Seasons in Chiang Mai & the north
The dry stretch runs November to March
Which part of the country
Chiang Mai & the north is in its dry stretch right now, November to March. This is the easy window: plan around sun and heat rather than around rain.
Going in November
The best months up here: dry, clear and genuinely cool at night — down to single digits in the hills, which surprises people packing for Thailand.
What this means for your bag
Layers, not one thick coat
Three thin layers beat one heavy one: they cover a wider range and pack smaller. A base layer, a fleece and a shell.
See the Winter Warmth Kit packReal sun protection
High-factor sunscreen, a hat with a brim and sunglasses. Reef-safe sunscreen is worth buying before you go — it is expensive and hard to find at the beach.
See the Beach & Pool Kit packQuick-dry fabrics
Cotton takes two days to dry in this air and starts to smell before it does. Synthetics and merino wash in a sink and are wearable by morning.
See the Summer Sun Kit pack
Build a packing plan around the season you are actually travelling in.