Where to travel in Thailand in October [2025]

The Thaiger key takeaways

• Thailand in October offers a mix of surreal landscapes and unique cultural experiences, from northern mountains and Isaan rock formations to mystical islands and Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival.
• Northern Thailand, Central Thailand, Isaan, Koh Hingham, and Phuket each have standout attractions that combine history, natural beauty, and local traditions, making them ideal for travellers seeking unusual and memorable experiences.
• October is the perfect time to travel, with lighter crowds, cooler breezes, and seasonal events that enhance the mystical and extraordinary aspects of Thailand.

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When people think of Thailand, they often picture the buzzing streets of Bangkok or the serenity of white-sand beaches. But look a little deeper and you’ll discover another side of the country, such as surreal temples, cursed islands, and landscapes so unusual they feel borrowed from myth or dream.

October, with its lighter crowds and cooler breezes, is the perfect month to step off the guidebook path.

This is Thailand at its most unusual, a journey into the extraordinary.

Where to travel to in Thailand this October

Region (Click to jump)	Short Summary	Recommended Places
Bangkok	Experience otherworldly shrines, temples, and sacred tattoos, from the Erawan Shrine to the surreal Wat Phra Dhammakaya and Sak Yant at Wat Bang Phra.	Erawan Shrine, Sanctuary of Truth (Pattaya), Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Wat Bang Phra
Chiang Mai & Lampang	Explore sacred peaks and whispering forests with celestial temples in Lampang and natural cathedrals at Pha Chor in Chiang Mai.	Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Phrachomklao Rachanusorn (Lampang), Pha Chor (Chiang Mai)
Isaan	Discover quirky temples, surreal landscapes, and ancient rock formations like Glass Temple, Hin Sam Wan, and Mo Hin Khao in the northeast.	Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew (Sisaket), Hin Sam Wan (Bueng Kan), Mo Hin Khao (Chaiyaphum)
Koh Hingham	A tiny black-pebble island with a mystical curse; visitors are advised to leave stones behind and enjoy arranging them respectfully.	Koh Hingham Black Pebble Beach
Phuket	Witness the intense and sacred Phuket Vegetarian Festival, including ma song spirit mediums, processions, and white-clad devotees in October.	Phuket Old Town, Festival Streets (various locations during Vegetarian Festival)

Bangkok for otherworldly shrines, temples, and tattoos

Bangkok is never short on spectacle that at times, the city itself can feel otherworldly with the immense chaotic orderliness that flows through it. 

This extends to some of its wonders too, which combine mysticism with the modern world, such as the Erawan Shrine, where a golden Brahma god presides over a swirl of incense smoke, marigold garlands, and traditional dancers performing for devotees who return to repay answered prayers.

Built in the 1950s to ward off construction misfortunes at a nearby hotel, the shrine is now one of Bangkok’s most iconic sites. It serves as proof that spirituality here is lived in real time, vivid and theatrical. You should travel to Thailand in October might be a good option, as weather forecasts claim that rain will decrease and that it will get cooler, which sounds like the perfect time to visit. 

If we want to extend to what is around Bangkok, then a two-hour drive from the capital is the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya. Rising like a wooden apparition from the shoreline, this all-teak temple is both a monument and a philosophy.

Every inch is carved by hand with figures from Buddhist and Hindu cosmology, designed to explore life, death, and the pursuit of enlightenment. It’s less a museum than a living question that asks us what the purpose of humanity and how we live in harmony with the divine and natural world.

For a futuristic contrast, Wat Phra Dhammakaya on the city’s outskirts looks like it belongs on another planet. With its vast golden dome, it resembles a spaceship waiting to lift off. Visiting during a meditation ceremony, with thousands of devotees dressed in white, feels both surreal and moving, a glimpse of Thailand’s spirituality at a cosmic scale.

Body art enthusiasts should pay a visit to the Sak Yant tattoo temple, Wat Bang Phra, located 50 kilometres west of Bangkok. Here, monks use bamboo needles to inscribe sacred designs onto the skin. These tattoos are believed to provide protection and strength, offering a profound connection to Thailand’s spiritual traditions.

Inside the chaos in Bangkok, accidents can happen, especially with motobikes, since the traffic is so dense that you might be tempted to ride one instead. You might as well look at SafetyWing, as they provide insurance for motorbike accidents as well, on top of emergency bills and hospital stays.

Chiang Mai & Lampang for the sacred peaks and whispering forests

In the north, mystery blends with mountain mist. Chiang Mai is famous for its temples, but October is the month to climb a little higher when you travel in Thailand.

A short trip to Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Phrachomklao Rachanusorn in Lampang feels like stepping into a painting. White bell-like stupas cling to jagged cliffs, gleaming against the sky. Legend says a Buddha footprint was found here, making it a sacred pilgrimage site. Whether you hike up at sunrise or watch the stupas glow at sunset, the sight is nothing short of celestial.

Back in Chiang Mai, nature holds its own wonders. At Pha Chor, wind and rain have carved cliffs into towering patterns that look like a natural cathedral. Walking among the formations, it feels as though the earth itself has been sculpted by unseen hands.

Also: Muesums and art spaces in Chiang Mai to discover its cultural soul

Isaan for quirky temples, surreal landscape, and ancient rocks

Far from the tourist routes, Isaan in the northeast hides landscapes as strange as they are striking.

In the northeast, the surreal takes a different form. One who lives in a glass house should not throw stones but near Sisaket, the monks of Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew grew tired of rubbish piling up around their village. Their solution? Build a temple from glass bottles. Today, its walls and chedis gleam green and brown, made from over 1.5 million recycled Chang and Heineken bottles. The sunlight streaming through them creates a kaleidoscope effect, both quirky and surprisingly beautiful.

High above the forests of Bueng Kan, three massive rocks shaped like whales appear to be swimming across the jungle canopy. Known as Hin Sam Wan, or Three Whale Rock, this natural wonder is 75 million years old. From the “whale’s head,” you can watch the Mekong River glint in the distance, Laos just beyond.

While exploring remote landscapes like Hin Sam Wan, having accident and evacuation coverage that SafetyWing provides is necessary when it matters the most.

The climb is worth it for sunrise, when the sky blushes pink and the forest breathes below you. Standing on the whale’s back, the world feels ancient and infinite all at once.

At Mo Hin Khao in Chaiyaphum, giant stone pillars rise from the ground like guardians. Known as Thailand’s Stonehenge, these weather-worn rocks stand in silence, their origins still mysterious. Watching the sunrise spill across the field of stones feels as though you’ve stumbled into another era.

Life in Isaan moves at a slower pace. Pair your trip with a countryside homestay, and you’ll experience both the surreal and the profoundly simple.

Koh Hingham, the cursed island

Just off Koh Lipe lies Koh Hingham, a tiny island made entirely of black pebbles. Local legend warns that anyone who takes a stone from the island will be cursed by the God of Tarutao. Every year, the National Park office receives packages of pebbles mailed back by remorseful visitors hoping to undo their bad luck.

You can spend an afternoon arranging the stones into patterns or messages, but leave them behind. The magic of Koh Hingham is not in what you take away, but in respecting what is meant to stay.

Phuket for piercing the veil at the Vegetarian Festival

In October, Phuket transforms. During the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, the streets fill with white-clad devotees, firecrackers explode in clouds of smoke, and processions carry gods through the city. The most astonishing sight is the ma song, spirit mediums who pierce their cheeks with swords, skewers, and even bicycles, entering trance-like states believed to channel divine energy.

It’s a spectacle both shocking and sacred, rooted in purification and community renewal. For travellers, it’s a chance to witness faith expressed in its most visceral form. Step carefully through the streets, join locals in enjoying vegetarian street food, and feel the intensity of a festival unlike any other in the world.

Also: Where to go and what to eat at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Other out-of-this-world festivals in October

On the Mekong River, from October 9 to 10, thousands of large reddish-pink balls of light are observed rising into the night sky without any apparent human interaction. Locals believe that this phenomenon is caused by a serpent-like creature known as Phaya Naga, which possesses divine powers. In contrast, scientists suggest that the lights are the result of sulfur combustion in the river’s marshy environment. In recent years, this event has evolved into the Mekong Naga Festival.

In Chonburi, the Buffalo Racing Festival takes place on a race course that is over 100 metres long. Other activities at the festival include buffalo decoration and even a buffalo beauty contest.

October marks the end of Buddhist Lent (Awk Phansa), a significant celebration observed with candlelit processions and merit-making at temples.

Out of this world, yet entirely Thai

Beyond the beaches and bustling cities lies a Thailand that defies expectations, temples made from bottles, stupas in the clouds, cursed islands, and rituals that blur the boundary between the human and the divine. These are not just destinations but experiences that shift the way you see the world.

In October, step off the familiar path. Wander into the strange, the sacred, and the spectacular. Sometimes the most unforgettable journeys are the ones that feel out of this world.

Travel smart with SafetyWing while you travel through Thailand in October

While October brings cooler breezes and lighter crowds, even the most carefully planned trips can run into unexpected hiccups, from sudden rain showers to minor injuries while hiking through northern peaks or the surreal landscapes of Isaan. That’s where SafetyWing insurance comes in, giving travellers peace of mind while exploring Thailand in October.

Designed with modern travellers in mind, SafetyWing provides flexible coverage in over 180 countries, including Thailand. Signing up is simple, and there are two main options tailored to your travel needs:

• Essential Plan: covers emergency medical care, evacuation, and trip protection.
• Complete Plan: includes everything in the Essential Plan, plus routine healthcare, mental health support, and maternity care.

Whether you’re wandering the streets of Bangkok, climbing the cliffs of Pha Chor, or watching the sacred Phuket Vegetarian Festival unfold, SafetyWing ensures you’re protected. With coverage that spans health emergencies, evacuation, and travel interruptions, you can fully immerse yourself in the extraordinary experiences that Thailand offers in October without worrying about unforeseen events.

Planning to travel to Thailand in October means more than packing light; it’s about embracing every moment with confidence. With SafetyWing, you’ll have access to reliable care across the country, allowing you to enjoy out-of-the-world temples, cursed islands, and mystical festivals safely and stress-free.

Travel to Thailand in October knowing you’re supported by insurance that works as hard as you do on your adventures.

Also: Where to travel in Thailand in September [2025]

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