Short answer
Chiang Mai in November is dry, sunny and pleasantly cool: the 1991 to 2020 normals give just 40.9 mm of rain on 3 days, an average daytime high of 30.8 degrees and a night low of 19.9 degrees. The burning-season smoke has not started, and Loy Krathong falls on 24 November 2026. The top of Doi Inthanon is much cooler, so bring a light jacket. Our Elephant Sanctuary and Doi Inthanon day is from $40 per person.
November is when the rains end
The numbers show a clear break. In the World Meteorological Organization's 1991 to 2020 normals for Chiang Mai, November has 40.9 mm of rain on 3.0 days with at least 1 mm. October has 123.8 mm on 9.1 days, and August, the wettest month, 223.3 mm on 17.1 days. By December the figure is 14.1 mm on 1.2 days.
The Thai Meteorological Department's three-month outlook, issued on 30 September 2024, put the pattern in words: the upper part of the country meets much less rain, with cool weather for the whole month of November, as cold high-pressure air from China moves over from time to time. It is an outlook for one year, but it matches the normals. Expect an occasional shower, not a rainy week.
How cool it gets, in the city and on the mountain
In the city, November is warm by day and mild at night. The normals give an average high of 30.8 degrees and an average low of 19.9 degrees, against a low of 24.5 degrees in June. The sun shines for about 229 hours in the month, and relative humidity is 75.0 per cent. The cool season deepens in December and January, when the average low falls to 16.9 and 15.7 degrees.
The mountains are colder. A weather station at 1,280 metres in Doi Inthanon National Park, listed in Wikipedia from data of the Highland Research and Development Institute for 1990 to 2013, shows an average November high of 24.4 degrees and a low of 14.0 degrees. The summit is higher still, at 2,565 metres. The Thai Meteorological Department also expected chilly or cold weather at some places on some days in the north from late October to November.
Is November smoky in Chiang Mai
Not in the sense of the burning season. The National Environment Board has declared Chiang Mai a pollution control zone for February to May, and the province's 2026 burning ban ran from 1 January to 31 May, according to Thairath. November is outside that window. Our guide to the Chiang Mai burning season has the figures and what to do if you travel then.
Mornings can still be misty. The Thai Meteorological Department's 2024 to 2025 winter outlook expected cool weather with morning fog or haze in the upper north between late October and November, and thicker fog or haze on some days in December and January. Fog is not smoke, but the Air4Thai website and app are the way to tell the difference on the day.
Loy Krathong on 24 November 2026, and Yi Peng
Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. Wikipedia's table of scheduled dates gives 24 November 2026 for this year. In Chiang Mai the festival coincides with Yi Peng, the Lanna lantern festival, which marks the full moon of the second month in the Lanna calendar; Wikipedia says the most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations are in Chiang Mai.
We could not find an official programme for Chiang Mai in 2026 as of 29 October, so we do not quote venues, ticket prices or release times. Check the official announcements nearer the time, and read our Yi Peng lantern festival guide. The Loy Krathong night itself, 24 November, is the date to hold in your diary.
A full day out: elephants and Doi Inthanon
The cool, dry month suits our Elephant Sanctuary and Doi Inthanon day, from $40 per person. It lasts 10 to 12 hours: you feed, walk with and bathe elephants at a sanctuary with no riding, have lunch, then drive up Thailand's highest mountain to the King and Queen pagodas and finish with a guided waterfall hike. Doi Inthanon is about 100 km south-west of the city, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road.
The park fee, 300 baht per adult and 150 per child, and the pagoda entrance are paid on the day unless your quote says otherwise. Bring clothes you can get wet and muddy for the elephant bath, a change of clothes, walking shoes and a light jacket for the summit area. The order of the stops can change with the weather. Our Doi Inthanon guide has more detail.
A half day in November: the cooking class
For a shorter day, the Thai cooking class is from $30 per person, about 6.5 hours, at an organic farm about 45 minutes from the Old City near San Kamphaeng. You stop at a local market, walk through the herb garden, then cook five dishes at your own station and eat them. All dishes can be made vegetarian or vegan, and you decide how spicy they are.
There are two sessions: morning, with pickup about 8:00 to 8:30 am and a return at about 2:30 pm, and evening, with pickup about 3:00 to 3:30 pm and a return at about 9:30 pm. In November the evening session brings a mild night at the end of the day, with the average low at 19.9 degrees. Our price guide explains what the $30 covers.
What to pack, and who November suits
Pack for two climates: light clothes for the city, a light jacket or fleece for the mountain and for evenings, sunscreen and a hat for the sunshine, and a spare set of clothes if you plan to bathe elephants. Walking shoes matter for the Doi Inthanon trails. A reusable bottle and an umbrella for the odd shower cover the rest.
November suits travellers who want outdoor days, walking and festivals, and who dislike heat and rain. It will not give you a beach week, and if you plan to add an island, note that Koh Samui is at its wettest in November, as our Koh Samui in November guide shows. For the full year, see the best time to visit Chiang Mai.
Practical checklist
- Bring a light jacket or fleece for evenings and the Doi Inthanon summit area.
- Hold 24 November 2026 for Loy Krathong, and check the official Chiang Mai programme nearer the date.
- Bring clothes you can get wet and a spare set for the elephant bath.
- Keep cash for the Doi Inthanon park fee and the pagoda entrance if your quote does not include them.
- Pack sunscreen and a hat: November averages about 229 hours of sunshine.
- Check the Air4Thai app on misty mornings to tell fog from smoke.
Questions and answers
Is November a good time to visit Chiang Mai?
Yes. It is the start of the cool, dry season, with an average of 40.9 mm of rain on 3 days, a daytime high of 30.8 degrees and a night low of 19.9 degrees, according to the 1991 to 2020 normals.
When is Loy Krathong in 2026?
On 24 November 2026, according to Wikipedia's scheduled-date table. It falls on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. In Chiang Mai it coincides with Yi Peng.
How cold is Doi Inthanon in November?
At a station at 1,280 metres in the park, the average November high is 24.4 degrees and the low 14.0 degrees. The summit is higher, at 2,565 metres, so bring a light jacket.
Is there smoke in Chiang Mai in November?
The burning season is February to May. November is outside the pollution control window, but mornings can be misty, so check Air4Thai if you are unsure.
Is the elephant sanctuary day suitable in the cool season?
Yes. You feed and bathe elephants with no riding, so bring clothes you can get wet and a change of clothes. The Doi Inthanon part needs a light jacket. The day is from $40 per person.
What is the Doi Inthanon park fee?
On our tour it is 300 baht per adult and 150 per child, with the pagoda entrance, paid on the day unless your quote says otherwise.