Things to Do in Chiang Rai in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Chiang Rai
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak cool-season comfort arrives - daytime temperatures hover around 28-30°C (82-86°F) with genuinely pleasant evenings dropping to 18-20°C (64-68°F), making this the first month you'll actually want to explore temples at midday without melting
- Loy Krathong timing creates magic - when the festival falls in November (lunar calendar dependent), you'll see the Mae Kok River filled with thousands of floating krathongs and the night sky lit by khom loi lanterns, particularly spectacular at Wat Phra Kaew and along the riverfront promenade
- Shoulder season pricing with high season weather - accommodation rates typically sit 20-30% below December-January peaks while you get essentially the same comfortable conditions, and attractions like the White Temple and Blue Temple remain manageable with crowd levels around 60% of what you'll face in peak months
- Tea plantation harvest season transforms the highlands - the oolong and Assam tea estates around Mae Salong and Doi Mae Salong are in full harvest mode, meaning you can actually participate in picking sessions (typically ฿300-500 for half-day experiences) and the processing facilities run tours showing the entire leaf-to-cup journey
Considerations
- Unpredictable rain lingers from monsoon tail - while rainfall drops significantly from October, you'll still see occasional afternoon showers on roughly 3-4 days throughout the month, usually brief 20-30 minute downpours between 2-4pm that can disrupt outdoor plans
- Morning fog blankets mountain areas - particularly in the first half of November, thick fog rolls through Doi Tung, Doi Mae Salong, and the Golden Triangle until 9-10am, which means sunrise viewpoints often deliver gray blankets instead of vistas, and mountain roads require cautious driving
- Festival accommodation spikes are unpredictable - if Loy Krathong falls mid-November (check the lunar calendar for 2026), hotel rates in central Chiang Rai can jump 40-60% for that specific weekend and book solid 4-6 weeks ahead, making spontaneous travel difficult
Best Activities in November
Golden Triangle river explorations
November brings ideal water levels on the Mekong after the rainy season subsides - the river runs clear enough to see several meters down but maintains enough depth for long-tail boat navigation. The comfortable temperatures make the 1-2 hour boat trips genuinely pleasant rather than the sweaty endurance tests they become by March. You'll cruise past the meeting point of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar borders, with optional stops at Don Sao island market. The morning fog that challenges mountain viewpoints actually creates atmospheric conditions on the river, burning off by 9-10am to reveal the limestone cliffs.
Highland tea estate experiences
The November oolong harvest at Mae Salong's tea plantations creates the year's best visitor experience. You're not just walking through static gardens - the estates actively process fresh leaves, meaning you see (and smell) the full production cycle from withering rooms to rolling machines. Temperatures at 1,200-1,800 m (3,900-5,900 ft) elevation sit around 20-24°C (68-75°F) during the day, perfect for the 2-3 hour walking tours through terraced hillsides. The morning fog that frustrates viewpoint seekers actually benefits tea plants and creates moody photography conditions as it lifts.
Temple circuit cycling routes
November delivers the year's best cycling conditions - morning temperatures start around 20°C (68°F), perfect for early departures, and even midday heat peaks only around 30°C (86°F) with manageable humidity. The 15-20 km (9-12 mile) loop connecting White Temple, Blue Temple, and Black House becomes genuinely enjoyable rather than survival cycling. Roads are mostly dry after the monsoon, though carry a light rain shell for the occasional brief shower. The agricultural landscape between temples shows post-harvest golden rice fields, and local fruit stands along Route 1 sell seasonal mangosteens and rambutans.
Night market food grazing circuits
The comfortable November evenings transform night market experiences - you'll actually want to stand around steaming food stalls rather than fleeing to air-conditioned restaurants. The Saturday Walking Street (Thanon Thanalai) and daily Night Bazaar hit their stride with 18-22°C (64-72°F) evening temperatures perfect for the 2-3 hour grazing sessions these markets deserve. November brings seasonal northern Thai specialties like kanom jeen nam ngiao (fermented rice noodles with pork-tomato curry) and peak-season mangosteens at ฿40-60 per kilogram. The post-monsoon conditions mean dry walking rather than mud-dodging.
Doi Tung Royal Villa and gardens exploration
The post-monsoon timing brings Doi Tung's gardens to peak condition - the Mae Fah Luang Garden shows vibrant flowering with comfortable walking temperatures around 22-26°C (72-79°F) at the 1,200 m (3,900 ft) elevation. November's reduced rainfall means the 2-3 hour walking circuit through the terraced gardens stays mostly dry, though morning fog until 9-10am can obscure mountain views. The Royal Villa itself offers fascinating insight into the late Princess Mother's hill tribe development projects. The surrounding coffee plantations (part of the royal crop substitution program) are in harvest, with fresh Doi Tung coffee available at the visitor center.
Mekong riverside village explorations
The villages along the Mekong between Chiang Rai and Chiang Saen become genuinely pleasant to explore in November's comfortable temperatures. Places like Ban Hat Bai and Sob Ruak offer walking access to riverside temples, local markets, and Mekong viewpoints without the March-May heat that makes midday exploration miserable. November's water levels allow close approach to the riverbank, and the occasional morning fog creates atmospheric conditions for photography. These villages see minimal tourist traffic compared to the main Golden Triangle viewpoint, giving you actual local interaction rather than tour group crowds.
November Events & Festivals
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng (date varies - check 2026 lunar calendar)
If the lunar calendar places Loy Krathong in November 2026 (typically falls between late October and mid-November), Chiang Rai delivers a less crowded but equally magical version of Thailand's lantern festival compared to Chiang Mai's tourist circus. Locals gather along the Mae Kok River near Wat Phra Kaew and the central riverfront park to float krathongs (decorated banana-leaf boats with candles) while khom loi (sky lanterns) fill the night sky. The festival runs from late afternoon through midnight, with peak lantern releases around 8-10pm. Temple grounds host traditional dance performances and food stalls selling seasonal sweets like khanom thong yip.
Chiang Rai Flower Festival
If 2026 follows typical patterns, the Chiang Rai Flower Festival runs in late December through early January, so November visitors miss this event. Worth noting only because some sources incorrectly list it as November - the actual November flower conditions at Doi Tung and other gardens are excellent without needing a festival.