Perfect Time To Visit Thailand To Make A Perfect Vacation

Thailand is a tropical destination that has a specific period when it's best to visit. The ideal time to visit Thailand is from December to March. However, even on the sunniest days, a short and heavy downpour can occur. The rainy season is from May to October. During this period, monsoons blow in from all directions, and the rain is heavy and sporadic in the first few months, while in the final months of the rainy season, it's more consistent.

Thailand's shoulder season is from April to June and then again from September to October. The temperature peaks country-wide around April. You don't have to compete for a prime spot on the best beaches in Thailand and go with the hotel rates that will be lower. However, business and ferry services on the smaller Islands, especially on the Andaman Sea side, will shit down as the low season approaches. The period from September to October falls with heavy rain but fewer crowds.

If you're looking for the cheapest time to visit Thailand, it coincides with the rainy season. If you're willing to deal with unpredictable weather, you could bag a few hotel deals visiting Thailand during this time. We recommend going during the shoulder season.

The best Thai islands in the Gulf of Thailand, such as Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, get less rain than the rest of the country, even in the rainy season. They're at their best from the end of January until mid-March. The freshest month is January, great for after the Christmas and NYE party chaos. February is the driest month, one of the sunniest, and the heat is still bearable. March is sunny and dry too.

The European and American summer break crowds hit the Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Pha-Ngan, and Koh Tao) in July-August, so heading here in September usually hits the sweet spot for both crowds and weather.

Over on Thailand's west coast and the Andaman Sea, where you'll find the Thai islands of Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, and Koh Phi Phi, the optimum time for a beach holiday is slightly earlier, in December and January. During these months, fresher weather, maximum sunshine, and minimum rainfall combine to create the best climate for a beach holiday.

Bangkok is humid practically all the time, but the best time to visit Thailand's capital is in December and January. During this time, it's dry and has a relatively bearable 31-32ºC average during the day and 20ºC at night (the coolest Bangkok ever gets). However, July and August are also great months to visit Bangkok when there are great hotel deals to be had, and the rain only lasts for a short while in the afternoon. Avoid the months of April and September. April is unbearably hot and humid, while September is hot and torrentially wet.

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Chiang Mai and the lovely little town of Pai, in Thailand's cooler north, have a more pleasant climate than Bangkok and the south. December to February is the best time to visit Chiang Mai and Pai for lovely sunny days (around 29ºC) and cooler evenings (the temperature dips to 13ºC and even lower in the highlands, so dig out some warm clothes if you're trekking).