Where to Travel in Thailand in November [2025]

A month of renewal and travel, where the whole of Thailand shines under lanterns and clear skies

Ryan TurnerPublished: October 30, 2025, 3:00 PM

554 5 minutes read

Where to Travel in Thailand in November [2025] | Thaiger — Releasing a lantern on Yi Peng in Chiang Mai | Photo by Olivier Darny from Pexels

The Thaiger key takeaways

November marks the beginning of the cool season in Thailand to travel around, with crisp air, lower humidity, and perfect conditions for outdoor exploration across the country.
Iconic festivals like Loy Krathong and Yi Peng transform Thailand into a spectacle of floating lights, symbolising release, renewal, and hope.
Northern mountains, central riversides, and southern beaches all come alive in their own ways.

November is when Thailand exhales for those who travel. The rains fade, the country glows, and across temples, rivers, and coastal towns, life feels lighter. Lanterns rise into the air, candles float down rivers, and the scent of grilled street food fills the cool breeze.

This month bridges renewal and reflection. After months of rain (with one tropical storm after another), there’s a freshness that reaches beyond the weather.

For travellers, November invites both adventure and stillness: long walks through temple courtyards, soft mornings in the mountains, or quiet evenings by the sea watching the first stars of the cool season. After all, it’s a collective mood that can be protected with insurance coverage from SafetyWing.

Where to Travel to in Thailand this November

Section (Click to jump)	Short Summary	Recommended Places
What you can’t miss out on	Loy Krathong on November 6 transforms Thailand into a sea of light. Families and travellers release krathongs on rivers and lakes, symbolising renewal and gratitude.	Bangkok (Chao Phraya River), Sukhothai, Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand	Cool air and mountain views make the north shine in November. Yi Peng Lantern Festival lights up Chiang Mai, while trekking trails and sunflower hills reopen.	Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Doi Inthanon, Doi Mae U Kho
Central Thailand	The region glows under candlelight during Loy Krathong. November also brings River Kwai Bridge Week, celebrating history through light-and-sound shows.	Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi
Southern Thailand	After the monsoon season, clear skies return to the Andaman coast. Perfect for diving, snorkelling, and island hopping before peak crowds arrive.	Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Similan Islands
A month of gratitude and renewal	November marks reflection and new beginnings. The mix of festivals and calm weather invites mindfulness, gratitude, and a lighter spirit.	N/A
Travel smart with SafetyWing	SafetyWing offers peace of mind with flexible plans covering emergencies, long-term care, and visa needs which is ideal for travellers across Thailand.	N/A

What you can’t miss out on

Loy Krathong is the heart of Thailand’s November light, and it will be almost everywhere you travel. Celebrated nationwide on November 6, it’s a time when families, couples, and travellers gather at the water’s edge to release small, lotus-shaped rafts made from banana leaves and flowers, each carrying a wish, a prayer, or something quietly let go.

In Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River glows under the lights of temples; in Sukhothai, lanterns shimmer beside ancient ruins; and in Chiang Mai, the celebration merges with Yi Peng, where candles on water meet lanterns in the sky.

It’s a night of grace and renewal, when Thailand, quite literally, shines. If you are visiting Thailand in November, this is one night you don’t want to miss.

Northern Thailand – Lanterns, mist, and mountain calm

(Left) Doi Inthanon National Park and (Right) Doi Mae U Kho in Mae Hong Son | Photos taken from Thai National Parks and TheSmartLocal Thailand websites respectively — (Left) Doi Inthanon National Park and (Right) Doi Mae U Kho in Mae Hong Son | Photos taken from Thai National Parks and TheSmartLocal Thailand websites, respectively

As the cool season begins in November, northern Thailand feels almost cinematic when you travel there. The air is cleaner, the skies more open, and the mist curls around the mountain peaks. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son are radiant at this time of year, green from the rains but cool enough (if not cold) for hiking and outdoor life.

The famous Yi Peng Lantern Festival (November 5 to 6) transforms Chiang Mai into a glowing constellation. Thousands of lanterns rise into the sky, carrying away misfortune and illuminating new beginnings.

On the waters below, krathongs from the nationwide Loy Krathong celebration, each carrying flowers, incense, and a whispered wish, meander through the city’s rivers, as two traditions merge in one breathtaking moment.

The sight here is nothing short of magical, a soft farewell to the past year.

Beyond the festivals, northern Thailand offers perfect weather for time away from the big city. Trek through Doi Inthanon National Park, where the Kew Mae Pan trail opens in November, revealing sunrise views over a sea of mist.

For more beautiful sights of flowers over vast land, you can also visit Doi Mae U Kho in Mae Hong Son, where golden Mexican sunflowers bloom, blanketing the hillsides.

Evenings here invite warmth amid the cool: bowls of Khao Soi, the northern coconut curry noodle soup; smoky Sai Oua from the grill; and tea in handwoven shawls as the night settles coolly.

And when you’re winding along misty roads or trekking mountain trails, having SafetyWing travel coverage means your only worry is how early to wake for the next sunrise.

Also: Guide to the places around the mountains of Northern Thailand

Central Thailand – Candlelight, culture, and reflection

Where to Travel in Thailand in November [2025] | News by Thaiger — (Left) Kanchanaburi River Kwai Bridge Week & (Right) Lights display in Ayutthaya | Photo taken from the Hot Magazine and Secret Retreats website, respectively

Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces take on a festive rhythm in November. The humidity drops, the light softens, and the city feels just that bit more walkable.

The Chao Phraya River becomes one of the country’s most picturesque stages for Loy Krathong, with thousands of flickering lights reflecting beneath bridges and temple spires.

Similarly, in Ayutthaya, ancient ruins glow under candlelight as locals float krathongs near centuries-old temples. The mix of reflection and joy feels timeless, a bridge between history and the present moment.

Meanwhile, Kanchanaburi hosts the River Kwai Bridge Week (November 27 to December 7), which is both a commemoration and a spectacle, with light-and-sound shows that recall wartime history against the river backdrop.

Daytime brings ideal conditions for exploration. The Grand Palace gleams, and Wat Pho’s reclining Buddha rests in golden calm. The pace feels slower, a good reminder to enjoy Thailand’s capital at a more human rhythm.

Travelling in Thailand in November feels just like that: stepping into new light, unburdened by the months before.

Southern Thailand – Clear waters and island awakenings

Down south, the Andaman coast awakens. Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta are reunited with clear, sunlit skies, and their seas are calm after months of monsoon. The famous Similan Islands National Park reopens in mid-October this year and welcomes divers eager to explore coral gardens and marine life.

Days are for island hopping, snorkelling, and lounging on powder-soft beaches. Evenings stretch into balmy nights filled with grilled seafood, gentle surf, and perhaps a few drinks.

November brings the perfect balance, the atmosphere still peaceful before the December crowds arrive.

And for travellers combining island adventures with road trips or diving excursions, SafetyWing coverage adds peace of mind, so you can dive deep, drive far, and rest easy knowing you’re protected wherever your journey leads.

A month of gratitude and renewal

November in Thailand is a season of light and water, perhaps marking a quiet spiritual shift. But it’s also a transitional period between seasons.

Festivals of light and water celebrate gratitude, forgiveness, and the courage to begin again. Floating a krathong or releasing a lantern then represents a personal meditation, a way to acknowledge what has passed and invite what’s next.

The air cools, the nights lengthen, and every temple bell, flickering candle, and glowing horizon seems to whisper the same thing: it’s time to move forward, lighter and brighter.

Travel smart with SafetyWing

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