| Planning a trip to Thailand? Wondering what is the best time to visit Thailand? Well, Thailand has tropical climate with three seasons; summer, rainy and winter. If you are planning to travel to this place, it s indispensable to get the timing right. November through February are the best times of the year to visit Thailand as these months are the coolest ones and there is comparatively less rainfall than that at the other times of the year. July to October is the rainy season which should be avoided if possible. April to June might not be as comfortable to many people especially westerners, since humidity during this time creeps up and the temperature shoots up till 35 degrees making it extremely hot. Thailand also has dazzling holidays and breathtaking festivals during different times of the year. There are plenty of annual events that attract huge crowd across the globe to Thailand every year. Two of the most very popular festivals are Songkran festival and Loy Krathong festival. So therefore if you are planning a trip to Thailand, it is suggested to keep these festivals in mind in order to have the best vacation, since you will have an suitable idea about when to go to Thailand. The shape of Thailand is characterized by a long leg that is, if it is divided into three parts, the northern region is made up of mountains and jungles, the central region is characterized by a few beaches with Bangkok, Thailand's capital located in the middle and the southern region is popular for its water attractions and beaches. The main distinction between the central and southern beaches is that while the beaches in the central region sit on Gulf of Thailand, the beaches in the Southern region lie on the Andaman sea. The temperature in both the regions stays warm throughout the year. That is why Thailand's hot and rainy periods play a vital role in deciding about the best time of the year to visit the beautiful tropical island.
Choices for Thailand's holidays
If you plan to visit the place when it is hot but not extremely hot then the best months to book your vacation is between middle of October and the middle of March. This is the peak tourist season as the temperature tends to be cooler with less level of rains and humidity. The northern cities like Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai are considered to be even cooler than Pattaya and Bangkok during these months.
If you plan for northern regions then the hot season from March to May and the early rainy season from June to July are considered to be the best as the temperatures are bearable at higher areas. On the contrary, central and Northeastern Thailand should be totally avoided from March to May since the temperature level shoots up to sometimes 40 degrees during these months. The southern region which is loaded with beaches and islands is the best choice during these hot months as the temperature drops tremendously.
If you do not wish to visit the place during the peak season in order to avoid heavy crowd, you can plan your vacation during the off season from May to September and also reap the benefits of discounted rooms. Although crowd is absent during the rainy months that is from July to October, there are a few advantages: the climate is cool, it is a wonderful time to relax and the landscape is full of greenery. So the amount of rainfall completely depends on the month as well as the region, with October being the wettest month.
Festivals in Thailand
Songkran Festival: Thailand is believed to be festive kingdom, celebrating countless national holidays and hosting and organizing numerous regional, national and international events. If you want to experience and enjoy its festivals then the best time to visit Thailand is the middle of April for Songkran festival or the water festival. It is also known as the Thai New Year and is celebrated from April 13 to 15. During this festival water is thrown upon others. Thai people roam around the streets with water containers and water guns, cars pass by with water barrels and shops have water loaded pipes, smearing the water on the bodies and faces of random people as a blessing for the new year. On this festival you will be totally drenched with water from head to toe wherever you are. This festival is not only fun but it is also believed to bring good fortune to the people. But if you detest huge crowds and getting wet, then this festival season is not the right time for you to visit Thailand.
Loy Krathong is an another famous festival which is celebrated on the full moon of the 12th of November. During this festival people make "krathrongs" which are special boats made out of banana leaves filled with food, candles, coins, incense and then they float them down the river, canal and lakes as a gratitude to thank the water goddess and pray for prosperity and good luck. These banana leaf cups are floated during the night as each cup has a candle and incense which is lit before the krathong is floated into the water. As a result you can see thousands of beautiful lit up boats floating on the water surface. It is believed that the longer your krathong floats, the better your fortune will be in the new year. Even if you do not like crowds, it is a life time experience to watch this one day festival.
New Year and Christmas is a great time to visit this place since the climate is cool and it is also the best time to enjoy the Thai New Year. Thai people love to celebrate so during this time all the malls and store will be decorated with Christmas lights and trees with incredible parties and concerts, making it fun and entertaining. So therefore October through April are the best times for vacation with the best climate and best two Thai holidays. Celebrate your Christmas in Thailand this time and feel the magical difference. |
