School holidays in Thailand: 2024–2025

Thailand (ประเทศไทย) usually has 19 public holidays planned throughout the year. Festivities include royal birthdays, religious holy days, and the regular old New Year celebrations. Naturally, schoolchildren enjoy the same days off.

To help you with your family planning, this article lists all of Thailand’s school holidays (ปิดเทอม, bit term) for the upcoming few years:

An overview of school holidays in Thailand

Unlike many countries, Thailand does not use the September to June academic calendar. Thai public schools are open from May to March, with two semesters per year. These are influenced by the weather, starting in the rainy season and ending before the hottest time of the year.

Annually, the exact dates may differ slightly, but there are two main school holidays:

Private and international schools

International and private schools – depending on their curriculum – are more likely to have three terms. Generally, the school year starts at the end of August or the beginning of September, with a long summer holiday during July and August and shorter breaks for Easter and Christmas.

Public holidays in Thailand

All schools are closed on the national public holidays in Thailand, with a few extra regional variations.

Of course, some international schools may also give the children days off on their home country’s festive days; for example, American schools celebrate Thanksgiving.

What are the national holidays in Thailand for 2024 and 2025?

Usually, when a public holiday takes place on a weekend, the following Monday will be a day off.

National Day (วันชาติ, Wan Chart) is celebrated on the late King Bhumibol’s Birthday when Thailand also observes Father’s Day.

Two of Thailand’s most important holidays are National Day and Songkran (สงกรานต์, Thai New Year). Celebrated in spring when the daily temperatures rise, the latter is a fun, three-day water-splashing festival where there are massive water fights in the streets.

Local expert

Jane Evans

Insider tip

Tourists enjoy joining in with the festivities. However, many locals avoid the busy roads and crowds during Songkran, especially at nighttime, when things can get quite chaotic. More traditional Thais celebrate by gently bathing Buddha images and the hands of their elders.

The nationwide holidays for the 2024–2025 academic year

What are the regional school holidays for 2024 and 2025?

In addition to the national public holidays, some areas also observe local regional festivals, such as Boon Bang Fai (บุญบังไฟ) and Loy Kratong (ลอยกระทง).

Celebrated in spring, Bun Bang Fai is a festival where locals launch homemade rockets to honor the rain gods and ask for a good monsoon season for the crops.

Loy Kratong is a traditional festival where residents float candles in decorative baskets down rivers to thank Goddess Khongkha (of water and rivers).

State schools, as well as private and international institutions, may be closed for these celebrations. Of course, the exact dates change slightly from one year to the next, so be sure to check with your child’s school. That said, they’re generally planned during these months:

Christmas Day isn’t officially celebrated as a public holiday in Thailand due to it being predominantly Buddhist. However, tourist and expat areas might still display secular or commercial Christmas decorations and events, catering to those who observe the day.

Do children get any additional days off?

Apart from school and public holidays, students may also get time off for the following reasons:

• Teacher training days
• Special school events or celebrations
• During exam times to study

Again, check with your child’s school to ensure you have added all the dates to your calendar.

How can you access childcare during Thai school holidays?

Your children’s school holidays may clash with your work schedule. Fortunately, especially in cities with large international populations, you can access a range of childcare options in Thailand, including:

• Daycare centers
• Kindergartens
• Au pairs/nannies
• Childminders
• Babysitters

Many expat groups can be great local resources for parents new to the area, such as:

• Chiang Mai Expats
• Bangkok Expats
• Bangkok Expat Families
• Chiang Rai Everything
• Phuket Expat Families

B.A.M.B.I. (Bangkok Mothers & Babies International) is a culturally diverse, non-profit group supporting pregnant women and parents of young children. They provide prenatal and postnatal support, organize playgroups and social programs, plus offer information to help expat families settle in Bangkok.

Many international schools also run playgroups; for example, in Bangkok, you can find the following ones:

• Spielzwerge – a German playgroup for ages 15 months to three years
• Nest by Little Treehouse Nursery – sensory play, music and movement, arts and crafts
• ABC Pathways International Kindergarten – playgroups in English and Mandarin

Ten fun summer camps in Thailand

There are many fun and educational summer camps for children to learn and play.

• iCamp Thailand
• Kids’ Academy’s English, Mandarin, and Thai Camps
• Happy Pawn Chess Club
• Beyond Code Academy Bilingual (English and Thai) Coding Camp
• Rockademy
• The Music Lab
• Curtain Up Drama & Magic Drama Classes
• Vic Hua Hin Art Camp
• Scrambled Art
• Little Llama Creative Club