Why You Should Visit Thailand in November [2022]

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A cultural performance at Phimai Historical Park. Photo Credit: Manoonp.

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Thailand in November – a good time to visit the Land of Smiles? Thailand November events include a monkey feast, an elephant round up,  a religious ceremony, fireworks, boat races – the list goes on. As for weather, temperatures are starting to moderate. And skies are starting to clear. But this is peak season, so bargains might be hard to find.

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Thailand November Weather

So how is the weather in Thailand in November? In terms of weather, November is a transition month in the Land of Smiles.

In other words, November marks the end of the humid rainy season and the beginning of the cool winter season. Therefore, the temperatures are slightly cooler. In addition, there are a few more sunny days.

Winter runs from mid-November to mid-March. For many tourists, it is the best time to visit Thailand. Therefore, winter is the peak tourist season in the Land of Smiles. As a result, bargains are harder to find.

The average high temperature in Bangkok is 33 degrees Celsius, or 91 degrees Fahrenheit. And the average low temperature is 27 degrees Celsius, or 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

In fact, Bangkok enjoys a daily average of 11.30 hours of sunshine in November. And there are about 12 rainy days. An average of 90 millimeters of rain falls during the month. As for the humidity, the average is 77%.

 

Thailand November Events

Check out this short list of events taking place in Thailand in November. However,  keep in mind that dates sometimes change. And sometimes events are cancelled at the last minute.

Therefore, you might want to check with tourism authorities before booking your hotel room. Better safe than sorry!

Not all dates for November 2022 have been confirmed. Confirmed events are listed first in chronological order. Unconfirmed events follow.

Yi Peng – 8 to 9 November 2022

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Thailand in November: a lantern being lit before being released into the skies over Chiang Mai during the Yi Peng Festival Carlos Adampol Galindo.

Yi Peng falls on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai Lunar Calendar. And lanterns are released from dusk until the wee hours. Believe me, it is a site to behold!

  • Location: Chiang Mai and other parts of Northern Thailand

 

Full Moon Party – 8 November 2022

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Full Moon Party at Haad Rin Sunris Beach on Koh Phangan, and island near Koh Samui. Photo Credit: Per Meistrup.

Full Moon Party at Haad Rin Sunris Beach on Koh Phangan, an island near Koh Samui. Photo Credit: Per Meistrup.

The Full Moon Party is held on the beach of Haad Rin every month on the night of the full moon.

DJs play a variety of musical styles including trance, dubstep, reggae, and techno. Jugglers, fire-eaters, and fireworks add drama to the all-night event.

Haad Rin is crescent shaped beach located on the island of Ko Pha Ngan. It can be reached by boat from Koh Samui, an island off the coast of Southern Thailand.

Koh Samui is 293 miles (471 kilometres) south of Bangkok. Because the drive takes nearly 10 hours, air travel is recommended,. The flight takes just over one hour.

 

Erawan Shrine Anniversary – 9 November 2022

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Traditional Thai dancers perform while a devotee prays at the Erawan Shrine in downtown Bangkok. Photo Credit: Ninara.

Devotees make offerings at Erawan Shrine, a Hindu shrine that houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Hindu god of creation.

The ceremony starts at 6.00 am. Devotees pray for good fortune. They make offerings of 12 incense sticks, four candles, four jasmine and marigold garlands, and four pieces of gold leaf.

 

Loy Krathong – 9 November 2022

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Loy Krathong Festival at Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui is one of the most interesting Thailand November events. Photo Credit: Per Meistrup.

Loy Krathong heralds the end of the rainy season. In addition, it pays tribute to the water spirits.

Loy Krathong is one of the most colourful and popular festivals of the year in Thailand. People throughout the country participate in the festivities.

On the evening of Loy Krathong, celebrants flock to nearby bodies of water and float small bowl-shaped containers called krathongs. And they place three incense sticks, a candle, and usually a few coins Inside the containers.

When they set their krathongs afloat, celebrants ask Mother Nature for forgiveness for polluting the rivers. But they also thank her for the water that brings them life.

In addition, they wish for good luck. And they hope that as the krathong floats away, it will also carry away their bad luck.

 

Changing of the Robes from Rainy to Winter – 10 November 2022 

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The Emerald Buddha has three golden robes for the three seasons in Thailand: Summer (right), Rainy, and Winter.

The Emerald Buddha is the most important image of Buddha in Thailand. And it has three robes, one for each of the country’s three seasons: summer, rainy, and winter.

The King of Thailand changes the robes three times a year to mark the changing of the seasons. While the exact dates vary from year to year, they are usually held in the months of March, August, and November on the Gregorian Calendar.

The robes are changed from rainy to winter on 12 November in 2019. ???

 

 

Phimai Festival and Boat Race – 11 to 13 November 2022

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The cultural performance at Phimai Historical Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province is one of the most spectacular Thailand November events. Photo Credit: Manoonp.

Boat races are held along the Chakkarat River in the Phimai District of Nakhon Ratchasima province. And fteams from around Thailand participate in the competition.

In addition, there are daily sound and light shows at 6.30 pm. And they tell the story of King Jayavarman VII.

Other activities include an exhibition on Phimai history, a traditional arts and crafts fair, and cultural performances.  A “Korat Cat Competition” is one of the festival’s highlights.

Foodies enjoy the cooking demonstrations and cooking classes. And a variety of interactive and do-it-yourself workshops fill out the programme.

 

Surin Elephant Round-Up – 18 to 20 November 2022

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Elephant Round-Up at Surin is one of the most colourful Thailand November events. Photo Credit: Luc Ockers.

Elephants parade through the streets of Surin on the first day of the Elephant Round-Up. Moreover, they are served an appetizing “elephant breakfast”.

Other activities include elephant talent competitions and demonstrations of elephant capturing, training, and warfare techniques.

 

River Kwai Bridge Week – 26 November to 4 December 2022 

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Train crossing the Bridge over the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Photo Credit: Krzyzlof Golik.

This event takes you back in time to World War II through the River Kwai Bridge build by Allied prisoners-of-war. :To clarify, the Kanchanaburi Bridge was the part of the Death Railway that spanned the River Kwai.

The annual River Kwai Bridge Week and Kanchanaburi Red Cross Fair features two nightly light-and-sound shows telling the stories of World War II. And it honours the prisoners of war and Asian labourers who built the infamous Death Railway, the Bridge on the River Kwai, and the Hellfire Pass.

The event is held at the same time as the Kanchanaburi Red Cross Fair. And there is shopping, entertainment, exhibitions of local products, and a  mini motor show.

 

 

Monkey Buffet Festival – 26 to 27 November 2022

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Hundreds of long-tail monkeys inhabit the ruins of the Sam Phra Karn Shrine in Lopburi, Thailand. Photo Credit-Christian Rebernik.

The Monkey Buffet Festival is one of the most popular festivals of the year in central Thailand.

The festival is held at an ancient Khmer temple in the town on Lopburi, which is home to hundreds of long-tail monkeys.

During the festival, monkeys are served an all-they-can-eat buffet four or five times during the day. To clarify, long tables are piled high with bananas, watermelons, pineapples, cucumbers, sweets, and soft drinks.

Music and dance performances complete the programme.

 

Pattaya International Fireworks Festival – 26 and 27 November 2022

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Fireworks over the skies of Thailand. Photo Credit: Natthawut Kulnirundorn.

Several national teams compete over a two-evening period to put on the best pyrotechnics display. And each country puts on a short display on the first night. Moreover, a full 45-minute performance follows on the second night.

Parades, live music, concerts, traditional dance, and contemporary dance performances fill out the programme.

  • Location: Central Pattaya Beach, Pattaya, Thailand.

 

If You are visiting Thailand

Check out these tips on how to be police in the Land of Smiles.

 

Book Hotel Rooms in Thailand!

Check out the best Thai hotel deals at your favourite hotel booking website.

 

If you book a hotel room at one of the above booking websites, I will get a small commission to help cover the cost of publishing this blog – at NO extra charge.

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