Four factors to consider when choosing the time of year to visit Thailand
So you've decided to go on holiday to Thailand. That's step one. But there's a niggling feeling you've forgotten one of the big things to consider when traveling to Thailand ... when is the best time to go?
Let's cut straight to the chase with this one. There are four main factors to consider when deciding on when to come to Thailand.
- The weather
- Where in Thailand will you be going?
- Off peak and peak tourist seasons + Thai Holidays
- When can you arrange time off work
I can't help you with the last one, but you might keep it under consideration as we look at the two top factors in deciding when to visit Thailand.
When is the best weather for visiting Thailand?
Thailand is a geographically long country and so the weather is not always the same in both the north and south.
Weather in Northern Thailand
November, December, January, February, March, April, and May are largely dry in the North of Thailand. The latter three months can become quite hot.
June, July, August, September, October are the monsoon months and it can get very wet in Northern Thailand.
Weather in Southern Thailand
April, May, June, July, August, September, and October on the east coast of southern Thailand is monsoon weather.
September, October, November, December on the west coast of southern Thailand is monsoon weather.
During monsoon seasons in Southern Thailand, there is often flooding and torrential downpours.
When is the best weather to visit Thailand?
November, December, January, and February are traditionally the best months to visit Thailand. Temperatures vary in the mid to upper 20 degrees with some days breaking into the 30-degree spectrum.
March, April, May, and June can get hot with temperatures often reaching 40 degrees.
July, August, September, and October are generally wet months with temperatures hovering under 30 degrees.
When is it peak or off-peak season in Thailand?
If you are trying to visit Thailand when there are not so many tourists around then you'll be disappointed. There are always tourists traveling in Thailand. The fringe benefit of off-peak season is that hotel prices are slightly lower and yes, you won't be overrun by tourists.
Peak season in Thailand is during November, December, January, February, and March. Hotels are offering full-priced rooms here. July and August can also see a secondary peak season.
Off-peak season in Thailand is during April, May, and June. September and October are also off-season. During these months, hotels often offer discounted rates.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, tourism in Thailand dropped dramatically. However, of all South East Asian Countries, Thailand is rebounding in first place. In 2024, it is expected to recover further with only the cost of long-haul flights keeping numbers down.
Work, holidays, rain, sun, and avoiding the crowds in Thailand
You now know the four many factors to consider when you'll visit Thailand. If your vacation days or travel dates are flexible, it basically boils down to weather, crowds, and prices.
Traveling during the monsoon season will mean less people, discounted hotels, but also mean it might be raining every day. You might also get caught up in some of Thailand's flooding or have a train/bus delayed due to flooding.
Traveling during peak season will mean great warm sunny weather but you'll be doing battle with the crowd for the best rooms. Thankfully, Thailand is not often short on hotel rooms!
