On this page about the Thailand weather, you can read an explanation about it weather and climate in Thailand. This information is important for determining the best travel period.
The climate is determined by tropical monsoons. The weather is generally hot and humid for most of the year.
Thai interior: three seasons
The Thai interior has three seasons with a specific weather picture:
- The warm season.
- Cool season.
- The rainy season.
During the rainy season it is relatively warm. The weather in the Central, North and Northeast of Thailand (the landlocked provinces) is determined by three seasons. The southern coastal areas of Thailand have only two seasons. This makes the weather in Thailand quite easy to understand and you can take it into account when planning a trip.
In the provinces that are not on the coast, the seasons are clearly defined inland: Between November and May the weather is largely dry. The cool season runs from November to February. The warm season runs from March to May. The rainy season inland lasts from May to November. The weather is then dominated by the southwest monsoon. During this period there can be heavy rainfall and flooding.
Coastal Provinces: Two Seasons
The south of Thailand, the Thai coasts actually only has two seasons:
- Rain season
- Dry season
As a result, beach holidays are possible almost all year round.
The west coast of the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Krabi, and Phi Phi islands) are under the influence of the southwest monsoon. This causes heavy storms and rainfall from April to October.
The Gulf of Thailand or the east coast of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao) is especially rainy between September and December.
Best time to travel
The best time to travel to Thailand is November to February. The winter months bring the coolest days. It rains the least and it is not so stuffy. There are nice Thai festivals that tourists can visit such as Loi Krathong. However, this period is also the high season in Thailand. That means more crowds and higher prices for accommodations.
Read more about the best travel period, high and low season and the weather per month this article on the website of Surprising Thailand.
Beach lovers and rain
There is good news for beach lovers. Thailand's two coastlines have different rainy seasons, allowing tourists to enjoy sunny beaches virtually year-round. The coast of the Andaman sea or the west coast (Phuket, Krabi, and the Phi Phi islands) are under the influence of the southwest monsoon. This brings (sometimes) heavy storms from April to October. While on the beaches on the Gulf of Thailand or the east coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao), most of the rain falls between September and December.
Advantages of traveling in the rainy season
Many people immediately turn off when they hear the word rainy season. That is a pity because it may rain more, but these showers are often short and heavy (with exceptions). And sometimes it doesn't rain for days. Between the rains, especially in the morning, there is a lot of sun and it is still very warm.
There are also advantages to traveling during this time of year. The rates of hotels and other accommodations are sometimes 50% lower than in the dry season.
The rivers and waterfalls are beautiful and the landscape is at its greenest. So don't be put off immediately. Traveling to Thailand in the rainy season is fine.
More about Thailand weather you can read on Thailandblog.nl
