By Kylian Dev
North
Mountains, temples and night markets. Best in the cool season; if you can, avoid the end of the dry season, when crop-burning haze affects air quality.
Ideal window: January, February, November, December
Full North region guideWeather & seasons guide
When is the best time to visit Thailand?
Thailand doesn’t have one weather system: when it pours in Phuket, it’s often sunny on Koh Samui. Pick your month below and see straight away where to go.
- 12 months × 5 regions
- Andaman vs Gulf explained
- Top destinations each month
The short answer
The best time to visit Thailand is November to February: the cool, dry season, with calm seas almost everywhere. In July and August, head for the Gulf (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao), which is drier than the Andaman coast. In October and November it flips: the Andaman coast comes out of the monsoon just as the Gulf goes into it.
Pick your travel month
January
Peak seasonBlue skies, dry air and cool nights up north. Close to perfect everywhere, which also makes it the busiest month: book early.
Thailand in January: the full month guideWeather by region
- Ideal
North
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai
- Ideal
Centre
Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi
- Ideal
Gulf
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
- Ideal
Andaman
Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Lanta, Lipe
- Ideal
East
Koh Chang
The full calendar
Click a month to update the summary.
- Ideal: dry, calm sea
- Good: hot or occasional showers
- Monsoon: frequent rain
| Region | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | ||||||||||||
| Centre | ||||||||||||
| Gulf | ||||||||||||
| Andaman | ||||||||||||
| East |
How we rate it: each cell summarises the weather windows in our destination guides for that region. These are trends, not forecasts (our destination weather guides have month-by-month climate data); any given year can be drier or wetter than average.
Understand the climate
Thailand’s 3 seasons
It’s tropical all year: it will be warm, the real question is whether it will rain. Three seasons follow each other, shifted slightly depending on the coast.
- November → February
Cool, dry season
Clear skies, lower humidity and calm seas on the Andaman side. Mornings can even be chilly in the northern mountains.
The best time for a first trip to Thailand, and the most expensive.
- March → May
Hot season
Temperatures often top 35 °C, especially in Bangkok and the North. The islands stay more bearable thanks to the sea breeze.
Great for the beach, tough for temple-hopping in the city.
- June → October
Rainy season
Heavy but usually short downpours, mostly late in the day. The Andaman coast is hit hardest; the Gulf stays drier until September.
Green landscapes, low prices, few crowds: a smart choice if you pick the right coast (how to travel in the rainy season).
The key rule
Andaman or Gulf: two coasts, two calendars
This is the single most useful thing to know when planning a Thai beach holiday: the two coasts don’t get the monsoon at the same time.
| Andaman Sea (west) | Gulf of Thailand (east) | |
|---|---|---|
| Destinations | Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe | Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao |
| Best time | November to April | January to August |
| Wettest months | September and October | October to December (peak in November) |
| In July–August | Often rough seas; some boat trips get cancelled | The right call: mostly dry with calm seas |
The best month, region by region
What is the best month for each region?
The driest and the wettest month of each region, from the climate averages. For rainfall across the whole year, see the [rainy season month by month](/rainy-season); to convert your budget, use the [baht to euro converter](/currency-converter).
| Region | Driest month | Wettest month | Our advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman (Phuket, Krabi) | February: 24 mm, 2.2 rain days | September: 350 mm, 18.9 rain days | December to February: calm sea and clear skies, but also the busiest period. |
| Gulf (Koh Samui, Koh Tao) | February: 64 mm, 4.3 rain days | November: 445 mm, 16.5 rain days | February to April, or July and August when the Andaman side is in monsoon. Avoid November. |
| North (Chiang Mai) | February: 10 mm, 0.7 rain days | August: 223 mm, 17.1 rain days | December and January for cool mornings; February is the driest, but the burning haze starts. |
| Isan (north-east) | — | — | November to February, cool and dry. We have no measuring station for this region, hence no figures. |
| Bangkok | December: 12 mm, 1 rain days | September: 336 mm, 18 rain days | November to February, before the heat of April. The showers of September and October are short but heavy. |
1991–2020 averages from one station per region (Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Bangkok). The driest month is not always the most pleasant: also consider heat and crowds.
Region by region
The best time to visit each region
Centre
Bangkok and the old capitals work year-round, but April heat and September rain make long walking days harder.
Ideal window: January, February, November, December
Full Centre region guideGulf
The country’s odd one out: fine for much of the summer, wet from October to December (see Koh Samui weather by month).
Ideal window: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September
Full Gulf region guideAndaman
Limestone cliffs and turquoise water, at their best from November to April. Marine parks such as the Similan Islands close during the monsoon.
Ideal window: January, February, March, April, November, December
Full Andaman region guideEast
Koh Chang follows the general pattern: dry from November to April, very wet at the height of the rainy season.
Ideal window: January, February, March, April, November, December
Full East region guideFAQ
Your questions about the best time to go
What is the best time to visit Thailand?
November to February, during the cool, dry season, when skies are clear and seas are calm across most of the country. It’s also high season, so expect higher prices and more people, especially around Christmas and New Year.
Is July or August a good time to visit Thailand?
Yes, if you pick the right region. The Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) is usually the driest in summer, while the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi) is in full monsoon. The North is green, with regular showers. See our Thailand in July guide.
When is monsoon season in Thailand?
Roughly May–June to October on the Andaman coast, in central Thailand and in the North. The Gulf of Thailand runs on a different cycle, with its heaviest rain from October to December. Downpours tend to be intense but short. Our rainy season guide explains how to plan around it.
What is the hottest month in Thailand?
April, when temperatures regularly exceed 35 °C in Bangkok and central Thailand. It’s also the month of Songkran, the Thai New Year, around 13–15 April.
When should I go to avoid crowds and high prices?
The shoulder months, May–June and September–October, often offer the best balance of weather, prices and crowds. Pick the coast that isn’t in its monsoon on your dates.
When is the best time to visit Phuket and Krabi?
November to April, when the Andaman Sea is calm and skies are clear. From May to October the sea is rougher and some boat trips may be cancelled. Details in our Phuket weather by month guide.
What is the best time to visit the Thai islands?
For the Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi), December to February. For the Gulf (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao), February to April, and July to August if you travel in summer. Rainfall by month is in our rainy season guide.
What is the best time to visit Bangkok?
November to February: little rain (45 mm in November, 12 mm in December) and temperatures that stay bearable. Bangkok can be visited the rest of the year too, with showers mostly in the afternoon.
Which is the cheapest month to travel?
September, in the middle of low season, is usually the cheapest month, with lower hotel prices on the Andaman side and in the north. May to June and October are drier alternatives. To price your spending in baht, use the baht to euro converter.
What is the worst month to visit Thailand?
September: Phuket gets 350 mm over 18.9 rain days and Bangkok 336 mm over 18 days. On the Gulf side the wettest month is November, with 445 mm in Koh Samui. Pick the coast that is not in monsoon, see the rainy season.
Keep planning