Best Time For Trekking In Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is one of must-visit destinations in Thailand, offering visitors many exciting experiences. This biggest city of Thailand has many differences from the other part of the country, from the food, culture, landscape, to the weather. With the gorgeous mountainscape in north of Thailand, the trails running amidst the dense and lush forests, the friendliness of the hill tribe people with their simple, unique and peaceful way of life, Chiang Mai is an ideal place for escaping the bustle of city life and joining a unique trekking tour. Some famous trekking trails that you can refer such as Wat Pha Lat to Wat Doi Suthep, Doi Pui to Doi Suthep, Huay Tung Tao Circular, Doi Inthanon Nature trail, Doi Luang Chiang Dao, … To enjoy the best trekking in Chiang Mai, one of important factors when planning is choosing the appropriate travel time.

Located in the mountainous area of Northern Thailand and lied on 313m above sea level, Chiang Mai has a tropical climate. Compared to other region of the country, Chiang Mai is slightly cooler and enjoys a relatively lower humidity. It is specifically divided in three seasons: dry and cool season, wet season and hot season.

Dry and cool season starts from November then lasts to February. This is the most pleasant time of the year with the temperature around 28°C and the lowest rainfall. The weather is warm in daytime with the blue sky, without clouds, and cool in the evening and night. This is very suitable for outdoor activities, especially it’s the best time to go trekking. The cool and dry weather will help you not sweat too much. Moreover, the mountain view in this period is amazing and green, and you can see for miles and miles.

Hot season lasts from March to May. This is the hottest season of the year with the temperature often climbing beyond 32°C. The highest temperature can rise up to 40°C, even the lightest treks can make you tired and sweat. Besides, at that time the farmers often burn their agricultural land to prepare the soil with higher fertility for the next crop. This make visibility of mountain views reduced. So it’s better that you should avoid direct sunlight and find shady forests to hike in. If you are planning to go trekking in this period, you should choose destinations that has higher altitudes, it will be cooler. Anh you should trek earlier in the morning to avoid the heat of the day.

The rainy season (or monsoon season) runs from June to October, brings downpours to Chiang Mai and most of the rest of the country. However, rainy season does not mean that it will rain all day. It mostly occurs in the afternoon or at night, and often comes as quick. Although the weather is not nice as the cool and dry season, but it’s quite pleasant for sightseeing. Because at this time, the rice fields appear green and lush, there are less crowds and plants and animals flourish. The natural destinations are picturesque during the rainy season. If you have a plan to go trekking in this season, it’s not perfect but still good. Please note that the rains tend to fall mostly in the afternoons, so you should get up early and make a trip before the clouds set in. And do not forget to bring the raincoat along.

So we can see that it is possible to enjoy trekking all year round in Chiang Mai. Basing on this articles, you can choose the best time for your trekking adventure in Chiang Mai. If you need information about which area is better for trekking in each season, or any information, please contact us, Travel Authentic Asia is always here to help you.