Destinations Asia Thailand The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Great Weather, Low Prices, and Fun Festivals Here's when to plan your trip based on what you want to see and do. By Anne Olivia Bauso Anne Olivia Bauso Anne Olivia Bauso is a travel writer and hotel expert based in New York City. She has written hundreds of hotel reviews, from 5-star Ritz-Carlton properties to treehouse eco-resorts in the jungle. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 13, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Smaller Crowds The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Great Weather The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Lower Prices The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Festivals The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Scuba Diving The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Island-hopping The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Shopping Worst Times to Visit Thailand Thailand is one of the most accessible and well-loved destinations in Southeast Asia. It's a great place to visit any time of year, but the best season for island-hopping, festivals, and scuba diving in the Andaman Sea is the dry season, November through March. Jack Tydeman, a Travel + Leisure A-List travel advisor and Southeast Asia specialist for Audley Travel, says this tropical country has only two distinct seasons. "It is typically warm all year round," he says, but winter is "considered the best time to travel to the majority of the country. April is the hottest month in Thailand before the country moves into the wetter season from May through October." Here's a breakdown of Thailand's main travel seasons: High Season: November to MarchShoulder Seasons: April to June and the month of OctoberLow Season: July to September Before you book your jungle tree house and island boat tour, learn about the best times to visit Thailand. Michela Buttignol/Travel + Leisure The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Smaller Crowds Thailand's low season coincides with monsoon season. With the exception of the Thai islands, which draw college students from Australia and Europe during their summer breaks, the wet and muggy climate keeps many tourists away between July and September. Visiting Thailand during this quiet time has its perks: You'll get cheaper accommodations, better access to restaurants and activities typically inundated by vacationers, and potentially more of a local experience. At the same time, there are limitations. Rains could come in brief cloudbursts, or they could come in days-long downpours that affect boat service and island access. Tours are less abundant, and some hotels even close during the off-season, so be sure to plan ahead if you're considering a trip in the summer. The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Great Weather For ideal weather, visit Thailand during the dry season, which runs from November through March in most of the country, sometimes even lasting until April or May. A major exception is the Lower Gulf — home to the islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao — which is rainiest from September through December. On the Andaman coast, the coolest, most comfortable weather is around November to February, with average temperatures in the 80s and little chance of rain. This means clear, blue waters and gorgeous vegetation quenched from monsoon season. As for the low season, it's best to temper your expectations. "It is possible to travel over the summer months. However, you may see some short, sharp showers," Tydeman says. "As the east coast of Thailand has its own unique weather patterns, summer is actually the drier season there." The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Lower Prices Thailand is a relatively affordable destination throughout the year, though travelers may find the steepest discounts on flights, accommodations, and tours during the low season, July to September. "The low season does have its advantages, as it's quieter and the rates are typically lower. This makes Thailand a great-value destination during the summer," says Tydeman. While this time of year is generally wetter, you might even get better natural scenery. "Summer is now commonly referred to as 'green season' due to the rains turning the countryside green and filling the rivers and waterfalls." The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Festivals Getty Images Travelers should try to experience at least one of Thailand's many festivals, which celebrate everything from flowers and fruit to monkeys and elephants. Two of the most beloved are November's lantern festivals: Yi Peng, during which participants release thousands of rice-paper lanterns into the sky, and Loy Krathong, when banana-leaf baskets are filled with flowers and burning candles and released onto lakes, rivers, and canals. Chiang Mai is the Yi Peng epicenter, and Loy Krathong is celebrated across the country. The Lunar New Year in January or February turns Bangkok's Chinatown into a sea of dragons, drummers, worshippers, and visitors, all converging under the glow of firecrackers and red lanterns. Also in February is the three-day Flower Festival in Chiang Mai, which features a parade of elaborately decorated floats. Lantern Festivals of Thailand Songkran (aka the Water Splashing Festival) ushers in the Thai New Year in mid-April with parades, parties, and performances across the country. Songkran turns Thailand into "one big water fight," Tydeman says. "It also coincides with the hottest month of the year, so it's a perfect excuse to get wet." The Vegetarian Festival takes place in late September or early October and commemorates a nine-day abstinence from meat in honor of the Nine Emperor Gods of Taoism. The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Scuba Diving Getty Images Divers from all over the world flock to Thailand to explore the country's famous underwater sites and stunning marine parks. Thailand's east coast is largely dive-friendly all year round. If you plan to dive in the Andaman Sea, such as from the extraordinary Similan and Surin Islands, time the trip between November and April, when the seas are calm and visibility is clearest. Also keep in mind that Similan and Surin marine parks close from mid-May to mid-October. The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Island-hopping Boating from one jungle-topped limestone island to another is a great way to explore Thailand, but seasonal downpours can put the kibosh on nautical fun. Some southern Andaman resorts even close for the rainy season. "The islands off the west coast, like Phuket, are best to visit in the winter months, whereas the islands off the east coast, like Ko Samui, are great to visit in the summer," says Tydeman. This means you should time your bouncing around Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands, Ko Lanta, and other Andaman isles between late October (when the rains taper off) and May or June. Conversely, Gulf of Thailand idylls Ko Samui, Ko Tao, and Ko Pha-ngan are at their rainiest and windiest between October and December. The Best Times to Visit Thailand for Shopping Getty Images No matter what time of year you visit Thailand, try to be in Bangkok on a weekend so you can experience the vast Chatuchak Weekend Market. Many of the stalls are covered, so you can even go on a rainy day. Tydeman also recommends visiting Bangkok's night markets, which offer "everything from original artwork and designer bags to kitschy souvenirs and secondhand books." Bangkok Travel Guide Chiang Mai 's weekend markets deserve a look as well. Every Saturday night, Wua Lai Road (just south of the Old City) closes to traffic and hosts silversmiths, wood carvers, clothing purveyors, sketch artists, and performing musicians. On Sundays, the scene essentially repeats itself along the length of Ratchadamnoen Road, which bustles with artists, food vendors, and massage stations. Worst Times to Visit Thailand There is objectively no bad time to visit Thailand. Each season has its benefits, but most people avoid traveling during the heaviest monsoons, which can disrupt public transportation and make exploring Thailand's stunning natural sites wildly uncomfortable (if not impossible). Forget renting a motorbike or riding ferries during the wet season. Though you're more likely to snag accommodations for cheap, you're liable to spend more time at your hotel than you bargained for, waiting for the downpours to pass. If you're averse to heavy rains and thick humidity on vacation, avoid planning a trip to Thailand in August and September. Updated by Olivia Young Olivia Young Olivia Young is a freelance journalist and slow travel advocate. Her favorite travel days usually involve vegan food, wildlife sightings, and an occasional liability waiver. learn more