If you’re a fan of warm, tropical weather then there can never really be a bad time to visit Thailand. Being situated 15 degrees north of the equator the country is generally warm and sunny for most of the year. Although hot and humid, the climate rarely gets as oppressive as it can in other tropical countries around the world and that is why Thailand has become such a popular tourist destination. However, there can be times when the country is uncomfortably hot and others when it is affected by monsoons, which periodically bring short bursts of heavy rain, so it’s a good idea to consider your options before you start packing your suitcase.

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Weather being weather, it can never be predicted or relied upon, but typically the average temperature is around 33°C. Generally, throughout Thailand the hottest time of year is from March to May, the wettest months are from June to October and the best time to book a vacation is from November to February.

From March until May the country desperately seeks the shade as the increasing temperatures and rising humidity makes this an uncomfortable time to be out and about. Maximum temperatures in some areas can even reach a whopping 40°C.

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As June arrives the first of the rains caused by the Asian monsoons starts to bring in cloudy, unpredictable weather. Although Thailand is protected from receiving a direct hit from most monsoons, those reaching China and India do influence the country’s weather. The monsoons bring cloudy days and periodic heavy downpours with occasional thunderstorms. During the monsoon season the temperatures will still be fairly warm but there will be rain most nights with a mixture of cloudy and sunny days. Every now and then you may get periods of continuous rain (three to five days) but this doesn’t happen often.

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IAs 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.

The best time to grab a cheap deal

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.

If you are not bothered by rain and don’t mind the a few cloudy days then choosing to come on vacation during the low season (March to October) could save you a considerable amount of money. Not only are flights cheaper at that time but many hotels and resorts will offer cut price accommodation and long-stay packages. Arriving in the low season also means that there are fewer tourists around and so there will be more room on the beaches and you will not necessarily have to book a hotel room in advance.

During the rainy/monsoon season there will be many rainless days and with temperatures in the south falling no lower than around 25°C, a beach holiday is still a good option. The oceans off the coast remain warm all year round. However, when swimming or snorkeling etc please pay attention to any warning flags and seek advice before entering the water as the seas can be dangerous at this time of the year due to strong currents and rip-tides.

Even if it does rain there are plenty of ways to keep yourself amused during the low season, below are just a few ideas:

Learn to cook Thai – it’s a great time to explore the Foods of Thailand. There are many excellent Thai cooking schools around, ask for details at your local tourist information outlet.

Shop – throughout Bangkok and in many of the major towns you will find plenty of undercover shopping malls and markets offering cheap deals and end of season sales.

White water rafting – with it being the rainy season the rivers are full and fast, perfect conditions for maximum thrills.

Trekking – Discover Thailand’s natural world by trekking through one of country’s 102 national parks. The diverse range of tropical vegetation is not only wonderful to explore it also provides plenty of protection from the rain, and the lower temperatures make the rainy season an ideal time to explore this beautiful Kingdom.

Kick boxing – get fit and learn a martial art by taking Muay Thai lessons, there are many training camps throughout Thailand, or if you prefer to watch, why not visit a Muay Thai stadium and witness a professional fight?

Visit an aquarium – the Thais are big fans of fish, wherever you look you will find lakes, ponds, tanks and even bowls full of colorful tropical fish. There are large aquariums in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Phuket with the biggest of all being Siam Ocean World in Bangkok.

Take a trip to a spa – pamper yourself and soothe away any troubles with a wonderfully relaxing Thai Massage.

Visit a museum – Thailand is rightly proud of its historical past and many towns will have museums or sites of an historical nature that will metaphorically transport you back into the world of ancient Siam.

Visit a hot spring – hot springs by nature are hot all year round, but there is something special about sitting in a natural hot tub with the steam rising around your ears while the cooling rain pours down your face.

Kite surfing – strong winds during the monsoon season make the beaches of Phuket, Chumphon, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Koh Phangan ideal for extreme sports like kite surfing.

Surfing – sssh, don’t tell anyone but during the rainy season the swells are high enough that it is even possible to surf off the coast of Phuket and from the island of Koh Kraden.

Go diving – with warm waters all year round there is never a bad time to go Diving in Thailand, as long as the seas are not too rough, who cares if it rains – after all you can’t get any wetter!