When to go: weather by destination

Training runs year round, so weather is about comfort and cost more than whether you can train. As a rough guide, the dry season runs about November to April and the wetter months about May to October, though the islands and the north do not always line up.

Islands and the south

Phuket and the Gulf islands are hot year round. The drier, busier stretch is roughly November to April. Wetter months are quieter and often cheaper, with rain that tends to come in bursts rather than all day.

Chiang Mai and the north

Chiang Mai is cooler, especially in the evenings from November to February. Plan around the burning season, roughly February to April, when farmers clear fields and air quality can drop. If you are sensitive to smoke, avoid those months in the north.

Choosing a month

• Best weather and most people: November to February
• Quieter and cheaper: the wetter months
• Avoid the north during the burning season if air quality matters to you
• Confirm current conditions before you book, since seasons shift year to year