Monsoon maps, shoulder-season bargains and the months the islands are at their best.
The short answer
November to February is cool, dry and the busiest time across the country — ideal for Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the Andaman coast islands like Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi. Prices and crowds are at their highest over Christmas and New Year.
Season by season
March to May is hot, especially in Bangkok, but it is still dry and hotel rates start to fall. Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival in mid-April, is one of the most fun weeks to be in the country.
June to October brings the southwest monsoon to the Andaman coast. The Gulf islands — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao — stay drier until around October, which makes them the smart summer pick.
- Nov – Feb: everywhere, peak prices
- Mar – May: hot, great deals, Songkran in April
- Jun – Sep: Gulf islands and the north
- Oct: shoulder month, lush and quiet
Thailand has two coasts with two monsoons — so there is almost always a beach with sunshine somewhere.
Our pick for Indian travellers
For families travelling in school holidays, late May and early June on Koh Samui gives the best mix of weather and price. For couples, the first two weeks of November are hard to beat — the rains have just stopped and peak pricing has not kicked in yet.
