Surin has a typical northeast Thailand climate: very hot and dry from March through May, with a monsoon season from June to October, and a cooler, dry cool season from November through February. The cool season is by far the most comfortable time to visit, with daytime temperatures in the mid-to-upper 20s Celsius and low humidity.
November is the most exciting time to visit. The Surin Elephant Round-Up takes place on the third weekend of November at Ban Ta Klang, drawing hundreds of elephants and visitors from around the world. Book accommodation weeks in advance if you plan to attend, as every guesthouse in the city fills up.
The monsoon months (July to September) bring lush green paddy fields and reduced crowds, but travel to the more remote Khmer sites can be complicated by flooded roads.
Avoid the March to May dry season unless you are heat-tolerant: temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, and there is almost nothing to offer relief from the sun on the flat Isan plateau.