Lush tea fields
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As a Director of an adventure travel company in Thailand, I’m regularly asked by westerners if visiting Thailand during the rainy season is “worthwhile”. The indication seems to be that the only time to visit Thailand is during the relatively short, cool-dry season, when the country bubbles over with tourism and beer gardens open for that all-to-short window of alfresco imbibing. I’ve noticed travel websites and international travel magazines often say, “Thailand is, best avoided during the rainy season, Hotel ABC or Resort XYZ may not be open during the months of July and August, or the patios at your favorite coffee shop may be closed until cool season.”
It’s as if life stops in the eyes of the western visitor during June – October here in Thailand.
For more than six years Smiling Albino has been running adventures throughout Thailand during the rainy season, a timing that perfectly suits western summer holidays. Sure, you may have to duck into a pub for a few minutes (what a shame) to avoid the occasional downpour, but generally speaking this is an excellent time to travel through SE Asia.
“Worthwhile,” they ask? It certainly is. In fact, we even propose it’s perhaps the best time to travel the region, especially Bangkok and our favorite adventure playground, Chiang Rai, the kingdom’s northernmost province.
Just last year, during July, August and September, Smiling Albino conducted several back-to-back family adventures. Over a total of 18 travel days, the number of days affected by rain: 0 - that’s right, zero! Rural SE Asia blooms during these months and provides more reason than ever to escape snarling Bangkok for an outstanding mountainous adventure.
On that note, here’s our Top Ten Reasons to Travel Thailand During the Rainy Season:
1) Less Rain Than People Think
Several days can go by without a drop, and sometimes it only rains for a few moments at a time. Is that so bad? It wouldn’t be fair to say that it “never” rains….but we certainly haven’t altered any of our programs as a result of a little mid-day shower.
A full Mekong River
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2) More Beautiful Scenery
The greens in northern Thailand rival those in Ireland and New Zealand during the rainy season. Also, the bright sun breaking through clouds creates a surreal silvery skyline during late afternoon. Photography opportunities far out-shadow any other time of year, and the brilliance of Mother Nature shines through like no other time. Here’s food for thought: all those gorgeous postcards we see of velvety green mountains, gurgling northern rivers and stunning rice terraces…well, those photos were most certainly taken during the raining season.
3) Very Few Tourists
Thanks largely to public misconception; most tourists chose to avoid Thailand during June – October. We’ve done trips during these months and we’re often the only guests in some hotels. As a rule our trips stray off heavier-traveled routes anyway, but during the rainy season it’s like your own private kingdom.
4) Amazing Agriculture
As Thailand is an agriculturally based nation, the growing season is bountiful – farmers in the fields tending to corn, garlic, soy, multi-level rice paddies and tea plantations, thick mangrove and banana plantations, grazing water buffalo and full-flowing deep rivers make Thailand’s rural areas a hint more spectacular during this time of year.
5) Better Deals in Markets
With less tourists flocking to local markets, you’ll often find vendors more welcoming and warm. Low-season values can be had on market goods nationwide.
6) Less Crowded Restaurants
As a general rule you won’t be run over by giant tour groups in most places during this time of year. Of course, the neat little enclaves featured on Smiling Albino are never really busy anyway.
7) Friendlier People
We’ve always noticed there seems to be a magical air of friendliness during the rainy season. Children are in school, crops are being planted, the sweltering summer heat has passed and dodging the occasional short shower creates a comical, jovial atmosphere.
A thousand shades of green
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8) Bangkok Pretty?
It’s true. One of the world’s busiest and rapidly expanding cities, Bangkok gets a regular coat of fresh rain during the wet season and it actually cleans the town up a bit. Less dust in a city rife with construction is a welcome relief. Some roads even shine!
9) Low-Season Deals
Many hotels, resorts, even airlines have some superb deals during June - October. Catch them before the masses come!
10) Smiling Albino
In our more than six years of running great adventures throughout Thailand, we’ve never had to cancel an outing, finish a bike ride early or cut-short a hike due to weather. We plan ahead, work around it, bring rain ponchos and the adventure fun machine never stops. The rainy season has been one of our favorite, if not absolutely favorite time to take our guests around Thailand – and the ones who’ve traveled with us during this time certainly found something special!
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