When’s the best time to visit Thailand? Here’s your season-by-season guide

As travel to Thailand gets more popular, one of the most common questions is, “When’s the best time to visit?” The short answer is any time, but this Southeast Asian favorite is big and diverse, which means different seasons come with different perks. Whether you’re seeking ideal weather, beaches, shopping, or cultural attractions, deciding what’s most important to your trip will help determine your best time to go to Thailand. While the country offers year-round magic, the season with the smallest crowds and lowest prices isn’t the same as the season with the best weather for island-hopping. Ready to visit the Land of Smiles? Read on for our season-by-season guide to planning a trip to Thailand.

Weather in Thailand by month

While the heaviest spells of monsoon season fall between August and October, Thailand is still a tropical destination, meaning it’s always hot and wet. Here’s what you can expect during the country’s three distinct seasons.

• Dry season (November–February): If perfect weather is important to you, then this could be the best time to visit Thailand. November to February is the country’s driest period, and it’s also when you can expect the coolest temperatures (which, in Thailand, still means daytime averages around 80 F).
• Hot season (March–May): This season runs until May, and it truly gets hot. At midday, it’ll feel like there’s no limit to just how high temperatures can soar—making it the perfect time to sneak away on a Thailand tour of the islands in the southwest, like Phuket.
• Wet season (June–October): This stretch of the year is considered Thailand’s low season due to the heavy rain. In truth, the first couple of months are a lot closer in conditions to the hot season, with only occasional showers—but you’ll start seeing low-season pricing all over the country. Interested in getting a great deal? June could be the best time to go to Thailand. As the season progresses, it’ll remain hot but get much wetter. (September is typically the rainiest month of the entire year in Thailand.) On the upside, prices will continue to drop and crowds will keep shrinking.

Dry season

Go island-hopping and explore cultural attractions

Months to experience the dry season in Thailand

November, December, January, and February

When’s the best time of the year to visit Thailand? If you’re looking to do a big trip around the country, the dry season could fit the bill. This is when the weather will be most consistently pleasant in every region of Thailand—there’s very little rain and it’s not as oppressively hot. So, whether you’re eager to explore Bangkok’s cultural delights, Chiang Mai’s temples, or any of the beaches up and down the coast, taking a Thailand tour during the dry season means seeing the best of this delightful country.

What to do in Thailand during the dry season

If you’re interested in a Thailand tour that shows off the country’s various regions, then you’ll want to book our 14-day Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket. It hits the country’s three most popular places, and traveling from Chiang Mai in the north to Phuket in the south is always a treat during the dry season.

The three days in Bangkok are great because you’ll get to visit cultural attractions like the Grand Palace; Wat Pho, the gilded temple where you’ll find the 150-foot-long statue of a reclining Buddha; and the city’s canals, called klongs. (Did you know that Bangkok is home to a network of waterways that could rival Venice’s?)

There’s also plenty of time to visit Thailand’s famous markets, including the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. You’ll even get a bit of beach time! When this Thailand tour heads south to Phuket, you’ll get to visit several world-class beaches, from Talu Island to Khao Phing Kan, where the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun was shot. If that’s not enough, you can also opt for an additional excursion to Phi Phi Island, one of the country’s most famous beaches. You can’t go to Thailand without seeing a few of its most picturesque shorelines, right?

We also recommend our nine-day Thailand for Solo Travelers: Bangkok, Phuket & the Islands tour during the dry season. We understand that traveling alone can be overwhelming enough; you might as well do it when the weather is at its most reliable. This itinerary features many of the same highlights, and you’ll get to take them all in with your new travel buddies.

Weather in Thailand in the dry season

Average daily temperatures should range from 68–86 F.

Hot season

Experience unique festivals and visit wildlife sanctuaries

Months to experience the hot season in Thailand

March, April, and May

Even though this stretch of the year can bring about super-hot weather, it can still be the best time to visit Thailand if you plan your trip properly and limit your activity during the middle of the day. Or, you can choose a Thailand tour that prioritizes being in leafy national parks and coastal areas, where you can spend more time near the water savoring cooling breezes.

What to do in Thailand during the hot season

Our 14-day Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket is the perfect trip to take during the hot season because half of it is spent in the north, where you’ll typically find cooler weather. Plus, when visiting once-in-a-lifetime destinations like Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, you’ll be doing so many special things that you may forget just how hot it is. In Chiang Rai, you’ll sail past hill tribe villages along the Mekong River on a long-tail boat before visiting the Golden Triangle, where the three countries of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos meet.

In Chiang Mai, you’ll visit ChangChill, a local animal welfare organization notable for their work rehabilitating previously captured elephants. You’ll see firsthand how mahouts, or elephant keepers, care for these gentle creatures. It’s truly one of the most special cultural moments you could experience on tour. The highlight of the hot season, however, falls on April 13. Songkran, the Thai New Year, is celebrated across the country with a ritual cleansing. (That usually includes a massive, and fun, public water fight!)

If you’d prefer a Thailand tour that spends most of its time by the water, spring for our brand-new, 12-day Highlights of Southern Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket & Krabi tour. You’ll get to spend nearly a week exploring Thailand’s most stunning waterfront destinations. In Phuket, you’ll see beach towns that were once filming locations for top Hollywood films, and can also enjoy the more modest vibes of Karon Beach, where fine sands and warm waters await. You’ll then head to the Khao Sok region, where you’ll cruise between the towering limestone cliffs surrounding Cheow Lan Lake. You’ll also spend a couple of days in Krabi, where you can choose to add our Krabi Junk Cruise & Lunch excursion. This will whisk you away aboard a junk—an ancient, fixed-sail ship of Chinese origin—to seek out more of Thailand’s serene islands.

Weather in Thailand in the hot season

Average daily temperatures should range from 82–104 F.

Wet season

Grab great travel deals and see lush scenery

Months to experience the wet season in Thailand

June, July, August, September, and October

For five months of the year, Thailand experiences its wet season, which can mean different things in different parts of the country. In some places, there can be heavy downpours; others might get an hour of rain followed by humid conditions. But because the wet season often brings significantly fewer travelers to the country, it can still be the best time to visit Thailand if you’re interested in finding favorable deals. Many hotels and other travel businesses often lower their prices during the wet season to attract more visitors.

What to do in Thailand during the wet season

Taking a Thailand tour during the wet season can still be quite special because you can experience local culture with far fewer tourists around, especially in the country’s biggest cities of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. On our brand-new, 22-day Grand Tour of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand, you’ll spend plenty of time in those two places. In Bangkok, you can visit temples, royal palaces, and bustling markets, and use your free time to explore the city’s enormous supermalls. These aren’t just exciting places to shop for local souvenirs—they’re great for trying fantastic restaurants, too. Plus, many of the country’s hidden gems, like the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, will feel much more accessible during the wet season when they aren’t as crowded.

Then, the itinerary heads to the island of Ko Samui and Khao Sok National Park. This portion of the trip will feature more natural thrills, like Ko Samui’s world-famous palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, and mountainous rainforests—which will all be incredibly lush during the wet season. There’s also an opportunity to add our Mu Ko Ang Thong Boat Cruise & Snorkeling excursion. This will bring you to Ko Wua Ta Lap, a picturesque island that’s part of the equally stunning Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park.

Weather in Thailand in the wet season

Average daily temperatures should range from 80–90 F.

Long story short: Any time is the best time to visit the Land of Smiles. Browse our Thailand tours now and start planning your next trip to Southeast Asia!