The Best Time To Visit Thailand For Awesome Weather:
As October ends the clouds disperse and the weather becomes pleasantly warm and sunny with plenty of cooling breezes. However, as Thailand is roughly the same size as France or approximately twice the size of the state of Oregon in the US there are a few regional weather variations that are worth exploring further. The weather system in Thailand can be divided up into four main areas: the Northern, Central, East Coast and Southern.
Northern Thailand (Chang Mai, Chang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Isan)
As you journey north through Thailand, the cooler the temperatures will be, so, whatever time of the year, travelers to Northern Thailand will find the temperatures to be two to five degrees lower than the rest of the country. In the heat of summer (March - May) temperatures can reach a maximum of 36°C. In the cooler ‘winter’, the lowest minimum temperature during the daytime is around 13°C, but in the far north, near Mae Hong Son, night temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 2°C, so be sure to pack your bed socks!
The relatively fresher climate of the mountainous north makes it particularly popular with Thais looking to escape the heat of the capital during the summer in Bangkok. Although constant rain is rare in the north, the monsoon downpours consisting of short bursts of very heavy rain begin to appear near the end of May and last until October.
Chiang Mai
Hottest time is March to May – (average maximum temperature 36°C).
Wettest time is June to September (average minimum temperature 13°C).
The best time to visit Chiang Mai is from October to February.
Central Thailand (Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi)
Situated in the heart of the country, central Thailand covers the broad plain of the Chao Phraya River. Because of its flat landscape the region’s temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the year. From March to June things can really start hotting up with temperatures in Bangkok soaring up to 40°C by day and with the humidity rising at night. Those looking to escape the heat begin heading towards the mountainous north or the cooler islands in the south of the country.
The rainy season in central Thailand really kicks in during August. By September there will be a thunderstorm most days, often resulting in flooded streets but cooler night time temperatures. The rainy season usually ends in late October when the winds suddenly change to the north, bringing clearer skies and warmer temperatures.
Bangkok
Hottest time is March to April – (average maximum temperature 36°C).
Wettest time is May to October – (average minimum temperature 20°C).
The best time to visit Bangkok is from November to February.
East coast (Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui Koh Phangan, Koh Tao)
The east coast is an area that borders the Gulf of Thailand, it is therefore subject to onshore winds and as a result is slightly cooler than central Thailand. The hottest period on the east coast begins in March and continues until August with temperatures reaching 35°C. The weather is usually hot and sunny, but by May, rain can become a bit more of a frequent occurrence. In September the Chinese monsoon will arrive from the north-east, bringing with it heavier rain and thunderstorms. Although the Chinese monsoon brings rainstorms these are usually short, heavy downpours, the temperature will still remain hot throughout the monsoon season and there will be many sunny days.
Koh Samui
Hottest time is March to August – (average maximum temperature 35°C).
Wettest time is September to November – (average lowest temperature 23°).
The best time to visit Koh Samui is from December to February.
Southern Thailand (Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta)
The climate of southern Thailand is greatly influenced by two monsoons, one from India and the other from China and as a result, southern Thailand receives the most rain in the country (2.4 meters per year compared to 1.4 meters in other regions). The rainy season begins in May and lasts until October and, as in other parts of the country, the rain when it comes, arrives in thunderstorms and infrequent bursts of heavy rain. The rest of the time during the rainy season the weather is warm and sunny with some cloudy days.
The beautiful beaches and islands of southern Thailand are the most popular for tourists as outside of the rainy season the weather is hot (averaging 30°C) and sunny with plenty of cooling onshore breezes. Throughout the year the sea temperature is a warm 29°C and swimming and kayaking is popular, however during the rainy season (May to October) the seas can get rough and the currents strong and treacherous, so pay attention to any warning flags, and seek advice before entering the water.
Phuket
Hottest time is March to April – (average maximum temperature 34°C).
Wettest months May to October – (average minimum temperature 25°C).
The best time to visit Phuket is from November to February.
When you are planning to visit Thailand, you will be making all types of arrangements in advance such as taking care of your visa requirements, making accommodation arrangements, booking for package tours, finding out about interesting places to visit in Thailand and interesting things to do there, getting your vaccinations, etc. Before you go ahead and plan your trip and make all the above arrangements, you must make sure that you are visiting Thailand at the right time of the year....READ MORE
Of course, deciding to take a vacation in Thailand anytime between November and February may be great for the weather, but it may not be too good for your pocket. Because the weather is so good, the period between November and February is the peak tourist season and as a result the islands and beaches are quite busy and everything is more expensive....READ MORE
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Christopher Snyder is the Founder and Managing Director of Asia Products LLC and currently is living in Bangkok, Thailand.
He writes on a variety of topics including current events, politics, and travel ideas. He manages an e-commerce store buying products to sell on http://www.asiaproductsllc.com. He is documenting some of his more interesting travels in his Asia Travel Ideas website : http://www.apllc-connect.com.
