Best Time To Visit Thailand For Sunflower Fields, Floating Lanterns, Turtle Releasing & More!

There’s no bad month to visit the beautiful land of smiles but there are, however, better months to visit particular areas in Thailand. With so many cities each with a different charm, you can expect sunflower fields, turtle releasing, floating lanterns and so much more. We’ve listed down the best months to visit each city for easy reference.

You don’t have to travel to Korea or Japan to catch the sakura blooms. Thailand is home to some beautiful cherry blossom trees that bloom earlier than their Japanese and Korean counterparts. The sakura species that is found in Thailand are the wild Himalayan cherry trees, also known as Nang Phaya Sua Krong or Tiger Queen. The best places to find these are either in Chiang Mai on top of the Doi Suthep Mountain at the Khun Chang Khian Highland Agriculture Research Centre.

Address: Soi Yu Yen 4, Tambon Don Kaeo, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

The Khun Wang Royal Agricultural Research Centre in the Doi Inthanon National Park is also a great place to see these trees. You can also visit waterfalls and do small treks for great views at the Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai.

 

Address: Mae Win, Mae Wang District, Chiang Mai 50360, Thailand

Opening Hours: Daily, 8am to 4pm

#Klooktip: Pre-book a car charter on Klook to chase down those cherry blossoms! With a private driver, you’ll be able to cover more ground and even get some local tips on the best places to catch the sakura.  

The Loy Krathong festival is the stuff Disney dreams are made of. Feel as if you’ve stepped right into the magical land where Tangled the movie was set during the Yi Peng or Loy Krathong Festival where thousands of floating lanterns are released yearly.  Held on 13 November 2019 this year, be sure to book your tickets early because this festival is extremely popular.

Here’s a complete guide to the Loy Krathong & Yee Peng festival in Thailand.

In general, visiting Chiang Mai is best done from November to February where the temperature is cooler and flowers are in bloom. Avoid the months of March to May where the locals clear the land for agricultural purposes because the haze can be pretty intense. 

The Singha Park in Chiang Rai holds the Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta annually where you’ll see dozens of hot air balloons float to the skies. This happens usually around Valentine’s Day, making it the perfect mini-moon for you and bae. Stroll through the flower fields and watch the hot air balloons float against the sunset skies.

Apart from Singha Park, there’s plenty more to see and do in Chiang Rai. Some of the most popular attractions include the White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House. Make the most out of your day in Chiang Rai with a day tour to all three places.

May- July

The Pang Sida Butterfly Watching Festival happens annually in the Pang Sida National Park. Known for being home to many species of butterflies, during the season, hundreds of butterflies gather and you’ll be able to feed them by spraying water on the ground.

The best time to visit Khao Yai is undoubtedly from November to January where the sunflowers are in full bloom. Walking through fields of tall sunflower stalks at the Saraburi Sunflower Fields, that come up to your chest level is an experience that truly can’t compare to just seeing them in a botanical garden.

The Flora Park at Wang Nam Khiao is also a place where you can bask in the blooms! Apart from the fields of lavender and English Roses, there are also different zones where you can learn about sustainable agriculture and shop for organic produce. Places like the Jim Thompson farm only open once a year from December to January when the crops bloom and apart from flowers, there are also pumpkin patches!

Let the driver take you to the best places to hunt down the flora.

Khao Kho is known to be the city in the clouds and being high up in the clouds means one thing – freshly grown strawberries! Over at the Khao Kho Wind Farm, you can not only enjoy the sweetest strawberries, there are also huge fields of purple Verbena flowers and even a wooden swing for the ‘gram. In order to enjoy the strawberries and Verbenas, you will need to visit from November to January.

Every year from 13th to 15th April, many flock to Bangkok to celebrate Songkran – the Water Festival. As the summer heat intensifies, the whole city gets into a huge water fight where people line the streets armed with super soakers and buckets of ice cold water, ready to attack their next victim. There will also be exclusive promos by local vendors, music festivals and more!

We suggest avoiding the monsoon season, usually in July to the end of October, where the streets can get flooded and you can get stuck in traffic jams.

While you’re there, check out the following:

The Thai islands of Krabi and Phuket near the Andaman sea are best avoided from May to late September because of the monsoon. The best time to visit both islands is in fact from November to March when the rains die down and the Andaman sea has calmer waters, perfect for those looking to snorkel or go island hopping! We highly recommend opting for Krabi for its more laidback vibe and lesser crowd. 

The islands near the Gulf of Thailand tend to get less rain even in their rainy season and are best visited from the end of January till mid-March. The monsoon winds arrive near the gulf from September to December and hence are not the best times to visit if you’re looking for a sunny beach vacation.

Credit: Steve Juvetson on Flickr

In March, there is a turtle releasing festival in Koh Phang Nga that you definitely should not miss on your visit. There are 3 different species of sea turtles – the Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley and these are raised by the Fisheries Department. Held annually in March usually from the 1st to 10th of March at the Thai Muang Beach, watch as these baby turtles trudge down the sandy beaches and back into the sea.

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