July is one of the green season months in Thailand and an ideal time to enjoy the gorgeous countryside of North Thailand or Central Thailand. It’s also a great month to travel off the beaten track and visit less well-known areas of Thailand. Witness the incredible natural beauty of the Thale Noi wetlands in Phatthalung or spice up your travels with a visit to Isaan and experience the amazing Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival. And if you want to laze on the beach and soak up the sun in July, it’s a good month to choose a beach holiday on the Gulf Coast.
July weather
Don’t be put off by the idea of visiting Thailand during the rainy season. It’s true that you will probably see rain at some stage, but the tropical downpours you may encounter in Thailand during July are often short and sharp and there is still lots of sunshine to be enjoyed too.
| Location | Avg. Min. Temp. (C) | Avg. Max. Temp. (C) | Avg. Rainfall (mm) |
| Bangkok | 24 | 32 | 158 |
| Chiang Mai | 23 | 31 | 167 |
| Ko Samui | 25 | 32 | 131 |
| Krabi | 25 | 31 | 297 |
| Pattaya | 26 | 31 | 77 |
| Phuket | 25 | 31 | 284 |
Where to go in July
July is an excellent month to explore the northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son. And if you do head north, make time to take in some of the less well-known provinces such as Nan, Phrae and Phayao and you won’t be disappointed. Head further south and enjoy the advantages of visiting Thailand during the low season as you cycle around the ancient temples and historic ruins of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. Whatever month of the year you visit Thailand, Bangkok is always an adventure and not to be missed. And for a total contrast to the Thai capital, travel south and admire the spectacular Thale Noi wetlands in Phatthalung.
If you’re looking to book a beach holiday in Thailand for July, statistically speaking the Gulf Coast of Thailand sees less rainfall compared to the opposite Andaman Coast. This makes the islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao a good option for a July beach holiday. On the mainland, the beaches of Chumphon, Hua Hin, Pranburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Khanom are also solid choices.
On the Andaman Coast, the weather can be more variable during July and some boat services to the smaller islands in the Andaman Sea don’t operate.
On the East Coast, there are big differences in the amount of rainfall depending on where you visit. The sheltered locations of Pattaya, Ko Samet and Rayong see relatively low amounts of rainfall. Further east, Ko Chang and the surrounding islands see high levels of rainfall during July.
July events & festivals
The Buddhist holiday of Asahna Bucha usually falls in July. A public holiday in Thailand, Asahna Bucha Day commemorates the day on which the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. The day after Asahna Bucha Day is another significant day for Buddhists. Known as Wan Khao Phansa, it marks the start of a period which is sometimes referred to as ‘Buddhist Lent’. The traditional phansa rains retreat period for monks lasts for three months. It’s a time when many young Thai men make merit for their family by temporarily ordaining as Buddhist monks.
The arrival of the Buddhist Lent period is also a time when it’s customary for Thai people to donate candles to their local temples. This simple act of donating candles has morphed into elaborate parades at locations around Thailand, but the biggest and most colourful event takes place in the north-east of Thailand at the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival.
Other events to look out for in Thailand include the Phuket Yachting Race Week in mid-July and the birthday of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) on July 28.
