When to visit Thailand - IMPORTANT!

Don't make the same weather mistakes we did! After travelling through Thailand for 3 months, here is how to plan your trip for the best weather conditions!

THAILAND'S WEATHER SEASONS:

November - February is generally considered the dry season with the clearest and most comfortable weather. This is also high season and you might see increased crowds and increased prices in tourist areas. There's generally less mosquitos during this time which is a big win, especially from December onwards and especially in the north.

Something that surprised us is that the north and central of Thailand can become surprisingly dry after months of no rain and the landscape might even start to look more like the Savannah than the lush rainforest you might expect (This was a shock for us anyways!). We experienced this in January-March in the north and could barely believe it was the same country as we arrived to in November! However, the south and the islands are more likely to stay green thanks to continuous occasional rainfall even during the dry season.

Note that many waterfalls dry up in the dry season, so make sure to check recent reviews and photos on Google Maps before planning a trip to a waterfall or you might risk visiting a waterfall with no water at all! (This applies for March-May too).

Many waterfalls will still be alive and overflowing, but many won't - so make sure to check before going to avoid disappointment!

If you're in Thailand during January-February go and see the Red Lotus Lake in Udon Thani, it is magical (and only in bloom during these months)!

March - May is the hot season where temperatures soar to over 35°C (95F) or even over 40°C (104F) in many areas. The weather is still mostly clear, dry and sunny, although the occasional thunderstorm can happen due to the hot weather. Crowds decrease and although it's hot, it's bearable.

June - October is considered rainy season, where heavy rain and flooding is common throughout most of the country. This is low season where prices and crowds will be at their lowest. This is also the main season for a lot of fresh fruit that will be at its most delicious and cheapest during these months! Travelling during rainy season can be a delightful experience and it might not even rain that much, but it's good to be prepared with a rain coat (or two), an umbrella and a change of clothes. Make sure you follow the news for any flood warnings.

The rainy season is where nature will be at its most abundant and where most waterfalls will be the most beautiful and rewarding to visit.

Note that there is a higher chance of certain things being closed during these months as well as some ferries and boats not running.

Rainy season brings an abundance of mosquitos so don't forget mosquito repellent when you go out and wear long trousers in the morning and evening when the mosquitos are most active.

Rainy season is also JELLYFISH SEASON 🪼, so swimming in the sea is generally not advised unless you take extra care and swim within a netted area and/or wear a stinger suit. The rain can also make the water murkier, making it harder to see what's underneath the surface and making jellyfish precautions extra important. The main jellyfish to look out for is the deadly Box Jellyfish.

BUT, it is not entirely this straight-forward.

SEASON EXCEPTIONS:

The rainy season stretches on in the Gulf of Thailand until the end of December and it generally rains more and for longer the more south in Thailand you go.

We visited the south in December and got hit by plenty of rainfall in both Chumphon, Koh Phangan and Krabi. We also only narrowly avoided serious flooding. In Koh Phangan it rained almost everyday for the whole week we were there, and most beaches had murky water, which made me scared to get in due to potential jellyfish (Koh Phangan has the highest recorded cases of Box Jellyfish stings and deaths. The box jellyfish generally prefers the Gulf of Thailand compared to the west coast's Andaman sea and Koh Phangan seems to be a hotspot, so we weren't taking any chances).

Burning season: Avoid visiting the north of Thailand during mid-January/February - April because that’s when farmers burn their fields and the air quality and visibility becomes terrible.

SO to get the best possible weather conditions for your trip, this is what I would do:

OPTIMAL TRIP DESTINATIONS BASED ON SEASON:

Visit the north of Thailand in October-November:

• This will be the end of rainy season, rice fields will still be green/yellow and the landscape will be lush. Generally in November farmers start to harvest the rice, leaving the rice fields dry and abandoned afterwards, so if you can - visit when they are still lush. You will get the most beautiful and picturesque conditions in the countryside.

• These months will also be warmer. December-February can actually get very cold, with temperatures down to 15°C (59F) in the night or even down to 10°C (50F) and lower in the mountains. So if you visit during this time - pack layers! And as mentioned you will want to avoid burning season in the north from February-April.

Visit the south of Thailand mid-December-April:

• When the skies are blue and the sea will be radiant and crystal clear. This season also has the lowest risk of jellyfish stings so you can swim safer (although still always keep a lookout when you enter the sea!). March-April will probably be very hot so pack breathable clothing and cool down whenever possible! If you are in Thailand during April don't miss your chance to participate in Songkran! It is the Thai New Year's celebration which turn every street into a giant public water gun fight!

• In general this is the best season to visit islands both in the east and in the south of the country.

For nature lovers: Visit Thailand in August-October(-November):

• Best season if you want to chase waterfalls, photograph lush rice fields, see places without any crowds, eat cheap and delicious seasonal fruit and experience nature at its most greenest. Just make sure to pack a rain coat and stay aware of flood warnings!