Northern Thailand

Northern Thailand is home to stunning natural scenery featuring dense jungle and stunning mountainous beauty. This part of the country offers a change of pace and is an ideal place to relax and soak up the local Thai atmosphere. Northern Thailand is also known for its rich history, varied culture and ancient temples.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the capital of Chiang Mai Province and the largest city in Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai is a place to relax after the chaos of Bangkok. You can find fabulous food and real Thai atmosphere here will wandering around the backstreets of the city.

Sukhothai

Sukhothai is a small city in Northern Thailand, about 427 km north of Bangkok and 217 km south of Chiang Mai. The city is famous for the ruins of the ancient city Sukhothai.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is a quieter neighbour of Chiang Mai, where you can avoid the crowds while exploring nature of the region, visiting remote hill tribes and checking out the Golden Triangle, famous for being the former centre of the world’s opium trade.

Weather in Northern Thailand

In the northern part of Thailand the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and May the weather is mostly dry with little rain expected throughout the region for much of this time. The dry season here is broken up into the periods of cool season (November to February), when it can get quite chilly at night, especially at higher altitudes, and hot season (March to May), when it is not unusual for the temperature to reach even 40°C.

The wet season in the northern parts of Thailand is from May to November. The region is dominated by the southwest monsoon, during which time rainfall is at its heaviest. The rain usually comes in the form of short showers, lasting an hour or two. As the rainy season progresses, the rain can become heavier and more constant, traditionally reaching peak levels in August and September.

For the best time to visit Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Sukhothai and other Northern Thailand destinations check our Northern Thailand weather ratings chart.

After visiting Northern Thailand you are planning to continue your trip down south? Check when is the best time to visit Thailand's other destinations and choose destination with the best possible weather conditions wisely.