Visiting Thailand in January

Central Thailand

Make the most of the lower humidity in Bangkok to explore the Thai capital, with its temples, palaces, food markets and bright lights. It’s also a good month to discover the surrounding area, whether you’re planning a trip to Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai, the ancient temples in Ayutthaya or the ancient city of Sukhothai.

Beaches

You’re spoiled for choice if you’re looking for beaches, with some tempting escapes on the west coast – dodge the crowds at Ko Yao Yai, discover the limestone formations of Krabi, snorkel at Ko Phi Phi, relax at Ko Lanta or explore Ko Hai. You’ll find more tropical islands in the east of Thailand towards the border with Cambodia, including unspoiled Ko Kood, Ko Mak with its fantastic snorkelling, the waterfalls of Ko Chang, or Ko Samet, which is an easy journey from Bangkok.

It is the tail end of the rainy season in Koh Samui and the islands on the Gulf of Thailand, so if you want to be sure of sunny days, it’s a good plan to avoid that area this month.

Wildlife

If you love wildlife, the dry season is a great time to see Thailand’s elephants, with opportunities across the country – combine animal-spotting in a national park with beach time at Hua Hin, venture into the jungle at Khao Sok National Park, or head to the Elephant Nature Park at Chiang Mai in the north. In the east, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand’s oldest national park, with the chance of spotting elephants, wildcats and porcupines, plus bats and monkeys galore.

Nature

Now’s the time to get outdoors, hike in the hills of the cooler north or enjoy some authentic Thai culture, whether that’s eating with a local family or a homestay visit. Walk through the green hills of Pai, near the border with Myanmar, discover the temples and tea hills around Chiang Rai, or head out on a bamboo raft and trek as well as a stay in a Karen village. In the south, explore the rainforest and lakes of Khao Sok, while in the east of the country, you can cycle through Isaan, visiting the Khmer temple of Phanom Rung along the way.

Festivals: Thailand celebrates New Year three times over the year, including fireworks on January 1, and Chinese New Year (date varies, usually late January/early February), with dragon parades and dancing in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

During the third weekend in January, the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival celebrates the long tradition of producing beautiful hand-painted paper parasols in Bo Sang, near Chiang Mai, along with other crafts from across the Sankampaeng District.

Best for: Seeing the whole country, west coast beaches, elephant spotting, hiking