Practical guide
The hottest month of the year, cooled down by a nationwide water fight.
April is the hottest month of the year, with Bangkok averaging highs of 36°C and Chiang Mai 37°C, so it suits people who like heat or are coming for Songkran. The Thai New Year water festival runs 13–15 April and turns Bangkok, Chiang Mai and every tourist town into a three-day water fight. For beaches, the Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) are dry and calm, while the Andaman coast gets its first afternoon storms late in the month. The north is still hazy from the burning season.
Averages for eight weather stations, one for each part of the country. Tap a region in the table to jump to it, or switch to °F and inches.
| Region | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | 36°C | 27°C | 93 mm | 5 | – |
| Chiang Mai | 37°C | 23°C | 54 mm | 5 | – |
| Phuket | 34°C | 26°C | 135 mm | 10 | 30°C |
| Koh Samui | 32°C | 26°C | 83 mm | 6 | 30°C |
| Pattaya | 33°C | 26°C | 68 mm | 5 | 30°C |
| Hua Hin | 33°C | 26°C | 46 mm | 3 | – |
| Koh Chang | 33°C | 25°C | 196 mm | 12 | 30°C |
| Isan | 36°C | 25°C | 95 mm | 6 | – |
Central plains and the capital
Highs of 36°C and lows of 27°C, 93 mm of rain on about 5 days, 7.6 hours of sun a day.
The hottest month of the year, humid and heavy. Songkran empties the offices and fills Silom Road and Khao San Road with water fights, while many Bangkok residents head home to the provinces.
The north: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai
Highs of 37°C and lows of 23°C, 54 mm of rain on about 5 days, 8.4 hours of sun a day.
The hottest month in the north and still hazy from the burning season until the first rains. Chiang Mai's Songkran around the Old City moat is the country's biggest.
Andaman coast: Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Khao Lak
Highs of 34°C and lows of 26°C, 135 mm of rain on about 10 days, sea at 30°C.
Hot, with the first storms arriving late in the month and the sea starting to pick up. Early April is still good beach weather.
Gulf islands: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
Highs of 32°C and lows of 26°C, 83 mm of rain on about 6 days, sea at 30°C.
Dry and calm, and the Gulf islands are the best beach choice this month.
Upper Gulf: Pattaya, Koh Samet, Rayong
Highs of 33°C and lows of 26°C, 68 mm of rain on about 5 days, sea at 30°C.
The hottest month on this coast, with the first storms late in the month. Pattaya's Songkran runs on for days after the rest of the country stops.
Western Gulf: Hua Hin, Cha-am, Pranburi
Highs of 33°C and lows of 26°C, 46 mm of rain on about 3 days, 7.8 hours of sun a day.
Hot and still dry, and one of the more comfortable places on the coast because of the sea breeze.
Eastern seaboard: Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Koh Mak
Highs of 33°C and lows of 25°C, 196 mm of rain on about 12 days, sea at 30°C.
The hottest month on the Trat coast, with pre-monsoon showers becoming more frequent.
Northeast: Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Korat, Buriram, Ubon
Highs of 36°C and lows of 25°C, 95 mm of rain on about 6 days, 7.5 hours of sun a day.
The hottest month of the year in the northeast, before the rains arrive in May.
Source WMO Climatological Standard Normals 1991–2020 (Thai Meteorological Department stations). Averages for 1991–2020, and rain days count days with at least 1 mm. Sea temperatures: Climates to Travel monthly sea-surface averages. Koh Chang uses the Trat station on the facing mainland and Isan uses Khon Kaen.
Arriving in Bangkok
Pick a region from this page, then the area. The dates start mid-April, so change them to your own and the search follows. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room while you settle the route.
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Choose between the party and the beach. Songkran is best in a city, and the most reliable beach weather this month is on the Gulf islands.
Chiang Mai's Old City moat is the classic Songkran, with buckets filled straight from the water. Bangkok's Silom Road and Khao San Road are the big street parties. Both are fun and soaking, so bag your phone and passport.
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are in their dry season through April while the Andaman side starts its transition.
Songkran, the Thai New Year, is 13–15 April every year and a public holiday. The water-throwing is the famous part, but mornings are for merit-making at temples and pouring scented water over elders' hands and Buddha images.
A public holiday marking the founding of the current royal dynasty. Banks and government offices close.
Expect road travel to be at its busiest just before and after the holiday, when Bangkok residents travel home, and book buses, trains and flights for those days early. Some towns, Pattaya among them, keep celebrating for several days after the 15th.
Haad Rin on Koh Phangan, in the Gulf islands' dry season.
April is outside high season and beach prices are lower than in winter, but the Songkran week is busy, especially in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, and domestic flights and trains around 13–15 April fill up. Book those dates a few weeks ahead.
During Songkran you will get soaked, often by strangers with water guns. Keep phone, cash and passport in a sealed bag.
The hottest month of the year. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a water bottle.
Clothes that dry fast and don't go see-through when wet are the Songkran uniform.
Rehydration sachets from any 7-Eleven help on long, hot days.
Common questions about thailand in april.
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Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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