Climate Thailand

The tropical climate in Thailand is warm and humid, with temperatures staying at around 31°C (85°F) all year round. Thailand's climate is perfect on the islands with their cooling sea breezes, but in a big city such as Bangkok it can be a little stifling. When you arrive you'll probably find that it will take a couple of days to adjust to the climate in Thailand. If you're heat-sensitive, you could always save Bangkok until the end of your holiday, when you're used to the temperatures. This will help you to shop without actually dropping. 

Generally, the Thailand climate is dry across the whole country between December and May (see the Thailand climate chart below). This is perfect weather for all activities, and, as a result, it is also the busiest period for tourism in Thailand. You'll find that tourist numbers reach their highest in December and January as travellers flee the European winter and head for some tropical sunshine. The monsoon rains hit different areas of Thailand at different times of the year, and these rainy seasons are described in the climate chart below.

You can travel to Thailand at any time of the year, as although one area may be experiencing monsoons, another is fine. As the climate in Thailand is tropical, so there is always a chance of a tropical downpour throughout the year. These are amazing to witness, and shouldn't be looked upon as a negative experience, the opposite in fact !

There are several reasonably predictable monsoon seasons, when the rain is heavier and more frequent, but these times vary from region to region. During the rainy season, you can almost set your watch by the time of a downpour, as they tend to arrive at the same time every afternoon and last for a couple of hours. Your local guides will be well aware of these weather patterns and will schedule your activities accordingly (so you hopefully won't find yourself rafting through the jungle in a tropical storm). When the heavy downpours start, it's time to head inside for a hot cup of tea, a cold beer or enjoy a vigourous Thai massage.

The rainy season in the south lasts longer than that of north and central Thailand. This means that your planning needs a little more attention if you're heading south and hoping for sunshine. Judging the climate in Thailand correctly will hopefully mean you won't be caught in a monsoon while you're trying to sunbathe, as both your book and your spirits would get soggy.

May marks the start of the short rainy season in northern and central Thailand (Bangkok and surroundings), which lasts until July. The sunshine may be interrupted with occasional showers, but the weather is generally fine and you really shouldn't be put off. The north sees its heaviest rains in August. The showers are more frequent and intense, but they are variable and often broken by sunshine. These heavy rains then move towards central Thailand at the end of August. By the end of September, the majority of rain has left central and northern Thailand.

In the southwest of Thailand, the rainy season peaks in October. This is not the best time to catch some sun on Phuket, Krabi or Raya Paradise islands. This monsoon passes by the beginning of November, moving to the southeastern islands. Ko Samui and the surrounding area will bear the full brunt of the November rains- so don't expect bikini weather until December, when it's generally sunny everywhere.

With regard to climate it's possible to divide South Thailand into three regions: Phuket, Trang, and Samui. Below you will find lists of the islands in each region, along with the best times to visit the region.

Samui region: Ko Samui, Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan

Best time to visit: mid-December to September
Not so good: October to mid-December

The south-eastern Samui region has a different rainy season from the southwestern Phuket region. Just as rainclouds gather in the Phuket region, the climate in the Samui region of Thailand brightens up. During the dry period, temperatures can reach as high as 40°C (105°F). From January until March, temperatures are slightly cooler but there's still plenty of sunshine. Between June and September, there’s more of a chance of a tropical downpour late in the afternoon, but these showers don't last very long, and wouldn't ruin a beach holiday.