In theory there are 3 seasons in Thailand:
the cool season from November to February
the hot season from March to June
the raining season (some want to call it the green season... more marketable) from July to October
January weather is almost perfect, but it is considered the touristic high season and prices for accommodations are at their highest. It may be seen exotic to spend the new year's eve in Thailand but there is not much celebration. International restaurants offer traditional meals from their home country. Quite popular with the expats, maybe not for the tourists.
February, almost like January weather wise, but with less tourist and prices back to normal. Yearly burn off (crops and forests) can affect the pollution levels in Chiang Mai, usually late Feb.
March, you start to feel the heat but it is nothing unbearable. If you like mangoes, that's the right time to come and enjoy the fruit traditionnaly served with sticky rice and coconut milk. Yearly burn off (crops and forrests) can be quite bad during March, take care to look up air pollution levels and wear facemasks when walking around or riding motorbikes.
April, temperatures are at their peak, but it is also the time for the craziest celebration in the country: Songkran, the water festival also called Thai New Year. Thais come from all the provinces for the occasion. It may prove difficult to find transportation/accommodation during the festival. Festivities last about 5 days, and you don't feel the heat because you're drenched from dawn to dusk with buckets of water (not always the cleanest) thrown by everyone. Could be called the alcohol festival too as there is a huge consumption of various liquors. Consequently there is a lot of road casualties, beware if you have to drive during this period. The yearly burn off (crops and forrests) usually ends early April.
May, the accumulated heat leads to regular evening thunderstorms, much welcome. This could be called Buddha month because he was born, enlighted and he died in the month of May. There is alot of genuine celebrations in the many temples. Don't be shy, you can join even if you don't know the local customs.
June, usually very similar to May unless the raining season comes early. If you're a fruit lover this is your month. Don't miss the Mangosteens and above all the 'jumbo' Lychees. The landscape takes brownish shades after so many month without proper watering. Maybe not the best time for jungle trekking.
July, due to dry soils, the first heavy rains of the 'green' season can lead to spectacular floods. In Chiang Mai the night bazaar area can easily suffer, though it never last very long. You should still get a majority of dry days (not always sunny). If you're a photographer, skies can be very dramatic, especially when the sun goes down behind the Suthep mountain.
August, dry days, rainy days are even its really up to your luck during which you end up. Rivers fill up, it's time to enjoy some rafting, in the Pai area, or to make nice photos of the many waterfalls (great in Doi Inthanon park).
September, statisticaly the month with the most rain, not necesserally true. But floods can occur due this time to the soils being saturated with water.
October, the period when the rainy season ends, you just wake up one day, the sky is bright blue and will remain like this for months. Prefer late october if it's your choice.
November, if I had to name the perfect time to visit Chiang Mai, it would be November. The weather is nice, the temperatures in the low 30°C, it's not the high season yet, prices are fair. But most importantly, it is the time for the beautiful Loy Krathong Festival. To be honest, it's in Sukhothai that you'll see it under it's most traditional aspect. In Chiang Mai fewer and fewer women put on their best sarong and jewelry, still it is great close to the Mae Ping River. Be careful, there is a lot of firecrackers around (many kinds, they can be bought anywhere), maybe not the best for young children, but kids would definitely love it.
December, great weather, high season, prices on the rise, the Night Bazaar is crowded to its maximum, but Christmas in Thailand that sounds so cool... have never seen Santa Claus in shorts, T-shirt & sandals though.
Thank you by http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk
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