The best time to visit Thailand is from November to February which is the cool and dry season. The period of April to June is the shoulder season when the rain starts to set in and temperatures hover around the late 20s to early 30s. Travel fares and hotel prices see a drop in this period making it a great time for budget traveling. July to October is the wet season charaterised with high rainfall and humidity. Many islands shut down during this period keeping safety in mind.
Thailand can broadly be divided into three distinct geographic regions -
1. The North and Central region
2. The Gulf of Thailand
3. Andaman Sea coast.
The best time to visit the Northern and Central region of Thailand is from October until January during summers. The rest of the year receives monsoon spells with an increase in humidity levels.
December onwards until March would provide the ideal conditions for tourists hence making it the best time to visit the Gulf of Thailand. This is an excellent time for water sports and other beach activities since the weather is pleasant and windy.
April and May are the hottest months of the year in Thailand. The most pleasant time of the year on the west coast of Thailand is from November until March. The monsoon starts to kick in from May to Mid-October on the west coast. The climate in these regions varies significantly throughout the year.
The three distinct seasons of Thailand are summer, winter and monsoons. Depending on where in Thailand one visits, the length of these seasons vary. For instance, southern Thailand faces a longer monsoon season than the rest of the country.
Northern and Central Thailand
The best time to visit the Northern and Central region of Thailand is during winters from October to January. The North and Central region of Thailand which includes Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Issan, amongst others, experiences its summer from November to June. The temperatures hover between 31 and 35-degree Celsius. These scorching temperatures last well into the monsoon season, and as a result of the heavy rains and the heat, the humidity percentages also skyrocket. July to October experiences heavy showers with short bursts of precipitation during the initial months of monsoon. October marks the end of monsoon and start of winters, thus an ideal time to plan a trip to this region. By October, the temperatures drop down to 20 degrees. The lack of rain and pleasant weather ensures an ideal time for sightseeing.
Gulf of Thailand
December onwards until March would provide the most ideal conditions for tourists hence making it the best time to visit the Gulf of Thailand. The relatively cool weather and the lack of rain allows tourists to make it from one place to another with ease, and the low humidity make travelling much feasible. Water sport junkies should also keep an eye out for this, the lack of rain and the slightly windy conditions make up for the most exciting water sport activity conditions. The temperature gradually increases from March onwards, with temperatures averaging near the 30 degree Celsius mark. The summer is at its fiercest during April and May. Rainfall starts to be expected soon after June starts, with sparse afternoon showers cooling the midday heat. The monsoon truly begins to come in force towards the end of August or early September. The consistently high temperatures make for days that have humidity reaching up to 85%. However, the patterns of rainfall are not uniform across the Gulf of Thailand coast, with some areas receiving rainfall later than others. The monsoon season reaches its zenith during November, after which rainfall begins to slow down and the dry season starts again in December.
West Coast of Thailand
The most pleasant time of the year on the west coast of Thailand is from November until March. During this period, the heat is far more manageable, with the thermometer reading ambling near the mid-20 degree Celsius mark. The sea breeze also ensures that the humidity is countered, making for cool evenings that can be spent frolicking on the beaches. The temperatures begin to rise soon after March, as the mercury touches 35 degrees Celsius during the daytime. These temperatures remain high throughout May, and that?s when the monsoon weather starts to kick in. Rain is a feature of daily weather on the west coast of Thailand until mid-October. After October, the storm dies down and the dry season begins once more in November.