Best time to visit Thailand from India

The three seasons

• Cool and dry, November to February — the best weather nationwide and the peak for prices. Bangkok is pleasant, the north is genuinely cool at night.
• Hot, March to May — 35C and up, humid in the cities. Beaches still work; sightseeing does not, past mid-morning.
• Green season, June to October — daily downpours rather than all-day rain, lush landscapes, the lowest prices and the thinnest crowds.

The two coasts differ

The Andaman side — Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta — is at its best November to April and roughest May to October. The Gulf side — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao — inverts this, with its wettest spell in November and December and good conditions through much of the Andaman monsoon. If you can only travel in the monsoon, go to the Gulf.

Matched to Indian holidays

• Summer holidays, May and June — hot and then wet, but fares are high because Indian demand is. Choose the Gulf islands or the north.
• Diwali and October break — a good window: the rain is tailing off, the north is green, prices have not yet peaked.
• Christmas and New Year — the most expensive fortnight of the year in Thailand. Book flights and hotels three months out.
• February and March — arguably the sweet spot: fine weather, post-peak prices, and Indian school exams keep demand low.

Festivals worth planning around

• Songkran, mid-April — Thai New Year, three days of water fights. Wonderful to join, difficult to travel through.
• Loy Krathong and Yi Peng, November — lanterns and floating offerings, spectacular in Chiang Mai; book months ahead.
• Vegetarian Festival, September or October — Phuket especially, and a windfall for vegetarian and Jain travellers.

Things that quietly matter

• Northern Thailand has a burning season roughly February to April, when Chiang Mai air quality can be poor. Check readings before committing.
• Jellyfish and rough seas close some beaches in the monsoon; ferries to smaller islands are cancelled at short notice.
• Hotel rates in Phuket can triple between September and December for the same room.