September in Thailand

Thailand’s rainy season runs from July to October, so visiting Thailand in September could be a wet experience. But even in the rainy season, there are plenty of things to do and see, and it’s not like it will be cold!

September in Thailand usually means bursts of rainfall with plenty of sunshine in between. And while you can expect lots of rain, you can also expect warm temperatures throughout the entire rainy season, making it not all that unpleasant to get showered on now and again. In Bangkok, for instance, the average high temperatures in September are 91F (33C) – and that’s with 85% humidity! The rainy season can also mean monsoons, although the big ones that last several days and cause flooding are pretty rare.

Because of the higher levels of rainfall, however, and the threat of monsoons, you’ll find that September in Thailand is relatively tourist-free – so when the sun does break through the rain clouds you’re likely to have even the most touristy areas more to yourself than you would at other times of the year. In fact, it’s during this low season that you’re more apt to find cheap airline tickets as well as good deals on hotels.

Despite the potential for heavy rains, there are still some festivals in Thailand in September which you may want to check out. These include:

International Swan Boat Races & Long Boat Race Championship (Ayutthaya) – This series of races takes place each year on the Chao Phraya River at the Bang Sai Royal Folks Arts & Crafts Centre in Phra Nakhon Si. The races started in 1986, and draw teams from all over Asia.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Phuket) – The Thai-Chinese population of Phuket holds this annual festival, which focuses on their belief that you can purify your soul and mind by meditating and not eating meat. There are religious processions during the festival, and fairly gruesome (to the faint of heart) displays of face and body piercing.
Bangkok International Film Festival (Bangkok) – This international film festival, running since 2003, could be a fun chance to see films from countries all over the world (and movies are always a great way to escape the rain!).

More information on when to visit Thailand:

Thailand in April
Thailand in May
Thailand in June
August in Thailand
Thailand in summer