November · Thailand weather
Thailand in November: Weather, What to Expect & Where to Go
Updated
November is the first month of the cool-dry season, and it's spectacular. The north is cool and clear, Bangkok is comfortable, the Andaman coast is fully back online. Only the Gulf islands are still in their wet pattern. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng fall mid-month — easily one of the best cultural experiences on the planet.
Best region
North
Chiang Mai cools sharply, mountains are visible again, and Yi Peng turns the city into a sky-lantern festival.
Avoid
Gulf
Samui and Phangan are at the peak of their wet season — flooding is common.
Good for
Yi Peng lanterns in Chiang Mai, Andaman beaches, Bangkok in full swing
November weather, region by region
Average temperatures and rainfall across Thailand's five climate regions in November. Tap the climate map on the homepage for an interactive month-by-month view.
| Region | Avg temp | Rainfall | Visit rating |
|---|---|---|---|
North Chiang Mai | 24°C | 45mm | Great |
Northeast Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) | 26°C | 25mm | Great |
Central Bangkok | 28°C | 60mm | Great |
Andaman Phuket | 28°C | 180mm | Good |
Gulf Koh Samui | 27°C | 300mm | Good |
City spotlights
One city per region — what November actually feels like on the ground, and what to do or skip.
North
Chiang Mai
By the numbers
Chiang Mai averages 24°C — daytime highs around 30°C, nights cooling sharply to 17–19°C. Just 45mm of rain across 4–5 days. Air clears, mountains visible.
Probably the best month of the year here. Cool mornings, clear skies, and Yi Peng turns the city into a sky-lantern festival.
Probably the best month of the year here. Cool mornings, clear mountains, and the world's most photogenic festival.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Northeast
Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat)
By the numbers
Korat averages 26°C with around 25mm of rain across 3 days. Cool, dry nights of 18°C; mornings in Khao Yai drop into the mid-teens.
Cool, dry, and clear. Phimai Historical Park is at its best in soft November light.
Cool, dry, and clear. Phimai Historical Park is at its best in soft November light, and Khao Yai mornings drop into the mid-teens — bring a jumper for the early viewpoint runs.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Central
Bangkok
By the numbers
Bangkok averages 28°C — highs around 32°C, nights around 24°C. Around 60mm of rain across 5 days. Humidity drops back to 65%.
Excellent weather and Loy Krathong on the Chao Phraya. Markets and walking tours at their best.
Excellent weather and Loy Krathong on the Chao Phraya. Markets, walking tours, and night markets are at their best.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Andaman
Phuket
By the numbers
Phuket averages 28°C with around 180mm of rain across 13 days, mostly brief overnight showers. Sea visibility recovering to 20–25m.
Back in business. Calm seas, dry days, and prices that haven't yet hit Christmas peak.
Back in business. Calm seas, dry days, and prices that haven't yet hit Christmas peak.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Gulf
Koh Samui
By the numbers
Koh Samui averages 27°C with around 300mm of rain across 19 days. Wettest month of the year. Flooding is common.
At the peak of its wet season. Flooding closes roads and grounds boats — skip in favour of Phuket or Krabi.
Now in the worst of its wet season. Flooding closes roads and grounds boats — skip in favour of Phuket or Krabi.
Year-round climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Events & festivals in November
Loy Krathong
Mid-November (varies with the lunar calendar). Floating lanterns on rivers and lakes nationwide. Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and Chiang Mai are the most atmospheric.
Yi Peng
Chiang Mai's sky-lantern festival, coinciding with Loy Krathong. Thousands of lanterns released at once — book accommodation months in advance.
Where to actually go
Ten days in November
- 3days
Bangkok
Excellent weather. Loy Krathong on the Chao Phraya is the highlight.
Flight · 1h 25mBook on 12Go - 3days
Chiang Mai
Possibly the single best month here. Time around Yi Peng if you can.
Flight · ~3h with layoverBook on 12Go - 4days
Krabi
Andaman fully back online — calm seas, dry days, prices not yet at Christmas peak.
Skip Koh Samui in November — the Gulf is in the peak of its wet season. Save the Gulf islands for May–August.
Sea conditions in November
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
Back to high-season form. Sea visibility 20–25m, calm seas, dive operators fully reopened. Long-tail trips run every day.
Gulf coast — Samui, Phangan, Tao
At worst. Heavy rain, choppy seas, ferries cancelled regularly. Avoid for beach trips.
How crowded is Thailand in November?
Building toward peak. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng (mid-November, varies with the lunar calendar) draw international visitors to Chiang Mai and Sukhothai — book 3–4 months ahead for those dates. Andaman beaches fill quickly through the month.
What to pack for Thailand in November
- Light layers — T-shirts plus a long-sleeve for north evenings
- A fleece for Chiang Mai mornings and Loy Krathong river-side evenings
- Modest temple-visit outfit
- SPF 30+ sunscreen for the Andaman side
- A small rain jacket for Koh Samui if you're going against the advice
If you're targeting Yi Peng in Chiang Mai, book accommodation 3–4 months in advance — the city fills to capacity for the lantern releases. Confirm exact dates with the Tourism Authority of Thailand each year, as they shift with the lunar calendar.
Thailand in November — common questions
Is November a good time to visit Thailand?
Absolutely. November is arguably the single best month to visit Thailand — great weather almost everywhere, the air is clear, the country has finished its rains, and Loy Krathong and Yi Peng fall mid-month. Prices haven't yet hit the December peak. The only thing to skip is Koh Samui, which is now in the worst of its wet season.
Is November rainy season in Thailand?
Mostly no. The southwest monsoon is over — Bangkok, the north, and the Andaman coast are all in their cool-dry season. The only exception is the Gulf coast (Koh Samui, Phangan, Tao), which is at the peak of its flipped wet season with heavy rain through November and December.
What are Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?
Loy Krathong is a nationwide festival, usually mid-November, in which people float small lotus-shaped offerings on rivers and lakes. Yi Peng is the northern Thai version, centered in Chiang Mai, where thousands of sky lanterns are released at once — one of the most photographed events in Southeast Asia. The exact dates shift with the lunar calendar, so confirm with the Tourism Authority of Thailand each year.
How cool does Chiang Mai get in November?
Chiang Mai averages 24°C in November, with daytime highs of 30°C and overnight lows of 17–19°C. In the mountains around Pai and Mae Hong Son, valley temperatures can dip below 15°C before sunrise. Bring layers — it's the first month of the year that feels genuinely cool in Thailand.
Should I avoid Koh Samui in November?
Yes. November is the peak of the Gulf coast's wet season — Koh Samui sees around 300mm of rain across 19 days. Flooding closes roads, ferries are cancelled, and boat trips are unreliable. Choose Phuket or Krabi instead — the Andaman coast is fully back to high-season form by November.
← Previous month
Thailand in October
Andaman returning to form, end-of-Lent festivals
Next month →
Thailand in December
Cool-season highlights, NYE in Bangkok, family trips
All months
All Thailand weather pages →