When to go to Thailand
Thailand is hot all year round (except in the mountains) and the best time to visit is from November to March when it is generally quite dry, although there may be occasional bursts of rain. April and May are very hot and humid and it can be quite difficult to get much energy up for sightseeing – a pool is essential at this time of year. The summer, from June to October can be a good time to visit. It will still be hot and humid but not as severe as during April and May. This is the rainy season however, so you should expect some rain during your stay; this should not necessarily put you off as the rain will often only last for an hour or two and the rest of the day is usually lovely.
January
Overall a great time to visit.
Centre and north: It will be hot and mainly dry with cooler evenings. Ideal for travelling. Average 20-24°C in the north, high 20s in the Bangkok area.
Krabi and West coast beaches: Hot and mainly dry with some cool breezes. Ideal for travelling.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: Hot with some chance of rain at the tail end of the rainy season and some cooler breezes, but still a good time to travel.
February
Overall a great time to visit.
Centre and north: Hot and mainly dry. Slightly cooler in the north and warmer around Bangkok. Ideal for travelling.
Krabi and west coast beaches: Hot and mainly dry with some cooling breezes. Ideal for travelling. On both East and West coasts expect an average temperature of 26-29°C
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: Hot and mainly dry, perhaps a few showers early in the month, and some cooling breezes. Ideal for travelling.
March
Overall a great time to visit.
Centre and north: Hot and mainly dry. The temperatures are starting to rise, on average 26-30°C. Ideal for travelling.
Krabi and west coast beaches: Hot and mainly dry and ideal for travelling. On both East and west coasts expect an average temperature of 28-30°C.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: Hot and mainly dry and ideal for travelling.
April
Overall a good time to visit but be prepared for some high humidity.
Centre and north: It will be hot and very humid, though mainly dry. Temperatures rising on average to 30+ (high 30s in Bangkok). You may see some hazy smoke in the air in rural areas as farmers clear the land at this time of year by burning any wood not required (‘slash and burn farming’).
Krabi and west coast beaches: Hot and humid.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: Hot and mainly dry
May
Centre and north: It will be hot and very humid, though mainly dry, but with the chance of rain on the increase, especially towards the end of the month. Temperatures are at their peak around 29-32°C. You may see some hazy smoke in the air in rural areas as farmers clear the land at this time of year by burning any wood not required (‘slash and burn farming’).
Krabi and west coast beaches: Hot, humid and wet – there is a good chance of rain although normally you can expect short, heavy showers followed by blue skies.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: Hot with little rain. Average temperatures are around 30-35°C.
June
Centre and north: It will be hot and humid with a high chance of rain. However these are normally short, heavy downpours followed by blue skies.
Krabi and west coast beaches: It will be hot, humid and wet, as the rainy season starts.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: It will be hot with a small chance of rain. This is the better coast to visit at this time of year.
July
Lots of families visit Thailand during the summer holidays. Overall the weather is good but be prepared for some rain.
Centre and north: It will be hot and humid. Rains will increase through the month with showers becoming more prolonged (especially later in the month) and temperatures will drop a little. You can expect on average 27-31°C.
Krabi and west coast beaches: It will be hot, humid and wet. At times the rain could be heavy. Average 27°C.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: It will be hot with possibly a little rain. Average temperatures 29°C. This is the better coast to visit at this time of year.
August
Lots of families visit Thailand during the summer holidays. Overall the weather is good but be prepared for some rain.
Centre and north: It will be hot and humid, average temperatures 26-30°C and you can expect some heavy rain, though still not usually all day every day – generally there are short, heavy downpours followed by sun.
Krabi and west coast beaches: It will be hot and humid with quite a lot of rain; this is the wettest time of the year. Temperatures average 27°C.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: It will be hot with some rain towards the end of the month especially. Temperatures average 27°C. This is the better coast to visit at this time of year.
September
Centre and north: It will be hot and humid with rain expected as this is one of the wettest months, though temperatures are on the decline (average 25-29°C).
Krabi and west coast beaches: It will be hot, humid and wet – this is not a good time for the beach here.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: It will be hot with rains increasing later in the month – this is not the best time for the beach.
October
Centre and north: It will be hot and humid with some rain but the rains and humidity should start to decrease as the month goes on. Temperatures on average 24-27°C.
Krabi and west coast beaches: Hot and humid with some rain, though the rains should start to decline towards the end of the month. This is the better coast at this time of year.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: It will be hot with rainfall remaining high. Average 25-27°C on both east and west coasts.
November
Overall a great time to visit.
Centre and north: It wil usually be hot and mainly dry as rainfall starts to decline, especially by the end of the month. Average temperatures 23-26c and low humidity. Ideal for travelling.
Krabi and west coast beaches: It will be hot, though a bit less humid, with rains finished, especially by the end of the month. You can expect bright, fairly dry days with temperatures averaging 26-28°C. This is the best coast to travel to at this time of year.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: It will be average 26°C with some significant rain.
December
Overall a great time to visit.
Centre and north: It will be hot and mainly dry, bright weather that is ideal for travelling. Average temperatures 23-25°C in the north (a couple of degrees higher in Bangkok).
Krabi and west coast beaches: It will be hot with mainly dry, with average temperatures 26-29°C. Ideal for travelling. This is the best coast to travel to at this time of year, though by Christmas and the end of the month the East coast will also be very good.
Koh Samui and east coast beaches and islands: It will be hot with rainfall sharply decreasing (especially later in the month). Average temperatures 26-28°C.
Call us and we will be happy to provide you with a free-of-charge no obligation itinerary and quotation designed for you.
01728 752751
Thailand in pictures
