When to go

When to go to Thailand

When is the best time to go to Thailand?

The Seasons

Many people disagree on the best time to go to Thailand, but unless you really enjoy sitting inside and watching the rain, try not to go during the monsoon season! The driest (and most popular) times to go are between November and May. The closer that you are to either end of that period, the greater your chance of some serious rain!

If you do end up going during the “off” season (June – October) you will get cheaper prices for accommodations but many tourist related businesses may be closed up.

November, December, and January are the coolest and most pleasant months to visit. As May approaches, the weather turns almost unbearably hot and humid until even the locals won’t do anything out in the heat. By May, the roads are so dry and dusty that you will be 3 shades browner after riding on a motorbike.

Holidays

Plan your trip around some of the larger holidays, you will need to Google to find out the exact dates on the year of your trip. Some big events that will impact your ability to travel are:

- Chinese New Year (usually in January or February) This will greatly impact big cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai….try escaping someplace smaller that still celebrates big time – like Kanchanaburi.

- Songkran, the Thai new year/water festival held each year in April. The epicenter is Chiang Mai. Great fun!

- King’s birthday (December 5th)

- Every Full Moon there is a gigantic party (10,000+ people) on the island of Ko Phngan in the Gulf of Thailand. This also affects the other islands of Ko Tao and Ko Samui, as people often have to stay on Samui to have a place to sleep. After the party, things on Ko Tao get busier with everyone wanting a quiet place to recover.

It doesn’t really matter when you go to Thailand, you will have an excellent time!