October is the low point of the weather and the high point of the value. The Andaman is still wet, the Gulf is at the end of its rainy season, and prices are at their annual minimum before the season turns in November.
The short version
- The cheapest month for hotels across the country.
- The Andaman starts to dry out in the last ten days.
- The Gulf's rainy season peaks in October and November.
- Ok Phansa (end of Buddhist Lent) falls in October, with boat processions.
Weather
The wettest month overall. The Andaman gets the tail of the monsoon, the Gulf is transitioning, and Bangkok can flood in heavy years. Rain comes in long afternoon bursts rather than all day.
The turn
Around the third week the rain eases and the Andaman starts to calm. The last ten days of October are often excellent and still priced as low season — the best-value window of the autumn.
How to plan
Keep one flexible day, choose hotels with indoor space, and favour cities and the north over fixed beach itineraries. Travel insurance that covers weather delays is worth it.
Where to go in October
October is the month to be in cities. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi are all good — rain in short bursts, temperatures easing, and the lowest hotel prices of the year. The north is starting to clear and the rice terraces are gold before harvest.
The Andaman begins to turn in the last ten days. If you can travel in the final week of October you get near-high-season conditions at low-season prices, and the boats start running again. Before that, expect cancellations.
The Gulf is at the end of its rainy season, with the wettest weeks usually mid-month. Koh Samui is a poor bet in October and a good one by mid-December, which is worth knowing if your dates are flexible.
