Thailand Infos

Thailand in January: weather, best places and festivals

January is one of the most reliable months: of the 20 destinations, 17 stay under 60 millimetres of rain. Only the Gulf islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao still get around 86 millimetres, the tail end of the wet months before.

The catch is the crowds. On the Andaman Sea, that is in Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta and Khao Lak, it is peak season, so book beach accommodation early. In the north the nights are cold: in Chiang Mai the average drops to 15 degrees, in Pai to 14, while days stay at 30. Bangkok has 32 degrees and 13 millimetres of rain. Pack a jacket for the north.

All 20 destinations in January

Sorted by rain, driest first. The figures are monthly averages from 1981 to 2010; the temperature is the average daily high.

dry 17 places

Under 60 millimetres of rain a month.

The steel Bridge on the River Kwai with its curved arches over the calm river in warm evening light, green trees on the bank and mountains in the backgroundKanchanaburi3 mm33 °C, 20 °C at nightBridge on the River Kwai and waterfallsThree restored bell-shaped chedis of Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya in warm morning light, with lawn and old brick walls in frontAyutthaya4 mm32 °C, 20 °C at nightOld royal capital on the riverGolden chedi of a temple on a wooded hill, surrounded by mist, rice terraces and mountains in northern Thailand, seen from aboveChiang Mai4 mm30 °C, 15 °C at nightTemples and mountains in the northSandstone Khmer temple Phanom Rung in warm afternoon light, with green rice fields in front in northeastern ThailandIsan4 mm31 °C, 17 °C at nightKhmer temples and the MekongMisty green Pai valley at sunrise with gentle mountains and a small bamboo bridge over rice fieldsPai6 mm30 °C, 14 °C at nightMountain valley in the north-westWhite Temple Wat Rong Khun with sparkling mirror decorations in calm morning light, a pond with a reflection in front and green hills behind in northern ThailandChiang Rai8 mm29 °C, 13 °C at nightWhite Temple and the Golden TriangleCurved sandy beach of Hua Hin in warm evening light, with a green hill and a golden temple at the end of the bay and fishing boats in the waterHua Hin12 mm30 °C, 22 °C at nightQuiet seaside resort on the GulfWat Arun on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok at sunset, with a longtail boat on the water in frontBangkok13 mm32 °C, 23 °C at nightTemples, the river and street food stallsLong, almost empty sandy beach on the west coast of Koh Lanta in evening light, casuarinas and palms on the shore, a longtail boat in calm waterKoh Lanta15 mm33 °C, 24 °C at nightQuiet island off KrabiPattaya beach promenade in the evening with palm trees, a curved bay and high-rises in the backgroundPattaya16 mm31 °C, 23 °C at nightBeach city close to BangkokClear turquoise shallow water and a white sandy beach on Koh Lipe, with longtail boats with colourful ribbons in front and a small island in the backgroundKoh Lipe21 mm33 °C, 23 °C at nightSmall island in the far southWhite sandy beach on Phuket with longtail boats in the turquoise water of the Andaman Sea, green hills behindPhuket30 mm33 °C, 24 °C at nightBeaches, old town and islandsTwo longtail boats in a turquoise bay with a white sandy beach, limestone cliffs and coral near Krabi and the Phi Phi IslandsKrabi & Phi Phi32 mm33 °C, 22 °C at nightLimestone cliffs and islandsQuiet bay on Koh Chang with pale sandy beach, palms and turquoise water, steep, densely wooded mountains with clouds behind, a longtail boat in the shallow waterKoh Chang37 mm32 °C, 22 °C at nightGreen mountain island in the eastQuiet beach on Koh Kood with leaning coconut palms and a wooden jetty reaching into calm turquoise waterKoh Kood37 mm32 °C, 22 °C at nightQuiet island without a 7-ElevenWide, quiet sandy beach at Khao Lak in the morning light, lined with casuarina trees and coconut palms, wooded hills behind, calm Andaman SeaKhao Lak39 mm33 °C, 22 °C at nightLong beaches north of PhuketFloating bamboo raft houses on the emerald-green Cheow Lan Lake, with steep limestone cliffs behind in the morning hazeKhao Sok39 mm33 °C, 22 °C at nightRainforest and Cheow Lan Lake

changeable 3 places

60 to 150 millimetres, expect showers.

Half-moon bay with white sand and coconut palms on Koh Phangan, green hills behind, a longtail boat in the shallow turquoise waterKoh Phangan86 mm29 °C, 24 °C at nightQuiet bays, loud full moon nightsWhite sand beach with leaning coconut palms and turquoise sea, with a golden Buddha statue on a headland in the background on Koh SamuiKoh Samui86 mm29 °C, 24 °C at nightPalm island in the GulfThree small green islands joined by a white sandbar, surrounded by clear turquoise water at Koh TaoKoh Tao86 mm29 °C, 24 °C at nightSmall island for divers

For places without a weather station of their own, the figures of the nearest station apply: Ayutthaya (Suphan Buri station), Khao Lak and Khao Sok (Takua Pa station), Koh Chang and Koh Kood (Trat station), Koh Lipe (Satun station), Koh Phangan and Koh Tao (Koh Samui station) and Pai (Mae Hong Son station). More places and every month in detail are on the weather page.

Festivals and public holidays in January

  • 1 January 2027New Year’s DayPublic holiday, nationwideNew Year’s Day. Wave of return journeys.Banks closedOffices closed
  • 22 January 2027Full Moon PartyParty, Koh PhanganFull moon party.

All dates of the year are in the festival calendar.

Frequently asked questions: Thailand in January

Where is it dry in Thailand in January?

17 of 20 places stay under 60 millimetres of rain in January: Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Isan, Pai, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Bangkok, Koh Lanta, Pattaya, Koh Lipe, Phuket, Krabi & Phi Phi, Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Khao Lak and Khao Sok. It is changeable, meaning between 60 and 150 millimetres, in Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao.

How warm is it in Thailand in January?

By day the average ranges from 29 degrees in Koh Tao to 33 degrees in Kanchanaburi. The coolest nights are in Chiang Rai, at an average of 13 degrees.

Is January the best time to visit Thailand?

For almost the whole country, yes. The north, Bangkok, the centre and the Andaman Sea are dry; only the Gulf around Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao still has around 86 millimetres. In return, the popular places are crowded.

How the seasons are spread over the year is covered in the guide Best time to visit Thailand. All twelve months at a glance: the best time to visit overview. Also useful: the costs per day and the visa calculator.

Sources

  1. Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), climate averages 1981 to 2010, rounded
  2. The Nation: Bank of Thailand sets 18 bank holidays for 2027 (28 August 2026)
  3. Bank of Thailand: financial institutions’ holidays 2026
  4. Bank of Thailand Notification 37/2569: holidays 2027 (via tnews, 26 August 2026)
  5. Sanook: holidays 2027 (7 September 2026)
  6. myhora: Loy Krathong dates
  7. Full Moon Party Thailand: dates
  8. Straits Times: alcohol sales ban on Buddhist holidays
  9. The Nation: exemptions from the alcohol ban
  10. Surin Elephant Festival