Kanchanaburi (River Kwai) weather in May
May in Kanchanaburi: sweltering, rainy — not the time — 18 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#11 of 12 months in Kanchanaburi · #1308 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 47/100 (tier F)
- Days
- 37°C
- Nights
- 25°C
- Wet days
- 18
- Sun
- 9.9 h
- Humidity
- 71%
- Daylight
- 13 h
Traveller notes on Kanchanaburi in May
Other months in Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi's forum makes a genuine case for June despite it being rainy season: multiple posters said it's actually a favorite time to visit specifically because the countryside turns lush and green without the seasonal haze that dulls the dry months. The rain pattern is an hour or so of showers that cools things down, then the rest of the day is fine - not the all-day washout the 'rainy season' label suggests. Hot and humid is still the baseline, the rain is more relief than obstacle.
Forum posters describe December days here as warm enough to relax by the pool, with cooler mornings typically warming up comfortably by afternoon. This tracks the broader central-Thailand pattern posters describe for the month: hot, sunny days around 32C, clear skies and minimal rain, with evening temperatures dipping into the low-20s or even high-teensC for a genuinely comfortable night. Posters recommend Kanchanaburi's surrounding national parks and dams as worthwhile day-trip additions to the town's famous WWII-era sites, with December's dry, clear conditions well suited to the outdoor sightseeing involved.
Add your own note from Kanchanaburi's card on the map.
Kanchanaburi climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Kanchanaburi in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsVisakha Bucha, Long summer break in Thailand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Kanchanaburi's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherKanchanaburi's weather peaks November–January, best around December.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Kanchanaburi in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Holiday
Visakha Bucha
5 May – 5 Jun · usuallyReligious feastThe most important Buddhist holy day, on the full moon of the sixth lunar month. Temples hold evening candle processions, and bars and riverside restaurants cannot sell alcohol for the day. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Kanchanaburi — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Kanchanaburi?
Kanchanaburi in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Kanchanaburi?
- May in Kanchanaburi: sweltering, rainy — not the time — 18 rainy days. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Kanchanaburi on SeasonMap's comfort score (47/100).
- What is the weather like in Kanchanaburi in May?
- In May, Kanchanaburi averages a daily high of 36.8°C and a low of 24.8°C, with about 121.6 mm of rain over roughly 18.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Kanchanaburi in May?
- Kanchanaburi has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 55 in May.
Within 300 km: Bangkok's Bangkok Pride around 28 May – 10 Jun, and Pattaya's Southwest monsoon around 15 May – 31 Oct.