Season guide · Chiang Mai · Thailand
Chiang Mai in the late rains
September–October: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kingkidton, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Heavy showers in September give way to drier, greener days in October before the high season. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 27 rainy days across September–October.
Key facts
- Months
- September–October
- Temperatures
- 21°C (70°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 27
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in the late rains
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 31°C (88°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 | 12.2 h | 2/5 |
| October | 31°C (88°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 | 11.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 27 of the year's roughly 115 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in the late rains
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Ok Phansa — end of Buddhist Lent (usually October)
Good choices for the late rains
Museum · Old City
Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre
Visit on your first day, ideally during the afternoon heat.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Gallery · San Kamphaeng
MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum
This private museum in San Kamphaeng, behind a mirrored façade, shows contemporary Thai and Southeast Asian art from the Bunnag family collection and rotating exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Market · Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
Warorot Market
Buy edible souvenirs such as nam prik noom and dried fruit here at local prices.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Experience · Old City
Thai cooking class
Chiang Mai is the most popular place in Thailand to learn to cook, with dozens of schools offering half- or full-day classes that start with a market tour and include five or six dishes, often khao soi among them.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Couples
Day trips in the late rains
- Mae Kampong (About 1.5 hours by road) — A mountain village of wooden houses among tea and coffee gardens at about 1,300 metres, with homestays, cafés by a stream and a nearby waterfall.
- Lamphun (About 40 minutes by road) — A small, quiet town older than Chiang Mai, centred on Wat Phra That Hariphunchai with its golden chedi, plus a national museum and a historic road lined with tall rubber trees on the old route from Chiang Mai.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the late rains a good time to visit Chiang Mai?
It is a trade-off: Heavy showers in September give way to drier, greener days in October before the high season. The best months overall are November–February.
+What is the weather like in Chiang Mai in the late rains?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 27 rainy days over the season.