Best time to visit

Best time to visit Thailand

Our pick: November and FebruaryBest valueChecked 22 October 2026

November to February is the classic time: dry, sunny and less humid. March to May is very hot. June to October is the rainy season on the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi), but the Gulf islands (Koh Samui) get their rain from October to December instead.

Best value
Busy and pricier
Quiet

RatingBest value

Areas covered3 on this page

The rainy season usually means a heavy afternoon downpour, not days of rain, and it's much cheaper. Songkran, Thai New Year in mid-April, is a nationwide water fight.

Where timing differs

Phuket, Krabi, Koh LantaBusy and pricier
Best Nov to Apr. Rough seas May to Oct.
Koh Samui, Koh PhanganBest value
Best Jan to Sep. Wettest Oct to Dec.
Chiang Mai and the northQuiet
Smoky burning season from Feb to Apr.

Month by month in Bangkok

J26°
F29°
M30°
A31°
M30°
J28°
J28°
A28°
S27°
O27°
N26°
D25°

Best valueBusy and pricierQuiet

Average temperature each month (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2025), coloured by season.

Month by month in Thailand

November to February: Cool, dry season. Best everywhere except the Gulf islands in November.
March to May: Hot season, often 35°C+. Songkran water festival in mid-April.
June to October: Rainy season on the Andaman coast. Cheaper and greener.
October to December: The Gulf islands' wettest months.

Festivals worth planning for

Songkran, Thai New Year (13 to 15 April), turns towns into giant water fights. Loy Krathong in November sees candles floated on rivers, and Chiang Mai's lantern festival (Yi Peng) happens at the same time. Full moon parties on Koh Phangan run every month.

Before you go

Christmas and New Year are the priciest weeks.

Stay and do

Ready to book Thailand? Compare places to stay and things to do.

Hotels in Bangkok in April Tours and tickets in Bangkok

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Questions people ask

What's the worst month to visit Thailand?

September and October are the wettest on the Andaman coast, and April is the hottest everywhere.

When is the best time to visit Phuket?

November to April, when the Andaman coast is dry and the sea is calm.

When is the rainy season in Koh Samui?

October to December, later than the rest of Thailand.

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Waymark summarises official UK government (FCDO) travel advice and other public sources to help you plan. It is not a substitute for that advice, which can change at short notice. Always read the latest FCDO page for your destination and check your insurance before you book. Content last checked 22 October 2026.