Top Ten Reasons to Travel Thailand During the Rainy Season by Daniel Fraser

1) Less Rain Than People Think
Several days can go by without a drop, and sometimes it only rains for a few moments at a time. Is that so bad? It wouldn’t be fair to say that it “never” rains….but we certainly haven’t altered any of our programs as a result of a little mid-day shower.

2) More Beautiful Scenery
The greens in northern Thailand rival those in Ireland and New Zealand during the rainy season. Also, the bright sun breaking through clouds creates a surreal silvery skyline during late afternoon. Photography opportunities far out-shadow any other time of year, and the brilliance of Mother Nature shines through like no other time. Here’s food for thought: all those gorgeous postcards we see of velvety green mountains, gurgling northern rivers and stunning rice terraces…well, those photos were most certainly taken during the raining season.

3) Very Few Tourists
Thanks largely to public misconception; most tourists chose to avoid Thailand during June – October. We’ve done trips during these months and we’re often the only guests in some hotels. As a rule our trips stray off heavier-traveled routes anyway, but during the rainy season it’s like your own private kingdom.

4) Amazing Agriculture
As Thailand is an agriculturally based nation, the growing season is bountiful – farmers in the fields tending to corn, garlic, soy, multi-level rice paddies and tea plantations, thick mangrove and banana plantations, grazing water buffalo and full-flowing deep rivers make Thailand’s rural areas a hint more spectacular during this time of year.

5) Better Deals in Markets
With less tourists flocking to local markets, you’ll often find vendors more welcoming and warm. Low-season values can be had on market goods nationwide.

6) Less Crowded Restaurants
As a general rule you won’t be run over by giant tour groups in most places during this time of year. Of course, the neat little enclaves featured on Smiling Albino are never really busy anyway.

7) Friendlier People
We’ve always noticed there seems to be a magical air of friendliness during the rainy season. Children are in school, crops are being planted, the sweltering summer heat has passed and dodging the occasional short shower creates a comical, jovial atmosphere.

8) Bangkok Pretty?
It’s true. One of the world’s busiest and rapidly expanding cities, Bangkok gets a regular coat of fresh rain during the wet season and it actually cleans the town up a bit. Less dust in a city rife with construction is a welcome relief. Some roads even shine!

9) Low-Season Deals
Many hotels, resorts, even airlines have some superb deals during June – October. Catch them before the masses come!

10) Smiling Albino
In our more than six years of running great adventures throughout Thailand, we’ve never had to cancel an outing, finish a bike ride early or cut-short a hike due to weather. We plan ahead, work around it, bring rain ponchos and the adventure fun machine never stops. The rainy season has been one of our favorite, if not absolutely favorite time to take our guests around Thailand – and the ones who’ve traveled with us during this time certainly found something special!

That’s the great 10 reasons for traveling in rainy season in Thailand. So, don’t you try, do you? 🙂