The Best Time to Visit Thailand
The Best Time to Visit Thailand
The Best Time to Visit Thailand : Thailand is one of the most popular destination in Southeast Asia, most accessible country and a great destination to visit anytime of the year. However, the best time of the year (season) for island hopping, festivals and scuba diving in the beautiful Andaman Sea is the dry season, November through March.
Thailand is a tropical country with only two distinct seasons, it is typically warm all year but winter is considered the best time to travel to the most regions of the country. April is the hottest month in Thailand, which is before the country moves into the wetter season from May through October.
Main Travel Season in Thailand
- High Season: November to March
- Shoulder Seasons: April to June and the month of October
- Low Season: July to September
As a tourist planning a trip to this beautiful Asian Country, let’s take a look at the best times to visit Thailand.
Best Time to Visit for Smaller Crowds
Low season in Thailand coincides with monsoon season. With the exception of the Thai islands, which draw tourists most especially college students from Europe and Australia during their summer breaks, the wet and muggy climate see few visitors in Thailand between July and September.
Visiting Thailand during this quiet time has its perks such as cheaper accommodations, better access to restaurants and activities typically inundated by vacationers and potentially more of a local experience. Since it is a rainy season, there are some limitations. Rains could come in brief cloudbursts, or they could come in days-long downpours that affect boat service and access to the islands.
During this off-season, tours are less abundant and some hotels even close. So be sure to plan ahead if you are considering a trip to Thailand in the summer.
Best Time to Visit For Great Weather
Visiting Thailand during the dry season is a perfect time for visitors interested in ideal weather, this season runs from November through March in most of the country, sometimes even lasting until April or May. A major exception is the Lower Gulf – home to the islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan, and Ko Tao which receive heavy rainfall from September through Decemeber.
On the Andaman Coast, the coolest, most comfortable weather is around November to February, with average temperatures in the 80s and little chance of rain. This means clear, blue waters and gorgeous vegetation blossoming from monsoon season.
As for the low season, it is best to temper your expectations. It is possible to travel over the summer months, however you may see some short, sharp showers. As the east coast of Thailand has its own unique weather patterns, summer is actually a drier season there.
Best Time to Visit for Lower Prices
Thailand is relatively an affordable destination throughout the year, though travelers may find large discounts on flights, accommodations and tours during the low season, July to September.
The low season has its advantages as it is quieter and the rates are typically lower. This makes Thailand a great-value destination during the summer. While this time of year is generally wetter, you might even get better natural scenery.
Now summer is commonly referred to as “green season” due to the rains turning the countryside green and filling the rivers and waterfalls.
Best Time to Visit for Festivals
For a more incredible experience during a Thailand Trip, visitors should try to experience at least one of the many Thailand’s festivals which celebrate from flowers and fruits to monkeys and elephants. Two of the most beloved are November’s lantern festivals: Yi Peng, during which participants release thousands of rice-paper lanterns into the sky, and Loy Krathong, when banana-leaf baskets are filled with flowers and burning candles and released onto lakes, rivers, and canals. Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is the Yi Peng epicenter and Loy Krathong is celebrated across the country.
The Lunar New Year in January or February turns Bangkok’s Chinatown into a sea of dragons, drummers, worshippers and visitors, all converging under the glow of firecrackers and red lanterns. Also in February is the three-day Flower Festival in Chiang Mai, which features a parade of elaborately decorated floats.
Top Festivals in Thailand
- Yi Peng Lantern Festival: November
- Loy Krathong Lantern Festival: November
- Lunar New Year in Bangkok’s Chinatown: January or February
- Flower Festival in Chiang Mai: February
- Songkran Festival: April
- Vegetarian Festival: September or October
Best Times to Visit for Scuba Diving
Thailand is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world attracting divers from all over the world to explore its famous underwater sites and stunning marine parks. Thailand’s east coast is largely dive-friendly all year round. If you plan to dive in the Andaman Sea such as from the extraordinary Similan and Surin Islands, time your trip between November and April, when the seas are calm and visibility is at its clearest. Also keep in mind that Similan and Surin Marine Parks close from mid-May to mid-October.
Best Time to Visit for Island-hopping
Boating from one jungle-topped limestone island to another is a great way to explore Thailand and its beautiful islands, but seasonal downpours can put the kibosh on nautical fun. Some southern Andaman resorts even close for the rainy season.
The islands off the west coast like Phuket are the best to visit in the winter months, whereas the islands of the east coast, like Ko Samui are great to visit during summer. This means you should time your island hopping around Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands, Ko Lanta, and other Andaman isles between late Occtober when rain stops and May or June. Contrary, Gulf of Thailand idylls Ko Samui, Ko Tao and Ko Pha-Ngan are at their rainiest and windest between October and December.
Top Islands in Thailand
- Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, Ko Lanta: Best to visit between late October-May or June
- Ko Samui, Ko Tao, Ko Pha-Ngan: Best to visit between June-September
Best Times to Visit for Shopping
Regardless of what time of year you visit Thailand, try to be in Bangkok on a weekend so you can experience the vast Chatuchak Weekend Market. Many of the stalls are covered, so you can go on a rainy day too. Visiting the night markets in Bangkok is also recommended offering everything from original artwork and designer bags to kitschy souvenirs and secondhand books.
Weekend markets in Chiang Mai deserved to be visited as well. Every Saturday night, Wua Lai Road (Just south of the Old City) closes to traffic and hosts silversmiths, wood carvers, clothing purveyors, sketch artists, and performing muscians. On Sundays, the scene essentially repreats itself along the length of Ratchadamnoen Road, which bustles with artists, food vendors and massage stations.
Worst Times to Visit Thailand.
Luckily there is no bad time to visit Thailand as each season has its benefits, but most people avoid traveling during the heaviest monsoons, which can disrupt public transportation and make exploring Thailand’s stunning natural site wildly comfortable (if not impossible).
Forget renting a motorbike or riding ferries during the wet season.
Though you are more likely to secure accommodations at a lower price, you are liable to spend more time at your hotel than you wanted, waiting for the downpours to pass. If you are averse to heavy rains and thick humidity on vacation, avoid planning a trip to Thailand in August and September.
