Best time to visit Thailand

The Andaman Sea offers remarkable visibility at the Similan Islands with occasional whale shark sightings later in the month.

Crisp mornings in the northern mountains bring seas of mist and cool trekking conditions across hill-tribe regions.

If the Chinese New Year lands in January, the streets of Bangkok’s Chinatown glow with lanterns and dragon dances.

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival fills the city with floats adorned with orchids and damask roses.

Whale sharks are most reliably seen at Richelieu Rock this month, and visibility remains excellent.

Makha Bucha, a major Buddhist festival, is celebrated with candlelit walks around temple halls, making for an evening experience that’s both atmospheric and meditative.

It’s mango season! Thailand is famous for its mangoes, and for good reason. Sold whole or as an ingredient in delectable Thai cuisine, they fill floating markets and street stalls all over the country.

Beautifully clear seas mean excellent diving, with manta rays and whale sharks common at offshore sites.

The skies above the Isthmus of Kra darken with millions of migrating birds of prey – one of nature's most jaw-dropping spectacles, birder or not.

It’s time to join in the fun of Songkran, which marks the Thai New Year. It’s a joyful nationwide celebration with temple rituals and a lively water festival.

This is Thailand’s hottest month, so we’re headed to the southern islands for long swims and lazy afternoons by the water.

Chiang Mai starts to heat up but remains manageable with shaded cafés and riverside spots.

Groundhog day? Not here. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok begins the rice growing season with a traditional prediction made by oxen.

The Gulf islands enjoy warm, calm seas and quieter beaches before the summer rush.

Join the crowds for the Bun Bang Fai festival in Yasothon, with lively parades and community celebrations marked by the launching of handmade rockets!

Dive to your heart’s content in the Gulf islands, which boast crystal clear water at Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock.

Early monsoon rains revive waterfalls and rainforests, turning Khao Sok National Park into a misty and mysterious landscape to explore.

Thailand takes its candles seriously. The Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani features enormous carved beeswax sculptures that get paraded through the city.

Camera essential: Siam tulips carpet Pa Hin Ngam National Park in bright pink – a fleeting rainy-season spectacle that peaks this month.

Queen Sirikit's birthday on August 12th sees Bangkok dressed in blue, with evening light shows adding sparkle to the capital's already vibrant streets.

The Gulf islands offer warm seas and brief showers that clear quickly – your best beach bet while the Andaman coast gets drenched.

Rice paddies turn vivid green as fields flood before harvest. Mirrored surfaces, lush colour – photographers, this one's for you

The Gulf islands remain your go-to for beach time as the rest of Thailand weathers heavier rains.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival brings processions through Old Town and some eye-watering rituals – think fire-walking and pierced cheeks. Not for the faint-hearted.

Northern Thailand eases into its gentler season – ideal for temple-hopping and countryside cycling without melting.

Ok Phansa marks the end of Buddhist Lent with illuminated boats drifting along the Mekong at Nakhon Phanom – quietly magical.

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng overlap: floating offerings on rivers, lanterns filling the sky above Chiang Mai. One of those 'pinch yourself' moments.

The Similan Islands reopen with crystal-clear visibility and abundant marine life – the Andaman's dive season has officially begun.

Golden rice paddies signal harvest time. Traditional techniques are still widely used – a window into rural Thailand that's fast disappearing.

Cool, dry weather sweeps across Thailand. Northern highlands can be crisp in the mornings, so pack a layer or two.

The Andaman Sea hits peak diving season – exceptional visibility and whale sharks returning to sites like Richelieu Rock.

Resorts deck the halls and beach parties ring in the New Year. Thailand does festive season with style.