Chiang Mai Weather

The best time to visit Chiang Mai is between October and April. The monsoon season traditionally begins in May and lasts through to October, with July to September usually being the time of heaviest rain. Be careful should you be visiting during the peak raining period. Chiang Mai has been prone to flooding in the past. If you don’t mind a little rain, May and June are good times to go too. Temperatures are cooler, and hotel and guesthouses offer discounted low season rates.

The hottest month is April, when temperatures can hit the 40s (°C). If you’re afraid of the heat, the cooler months of November to January will be a good time to travel, with the average day temperature slightly below 30°C (86°F). This is the “Thai winter”.

Chiangmai Seasonal Weather Averages
(Source: www.worldweather.org)

Chiang Mai Festival Fun

Don’t miss the 2 major festivals too: Loy Krathong in November and Songkran in April. Loy Krathong is also known as the Yee Peng Festival in Chiang Mai. Not only do the locals and tourists set afloat handmade floats (krathongs) made from banana plant, they also launch many hot air paper balloons (kom loi) into the sky. Very charming and romantic! During Songkran, be prepared for a rowdy water war all over the city, expecially around the old city moat. And get ready to be soaked!

Read more about the festivals in Chiang Mai.

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