The best weather in Thailand in winter is in Bangkok, the north (Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai) and the upper Gulf coast around Hua Hin and Pattaya, which are dry from December to February. The two beach coasts run on different clocks. The Andaman coast (Phuket, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta) is still wet in November and dries out through December, while the Gulf islands are the opposite: Koh Samui gets 445 mm of rain in November and 263 mm in December, and is at its driest in February. Days are hot everywhere, around 29.6°C to 33.3°C, but the north has cool nights.
Below: 11 places compared on official climate averages, the answer month by month, the two coasts side by side, and how to choose.
Thailand in Winter: the Table
These figures are the World Meteorological Organization's 1991-2020 climate normals, the official averages for each Thai Meteorological Department station, as archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information (WMO climate normals). There is one station per place. The archive has no station in Krabi town, so Koh Lanta stands in for the Krabi coast and Takua Pa, just north of Khao Lak, for Khao Lak; Trat's station, on the coast south of Trat town, stands in for Koh Chang, and Chumphon, the mainland port opposite Koh Tao, for Koh Tao. "Day high" and "night low" are the average daily maximum and minimum from November to March, rain is the average total for those five months, and rain days are days with 1 mm or more. Sorted driest first.
| Place | Coast | Day high | Night low | Rain, Nov to Mar | Rain days, Nov to Mar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai | No beach | 31.7°C | 17.9°C | 96 mm | 8 |
| Chiang Rai | No beach | 30.2°C | 15.7°C | 129 mm | 11 |
| Pattaya | Gulf | 31.0°C | 24.2°C | 152 mm | 12 |
| Bangkok | No beach | 33.3°C | 24.5°C | 152 mm | 12 |
| Hua Hin | Gulf | 30.7°C | 23.8°C | 174 mm | 10 |
| Koh Lanta (Krabi) | Andaman | 32.5°C | 24.3°C | 337 mm | 29 |
| Trat (for Koh Chang) | Gulf | 32.3°C | 23.1°C | 386 mm | 28 |
| Phuket | Andaman | 32.3°C | 23.3°C | 521 mm | 37 |
| Khao Lak (Takua Pa) | Andaman | 32.6°C | 22.7°C | 562 mm | 38 |
| Chumphon (for Koh Tao) | Gulf | 31.4°C | 22.7°C | 690 mm | 33 |
| Koh Samui | Gulf | 29.6°C | 24.5°C | 1015 mm | 46 |
Chiang Mai is the driest place in the table over the five months (96 mm) and Koh Samui the wettest (1015 mm), most of it in November and December. Temperature barely separates the beach places: their winter days all average 29.6°C to 32.6°C. Rain is what decides where to go, and it depends on the month.
Save your Thailand shortlist to a map in Dream Trip and see your Bangkok, island and Chiang Mai saves side by side before you pick a route.
Rain Month by Month
| Place | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai | 41 mm | 14 mm | 11 mm | 10 mm | 20 mm |
| Chiang Rai | 45 mm | 21 mm | 17 mm | 13 mm | 35 mm |
| Pattaya | 57 mm | 12 mm | 16 mm | 20 mm | 47 mm |
| Bangkok | 45 mm | 12 mm | 24 mm | 21 mm | 51 mm |
| Hua Hin | 73 mm | 12 mm | 25 mm | 14 mm | 51 mm |
| Koh Lanta (Krabi) | 148 mm | 65 mm | 31 mm | 24 mm | 69 mm |
| Trat (for Koh Chang) | 85 mm | 28 mm | 51 mm | 82 mm | 140 mm |
| Phuket | 219 mm | 86 mm | 66 mm | 32 mm | 117 mm |
| Khao Lak (Takua Pa) | 232 mm | 78 mm | 62 mm | 45 mm | 145 mm |
| Chumphon (for Koh Tao) | 259 mm | 173 mm | 97 mm | 52 mm | 110 mm |
| Koh Samui | 445 mm | 263 mm | 127 mm | 64 mm | 116 mm |
November: 3 of the 11 places get 50 mm of rain or less, led by Chiang Mai (41 mm). Koh Samui is the wettest, with 445 mm. Bangkok is the hottest by day, at 33.1°C, and Chiang Rai has the coolest nights, at 17.9°C.
December: 6 of the 11 places get 50 mm of rain or less, led by Bangkok (12 mm). Koh Samui is the wettest, with 263 mm. Bangkok is the hottest by day, at 32.3°C, and Chiang Rai has the coolest nights, at 14.7°C.
January: 6 of the 11 places get 50 mm of rain or less, led by Chiang Mai (11 mm). Koh Samui is the wettest, with 127 mm. Bangkok is the hottest by day, at 32.7°C, and Chiang Rai has the coolest nights, at 13.8°C.
February: 8 of the 11 places get 50 mm of rain or less, led by Chiang Mai (10 mm). Trat is the wettest, with 82 mm. Bangkok is the hottest by day, at 33.7°C, and Chiang Rai has the coolest nights, at 14.5°C.
March: 3 of the 11 places get 50 mm of rain or less, led by Chiang Mai (20 mm). Khao Lak is the wettest, with 145 mm. Chiang Mai is the hottest by day, at 35.4°C, and Chiang Rai has the coolest nights, at 17.5°C.
For a quick read on the whole country in one month, see Thailand weather in November or Thailand weather in January.
The Two Coasts: Andaman or Gulf?
Thailand's beaches sit on two seas, and their wet seasons do not line up. The Thai Meteorological Department's 2024-25 winter outlook describes heavy rain on the southern east coast, from Chumphon province southwards, especially in November and December, brought by the northeast monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand (TMD winter outlook). The station averages show the same thing.
- Andaman coast (Phuket, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta): wet until November, averaging 200 mm across the three stations, then 76 mm in December, 53 mm in January and 34 mm in February. December is the turn of the season; January and February are the driest months. Phuket goes from 14.2 rain days in November to 3.1 in February.
- Gulf islands (Koh Samui, and Koh Tao off Chumphon): wettest in November, the wettest month of the whole year on Koh Samui (445 mm, 16.5 rain days). December is still wet (263 mm), January halves that (127 mm), and February is the driest winter month (64 mm).
- Upper Gulf and east (Hua Hin, Pattaya, Trat for Koh Chang): the mainland resorts nearer Bangkok are dry in December, with 12 mm in Hua Hin and 12 mm in Pattaya. Trat is wetter: December is its driest month (28 mm), and the rain builds again from January (51 mm) to March (140 mm).
So in November, the driest beaches are Hua Hin and Pattaya, near Bangkok (73 mm and 57 mm). Of the islands, the Andaman side (200 mm on average) is far drier than Koh Samui, but neither is dry. In December, pick Phuket, Krabi or Hua Hin over Koh Samui. February is the driest month of the year on both Phuket and Koh Samui.
December in Detail
| Place | Day high | Night low | Rain | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | 32.3°C | 23.2°C | 12 mm | 1 |
| Pattaya | 30.2°C | 23.3°C | 12 mm | 1.5 |
| Hua Hin | 29.8°C | 23.3°C | 12 mm | 1.3 |
| Chiang Mai | 29.2°C | 16.9°C | 14 mm | 1.2 |
| Chiang Rai | 27.8°C | 14.7°C | 21 mm | 1.9 |
| Trat (for Koh Chang) | 32.2°C | 22.6°C | 28 mm | 2.4 |
| Koh Lanta (Krabi) | 31.4°C | 23.9°C | 65 mm | 7.8 |
| Khao Lak (Takua Pa) | 31.9°C | 22.7°C | 78 mm | 6.9 |
| Phuket | 31.3°C | 23.1°C | 86 mm | 7.7 |
| Chumphon (for Koh Tao) | 30.2°C | 22.0°C | 173 mm | 6.9 |
| Koh Samui | 29.3°C | 24.0°C | 263 mm | 11.6 |
December is the driest month of the five in 4 of the 11 places, but not on the islands. In December, Phuket averages 31.3°C by day and 23.1°C at night with 7.7 rain days in the month, while Koh Samui has 11.6. For other winter sun with the same dates, see our Christmas sun holidays guide.
January in Detail
| Place | Day high | Night low | Rain | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai | 30.0°C | 15.7°C | 11 mm | 1 |
| Pattaya | 30.6°C | 23.5°C | 16 mm | 1.6 |
| Chiang Rai | 28.6°C | 13.8°C | 17 mm | 1.5 |
| Bangkok | 32.7°C | 23.4°C | 24 mm | 1.9 |
| Hua Hin | 29.9°C | 22.8°C | 25 mm | 1.3 |
| Koh Lanta (Krabi) | 32.6°C | 24.1°C | 31 mm | 2.6 |
| Trat (for Koh Chang) | 31.9°C | 22.2°C | 51 mm | 3.5 |
| Khao Lak (Takua Pa) | 32.6°C | 22.1°C | 62 mm | 4.9 |
| Phuket | 32.1°C | 22.9°C | 66 mm | 5.1 |
| Chumphon (for Koh Tao) | 30.8°C | 21.9°C | 97 mm | 5.5 |
| Koh Samui | 29.0°C | 24.2°C | 127 mm | 8.5 |
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The North: Cool Nights, Dry Days
The north is the part of Thailand where winter feels like winter, at least after dark. Chiang Mai averages 30.0°C (86°F) by day in January and 15.7°C (60°F) at night; Chiang Rai is cooler still at night, at 13.8°C (57°F). Both get less than 20 mm of rain in January. Pack a layer for early starts and evenings. The same TMD outlook describes cold weather on mountain tops, with frost at times.
By March Chiang Mai is the hottest place in the table, averaging 35.4°C by day. If you want the north at its most comfortable, go between December and February.
Bangkok in Winter
Bangkok is reliably dry from December to February, with 12 mm in December, 24 mm in January and 21 mm in February. Days average 32.3°C in December and nights 23.2°C; December is the coolest month of the city's year by day. November is drier than the monsoon months but still has 45 mm on average. See Bangkok weather in December for a closer look. Our Bangkok and Phuket weather pages use a 10-year model average for the area, which can differ from these station normals, especially for rain.
How to Choose
- November: Bangkok with Hua Hin or Pattaya for the beach; for islands, the Andaman coast is far drier than the Gulf islands.
- Christmas and New Year: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin or Phuket; Koh Samui is the wettest place in the table in December.
- January and February: almost anywhere, though Koh Samui still gets 127 mm in January. February is the driest month of the year on Phuket and Koh Samui.
- March: hot, with Chiang Mai at 35.4°C by day, and showers return on both coasts (117 mm in Phuket, 116 mm on Koh Samui).
- Coolest nights: Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in December and January.
- Driest overall: Chiang Mai, with 96 mm from November to March.
Flying from the UK? See 11-hour flights from the UK for how Bangkok compares with other long-haul trips, and our hidden gems in Southeast Asia for quieter places to add. For more warm winter options, see winter sun holidays from the UK.
Plan It in Dream Trip
A Thailand trip usually starts as a pile of saved TikToks, Instagram reels and Google Maps pins: night markets, island boat trips, temples and beach bars. Dream Trip puts them on one map.
- Save what you find: send the places you see on TikTok, Instagram and Google Maps to one map.
- See the route: check whether your saves cluster on the Andaman or the Gulf side before you book flights between them.
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FAQ
What is the weather like in Thailand in November?
Hot, and drying out from the north down. Days average 29.6°C to 33.1°C across the table. 3 of the 11 places get 50 mm of rain or less, led by Chiang Mai (41 mm). Koh Samui is the wettest, with 445 mm. Bangkok is the hottest by day, at 33.1°C, and Chiang Rai has the coolest nights, at 17.9°C. The Gulf islands are at the peak of their wet season.
Which part of Thailand is best in December?
Bangkok, the north and the upper Gulf coast are driest: Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai all get 14 mm of rain or less. For a beach, Hua Hin or the Andaman coast; Phuket has 86 mm in December against 263 mm on Koh Samui.
Is Koh Samui good in December?
It is warm (29.3°C by day, 24.0°C at night) but wet: 263 mm over 11.6 rain days on average. It improves in January (127 mm) and is at its driest in February (64 mm).
Is Phuket rainy in November?
Still fairly: 219 mm over 14.2 rain days on average, the tail of the Andaman wet season. December drops to 86 mm, and February (32 mm) is the driest month of the year there.
Is it cold in Chiang Mai in January?
Not by day, at 30.0°C (86°F), but nights average 15.7°C (60°F), so bring a light layer. Chiang Rai averages 13.8°C at night.
When is the rainy season in Thailand?
For most of the country it is May to October: 9 of the 11 stations have their wettest month in that window. The exceptions are on the Gulf coast in the south, where Chumphon (November) and Koh Samui (November) peak later, in the northeast monsoon.
