Visiting Thailand – The Right Season

[Simon Hopes]

Thailand, the name, evokes a place lush in greenery with sunny sands and beaches, massage parlours and overall fun in general. Tourists visit Thailand throughout the year but it is generally believed that November to March is the best time to visit the place. The tropical climate ensures sunshine and humidity. The hot weather can touch 40 degrees Celsius easily and you need to be prepared for that if you visit at any other time of the year. November to March is a lot pleasant and you can enjoy visiting Thailand.

The rains in Thailand usually peter off during November and the weather is usually in the mid 20’s and hence there is the usual tourist rush. During November you can visit Phuket, Krabi and other islands nearby and take in the sun. There are many festivals that are celebrated in Thailand every year and if you happen to visit in the month of November then you should participate in the Loy Krathong festival. This is a very famous festival where people release krathongs or small baskets in the water. The locals consider this as a way to send away bad luck. Chiang Mai is the place to be if you want to participate in the festival. Another festival if you can call it that is the Lop Buri monkey banquet, where the people of Lop Buri provide a feast for the macaques that have made their home there.

December is cooler than November and hence very ideal weather for tourists visiting Thailand. The weather is usually in the low 20’s and can be very cool in the night. Rains are rare this time of the year. You can celebrate Father’s day along with other Thais on December 5. Christmas is celebrated in the country but the New Year festivities are something to look out for.

January is the best month to visit Thailand as the weather is dry and the temperatures hover around 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Children’s day is celebrated in the second Saturday of January and it is a fun time for kids. You can even get great deals at many places on this day. Can you even dream of a festival for umbrellas? Well, the Thais have been celebrating a three day festival known as the Bo Sand Umbrella festival. It is a three day festival and you can watch beauty pageants, parades and much much more.

February is the month when the peak season starts to taper off. The weather starts getting a bit hotter and you may experience some rain too. Chinese New Year usually arrives in the end of January of early February and is celebrated with pomp. Another festival that a person should take part in is the Chiang Mai Flower festival where you can view wonderful flower exhibitions. If the MakhaBucha Day falls in February then you should take part in the festivities.

March is the month when the heat is higher than the other months mentioned above. The tourist season starts waning after March. There are many festivals in March which a tourist should visit such as the International Balloon Festival, King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament, Pattaya Music Festival etc.