Winter in Chiang Mai is considered the months of November through February, as the temperatures are quite cooler during those months. You may not think that this is a good time to visit this part of Thailand but considering the temperatures won’t be sweltering hot and the rain will not be falling in buckets, it truly is one of the best times.
When you plan a future winter vacation in Chiang Mai, you might want to plan it for the beginning of November when the Loy Krathong and Yee Peng festivals take place. This is the only city in the country that still celebrates Yee Peng and you must arrive at least a day ahead of the festival, because the airport in the city closes the day of all the celebrations. During Loy Krathong, you will be able to make your own Krathong float down the river on the night of the full moon.
Hiking is a lot of fun in Chiang Mai, especially if you take the time to conquer the trails that lead to the summit of Doi Inthanon. Don’t worry, you can drive to the summit as well to see the extraordinary views. It is important that you make multiple stops on your way to the summit though, so you can see the waterfalls and chedis, which is a Buddhist stupa.
The months of January and February bring the blossoming of the Sakura trees, or cherry blossoms within the park as well, so you may want to plan your trip accordingly.
Other thrilling things to do in this part of the country during the winter include the Thai food convention, Lanna food festival, multiple fashion shows, and Muay Thai fights. You can enjoy them all or choose the ones that interest you the most.
Quite a few people arrive in Chiang Mai at this time of the year, so you must be prepared for an influx of people. While it is true that the islands of Thailand are busy during the summer months, they also get slightly busy once the temperatures drop. Therefore, major attractions, and even the summit at the national park mentioned above, will be crowded. However, a little preplanning on your part will still have you enjoying it all without the stress that you might normally feel. After all, you are all there for the same thing…Some time away from the busyness of life and the opportunity to explore a new part of the world!
