Thailand can be filmed all year round, but not everywhere at the same time. The rainy season reaches the Gulf islands at a different time from Bangkok and Phuket. Holidays close the government offices that issue your permits. And on a few days a year, a bar scene becomes a problem.
This is the calendar we plan shoots around.
The seasons, region by region
Weather by month
- Dry and cooler
- Hot
- Rainy
- Changeable
Bangkok and central Thailand
November to February is the easy season: dry, clear and as cool as Bangkok gets. It is also high season, so book hotels and popular locations early. March to May is hot, with April regularly near 40°C, so plan shade and short exterior windows for the crew. June to October is the rainy season, with September and October usually the wettest.
The north: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Cool mornings from November to February make the north the best place for misty mountain shots. From about February to April, the burning season brings smoke haze that can flatten wide shots and blue skies. Check the haze before you commit to a mountain landscape in March.
The Andaman coast: Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi
November to April brings calm turquoise water, the postcard look. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain, swell and rough seas. Some marine national parks close to visitors for part of that period each year. If your story needs boats or islands, schedule the Andaman in the dry months.
The Gulf islands: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
The Gulf runs on a different calendar. It stays mostly dry through the middle of the year, while the Andaman is wet, and gets its heaviest rain from October to December. For a beach in July or August, the Gulf is usually the better bet.
The rainy season is not a write-off
Plenty of shoots happen from June to October, including our H&M helipad shoot in August. Rain usually comes as heavy storms in the afternoon or evening rather than grey days, so mornings are often clear. The landscape is at its greenest, the tourist spots are quieter and hotels cost less.
What it takes:
- Shoot exteriors in the morning, interiors in the afternoon.
- Have a cover set ready for every exterior day.
- Put weather days in the schedule and the budget.
- Bring rain covers for camera and lighting, and tents for the unit base.
Holidays that move your schedule
The weather is only half of it. Several holidays affect filming, either because offices close or because the streets change completely.
| When | Holiday | What it means for a shoot |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec to 1 Jan | New Year | Offices closed, travel peak, hotels full |
| January or February | Chinese New Year | Chinatown packed and spectacular. Great for some scenes, impossible for others |
| 13 to 15 April | Songkran | Thai New Year. Water fights in the streets, offices closed, much of Bangkok leaves town. Street shoots are hard; permits stall the week before |
| Several days a year | Buddhist holy days (Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asahna Bucha, the start of Buddhist Lent) | Alcohol sales are banned nationwide. Bar and party scenes need planning; temples are busy |
| November | Loy Krathong | Floating lanterns and candles on rivers: a beautiful night shoot, with crowds |
Several of these follow the lunar calendar and move every year. Election days also come with an alcohol ban. Before you lock dates, we check the year's official holiday list against your schedule.
Permits and holidays
The film permit and the visas and work permits go through government offices. A long weekend can add days to both. Count working days, not calendar days, when you plan backwards from the shoot.
Light
Thailand is close to the equator, so the day length barely changes: in Bangkok the sun rises around 6:00 to 6:40 and sets around 18:00 to 18:45 all year. Golden hour is short and the midday sun is high and hard. Plan your hero exteriors for the first and last hours of the day, and use the middle of the day for interiors, travel or covered sets.
Our short version
- Easiest months overall: November to February.
- Beaches in the middle of the year: go to the Gulf, not the Andaman.
- Avoid for street shoots: Songkran week.
- Rainy season: fine with morning exteriors, cover sets and a weather day.
Not sure which month suits your story? Our location team scouts all over Thailand and knows how each place looks through the year. Tell us what you need to shoot.
