April is the hottest month in the north, Bangkok and Pattaya, the month of Songkran, and the month when the Andaman rains return. Below are Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) normals for ten stations, what TMD says about the hot season, Songkran dates, national park status and hotel occupancy. Checked on 25 October 2026.
April weather by region: TMD normals
These are 1991-2020 normals from the TMD report; the Krabi station (48 563) has a shorter 1994-2020 record. A rainy day means 0.1 mm or more. Khao Lak uses the nearest TMD station, Takua Pa (individual beaches may differ). Koh Phangan and Koh Tao have no TMD station, so Samui is the nearest reference. Hotel occupancy is from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) for the whole province, not a resort: April 2025, the latest April in the MOTS file.
| Region, TMD station | High, °C | Low, °C | Rain, mm | Rainy days | Hotel occupancy Apr 2025, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket (Phuket, 48 564) | 34.2 | 26.3 | 135.1 | 11.7 | 81.76 |
| Khao Lak (Takua Pa, 48 561) | 33.7 | 24.3 | 221.7 | 15.6 | 80.67 (Phang Nga) |
| Krabi (Krabi, 48 563, 1994-2020) | 34.3 | 23.1 | 142.2 | 12.7 | 84.14 |
| Koh Lanta (Ko Lanta, 48 566) | 33.8 | 25.1 | 121.6 | 10.4 | 84.14 (Krabi) |
| Koh Samui, Phangan, Tao (Ko Samui, 48 550) | 31.8 | 26.0 | 82.9 | 8.1 | 80.68 (Surat Thani) |
| Pattaya (Phatthaya, 48 461) | 33.0 | 26.4 | 67.9 | 6.3 | 86.14 (Chon Buri) |
| Hua Hin (Hua Hin, 48 475) | 33.4 | 26.0 | 46.5 | 3.7 | 80.37 (Prachuap Khiri Khan) |
| Bangkok (Bangkok Metropolis, 48 455) | 35.7 | 27.2 | 93.3 | 6.5 | 72.34 |
| Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai, 48 327) | 36.7 | 23.4 | 54.3 | 6.8 | 72.13 |
| Chiang Rai (Chiang Rai, 48 303) | 34.7 | 21.1 | 92.6 | 10.3 | 73.84 |
TMD and the hot season
We found no TMD outlook for April 2027 yet: the cool season outlook of 9 October 2026 runs until mid-February. TMD describes February to May as a transition between the monsoons: winds have no fixed direction, the land gets the most energy from the sun, the weather is generally hot, sultry and dry, and the thunderstorms that do form are often severe, the so-called summer storms. TMD’s normals record thunderstorms on 7.5 days in April at Phuket, 9.8 days at Takua Pa, 8.3 days at Krabi and 7.6 days at Chiang Rai. At the Phuket station the prevailing wind is from the southeast and west in April, and TMD dates the southwest monsoon from May.
Where to go in April
Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, Koh Lanta. The rains are back: 121.6 mm on 10.4 days on Koh Lanta, 135.1 mm on 11.7 days in Phuket, 142.2 mm on 12.7 days in Krabi and 221.7 mm on 15.6 days at the Takua Pa station near Khao Lak. Highs are 33.7-34.3 °C. Krabi had its fullest month of 2025 in April (84.14%). The Similan Islands and Ko Rok are open until 15 May. See Phuket by month.
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao. 82.9 mm on 8.1 days, less than in March (115.8 mm) and May (131.6 mm), with highs of 31.8 °C and nights of 26.0 °C. More in the Koh Samui holiday guide.
Pattaya and Hua Hin. Hua Hin is the driest of the ten stations in April (46.5 mm on 3.7 days) and Pattaya gets 67.9 mm on 6.3 days, with highs of 33.4 and 33.0 °C. Chon Buri, the province of Pattaya, had its fullest month of 2025 in April (86.14%). The PM2.5 watch period for the east ended in March, and the one for the west (Hua Hin) ends in April. Guides: Pattaya and Hua Hin.
Bangkok. The hottest month of the year: highs of 35.7 °C and nights of 27.2 °C, 93.3 mm of rain on 6.5 days.
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The hottest month of the year at both stations: highs of 36.7 and 34.7 °C, nights of 23.4 and 21.1 °C. Rain starts to return (54.3 and 92.6 mm), and haze days fall from 26.8 in March to 17.1 at the Chiang Mai station. PCD’s PM2.5 watch period for the north runs until May, see Chiang Mai smoke season.
Songkran and other dates in April 2027
| Event | 2027 date | Where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chakri Memorial Day | Tuesday 6 April, bank holiday | nationwide | Bank of Thailand |
| Songkran | Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April, bank holidays | nationwide | Bank of Thailand |
TAT describes Songkran as the Thai New Year, recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, traditionally marked by merit-making, water-pouring rituals for elders and temple visits, and today a nationwide water festival. TAT has not published a 2027 programme yet. For reference, its 2026 listing included the Chiang Mai Water Festival on 11-13 April at Wat Chedi Luang, the Phuket Water Festival on 11-13 April at Mai Khao and Patong Beach, Chon Buri’s Wan Lai tradition on 5-20 April and the Pattaya Songkran Summer Festival on 17-19 April. Those are 2026 dates: celebrations in several places run before or after the three holiday days, so check TAT’s 2027 programme when it appears.
National parks and islands in April
| Park | Status in April 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ang Thong Marine Park (Samui) | open (annual closure 1 November-15 December) | DNP |
| Similan Islands | open until 15 May (annual closure 16 May-14 October) | DNP |
| Surin Islands | open until 15 May (annual closure 16 May-14 October) | DNP |
| Maya Bay, Phi Phi | open (annual closure 1 August-30 September) | DNP |
| Ko Rok (Lanta) | open until 15 May (annual closure 16 May-15 November) | DNP park page |
The table is from the Department of National Parks (DNP) closure list for 2026, with data as of 7 January 2026. Parks can change their rules, so check with the park before you book a trip. The 2027 table is not published yet, so we use the annual periods from the 2026 table.
Hotel occupancy in April
MOTS counts occupancy by province, not by resort, and it is not a price. April 2025: Chon Buri, the province of Pattaya, 86.14% and Krabi 84.14%, both their highest month of that year, Phuket 81.76%, Surat Thani, the province of Samui, 80.68%, Phang Nga, the province of Khao Lak, 80.67%, Prachuap Khiri Khan, the province of Hua Hin, 80.37%, Chiang Rai 73.84%, Bangkok 72.34% and Chiang Mai 72.13%. We do not publish accommodation prices until we collect our own dated measurements.
Should you go to Thailand in April?
Go if you want Songkran or a beach holiday on the Gulf coast, and you can plan around highs of 32-37 °C. Avoid long midday outings in Bangkok and the north. Move to another month if you want dry weather on the Andaman coast: it is driest in February, see Thailand in February. The month before is covered in Thailand in March. How beaches change by region and month is covered in Thailand beaches.
FAQ
Is April a good time to visit Thailand?
It is a good month for a holiday built around heat, water and Songkran, and a poor one for long walks in the middle of the day. By TMD normals average highs reach 36.7 °C in Chiang Mai and 35.7 °C in Bangkok. The beaches are still mostly dry on the Gulf coast and in Hua Hin, while the Andaman rains return. Hotels were busy: Krabi and Chon Buri had their fullest month of 2025 in April.
How hot is Thailand in April?
By TMD normals average highs are 36.7 °C in Chiang Mai, 35.7 °C in Bangkok, 34.7 °C in Chiang Rai, 34.3 °C in Krabi, 34.2 °C in Phuket, 33.4 °C in Hua Hin, 33.0 °C in Pattaya and 31.8 °C on Samui. Nights are 27.2 °C in Bangkok and 26.0 °C on Samui.
When is Songkran in 2027?
The Bank of Thailand lists Songkran as bank holidays on Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 April 2027. TAT has not published its 2027 programme yet. In 2026 TAT's listing included Chon Buri's Wan Lai tradition on 5-20 April, the Pattaya Songkran Summer Festival on 17-19 April and Si Racha on 19-21 April, so some celebrations run outside the three holiday days.
Does it rain in Thailand in April?
Less than in May, but the picture varies by coast. Hua Hin gets 46.5 mm, Chiang Mai 54.3 mm, Pattaya 67.9 mm and Samui 82.9 mm, while Phuket gets 135.1 mm on 11.7 days, Krabi 142.2 mm and Khao Lak (Takua Pa station) 221.7 mm. TMD records thunderstorms on 7.5 days at Phuket and 9.8 days at Takua Pa.
Is northern Thailand still smoky in April?
Less than in March, but the watch period continues: PCD puts the north in its PM2.5 watch period until May. The TMD station in Chiang Mai records haze on 17.1 days in April, against 26.8 in March. Haze is a visibility observation, not a PM2.5 measurement, and rain returns (54.3 mm on 6.8 days).
Are the Similan Islands open in April?
Yes. The DNP closure table for 2026 lists an annual closure of the Similan and Surin Islands from 16 May to 14 October, so April is among the last months of the season. Ko Rok near Koh Lanta is open until 15 May (Mu Ko Lanta park page). Check with the park before booking, because the table is dated 7 January 2026.
Sources
- TMD. Climatological Data for the Period 1991-2020 (stations 48 303, 48 327, 48 455, 48 461, 48 475, 48 550, 48 561, 48 563, 48 564, 48 566)
- TMD. Thailand's seasons and climate, PDF p. 3 (February-May transition)
- MOTS. Tourism statistics by province 2025 (xlsx)
- Bank of Thailand. Notification No. 37/2569, holidays for 2027 (unofficial English translation)
- TAT. Songkran Festival 2026 to proceed nationwide (programme of 2026, UNESCO recognition)
- PCD. Regional PM2.5 risk periods, 10 August 2026
- Air4Thai. Official air quality map
- DNP. National park closures 2026 (data as of 7 January 2026)
- DNP. Mu Ko Lanta National Park (Ko Rok season)
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.