Season guide · Chiang Mai · Thailand
Chiang Mai in the rainy season
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but plea, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Lush and green with afternoon storms; low prices and few visitors, with waterfalls at their best. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 58 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 23°C (73°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 58
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in the rainy season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 17 | 13.3 h | 2/5 |
| July | 31°C (88°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 20 | 13.2 h | 2/5 |
| August | 31°C (88°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 21 | 12.8 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 58 of the year's roughly 115 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 1/5 on average.
What's on in the rainy season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- July: Khao Phansa — start of Buddhist Lent (usually July)
Good choices for the rainy season
Market · Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
Warorot Market
Known locally as Kad Luang, this multi-storey market near the Ping River is where residents buy northern snacks, sai ua sausage, nam prik chilli pastes, dried goods and fabrics.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Experience · Old City
Thai cooking class
Choose a small class that lets you pick your own dishes, and say if you need vegetarian versions.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Couples
Museum · Old City
Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre
Behind the Three Kings Monument, this museum in the former provincial hall tells the story of Chiang Mai from prehistory through the Lanna kingdom to modern times, with dioramas and models.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Gallery · San Kamphaeng
MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum
Combine it with the Bo Sang umbrella village on the same road.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in the rainy season
- Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls (About 1 hour by road) — Limestone deposits make the rocks of this waterfall rough rather than slippery, so you can climb up through the cascades barefoot.
- 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.
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 rainy season a good time to visit Chiang Mai?
It is a trade-off: Lush and green with afternoon storms; low prices and few visitors, with waterfalls at their best. The best months overall are November–February.
+What is the weather like in Chiang Mai in the rainy season?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 58 rainy days over the season.