Asia

Thailand in March

Beaches remain excellent as crowds ease. The north's burning-season haze is at its worst roughly February through early April; save Chiang Mai for another window.

GoodHeating up, highs near 93F (34C)

Longtail boats at Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi, Thailand — ThailandPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

March is a good month to visit Thailand. Beaches remain excellent as crowds ease. The north's burning-season haze is at its worst roughly February through early April; save Chiang Mai for another window.

Weather: Heating up, highs near 93F (34C)
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What March is like in Thailand

March heats up, with highs near 93F (34C). The beaches on both coasts are still excellent and crowds begin to ease, so prices drop a little. The north is a different story: burning season haze is at its worst roughly February through early April, and air quality in Chiang Mai can be poor. Bangkok is hot, so plan temple visits early.

This month is great for beach trips, diving, and families who want sun at slightly better prices. It is a poor time for the north, so skip Chiang Mai this month and come back in November. If heat bothers you, keep days slow and pools close.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Thailand this month.

Beaches with fewer people

The Andaman coast still has calm, clear water, but the peak season rush is fading.

Koh Tao dive trips

Dry season visibility makes it a good month to learn to dive on the Gulf side.

Ayutthaya at dawn

Take an early train from Bangkok and see the ruins before the heat builds.

What to pack for March

Light, loose clothing
A reusable water bottle and electrolyte packets
Strong sunscreen and a hat
A temple cover-up

Our timing tip

Check an air quality app before booking anything in the north this month.

Book Thailand for March.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Thailand
Opens a hotel search for Thailand in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Thailand
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Thailand
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Thailand for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in March

Andaman high season

November through April

Calm seas open every ferry route and dive site on the west coast, including the Similan Islands park, which closes roughly mid May to mid October.

Things to do in Thailand

Full guide

Bangkok's Grand Palace and Wat Pho

The gold-spired heart of Thai royalty and the giant Reclining Buddha next door. Go at opening, dress with covered shoulders and knees, and ignore anyone outside saying it is closed.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Bangkok street food crawl

Chinatown (Yaowarat) after dark is the classic run. Follow the lines of locals; the busiest stall is the menu.

Tickets and tours →

Chiang Mai's old city and temples

Moat-ringed lanes, hundreds of temples, and the mountain shrine of Doi Suthep above town. Best November through January; skip burning season in late winter.

Tickets and tours →

Railay and Krabi's limestone coast

Karst cliffs straight out of a painting, reachable only by longtail boat. Calm seas and full boat schedules run roughly November through April.

Tickets and tours →

Koh Phi Phi and Maya Bay

The famous bay operates with visitor limits and seasonal closures to let the ecosystem recover. Check current rules and book the earliest boat.

Tickets and tours →

Gulf islands: Samui, Phangan, Tao

Resorts on Samui, full-moon energy on Phangan, and some of the world's cheapest dive certification on Koh Tao. At their best when the Andaman side is stormy.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Go in November or February: you get the cool-season weather of the December-January peak with a real step down in crowds and prices.
Pick one second-tier island (Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Kood) over the marquee names; the beach is the same postcard with half the longtail traffic.
In Bangkok, see the Grand Palace at opening or after 3pm, and ride the river boats and BTS instead of sitting in taxi traffic.
Book Christmas to New Year and Songkran-week transport like concert tickets, months out. The rest of high season needs only days to weeks of lead time.

Know before you go

Andaman-coast monsoon (roughly May through October): some island ferry routes stop, boat trips cancel in rough seas, and the Similan Islands national park closes entirely, typically mid May to mid October.
Maya Bay and several marine parks now enforce visitor caps and seasonal closures for ecological recovery; rules change year to year, so check before promising anyone the famous beach.
Songkran (mid April) closes many offices and small businesses for days while the whole country travels; tourist attractions stay open and very wet.
During the Gulf coast's wettest stretch (roughly October into December), Koh Tao dive trips and Samui beach days get rain-checked; the Andaman side is simultaneously reopening.