Seasonal travelBy Clever Tourists · Published
April is Thailand's hottest month and the month of Songkran, so go for the festival and the beaches, not for sightseeing in the heat. Bangkok averages about 27 to 36°C (81 to 96°F) and Chiang Mai about 23 to 37°C (74 to 98°F), with record highs of 40°C and 42.5°C. Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, is on 13 to 15 April 2027 (Tuesday to Thursday). The islands are workable, though the Andaman side gets more rain than in February. We were in Thailand from 7 December 2022 to 21 January 2023, so we have no April experience; the figures below are 1991 to 2020 climate normals as listed on Wikipedia and are averages only.
• Best weather: none, honestly. April is hot everywhere, and humid in Bangkok. Coastal breezes help on the islands.
• Best for beaches: the Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) and, with some rain, the Andaman coast.
• Festival: Songkran, 13 to 15 April 2027. See our Songkran 2027 guide.
• Fewest crowds: the weeks on either side of Songkran, and anywhere far from the festival cities.
• Avoid: midday sightseeing in Bangkok and the central plains, and Chiang Mai if smoke bothers you; see the burning season guide.
Typical April figures from 1991 to 2020 climate normals:
• Bangkok: about 27 to 36°C (81 to 96°F), around 93 mm of rain over 5 rain days, humidity about 72% and a record high of 40.0°C (104°F). Heat index feels worse than the air temperature.
• Chiang Mai: about 23 to 37°C (74 to 98°F), around 54 mm of rain and a record of 42.5°C (108.5°F). Smoke from crop and forest burning is mostly February to April.
• Phuket (Andaman coast): about 26 to 34°C (79 to 94°F), around 135 mm of rain over 10 rain days. Showers are building before the southwest monsoon arrives in May.
• Gulf islands: our best time to visit Thailand page lists February to August as the good window for Samui, Phangan and Tao.
Drink more water than you expect, plan outdoor sights for 7:00 to 10:00 and after 16:00, and use air conditioning at midday. Our Thailand packing list and what to wear in Thailand cover April clothing.
Songkran runs from Tuesday 13 April to Thursday 15 April 2027 according to the holiday calendars we checked; no Tourism Authority of Thailand notice for 2027 was available, so treat the dates as expected and confirm in early 2027. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai the water fights often start earlier and run longer than the official days, especially around Chiang Mai's old city moat.
What to expect: you will get wet in public streets, so put phones and passports in waterproof pouches, wear quick-dry clothes, and avoid carrying cash you cannot afford to soak. Buses and trains out of Bangkok fill before the holiday, and many Thai businesses close for several days. For tickets and hotels, see our Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train guide and where to stay in Chiang Mai.
We spent time in Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Khao Sok and Ao Nang in the cool season. For April, Bangkok has the most indoor shelter (malls, museums and canal boats), and Songkran is a festival worth planning around. See 3 days in Bangkok and where to stay in Bangkok.
Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are mostly open-air ruins with little shade, so April is a hard month for them. See day trips from Bangkok and how many days in Sukhothai. Chiang Mai has Songkran, but smoke and heat make February to April risky; read how many days in Chiang Mai before booking.
Ao Nang and Khao Sok are on the Andaman side, where rain builds in April and May. We were in Ao Nang from 13 to 17 January 2023; see how many days in Ao Nang and the Bangkok to Krabi guide.
April is the end of the high season. Hotel rates fall from March, but they rise again in Bangkok and Chiang Mai around Songkran. Domestic travel is heavy, flights and buses sell out, and the best rooms near the water-fight zones go early.
For a cheaper, quieter time with better weather, the cool season is November to February; see Thailand in November and our Thailand in December and January guide. For costs, see how much does a trip to Thailand cost.
If you struggle with heat, choose another month. The record highs in Bangkok and Chiang Mai exceed 40°C.
If you have asthma or other breathing issues, avoid northern Thailand in March and April because of smoke.
If you want to avoid crowds and noise, skip Songkran week in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Our things to know before visiting Thailand and Thailand temple dress code cover the rules that still apply during the festival.
It is the hottest month, with Bangkok highs of about 36°C and Chiang Mai about 37°C, but it has Songkran on 13 to 15 April 2027 and works for Gulf island beaches.
Expected on Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April 2027, based on holiday calendars; no official Thai announcement was available, so confirm closer to the date.
A little: Bangkok has about 93 mm over 5 rain days and Phuket about 135 mm over 10 rain days. Heavier monsoon rain starts in May.
For Songkran yes, but expect heat up to 37°C and possible smoke. November to January is the better window for the north.
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