Want to know about the weather in Thailand and when is the best time to visit?
There are several factors you should consider to determine if you should go to Thailand in high season or low season.
First is the fact Thailand’s seasons don’t coincide throughout the entire country. So you may have good weather in Bangkok and Chiang Mai but find out it is rainy season on the island of Koh Samui.
Second factor is you. What kind of traveller are you? What priorities do you have for this trip?
If you’re after bright sunny days, blue skies, clear waters and the best weather conditions in Thailand, then consider the months between December to February. Broadly, these are Thailand’s peak months and you will find good weather and cooler temperatures throughout the country.
Keep in mind that Thailand’s high season attracts tourists from all over the world and will be busy at popular destinations.
So if you want to avoid the crowds, are on a budget and want cheaper lodging and tours, why not travel to Thailand in low season?
We will divide the low season, the shoulder season and the rainy season (we will explain more below).
Usually low season runs from March to October/November. Keep in mind that you won’t get the best weather since a few months during the low season are the monsoon months where rain is at its peak.
From our personal experience of six weeks in Thailand during the start of the low season, the weather wasn’t that bad. Mostly we had short afternoon showers and only 3 rainy days.
Related article →Phuket to Koh Samui Travel Guide
When is Thailand’s Low Season?
Thailand’s low season is from March to October/November.
The reason these months are considered the low season is because weather conditions aren’t ideal. During these months expect weather to be very hot (it’s always hot in Thailand but these months tend to be unbearably hot), humid and sticky and also rainy.
March to May and then September to around mid November are the shoulder months. During this time expect the weather to be better with lesser humidity and less showers. This can be a good time to visit as you’ll find lesser crowds and cheaper prices yet the weather is still relatively good.
Thailand is a big country and while weather conditions follow the same pattern throughout the entire country, the rainy months, or monsoon season comes in later on Thailand’s Gulf coast. This is where Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui are located. Here the rainy days arrive in late September until December.
Thailand’s monsoon season doesn’t mean that it rains all day long. In fact, on most days, rain comes in with brief intense showers usually in the late afternoon. But rainy days will be frequent especially over the peak monsoon months.
Weather in Thailand’s Low Season
Low season in North & Central Thailand
From Bangkok all the way up to Chiang Mai, the low season is from March to mid-November.
March to June will be dry and hot with temperatures reaching highs of 40 degrees especially in Bangkok.
March also marks the burning Month in North Thailand. This is the month when farmers burn down the remaining vegetation in their farmland in preparation for the next plantation. Air quality around these months is often bad due to all the smoke created from burning.
June to October is when the rain hits Northern Thailand. With the rain, expect cloud cover and increased humidity.
Low season in south Thailand – West Coast
Thailand’s South-West Coast’s (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta) rainy season is from June to October. With August and September being the peak months for rainfall.
Temperatures remain high even over the rainy months and humidity peaks in September. Expect the sea to be wavy over this time.
Low season in South Thailand – East Coast
September to December is rainy season on the coast of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. The peak monsoon months and most rainfall is in October and November. With rain, humidity rises and water is not the clearest over this time.
Weather in Thailand’s Low Season by Month
Thailand’s High Season
December to February is Thailand’s high season with perfect weather conditions.
Being the most popular time for holidaying in Thailand, book tours and accommodation well in advance. And pack a sweater for the evening especially if heading to the northern mountainous part of Thailand.
Weather in Thailand’s High Season by Month
Still Planning Your Trip To Thailand?
If you’re still putting together your Thailand holiday, below I’ve put together a list of resources and articles that will help you get started. Included are useful resources we use to reserve accommodation, book transport and find activities that can only be done by tour (such as boat tours). As well are link for popular routes starting in Bangkok.
Resources
Here are our most frequently used websites to book accommodation, reserve seats on trains, buses and ferries and to find new activities and when necessary book tours.
After landing in Bangkok
Once you land in Bangkok where are you going? First you’ll need to reach the city centre, in that case you can read this article about how to get from the airport to Bangkok centre.
Then from Bangkok there is many places you can go. Some tourists spend a few days in Bangkok and explore the city and all the food in Chinatown. Or do day tours to Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya. The from Bangkok you can either travel north and explore Chiang Mai, and if you so I highly recommend going by overnight train because it’s fun and unique experience.
Or else go South and dive into all the amazing beaches and islands on Thailand’s Gulf coast (Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui). Or go from Bangkok to Phuket on the other side of the country.
Whichever route you choose, it will be an amazing adventure because Thailand is an amazing country. The most important thing is, don’t stress too much because the perfect trip does exist, things are bound to not go according plan and that is what makes traveling so exciting.
You may also want to consider getting an E-Sim before you trip. This way you will have access to mobile data (wifi-internet) from the moment you land in Thailand and won’t pay the expensive roaming fees.
Final Note…
Weather is always unpredictable. We’ve been to destinations where it should have been sunny and it rained and places where we went during the low season and weather was perfect.
It’s always good to know what to expect from the weather, but also keep an open mind that anything can happen. And if the weather isn’t as you expected, still try to make the most out of your trip. As I said earlier, when it does rain, even in the monsoon months, rainfall is usually big heavy bursts that last around 2 hours (or less) and this is usually in the afternoon.
You may also like…..
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui
How to get from Bangkok to Phuket
How to get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
HEY, just so you know…
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