When planning a trip to Thailand, most people focus on the best time to go to their destination. But have you ever wondered what the worst time to go is? And, more importantly, why would this be important to know?
In this article, we have two main objectives: to tell you all you need to know about the worst season in Thailand, the monsoon season, and to give you some unique ideas to enjoy it nonetheless.
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Most travelers, when they picture a trip to Thailand, imagine sunny beaches and bustling street markets, but the monsoon season is quite the contrary. Rain brings a new atmosphere, making it a more silent, greener, quieter, and full of unexpected charm season.
But before we start our trip to Thailand, you want to share plenty of photos and videos of this unexpected side of the country with your friends and family. This trip might be the perfect opportunity to try Yoho Mobile’s free eSIM. See how easy they are to install, and for future trips use the promo code YOHO12 for a 12% off.
The Worst Season to Travel to Thailand: The Monsoon Season
Most travelers agree that the monsoon season is the worst season to travel to Thailand, but how real is this? And why is it considered so challenging or bad for trips?
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Heavy and frequent rainfall: During all these months, rain is pretty common, and while in July it might be quicker, by October torrential downpours can happen suddenly and last for hours or even all day. So you can see how disruptive this might be for any planning.
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Flooding and waterlogging: With all this rain, floods are a natural consequence. Especially in cities and low-lying regions, the heavy rains can make streets impassable, disrupt public transportation, and force the temporary closure of attractions and businesses.
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High humidity and heat: Even when it’s not directly raining, the weather is quite unpleasant. During the monsoon season, the humidity and heat are extremely high, and this combination feels extremely uncomfortable, especially if you are not accustomed to a tropical climate.
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Unpredictable weather: Even with all that, for many travelers, the main problem is the unpredictability of the weather. Because if you know there’s going to be rain, you can plan indoor activities. But what happens quite often is that the forecast looks clear, you plan an excursion, and suddenly it starts raining really heavily.
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What is the worst that can happen on a trip to Thailand?
After hearing all the dangers of the monsoon season in Thailand, what is the worst that can actually happen if I decide to travel there? Well, that question was answered by Rosie, who was on a small boat going to a nearby Island when a southern storm hit the area. The weather, which had been calm minutes before, suddenly turned dark; the waves started tossing the boat around. Rosie had a good scare, that’s for sure, but the captain of the boat, quite adapted to the changing weather, skillfully navigated the waves, bringing them towards safety.
Thailand Monsoon Weather by Region
Thailand is not a small country, so we can’t expect the weather to behave the same in different regions. This is quite important to know, whether you’re traveling to a specific region or making a multiregional trip. So here’s a breakdown of the main characteristics of the monsoon season across Thailand
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West Coast: On the west coast, the monsoon season goes from May to October, and it brings heavy and frequent rains paired with rough seas. The main attraction, the beaches, are less sunny and sometimes windswept during this time.
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East Coast: On the East Coast, however, the monsoon season is from October to December, often referred to as the Northeast monsoon period. Rains are usually shorter, but they are heavy nonetheless, and the conditions can be rough.
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Northern Thailand: The northern area of Thailand experiences the Southwest monsoon, so you can expect heavy rains. Unlike the coastal areas, the weather here brings a new green into the landscape, but also muddy and slippery trails.
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Central Thailand: In central Thailand, from May to October, you can expect heavy rain and thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon and evenings. This can usually cause temporary flooding, but since the rain doesn’t last all day, you can still do some sightseeing.
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Is there any benefit to traveling during the monsoon season?
After all of that, you might see that traveling during the monsoon season to Thailand is the worst thing that you can do. But, while the weather is challenging, that doesn’t mean that there are no things to enjoy during this season, and you’ll be surprised to see that it actually has quite some advantages.
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Lush and vibrant landscapes: All the rains that come with the monsoon bring the greenest green that you will ever see. During these months of the year, the landscape transforms into a breathtakingly beautiful paradise.
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Fewer tourists and crowds: As we said from the beginning, not many travelers choose to brave this season. So if you are one of the few who rise to the challenge, you’ll find the famous landmarks, temples, and beaches with more peace and personal space, plus, you’ll get better deals and lower prices!
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Unique cultural experiences: The monsoon season might stop the tourism, but locals still live there and celebrate festivities. For example, during this time, there is the Loy Krathong festival, with thousands of lanterns and floating offerings on the rivers.
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A different pace and atmosphere: You can’t say that you have experienced all about a country if you have only traveled during the best season. During the monsoon, since the rain tends to disrupt a lot of planning, you’ll be forced to slow down and fall into a more introspective rhythm. This is the perfect opportunity to engage more with the quieter side of Thai life and visit cafes, markets, and temples.
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How to pack for the worst time in Thailand?
One of the first steps to truly enjoy the monsoon season in Thailand is packing your luggage appropriately. For that, we’ll focus on items that’ll help you in case of sudden rain and the generally high humidity.
Start adding a light rain jacket or poncho; this item should be with you at all times you are outdoors. After that, pack your waterproof shoes or sandals. Keep in mind that closed shoes may get soaked, so choose a pair that’s either open or dries quickly. Or both, to be on the safer side. In general, think of clothes that dry easily.
A bag to keep your electronics and documents safe during the trip is also essential, especially if you plan on doing boat trips. And of course, there are a lot of mosquitoes during this time, so bring on your repellent.
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How to mentally prepare for Monsoon travel
Now that you have almost everything ready for “the worst time to travel to Thailand”, we have some final advice for you. First of all, expect plans to change, so come up with a plan B and C in case the rains make an excursion impossible and make traveling far from your hotel difficult. Accept the unpredictability and embrace the slower pace of Thailand during the monsoon season.