Thailand in November 2026: Weather, Where to Go and Festivals

Is It Worth Going to Thailand in November?

Yes, for most trips. November is the start of the cool, dry season in Bangkok and the north, the Andaman beaches around Phuket and Krabi improve week by week, and Loy Krathong falls on 24 November 2026. Only Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are still wet.

As a Thai, I would add one condition: when in November you travel matters almost as much as where. On the Andaman coast, the rain falls away fast during the month (Phuket averages about 336 mm in October, 178 mm in November and 82 mm in December), so the first week can still feel like the tail of the rainy season while the last week usually feels like the start of beach season. Loy Krathong is also unusually late this year because the Thai lunar year 2026 has an extra month: it fell on 5 November in 2025 and falls on 24 November in 2026, so expect the busiest, most expensive days in Chiang Mai and Sukhothai to come at the end of the month.

Thailand Weather in November

In November, Thailand’s weather splits three ways: Bangkok and the north are dry and comfortable, the Andaman coast is drying out, and the lower Gulf islands get their heaviest rain of the year. Average highs sit between about 30 and 33°C almost everywhere, while nights in Chiang Mai drop to about 20°C.

Averages for 1991–2020 from the Thai Meteorological Department and WMO climate normals (Krabi: 1981–2010). Individual years can be wetter or drier.

Northern Thailand: Cool Nights and Clear Skies

November is when the north is at its most comfortable. In Chiang Mai, days reach about 31°C and nights fall to about 20°C, with only around four rainy days in the month. The cool season starts in late October, and in Thailand we really do treat it as “winter”: do not be surprised to see locals in jackets on a 20°C morning. Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son are cooler again in the mountains, so if you are trekking and sleeping in a village, ask whether a sleeping bag or warm blanket is provided.

Bangkok and Central Thailand

The cool season makes Bangkok much easier to explore on foot: November averages about 45 mm of rain, against roughly 326 mm in September. Early in the month, a heavy afternoon storm can still flood a few streets for an hour or two, so I would keep the first days of November for museums, markets and the river, and save the long temple walks for later. Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi both make easy trips from the capital in this weather.

Andaman Coast: Phuket, Krabi and Khao Lak

The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak) is in transition. Phuket averages about 178 mm of rain over 13 rainy days in November, half of October’s total and more than double December’s. In practice, a rainy day this late in the season is rarely a non-stop downpour: it is more often grey and muggy with some drizzle, or sunny with one heavy storm that passes in an hour. If a boat trip matters to you, keep a spare day in case the sea is too rough for the boats to go out.

The Similan Islands reopened on 15 October 2026 for the season, which runs to 15 May. Visits are day trips only (overnight stays have been banned since 2018) and the park caps numbers at 3,850 visitors a day, so book through an operator early. In Khao Lak, November is also a good time for waterfalls such as Lampi and Ton Chong Fa, which still have plenty of water after the rains.

Gulf Islands: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao

On Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, November is the wettest month of the year: Samui averages about 445 mm of rain over 17 rainy days. Rain here tends to come in heavy downpours rather than drizzle and can last into December, and boat crossings are sometimes cancelled when the sea is rough. So if you are choosing between Phuket and Koh Samui in November, choose Phuket. If Samui is a must, book refundable rooms and keep your plans flexible.

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Eastern Gulf: Koh Chang and Koh Kood

Many travel guides treat the whole Gulf of Thailand as one rainy block in November, and that is a mistake. Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak, in Trat province near the Cambodian border, follow the same pattern as Bangkok rather than Samui: the area gets about 85 mm of rain over seven rainy days in November, less than a fifth of Samui’s. Their beach season starts this month and gets busier towards December. They are also my favourite plan B: if the Andaman coast stays grey for days, you can fly to Trat or go overland and find very different weather on the other side of the country. Overland, it is about five to six hours by road from Bangkok to Trat, then a ferry of an hour or less. Koh Kood is usually quieter than Koh Chang, and the hills on Koh Chang are steep, so a scooter is a poor idea unless you already ride confidently; taxis are the easier choice.

How Is the Air Quality in November?

November is one of the clearest months of the year, especially in the north. The smoky season comes later: crop and forest burning in northern Thailand runs from about December to April, and the worst air usually comes between January and March. If you are sensitive to air pollution and torn between November and February, November is the safer choice for Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Where to Go and What to Do in Thailand in November

With two to three weeks, I would combine the north for culture and cool weather with the Andaman coast or Koh Chang for the beach. Here are the places that work best this month, with what I would do in each.

Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son

Chiang Mai is the best place to be in late November. Yi Peng runs from 23 to 25 November 2026, with clay lamps around the Old City and a grand krathong parade on 25 November. Releasing sky lanterns is banned in the city itself; the mass lantern releases you see in photos are ticketed events held outside Chiang Mai. The free public celebrations along the Ping River and around Tha Phae Gate are the Yi Peng that we locals know, so do not feel you have missed out without a ticket. Hotels fill early for these dates, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Base yourself in or near the Old City: the temples, the night markets and most of the best food are within walking distance, so you do not need a car. Two things I would not skip are a bowl of khao soi, the coconut curry noodle soup that comes from the north and tastes best here, and a cooking class in northern Thai dishes.

If you’ve got a few days, head up to Mae Hong Son. This mountain province is all about winding roads, misty hills, and villages that still keep their traditions alive. One spot you shouldn’t miss is Ban Rak Thai: a peaceful hillside village with Chinese-style houses, lakeside views, and a tea culture that tells the story of its unique heritage. The Mae Hong Son Loop from Chiang Mai, with a stop in Pai, is the classic way to see the province.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is about three hours from Chiang Mai and a great place to visit in November. The cooler weather suits a slower trip that mixes nature and culture. You can see the White Temple, the Black House, and the Blue Temple, each with its own striking style. The town itself is low-key, so most people come for the temples and the countryside around it, and one or two nights is usually enough.

It’s also worth heading to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet.

Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and Khao Yai

November is one of the nicest months to enjoy Bangkok. In the daytime I’d suggest the classics: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. In the evening, a river cruise on the Chao Phraya shows the city lights from the water.

Skip taxis in the afternoon traffic and use the MRT, the BTS and the river boats instead. In the evening, the night markets are the place to eat: Jodd Fairs, near Rama 9, gets packed, so arrive before dark. One scam to know about is a stranger or tuk-tuk driver who says the Grand Palace or a temple is closed today and offers to take you elsewhere. The main temples are not closed for a sudden holiday, so check at the gate.

And if you want a break from the noise, head over to Bang Krachao, the “Green Lung” of the city, where you can rent a bike and ride through quiet, leafy paths.

Kanchanaburi, west of Bangkok, works as a day trip or an overnight stay: the Bridge on the River Kwai, the Death Railway and the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum for history, and the tiers of Erawan Falls, which should still have plenty of water after the rains.

November is a great time to head to Khao Yai National Park, about three hours from Bangkok. The cooler weather makes it easier to hike to waterfalls, spot wildlife, and maybe even see elephants in the wild.

You can go just for the day, but staying overnight and camping in the park makes the experience much richer.

Sukhothai

Sukhothai, in the lower north, was once the capital of a great kingdom. At Sukhothai Historical Park you can explore its ruins, especially by bike or motorbike in the pleasant November weather.

Sukhothai is traditionally linked to the origins of the Loy Krathong festival, and its Loy Krathong and Candle Festival (15 to 24 November 2026) floats krathongs on the old ponds among the ruins.

Phuket, Khao Lak and the Andaman Islands

For those seeking a beach escape, Phuket is the easiest beach base in November, with the widest choice of hotels and boat trips and good access to scuba diving and snorkeling.

In Krabi, Ao Nang is the busiest base. For something calmer, Railay, which you reach only by boat and which has no cars, is known for its limestone climbing, and Koh Lanta is quieter still. I would give Phi Phi one night at most: most people see it on a day trip. Inland from Khao Lak, Khao Sok National Park is a rainforest where a short shower is part of the experience, so go for the jungle and the lake rather than for dry weather.

Thailand Festivals in November 2026

November is festival month in Thailand. These are the dates confirmed so far for 2026, and the ones still waiting for an official announcement.

Two events are often listed for November but do not fall in it: the Phuket Vegetarian Festival runs from 10 to 18 October 2026, and the Patong Carnival is held in December.

>>>> For more information: 

• Loy Krathong & Yi Peng Festival
• Thailand's Top Festivals and Activities in November 

Is Bali or Thailand Better in November?

For most travellers, Thailand is the safer bet in November. Bali is heading into its wet season, and the start moves from year to year (last year the rains were forecast to begin around mid-November near Denpasar), while Bangkok and Chiang Mai are dry. For beaches, Phuket and Krabi compare more closely with Bali; Koh Samui is wetter than both.

My rule of thumb: if your trip is mostly beach and you travel in early November, the two are close, so choose on flights and budget. If you want culture, cooler weather and festivals as well as beaches, Thailand wins clearly this month.

Crowds, Prices and When to Book

November is the start of high season, but it is not the peak. In 2025, November was busier than October but clearly quieter than December and January. Crowds build through the month, so the first half of November is calmer and the last week, around Loy Krathong, is busy in Chiang Mai, Sukhothai and on the Andaman coast.

Prices follow the same curve. Flights can be good value in November, but hotel rates rise towards the end of the month, and rooms in Chiang Mai around 23 to 25 November fill up early. Book those first, then keep your beach nights refundable if you can: some small hotels on quieter islands may not open until later in the month, and a flexible booking lets you change coast if the weather does not cooperate.

What Is the Cheapest Month to Go to Thailand?

There is no single cheapest month: it depends on where you fly from. In early October 2026, Skyscanner showed November as the cheapest month for flights from the US, while Kayak pointed to September from the US and May from London. Hotels are usually cheapest in the rainy months, when demand is lowest.

When’s the Worst Time to Go to Thailand?

It depends on where you go. For Bangkok and the Andaman coast, September is usually the wettest month; for Koh Samui and the Gulf islands, it is November; in the north, the burning season (about December to April) brings the worst air, usually from January to March. No month is bad everywhere.

What to Wear and Pack for Thailand in November

Pack for warm days everywhere and cool evenings in the north. Light cotton or linen clothes work best, plus one warm layer for Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or Mae Hong Son, where nights drop to about 20°C and lower in the mountains. A light rain jacket is more useful than an umbrella on the Andaman coast.

• For temples: clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and shoes that are easy to slip off.
• For the beach: swimwear, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
• For the evenings: mosquito repellent, especially near rivers during Loy Krathong.
• For trekking: closed shoes and a warm top for nights in the hills.

How to Plan Your November Trip

The most common mistake in November itineraries is trying to cover too much. Moving between islands or cities takes most of a day each time, so two nights per stop leaves you living out of your suitcase. I would rather choose two or three bases and stay longer in each.

Because Loy Krathong is late this year, a good order is north first and beach last: Bangkok, then Chiang Mai for Yi Peng from 23 to 25 November, then the Andaman coast at the end of the month, when it is usually at its driest. With 10 days, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket or Krabi is plenty. With two weeks, you can add Chiang Rai or Sukhothai, or swap the Andaman coast for Koh Chang.

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November marks Thailand’s high season, so book flights and hotels 1–2 months ahead for the best deals. Always carry travel insurance covering health, accidents, and theft for peace of mind. To avoid hassles, plan with a trusted agency like Kampá Tour, which can handle logistics and assist if plans change.

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