When's the best time to visit Thailand?
Blessed with idyllic islands, ancient cities and vibrant festivals, Thailand is a feast for the senses. Thinking of visiting? DK Eyewitness editor Rachel Laidler has rounded up three of the best months to explore this spectacular Southeast Asian country...
January
The first month of the year is an excellent time to head to Thailand. The weather is warm and dry, with temperatures hovering between 70° F to 84° F. These balmy temperatures are ideal for trekking in Doi Inthanon, a richly forested, mountainous national park found close to Chiang Mai in the country’s north (remember that the temperature does drop in the evenings, so make sure to pack a jacket).
In Chiang Mai itself, colorful celebrations for Chinese New Year often take place in January, with the streets surrounding the huge Warorot Market decorated with luminous red lanterns and filled with energetic dragon dancers. The village of Bo Sang, a stone’s throw from Chiang Mai, becomes blanketed in multicolored parasols for its annual three-day Umbrella Fair.
Farther south, the white-sand beaches and aquamarine seas of Thailand’s western Andaman Coast are also doused with sunshine, making this the perfect time to visit islands like Phuket, Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi to enjoy some sunbathing and snorkelling. January also sees some of the country’s more unusual sights come to life. The rafflesia kerri, a giant bowl-shaped red flower, blooms in the lush forest of Khao Sok National Park, while to the east in the Mekong River Valley, Sam Phan Bok, a lunar-like stone landscape dotted with thousands of circular holes, is revealed thanks to the drier weather.
April
This month can see temperatures rise to around 95° F, so head south for some sun, sand and cooling sea breezes. While the monsoon has already begun on the country’s Andaman Coast to the west, the arcing Gulf coast to the east remains dry until August, making it a great place for a little island-hopping.
Whether you want to party the night away on Ko Samet, dive the marine-rich azure waters around Ko Tao or simply laze on one of Ko Samui’s pristine beaches, there are plenty of options here. You could also snorkel among the colorful corals of Mu Koh Angthong National Marine Park, northwest of Ko Samui; the seas surrounding these 40 virtually uninhabited, rugged islands are much calmer between March and October.
And yet travelling to Thailand in April doesn’t mean you have to keep to the Gulf Coast; there are chances to explore the mainland, too. During this month, Songkran, marking the start of the Buddhist new year, is celebrated across the country. Traditionally this celebration involves the bathing of Buddha images with fragrant water, but in more recent years, the event has also become a wet-and-wild festival that sees people douse each other with buckets of water. Get involved (and get a welcome respite from the heat) in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, both of which are home to lively celebrations.
If getting soaked doesn’t sound like your thing, then make for Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung. At Songkran, this 11th-century Khmer temple complex is the location of a truly astonishing sight. Here, at dawn for three days, the rising sun can be seen, perfectly aligned, through all 15 doorways of the complex’s western entrance. This incredible event is marked by colorful processions and, as night falls, a son-et-lumière festival.
November
With the arrival of November, the monsoon (which runs roughly from June to October) comes to an end. Blue skies and sunny days return to Thailand, and the temperature stays between 77° F to 90° F – great weather for visiting Bangkok, which can become oppressively hot during the summer months.
The city’s golden Wat Saket, perched above Bangkok on an artificial hill, plays host to a huge temple fair; expect to see countless street food stalls selling mouthwatering Thai cuisine, as well as a vibrant carnival.
If you’re an early bird, visit the temple at 6am on the first day of the fair to see a long red cloth wrapped around the temple’s glittering chedi. The fair takes place one week before Loy Krathong, a nationwide festival that celebrates Mae Khongkha, goddess of the rivers and waterways.
During this festival, people float krathongs (little rafts) filled with candles on rivers and lakes. Head to one of the country’s ancient cities, such as Sukhothai or Ayutthaya, to experience this magical festival surrounded by atmospheric ruins.
High water levels following the monsoon season means that November is also a great time to cruise the mighty Mekong. One of the best ways to do it is on a long-tail boat trip from the quaint town of Chiang Khan, which will take you past wooden riverfront houses.
Want to explore one of the country’s lush national parks? November is the perfect time to visit either Phu Kradueng in the north or Khao Yai in the south – both boast magnificent thundering waterfalls that will have been swelled by the monsoon rains. They’re also criss-crossed by trekking trails and home to a wealth of native wildlife, including endangered tigers in Khao Yai.
Please note that not all of the pictures featured in this article are featured in DK Eyewitness Thailand.
Read next
Why January is the best time to go to Costa Rica
As one of the world’s fastest growing travel destinations, Costa Rica really offers something different – from humpback whale spotting to spying on rare butterflies; forest-heavy national parks to mountain ranges; unique adventure experiences to lazy beaches. But when is the best time to go?
Why November is the best time to go to Seoul
With a population of over 25 million, Seoul is one of Asia’s most important cities, and home to one of the world’s largest metropolitan economies. However, there’s more to Seoul than meets the eye.