Introduction
Thailand is a country at the center of the Southeast Asian Indochinese Peninsula composed of 76 provinces. It is the world’s 50th largest country by total area and the 21st-most-populous country. Thailand is bordered in the north by Myanmar and Laos, in the east by Laos and Cambodia, in the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and in the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand in the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea in the southwest.
Thailand’s tropical weather is comprised of warm, cool and monsoon seasons, making the north and south experiences different. To figure out when you should visit Thailand, first you should decide which region you want to explore. To help you out, we have highlighted the overview weather of each region, and their respective top attractions such as islands, hiking, festivals, food markets and, of course, shopping. Since South Africans do not need a visa to enter Thailand, all that’s left to do is to book your tickets and head east!
1. Travel to the North
a. Main cities you must visit: Chiang Mai, Pai
b. Weather overview
The northern part of Thailand is surrounded by Green Tropical Forests and Staggering Mountain Landscapes. The weather in this area is defined by 3 seasons: rainy, cool and warm seasons.
October to February is the cool period in the north part and definitely the best time to visit Thailand for its incredible hiking and stunning sunrises. In the morning, you can wake up to enjoy fresh air with temperatures coming to approximately 20 – 25 Celsius degrees. This blossoming period is perfect for experiencing the countryside with its picturesque green mountains, rice terraces, and winter flowers.
In contrast, March to May experiences the hottest weather. With this heat, northern Thailand’s weather is similar to the south, just a little less humid! To be prepared for sweltering temperatures, don’t forget to pack extra sunblock and drink plenty of water to ensure your health during the trip.
Monsoon season up north starts from mid-June and stays until October. Please keep in your mind that rain showers occur sporadically, in short bursts. Hence, it’s better for you to always have a raincoat on hand and be flexible with your activities. While you’ll need to plan your hiking around these rain showers, the upside is you can enjoy much cooler temperatures.
c. Best months to travel
d. Some places you should check out
Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Night Bazaar, Wat Umong, Warorot Market, Doi Pui Village, Bua Thong Waterfall, Chiang Mai Rainforest Canopy Zipline Adventure
e. Clothes you should bring
Comfy hiking shoes, light and comfortable clothing (cotton), light raincoat
2. Travel to the center
a. Main cities you should visit: Bangkok
b. Weather overview:
The flat cultivated landscapes of central Thailand experience a tropical climate comprised of cool season, warm season and rainy season.
The cooler season (from October to January) is the best time to visit the central parts of Thailand. In Bangkok, the temperatures range from 28 – 30 Celsius degrees and you can enjoy strolling around the vibrant streets of the capital city.
Meanwhile, the warm season generally hits central Thailand from February until June, where you may get temperatures up to 40 Celsius degrees. Some areas around central Thailand may be hot but still remains being humid – a combination which can be a tough challenge if you’re doing more physical activities.
July to October are affected by central Thailand’s monsoon season. If you want to visit the country during these months, don’t forget to bring along with you a raincoat for the afternoon rain showers.
c. Best months to travel
d. Some places you should check out
Wat Pho (to see Reclining Buddha), Grand Palace, Chatuchak Market, Chao Phraya River, Bangkok National Museum, Sathorn Unique tower, Lumpini Park, Dusit Zoo…
e. Clothes you should bring
Light clothing, sneakers
3. Travel to the South
a. Main cities you should visit: Phuket, Koh Samui
b. Weather overview:
The southern part of Thailand, stretching down past Phuket beach, is defined by 2 seasons: the rainy and the dry seasons.
The dry season spans from December until May, and temperatures range from around 25 to 32 Celsius degrees.
The best time to visit Thailand’s southern parts is from November to March. During this time, you get to soak in the tropical heat along the beautiful coastline while cooling off in the sparkling turquoise waters.
Meanwhile, the rainy season in the south starts around June and continues until October. The rains usually come in short spurts. Hence, if you’re planning to visit Krabi and the surrounding islands, you’ll still get plenty of sunshine. You can also indulge in having the flawless beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui all to yourself!
c. Best months to travel
d. Some places you should check out
Phang Nga Bay, Bangla Road Nightlife, Similan Island, Wat Chalong, Old Phuket Town, Bamboo Island, James Bond Island, Phi Phi Island…
e. Clothes you should bring
Light clothing, flipflops, swimwear, sunglasses
4. Annual Events
- Songkran Water Festival: 13 – 15 April
- Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival): late June – July
- Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival): November
- Wing Kwai (Buffalo Racing Festival): October
- Lopburi Monkey Banquet: November
- Vegetarian Festival: October
Other notices for you while traveling to Thai Land
- Currency: Thai Baht.
1 USD = 32,88 Thai Baht at the moment we are writing this blog. - Visa: generally speaking, people from the US, UK, and EU are given a free 30-day visa when entering Thailand by airplane and 15 days if you enter overland. This visa is easily extendable if you want to stay in the country longer. ASEAN passport holders get a free 30-day visa upon entry (but some aren’t valid for extension).
- Language: in Thai Islands, English is more common thanks to the tourism industry. Most people, especially those who work in tour activities and hotels, will be able to help you out. In northern Thailand and more rural areas, there are chances that you will encounter people who don’t speak English
- Transportation: Thailand has many different modes of transport which tend to come in all different shapes and sizes, which are tuk tuk, taxi, motorcycle taxi, songthaew, bus, BTS skytrain, MRT subway, train, plane…
- Accommodation: as in every country, you can travel around for as cheap or as expensive as you want. Based on our experience, you can travel inside Thailand for as low as $30-35 a day with accommodation and activities usually being your largest expense. Food is relatively cheap, especially if you stick to local street food (with one plate of Pad Thai costing around 2$.