When to go, month by month
Thailand doesn't have one weather pattern. The two coasts have opposite rainy seasons, and the North has a smoke season most blogs skip.
The North
Best: Nov to Jan
Isan
Best: Nov to Jan
Bangkok, Central and the West
Best: Dec to Jan
The East coast and islands
Best: Dec to Feb
Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun)
Best: Dec to Mar
Gulf coast (Samui, Pha Ngan, Tao, Songkhla)
Best: Feb to Apr
Planning around an event? See festivals by month. Heading south? Andaman vs Gulf: which coast when.
General climate patterns from the Thai Meteorological Department (tmd.go.th). Weather varies year to year; treat this as a guide, not a forecast. Reviewed 2026-11-03.
Common questions
What is the best month to visit Thailand?
For most of the country, November to February: cool, dry and clear. The exception is the Gulf islands (Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao), where November is the wettest month and February to August is better.
When is burning season in northern Thailand?
Roughly late February to April. Farmers burn fields and forests, and smoke haze often hides the mountains around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son until the first rains in May.
Is the rainy season a bad time to visit?
Not everywhere. Inland, rain usually comes as short afternoon storms, the countryside turns green and there are fewer visitors. The Andaman coast is the exception: from May to October seas get rough and some island boats and marine parks close.
Which side of the south should I visit in the rainy season?
From May to September the Gulf islands are usually drier than the Andaman coast. From October to December it flips, and the Andaman side is the better choice.
When is the hottest time in Thailand?
April, especially in Isan and the central plains, where afternoons often reach 38 to 40°C. Songkran, the water festival, falls in mid-April.