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November is when Thailand flips from monsoon to magic across most of the map. The cool season arrives, the north turns crisp and clear, the Andaman coast reopens for island trips, and the country celebrates Loy Krathong under a full moon. If you can only pick one month to see Thailand at its best, November makes a very strong case, with one honest exception we’ll get to: the Gulf islands, where the rain is just getting started.
This guide covers what the weather actually does in each region, what’s on, where to go and skip, how busy and expensive it gets, and what to pack. Prices are in Thai baht with US dollars at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026). For the full year-round picture, our Thailand weather by month hub and best time to visit Thailand guide are the companions to this one.
Thailand’s November weather by region
| Region | Rain (Nov avg) | Temps | Sea conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok & central | ~40-60mm, drying fast | ~23-32°C, humidity dropping | n/a |
| North (Chiang Mai, Pai) | ~40-50mm, mostly clear | ~18-30°C, cool nights | n/a |
| Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak) | ~130-180mm, tapering through the month | ~25-31°C | Calming; boat trips and Similan season resume |
| Gulf coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) | ~440-570mm, the wettest month of the year | ~25-30°C | Rough; boats can be cancelled for days |
Figures are long-term climate averages compiled from the sources below; any given November varies. ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).
What is the weather like in Thailand in November?
November is the start of Thailand’s cool, dry season everywhere except the Gulf coast. The southwest monsoon that soaks most of the country from roughly June to October ends, and the difference from just a month earlier is dramatic, October’s floods and daily downpours give way to blue skies and falling humidity. If you want the mechanics of how Thailand’s two monsoons work in opposite directions, our Thailand rainy season guide explains why one coast dries out exactly as the other gets hammered.
Bangkok and central Thailand drop to roughly 40-60mm of rain for the month, against 200mm-plus in September and October, with temperatures around 23-32°C and, crucially, humidity you can actually walk around in. The north is the star: Chiang Mai runs about 18-30°C with clear skies, dry air and around 40-50mm of rain, and it keeps cooling as the month goes on. Nights in the mountains, Doi Inthanon, the Mae Hong Son loop, Pai, get genuinely chilly by late November.
The Andaman coast transitions out of its wet season through the month. Phuket still averages roughly 130-180mm in November, more than Bangkok, but it falls as shorter, less frequent showers, and the seas calm enough for boat trips to run reliably again. The Gulf coast is the outlier: the northeast monsoon drives its rain into the Gulf islands from October to December, and November is historically the single wettest month of the year on Koh Samui, with climate averages in the roughly 440-570mm range depending on the dataset.
What festivals happen in Thailand in November?
Loy Krathong, one of Thailand’s most beautiful festivals, falls in November most years, on the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. In 2026 that’s 24 November, when Thais float candlelit krathongs on rivers, canals and lakes nationwide to pay respect to the water goddess and let go of the past year’s misfortunes. Bangkok’s riverside, Sukhothai’s historical park and Chiang Mai are the marquee settings; our full Loy Krathong guide covers where to go and how the night actually works.
Chiang Mai layers Yi Peng on top, the northern Lanna lantern festival, with celebrations running around 24-25 November 2026. The famous mass sky-lantern releases happen at organised, ticketed events outside the city, releasing lanterns inside Chiang Mai’s city limits is restricted for aviation and fire-safety reasons, so don’t plan on launching one from your guesthouse roof. Our Yi Peng and Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai guide breaks down the free city celebrations versus the paid lantern-release events, and why you need to book both tickets and accommodation well ahead. Event schedules firm up in the months before, so confirm dates and tickets with official organisers as November approaches.
Where should you go in Thailand in November?
Almost anywhere except the Gulf islands, honestly. The strongest picks:
- Chiang Mai and the north. This is arguably the north’s best month of the whole year: cool, clear, green from the just-ended rains, and crowned by Yi Peng. Smoke season is months away, the mountains are at their most hikeable, and café terraces are actually pleasant. If the lantern festival is your goal, book accommodation as far ahead as you can.
- The Andaman coast. Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak and Koh Lanta all reopen properly: calmer seas, returning sunshine, and boat trips running on schedule. The Similan Islands, closed for the monsoon each year, reopen around 15 October, so November is the first full month of the season for one of Thailand’s best snorkelling and diving sites. Foreigner entry was ฿500 (US$15) per adult as of the 2025-26 season, on top of your tour cost; confirm the current fee with the national park or your operator.
- Bangkok and central Thailand. The capital in November is the capital at its most liveable, and Loy Krathong along the Chao Phraya is a genuine spectacle. Ayutthaya and Sukhothai day trips are far more pleasant in cool-season air, and Sukhothai’s Loy Krathong celebration is the most atmospheric in the country.
- Kanchanaburi and Khao Yai. Both come into their prime as the rains end: waterfalls are still full from the wet season but the trails have dried out.
Where should you skip in November?
Skip the Gulf islands, that’s the one-coast caveat this whole month hinges on. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao get their heaviest rain of the entire year in November, driven by the northeast monsoon that peaks October through December. Climate averages put Samui’s November rainfall around 440-570mm, several times what Phuket gets the same month, and it often arrives as multi-day grey stretches with rough seas that cancel ferries and dive trips. Some years get lucky, and late November can begin to ease, but if your dates are fixed, betting your only beach week on the Gulf in November is a bad trade when the Andaman coast is drying out at the same time.
The other honest notes: the Andaman’s transition isn’t instant, early November can still throw proper downpours at Phuket and Krabi, so build one flexible day into any early-month island itinerary. And Chiang Mai around the lantern festivals is wonderful but not remotely quiet; if you want the north without festival crowds and prices, come the first half of the month.
How busy and expensive is Thailand in November?
November sits between shoulder and high season, and both crowds and prices climb steadily toward December. Early November is the sweet spot: dry-season weather in most regions at prices still closer to low-season rates, especially on the Andaman coast, where hotels are ramping up from their quiet months. By the last week of the month you’re effectively in high season, with rates and crowds to match.
The one sharp spike is Chiang Mai around Loy Krathong and Yi Peng (24-25 November in 2026), when the city books out and accommodation prices multiply for a few nights. Book weeks or months ahead if the festival is your reason for coming, or base yourself slightly outside the old city. Flights into Thailand also start climbing through November as the European and North American winter escape season begins, so earlier booking pays this month more than most.
What should you pack for Thailand in November?
Pack for dry heat with one warm layer, not for monsoon. Days are hot everywhere, so the usual light, breathable basics apply, but the cool season changes the details: northern evenings need a fleece or light jacket, and mountain mornings on the Mae Hong Son loop or Doi Inthanon can be cold enough to see your breath late in the month. Sun protection matters more than rain gear in Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast, though a packable rain layer is still worth carrying in early November, and essential if you’re going to the Gulf islands despite everything above. Our full Thailand packing list covers the season-by-season specifics.
Where to next
November rewards planning more than most months: lock in Chiang Mai accommodation if Yi Peng is on your list, aim your beach time at the Andaman side, and check the Thailand weather by month hub if your dates can flex. For festival specifics, start with the Loy Krathong guide, and see what else is on during your trip in our live Thailand events listings.
Sources
- Mu Ko Similan National Park, Thai National Parks: seasonal opening (15 October to 15 May) and entrance fees.
- Thailand Weather in November, Thailand Highlights: regional November temperature and rainfall averages.
- Ko Samui climate, Climates to Travel: Koh Samui monthly rainfall averages and northeast monsoon pattern.
- Thailand weather in November, Selective Asia: regional conditions and sea-state notes.
- How to Attend Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in Chiang Mai in 2026, Thailand Starts Here: 2026 festival dates and Chiang Mai lantern-release restrictions.