Mention the words 'rainy season' or 'monsoon season' to most people and they picture great sheets of water endlessly pouring from the sky for days on end. It is a big misconception when it comes to Thailand's wet season. Though most travelers do not count the rainy season as a good time to travel to Thailand, you can still have an amazing time by visiting great places and picking exciting experiences that can't be ruined by the rain.
The Best Time to Visit Thailand & Rainy Season
In general, the best time to visit Thailand is between November and March. This is when most of the country experiences the dry and cooler season. The temperature ranges from 23 to 33°C (73 to 91°F) on average. It is the busiest tourist time in Thailand.
Thailand's climate is influenced by two monsoons (the southwest and northeast monsoon). In most of Thailand, the rainy season takes place from May to October, with September and October experiencing the highest rainfall.
The south's east coast (including Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, and Koh Samui) is different! It experiences heavy rainfall from October to December. See the best time to visit Koh Samui.

It's true that downpours are common during the rainy season. However, in most places, it rarely rains all day.
The days are warm and sunny most of the time, then when it does rain it is in short and sharp storms. Rains usually last around one or two hours at a predictable time (usually in the afternoon or evening).
If you don't mind braving the rain in the low season, you can benefit from great value offers and quieter attractions.
Must read: How to Plan Your First Trip to Thailand — 7 Easy Steps.
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Great Experience
WOW! I’ve traveled Asia some & I must say Sharon & Asia Highlights made this trip so much more enjoyable and easy More
Stephen Hollis,
Aug 2023
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Alisa has has been great to work with
Alisa with Asia Highlights has has been great to work with. Very friendly and responsive. More
Ana Rausch,
Aug 2023
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Using Sharon right now to book our…
Using Sharon right now to book our upcoming trip to Thailand. She has booked everything that we asked for. Has answered all of my inquiries, which has been many! Looking forward to having a great girls trip in Thailand More
Tracy,
Aug 2023
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Thailand, Singapore, Bali
In Thailand, Tanny and Nori(Suparp), were both incredible! They were both fun, funny, and full of knowledge and made sure we got the full experience. They went the extra mile and always made sure we had cold bottled water and towels to cleanse our hands. In Singapore, Nicole was an absolute gem. She was so kind and knowledgeable and guided us in the right direction to make our day as enjoyable as possible. She helped us choose a top notch local lunch and coffee spot in China Town and taught us so much about the country! In Bali, Emon was an absolute joy. He was very knowledgeable and kind and absolutely made sure we were feeling comfortable and was willing to be flexible with us. He was fun to converse with and made our time traveling between destinations so enjoyable! I cannot recommend Asia Highlights enough! Accommodations, travel arrangements and guided tours were all a breeze. More
Cassi Thunker,
Jul 2023
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Very supportive
Very supportive ! I have received eticket for Sky Lattern Festival very fast More
Chi?n Nguy?n Ng?c,
Jul 2023
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My experience in Chang Mai with Asia Highlights
I greatly enjoyed my experience with Asia Highlights for a trip I booked to Thailand.All of my interests were catered too. My guide in Chang Mai Gemma was excellent.I truly felt the soul of Thailand culture and Buddhism. More
Richard,
Jul 2023
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A pleasure to plan with
Well, this has been a painless and pleasurable process to find such a wonderful company. I had specific dates and places to be and Sharon worked with me diligently to refine the schedule and costs to suit my travel needs and budget. She informed me of a special tour on the dates I am to be in Thailand and I added that to my previous plans. More
Chris Williams,
Jul 2023
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Large multi-generational holiday in Thailand
The holiday was wonderful. Our guides, Mr Monchai (Bangkok), and Ms Tipagorn (Tippy) (Chiang Mai) were exceptional. Travelling in a large multigenerational group with many children requires patience and our guides truly understood that. Mr Monchai and Ms Tippy shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. While everyday was busy, having them greet us with patience and a smile truly made this a memorable holiday. The hotels we stayed at were equally wonderful and went above and beyond to celebrate not only my parents 50th anniversary but also celebrate 2 milestone birthdays that occurred. We will cherish this holiday for many years to come. We hope to use Asia Highlights again. More
CL,
Jul 2023
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I never used a travel agent in my life
I never used a travel agent in my life, but Sharon for Asia Highlights did a phenomenal job helping planning and coordination a family vacation. The best part of working with Sharon was that she maintained an open line of communication and provided answers to my question well within 12-24 hours. Additionally, Sharon was flexible and customized our vacation to my families needs. Overall great experience. More
Antione Barry,
Jul 2023
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Great company to plan a trip to Southeast Asia!
Sharon Haung has been wonderful to work with! Very patient and accommodating. Responds immediately given time change and is prepared, prompt, and professional. More
Debi Hinerfeld,
Jul 2023
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We took a 15 days trip (10 days Vietnam and 5 days Thailand …
It was an amazing experience the guides and drivers were there awaiting for us at each airoport for a transfer to the hotels also on time for all the tours all the guides were so lovely , very experienced and spoke very good English , one of the days on tour in Thailand I lost my phone in a temple in Bangkok mr chai went out of his way in a middle of thousands of visitors and managed to find an bring it back to me I found that amazing , also while on a trip I contacted Jason li out tour organizer few time via whatup and he replied and helped on the spot I recommend asiahilights 150% The quality of the service hotels the guides the drivers outstanding From start to finish ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ???? More
SIMO el ghobar,
Jun 2023
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Wonderful Guides and Experience
Our large group arrived in Bangkok with Tanni as our guide. She was wonderful! An absolute joy to spend time with. She is knowledgeable, kind, and extremely funny. I don’t know what we would have done without her! After Bangkok, we traveled to Chang Mai, where Indy was our tour guide. She was a delight! She is kind, knowledgeable, and so patient. Our trip to Thailand was an adventure of a lifetime and these two women helped make it memorable. I would definitely use Asia Highlights for any future travel in Asia. More
Jessica Bennett,
Jun 2023
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Guide - Chai
We travelled from Vietnam to Bangkok and were blessed to have a guide named Chai. He was a superb guide and it is a pity we couldn't bottle him and take him home. He was very knowledgeable and an absolute gentleman. He could not have done enough to facilitate us and imparted so much knowledge about the Temples, Buddism and the History of Thailand in general. Not only did he give us a great overview of the past and current ways of living in Thailand but I also feel I came away a much better person having interacting with him. I will carry many of his teachings with me for the rest of my life and know that having met him was a very special blessing in my life. More
Customer,
Jun 2023
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Our guide Tanni was kind
Our guide Tanni was kind, knowledgeable, funny and beyond accommodating for our group. We felt like we'd made a friend and it enhanced our trip in the most positive way. Everything was coordinated perfectly which is not easy to do in a large traveling group. Excellent experience! More
Marissa Manson,
Jun 2023
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We are only on day 5 of our 15 day trip…
Our first stop so far was in Hanoi where our guide Trong was just so awesome! He shared about his culture and family life which showing us sites through a city tour. He was so funny making lots of jokes and always made sure we were having fun while learning about everything! He checked on us frequently even when we were no longer with him since we then went on a cruise in Halong Bay! Halong Bay and the cruise on Paradise Elegance went way above anything I expected. The scenery was breathtaking, the ship was so beautiful and clean with such fresh, good food! And I can’t sing enough praise for the staff who took care of us- especially Anna and Belle! They went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed every aspect from eating meals with Anna to every other detail with Belle! I highly recommend Asian Highlights to help plan these extraordinary trips! This already has been a trip of a lifetime and we still have so much more to see all thanks to Cathy!! More
Diane Creitz,
Jun 2023
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Tanni for the win!
14 of my closest friends and family descended upon Bangkok ready to see the town. Asia highlights and Tanni took us on a tour that changed our lives. We experienced so much everyday. Tanni was amazing! She did all the thinking for us, so we all could just be present and enjoy the moment. I can’t recommend this company, and especially Tanni enough. More
Megan McGlynn,
Jun 2023
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This isn't my first trip with Asia…
This isn't my first trip with Asia Highlights. They are great at helping me plan, working my requests into the itinerary, and booking it all. We travel with friends and just got back from a trip to Thailand and Vietnam. Albee did a great job with all the details and we had a wonderful time. We will use them for our next adventure! More
Katie Potesta,
Jun 2023
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Amazing service
Although we have not been our trip yet I wanted to still write a review based on customer service and the ease of booking. Alisa has been extremely prompt and responsive with planning our trip to Thailand. She has had great recommendations and guidance to add to our custom itinerary. Highly recommend using Asia highlights! -Alex More
Alex,
May 2023
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I have never hear of this company…
I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. More
orge alvarez,
May 2023
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Coco Yang worked tirelessly to…
From the moment I landed in Bangkok, Ms Noi Ying was there to welcome me and get me settled into my hotel. We enjoyed several days together touring Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. Lisa arranged a last-minute speedboat tour of 5 breathtaking islands in Phuket. From start to finish, the guides exceeded my expectations!! Thank you, Asia Highlight!! Debbie Woods More
Debbie Woods,
May 2023
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The Best Places to Visit in Thailand during the Rainy Season
Below is our list of spectacular monsoon destinations in Thailand. These are the places where you can enjoy vacations for relaxing, sightseeing, and adventure accompanied by some raindrops.
1. Bangkok

In Bangkok, it will rain almost every day during the rainy season, but it rarely rains all day. This means that many activities can be planned around the weather. Rain or shine, the famous attractions such as the Grand Palace and Wat Arun can be visited. Besides, you can get a spa treatment, get lost in a museum such as the National Museum, go shopping, and take a cooking class.
2. Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is one of the best destinations to visit during the rainy season. Due to its high latitude, it is cooler and drier than Bangkok. You will experience the downpours, but they usually occur for only a few hours in the late afternoon and early evening.
The rains bring the region's natural vegetation to full-blown bud and bloom. You can revel in the vibrant landscapes of the rice fields and the lush greenery of the mountains. It is also great to pay a visit to the Elephant Sanctuary.
3. Pai

About four hours north of Chiang Mai, Pai is a quiet peaceful village in between the valleys of the mountainous region. Its beautiful location, laid-back vibe, and organic cafés are what draw tourists from around the world to this quiet place.
You can find a nice café to enjoy a secluded nap during an afternoon downpour. You can go on jungle treks, swim in Pam Bok waterfall (and enjoy it in full flow), or swim in the Sai Ngam hot springs.
4. Koh Samui

Koh Samui's climate is different from Phuket and other western parts of Thailand's peninsula. It is one of the driest destinations among all the tourist areas during the west coast rainy season (May–October), making it a good beach alternative.
Koh Samui's rainy season is usually from October through December, which is very wet, and generally not a great time to go.
The nearby islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are also great places to go during the May–October period. Koh Phangan is famous for being the home of the hedonistic Full Moon Party. Koh Tao is best known for its diving and snorkeling sites.
5. Phuket
It should be noted that Phuket's rainy season is much wetter than for destinations further north in Thailand, though it covers the same months.
While the majority of Phuket tourism is centered around beach-going and outdoor activities in pleasant weather, the rainy season does not curtail this entirely, with often half of each day when this fun can still go on. Phuket may still be good value if half price in the wet season, though you would need a longer time there to enjoy the same amount of sun.
The nightlife, massages, cafés, bars, and most shopping, being indoors, can still go on, though, of course, there is less of an atmosphere in the low season. See The 8 Best Day Trips from Phuket.
If your holiday falls during Thailand's rainy season and you don't want the rain to spoil your holiday, you can consider other island destinations, such as Bali.
Travel Tips for the Rainy Seasons in Thailand
Here are a few additional tips that will help you navigate Thailand's rainy seasons more comfortably.
1. Stay Flexible
Keep your itinerary flexible during the rainy season. Something like a sudden thunderstorm might make your plans go awry. Flights can be delayed or ferries might be out of service due to heavy storms. Leaving one or two flexible days per week can make your trip go at a leisurely adaptable pace.
2. Plan Ahead
Our team are experts at dealing with situations such as cancellations and sudden changes and can be on-hand to reorganize trips and shuffle things around. Planning ahead means we have the flexibility to adapt to any emergency or slight inconvenience accordingly. Contact us and start to plan your unique tour now.
3. Check the Weather Reports and News
Make sure you do this, especially if you are visiting a hilly region or island. Hilly regions tend to have mudslides or landslides during heavy rainfall while low-lying areas tend to flood up. In bad weather, avoid island hopping. So, it is best to check the news to avoid anything hampering your venture.
4. Avoid Booking Hotels Affected by the Weather
Avoid booking hotels on outlying islands where you must travel by boat, as ferries between islands may be canceled due to bad weather.
5. Pack Waterproof and Quick-Drying Items
Pack items that can help to keep your belongings, and person, dry under the rain. Waterproof bags, for travel and daily activities, will help to keep your belongings and clothes dry from place to place. A reliable travel umbrella is a must. Opt for a water-resistant watch or cellphone case.
Lots of lightweight clothing and quick-drying fabrics are needed in case you do get caught in the rain, as well as non-slip shoes.
6. Buy the Right Insurance
Before you travel, verify that your comprehensive travel insurance plan has the coverage you may need for possible delays and interruptions. If you are mentally prepared and covered by insurance, you'll experience less stress on your trip even while traveling in rainy weather.
Monthly Weather and Travel Information for Thailand
Learn about the weather in Thailand for 12 months and find out the best places to visit each month.
Visit Thailand with Asia Highlights
Interpreting how Thailand's rainy season will impact your travels can be difficult and time-consuming. Our experts can help by tailor-making your trip to be amazing even with a little rain.
At Asia Highlights we have lots of experience planning trips in Thailand during both, the high and the low seasons, and we know all the tips and tricks to make your journey unforgettable.
To get started, send us an email!
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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