Best time to visit Chiang Rai
The best time to visit Chiang Rai is December–February, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai, Thailand
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.7 °C / 82 °F | 14.3 °C / 58 °F | 28 mm / 1.1 in | best month |
| February | 31 °C / 88 °F | 14.9 °C / 59 °F | 14 mm / 0.5 in | best month |
| March | 33.7 °C / 93 °F | 17.9 °C / 64 °F | 31 mm / 1.2 in | good month |
| April | 34.2 °C / 94 °F | 21.5 °C / 71 °F | 126 mm / 4.9 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 32.5 °C / 91 °F | 23.3 °C / 74 °F | 256 mm / 10.1 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 31.7 °C / 89 °F | 24.2 °C / 76 °F | 263 mm / 10.4 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 30.8 °C / 87 °F | 24.1 °C / 75 °F | 393 mm / 15.5 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 30.6 °C / 87 °F | 23.8 °C / 75 °F | 383 mm / 15.1 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 30.9 °C / 88 °F | 23.5 °C / 74 °F | 279 mm / 11 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 30.1 °C / 86 °F | 22 °C / 72 °F | 159 mm / 6.3 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 28.9 °C / 84 °F | 18.8 °C / 66 °F | 50 mm / 2 in | good month |
| December | 27 °C / 81 °F | 15.6 °C / 60 °F | 24 mm / 0.9 in | best month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: good
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: best
- Best
- December–February
- Good
- March, November
Chiang Rai's cool season (November-February) is the standout window for exploring, with January, February and December excellent bar lingering humidity. March turns hot while staying dry and sunny, and from April the heat combines with an intensifying monsoon that peaks in July-August, leaving the entire rainy season unsuitable for comfortable sightseeing.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 28.9 °C / 84 °F, precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily high 27.7 °C / 82 °F, wet days 3.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 14.3 °C / 58 °F.
Against: relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Chinese New Year, Wai Sa Phaya Mengrai (Phokhun Mengrai Maharat Festival).
Watch out for: Chinese New Year travel rush, Christmas and New Year travel rush.
February · best
In its favour: precipitation 14 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, wet days 2.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 14.9 °C / 59 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Against: feels like (high) 32.2 °C / 90 °F, average daily high 31 °C / 88 °F.
Also on: Chinese New Year, Makha Bucha, Wai Sa Phaya Mengrai (Phokhun Mengrai Maharat Festival).
Watch out for: Chinese New Year travel rush.
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, wet days 3.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, average daily low 17.9 °C / 64 °F, relative humidity 64%.
Against: feels like (high) 35.8 °C / 96 °F, average daily high 33.7 °C / 93 °F.
Also on: Makha Bucha.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 50 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 7.5 days, average daily high 28.9 °C / 84 °F, average daily low 18.8 °C / 66 °F.
Against: relative humidity 81%, feels like (high) 32.2 °C / 90 °F.
Also on: Loy Krathong lantern release (Yi Peng).
December · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 28.9 °C / 84 °F, precipitation 24 mm / 0.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily high 27 °C / 81 °F, wet days 3.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, average daily low 15.6 °C / 60 °F.
Against: relative humidity 80%.
Watch out for: Christmas and New Year travel rush.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: good
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: best
- Best
- December–February
- Good
- March, November
November through February give the coolest, driest trekking weather, with January, February and December best and March still workable despite rising heat. The monsoon from April through October brings heavy rain, very high humidity and duller skies that make trekking difficult, peaking in the deluges of July and August.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, wet days 3.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily low 14.3 °C / 58 °F, daylight per day 11.1 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: relative humidity 77%, average daily high 27.7 °C / 82 °F, feels like (high) 28.9 °C / 84 °F.
Also on: Chinese New Year, Wai Sa Phaya Mengrai (Phokhun Mengrai Maharat Festival).
Watch out for: Chinese New Year travel rush, Christmas and New Year travel rush.
February · best
In its favour: precipitation 14 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 2.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 11.5 h, average daily low 14.9 °C / 59 °F, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: average daily high 31 °C / 88 °F, feels like (high) 32.2 °C / 90 °F.
Also on: Chinese New Year, Makha Bucha, Wai Sa Phaya Mengrai (Phokhun Mengrai Maharat Festival).
Watch out for: Chinese New Year travel rush.
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, wet days 3.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 12 h, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 6 mph.
Against: average daily high 33.7 °C / 93 °F, feels like (high) 35.8 °C / 96 °F, average daily low 17.9 °C / 64 °F.
Also on: Makha Bucha.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 50 mm / 2 in, wet days 7.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: relative humidity 81%, average daily high 28.9 °C / 84 °F, feels like (high) 32.2 °C / 90 °F, average daily low 18.8 °C / 66 °F.
Also on: Loy Krathong lantern release (Yi Peng).
December · best
In its favour: precipitation 24 mm / 0.9 in, wet days 3.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily low 15.6 °C / 60 °F, daylight per day 10.9 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: relative humidity 80%, average daily high 27 °C / 81 °F, feels like (high) 28.9 °C / 84 °F.
Watch out for: Christmas and New Year travel rush.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Jade Dragon Mountain, 801 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 28.9 °C | 32.2 °C | 35.8 °C | 38.2 °C | 38 °C | 37.2 °C | 36.6 °C | 36.5 °C | 36.6 °C | 34.9 °C | 32.2 °C | 28.9 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 0.8 days | 0.3 days | 0.9 days | 4.4 days | 9.7 days | 10.8 days | 14.9 days | 14.4 days | 10.6 days | 5.3 days | 1.4 days | 0.5 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 12 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 9 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 1 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 10.2 h | 10.7 h | 10.9 h | 11.3 h | 10.5 h | 9.4 h | 7.7 h | 7.5 h | 8.7 h | 9.5 h | 9.6 h | 9.8 h |
| Relative humidity | 77% | 69% | 64% | 69% | 79% | 82% | 85% | 86% | 85% | 83% | 81% | 80% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 18.9 µg/m³ | 25.7 µg/m³ | 43.1 µg/m³ | 39.6 µg/m³ | 19.2 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 12.1 µg/m³ | 15.3 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 26.1 µg/m³ | 36.1 µg/m³ | 61.3 µg/m³ | 56.2 µg/m³ | 28.2 µg/m³ | 18 µg/m³ | 14.7 µg/m³ | 14.2 µg/m³ | 13.9 µg/m³ | 16 µg/m³ | 18.6 µg/m³ | 21.8 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Wai Sa Phaya Mengrai (Phokhun Mengrai Maharat Festival)
23 January–1 February
- Chinese New Year
January and February, dates vary from year to year
- Makha Bucha
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Songkran (Thai New Year water festival)
13–15 April
- Lychee Fair
11–20 May
- King's Birthday / National Day
28 July
- Loy Krathong lantern release (Yi Peng)
November, dates vary from year to year
Worth knowing before you go
- Chinese New Year travel rush
January and February, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas and New Year travel rush
January and December