains and the north, the lights are turning green! November is also a month of celebration since the popular Loy Krathong Light Festival, combined with the even more famous Chiang Mai Lantern Festival, where thousands of paper lanterns are released every year on the full moon.+ For the positive points: The first half of November in particular is for me an optimal time to visit the north of the country. As it is the end of the rainy season, it is the return of the sun with magnificent blue skies (admittedly, there can still be some rain hiccups).Well watered for several months, the mountains are resplendent, the jungle is at its peak of greenery, the waterfalls flow freely, the rice fields begin to turn yellow, because it is the harvest period to come. This gives a mixture of colors between the green of nature, the blue of the sky and the yellow of the rice fields that is great for the photo.For the beach, the gulf islands east of Bangkok are ready to show you their best assets, the trio Ko Chang, Ko Mak or Ko Kood or even Ko Samet and Ko Larn are all beach locations accessible at this season.– For the negative points: Unfortunately, this weather becoming mild again is not for everyone. It is the rainiest month for Ko Samui and the like, so don't even think about enjoying its seabed there, the water will be cloudy and the sky too... Same for Phuket and the like, even if it is less catastrophic in terms of the amount of rain.Mae Ya Waterfall, at the foot of Doi Inthanon, in November.And in August it looks like this.Very green landscape north of Lampang.The same landscape 2 months later in January, what a difference in atmosphere and colors!Very green forest at Doi Inthanon.Landscape in the Golden Triangle in November.Harvested rice fields.Yellowing rice fields in northern Thailand.12- Weather in Thailand in DecemberIt is definitely winter, the temperatures are more pleasant, the improvements are being felt in the south even if it is not there yet (the rainy season is shifted in the south compared to the north, which already benefits from beautiful skies).It is an interesting option to celebrate Christmas under the coconut trees and in the warmth.+ For the positive points: In the north, beautiful skies, warm temperatures without being scorching. Nature is still beautiful, the water of the waterfalls is still abundant and the viewpoints are very clear.– For the negative points: In the south, it's still regular rain, again, less bad on the Andaman Sea than the Gulf of Thailand. More rice fields since they are harvested the month before so the fields will be empty...Beautiful weather in the mountains of Khao Yai in December.Same place, 2 months earlier.Fog on a December evening in the northern mountains.It was really cold that day, just 8°C with a freezing wind!Meanwhile, in Ko Phi Phi…Weather in Thailand, an imprecise scienceObviously, all this information is for information purposes only and should be taken with a pinch of salt. It reflects my own experience, which varies depending on the destination. I rarely go to the south of Thailand during the rainy season, for example, even though I have already been to Phuket in October. In addition, the weather remains a fairly unpredictable element, which can change from one year to another, particularly in recent years where climate change is clearly noticeable.Weather is often a major concern when choosing a destination., in order to be able to enjoy your vacation as much as possible. But this summary wanted to show, in my opinion, that each month has its advantages and disadvantages. The overall message is to give you a trend on the weather, and also to demystify the rainy season. Traveling to Thailand during the rainy season is not inevitable and this criterion alone should not be seen as an imperative to avoid the country.The rainy season is not the same as the more violent and marked one that can be found in South Asia, such as in India for example. Generally speaking, we are quite spared from natural disasters, apart from spontaneous floods (flash floods), there are no typhoons as such. Thailand generally receives "only" tropical storms (with a few rare exceptions), because typhoons, which form in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, cross the China Sea, then lose power when they hit the coasts of Vietnam (just ask the Filipinos, Vietnamese and the inhabitants of the coasts of south-east China what they think of this season...).But specifically, when should you come to Thailand?To clarify the whole article, I will summarize here what are the ideal periods depending on your destination, because if we consider that November to March is the ideal period as defined by most agencies, the regions you target could slightly modify this vision which is incomplete for me.For the whole country:We can summarize broadly that September is the least pleasant month et October pretty blah also throughout the country. If there is one period to avoid to enjoy a stay in Thailand, it is these two months alone.For the north:The main interest of the north remains nature, so it is better to see it in all its splendor, namely very green and luxuriant. For me, coming from February to April means coming across a bland landscape. Another important point, in recent years, the entire north has been particularly affected by fine particle pollution (PM 2.5) linked to slash-and-burning among other things. Best time: May to January, with a ideal period in the first half of November, which corresponds to the end of the rainy season, so nature still very green, normally more or less chance of rain, and it is the rice harvest period, so activity in the fields and colors mixing the green and yellow of mature rice ready to be harvested.For the south:It is important when designating the south, therefore a more seaside-oriented stay, to distinguish between each area, which will each have an optimal period. It turns out that the tourist office has just published an image summarizing this fact precisely.As you can see, we consider 4 different zones depending on the coasts you plan to visit. Best time for Gulf of Thailand: April May to October Best time for Andaman Sea: November to March Best time for the East Coast: November to March Best time for the West Coast: November to AprilTo conclude, you can see that the ideal time to visit the north and the south is not as simple as the usual summary of agencies and other travel books. For my part, I would just say, think first of holidays, discovery of another culture, rain or no rain, you will always find something to keep you busy, as they say here: Sabai Sabai, a formula with meaning, a mixture of peace, tranquility, and a feeling of well-being😉 It's all of Thailand!Did you like the article? share on Pinterest! Did you like the article? Vote on the article Note globale 4.8 / 5. Number of votes: 4 No votes yet. 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