April · Thailand weather
Thailand in April: Weather, What to Expect & Where to Go
Updated
April is brutally hot — Bangkok and Isaan regularly hit 35°C+. But it's also Songkran (13–15 April), the Thai New Year water festival, which is genuinely one of the best cultural experiences on the planet. Plan around the heat, plan around Songkran.
Best region
Gulf
Koh Samui, Phangan, and Tao are at their absolute peak — hot, dry, and bright.
Avoid
Northeast
Isaan bakes — 31°C+ averages with little rain to break the heat.
Heat warning (nationwide)
April is the hottest month of the year. Heat exhaustion is a real risk — plan indoor afternoons, drink twice as much water as you think you need, and skip midday temple visits.
April weather, region by region
Average temperatures and rainfall across Thailand's five climate regions in April. Tap the climate map on the homepage for an interactive month-by-month view.
| Region | Avg temp | Rainfall | Visit rating |
|---|---|---|---|
North Chiang Mai | 30°C | 75mm | AQI watch |
Northeast Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) | 31°C | 80mm | AQI watch |
Central Bangkok | 31°C | 85mm | Good |
Andaman Phuket | 30°C | 140mm | Great |
Gulf Koh Samui | 30°C | 85mm | Great |
City spotlights
One city per region — what April actually feels like on the ground, and what to do or skip.
North
Chiang Mai
By the numbers
Chiang Mai averages 30°C — highs of 36–38°C, nights around 22°C. Around 75mm of rain across 6–7 days as the first storms break. AQI improves dramatically late in the month.
Brutally hot in the afternoons, but the first rains finally wash the haze away. Songkran in the old city moat is iconic.
Air quality starts to clear toward month-end as the first storms break. Songkran in the old city moat is iconic — possibly the best in the country.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Northeast
Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat)
By the numbers
Korat averages 31°C — highs regularly hit 38–40°C, nights still warm at 24°C. Around 80mm of rain across 7 days. Isaan bakes harder than anywhere else in Thailand.
Brutal. The plateau radiates heat well into the evening; Phimai at midday is genuinely dangerous.
Isaan bakes. Korat regularly hits 35°C+ with little rain, and Phimai is brutal at midday. Local Songkran celebrations are smaller and more low-key than Chiang Mai's, but a welcome relief from the heat.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Central
Bangkok
By the numbers
Bangkok averages 31°C — afternoon highs of 36°C, nights of 27°C. Around 85mm of rain across 6–7 days. Humidity climbs back to 75%.
Hot enough that locals slow down. Songkran water fights are the only way the city stays sane.
Hot enough to be uncomfortable, but Songkran in Silom and Khao San is unmissable. Plan everything else around early mornings and air-conditioning.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Andaman
Phuket
By the numbers
Phuket averages 30°C with short afternoon showers becoming more frequent. Around 140mm of rain across 9–10 days. Sea temperature 29°C.
Last good month before the monsoon. Mornings are bright; afternoons increasingly include brief storms.
Last reliable month before the monsoon arrives — short afternoon showers are becoming more common, but mornings are still bright.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Gulf
Koh Samui
By the numbers
Koh Samui averages 30°C with around 85mm of rain across 8 days, mostly short bursts. Seas are calm and warm at 30°C.
Peak beach weather on the Gulf side. Samui, Phangan, and Tao are all at their absolute best.
Peak beach weather on the Gulf side. Hot, dry, and consistently sunny — Samui and Phangan are at their best now.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Events & festivals in April
Songkran (Thai New Year)
13–15 April. Nationwide water-fight festival — Chiang Mai's old city, Bangkok's Khao San and Silom, and the Songkran on Phuket are the big three. Expect to get soaked from the moment you leave your hotel.
Where to actually go
Ten days around Songkran
- 3days
Bangkok
Songkran in Silom and Khao San is unmissable. Outside those streets, plan indoor afternoons.
Flight · 1h 25mBook on 12Go - 3days
Chiang Mai
Songkran in the old city moat is the best in Thailand. AQI is finally clearing.
Flight · ~3h with layoverBook on 12Go - 4days
Koh Samui
Peak Gulf beach weather. The monsoon hasn't touched this side yet.
Time the trip around April 13–15 (Songkran). Outside that window, the heat without the festival energy makes for a tougher trip.
Sea conditions in April
Thailand has two coastlines on opposite monsoon calendars. Here's what each looks like this month for swimming, diving, and boat trips.
Andaman coast — Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi
Still very good for the first three weeks. Sea temperature 29°C, calm mornings, brief afternoon showers. Diving visibility 15–20m. The monsoon arrives in earnest from late April.
Gulf coast — Samui, Phangan, Tao
At peak. Glass-flat mornings, 30°C water, exceptional diving on Koh Tao with 25m+ visibility.
How crowded is Thailand in April?
Songkran (April 13–15) is a peak travel period — domestic flights and trains sell out weeks in advance. Chiang Mai's old city, Bangkok's Khao San/Silom, and Phuket all fill to capacity. Book everything for the Songkran window months ahead.
What to pack for Thailand in April
- Quick-dry clothes — you'll be soaked during Songkran whether you join in or not
- A waterproof phone pouch (essential April 13–15)
- Light, breathable hot-weather clothing for the rest of the trip
- SPF 50+ sunscreen — UV is at its annual peak
- A small rain jacket for the first monsoon showers on the Andaman side
April is the hottest month of the year. Heat exhaustion is a real risk — drink twice as much water as you think you need, plan indoor afternoons, and skip midday temple visits.
Thailand in April — common questions
Is April a good time to visit Thailand?
It's a divisive month. For culture, it's spectacular — Songkran (April 13–15) is one of the best festivals on the planet. For weather, it's the hottest month of the year, with afternoons regularly above 35°C across the country. If you can time your trip to Songkran, the heat is worth tolerating; if not, look at February, November, or December instead.
What is Songkran and when is it?
Songkran is the Thai New Year, celebrated 13–15 April. It's marked by a nationwide three-day water fight — strangers throw water on each other in the streets, parades pass through old quarters, and the country effectively shuts down for the holiday. Chiang Mai's old city moat is the most iconic celebration; Bangkok's Khao San and Silom are the rowdiest.
How hot is Thailand in April?
April is the hottest month of the year. Bangkok averages 31°C with afternoon highs of 36°C; Isaan and the central plains regularly hit 38–40°C. Even Chiang Mai, normally cooler, sees daily highs of 36–38°C until the first storms break late in the month.
Is April rainy season in Thailand?
Not yet, but the first storms of the year begin late in April. The southwest monsoon arrives officially in early May, hitting the Andaman coast first. Through most of April expect dry, hot weather with the occasional dramatic evening storm in the second half of the month.
Can I avoid Songkran if I'm visiting in mid-April?
Not really. Songkran spans the entire country and most public spaces will be in water-fight mode. If you want a quieter experience, retreat to a beach resort on Koh Samui or Koh Phangan — the islands celebrate but on a smaller, more contained scale than Chiang Mai or Bangkok.
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