Thailand’s Cool-Season Running Calendar: Races Worth Travelling For
Six road races from November 2026 to January 2027 in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Khon Kaen and Khao Yai, with dates, distances, published fees and what to check before you book.
The best months to run in Thailand are also the busiest on the race calendar. From November to January the air is drier, mornings are cooler, and organisers in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Khon Kaen and Khao Yai put on road races that often start in the dark.
This guide lists six races between November 2026 and January 2027 with the dates, distances and fees organisers have published. It also covers what changed in Bangkok this year, and what to check before you buy a ticket for a race that starts after midnight.
How we chose
We picked road races that have a published 2026 or 2027 date on an event listing or in press coverage, in different regions. We left out triathlons and trail races. Dates and fees come from third-party listings in several cases, so confirm everything on the official race site before you book.
At a glance
| Race | Where | Date | Distances | Published fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenic Half Marathon Chiang Mai | Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai | Sun 1 Nov 2026 | Half marathon | Not listed |
| CMU Chiang Mai Marathon | Chiang Mai University | Sun 8 Nov 2026 | 42.195, 21.1, 10.5 and 5.5 km | ฿600–1,100 (registration closed in August) |
| Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok | Sanam Luang, Bangkok | Sat 28 and Sun 29 Nov 2026 | Half, marathon, 10 km, 4.5 km | ฿1,000–1,800 (last-minute rate to 31 Oct) |
| Bangkok Marathon | Sanam Chai Road, Bangkok | Sun 10 Jan 2027 | 42.195, 21.1, 10 and 5 km | See official site |
| Khon Kaen International Marathon | Khon Kaen | Sun 10 Jan 2027 | 42.195, 21.0975, 11.5 and 5.4 km | See official site |
| Khao Yai Marathon | Nakhon Ratchasima | Early Jan 2027 | 42.195, 21.0975, 10 and 5 km | See official site |
Chiang Mai in November
Two races fall in the first fortnight. The Scenic Half Marathon is on Sunday 1 November at Royal Park Rajapruek, according to the Thailand Starter Kit events list. The page gives no fee or start time.
The CMU Chiang Mai Marathon on Sunday 8 November is the 10th edition, a charity run organised by Chiang Mai University and its alumni association. Daily News reported in August that the onsite race is capped at 7,000 runners. Fees were ฿1,100 for the marathon, ฿950 for the half, ฿700 for 10.5 km and ฿600 for 5.5 km. General registration ran from 9 to 17 August, so this one is closed unless the organisers reopen it. A virtual option existed. Race kits are collected on Saturday 7 November at Sala Ang Kaew on campus.
Bangkok: two races, one reschedule
The Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok starts and finishes at Sanam Luang on Ratchadamnoen Road. The half marathon runs on Saturday 28 November and the marathon on Sunday 29 November. Time Out Bangkok reported that traffic will be fully closed during the race.
Thailand Starter Kit lists the marathon start at 2:00 am and the half at 4:00 am, with fees of ฿1,000 to ฿1,800 at a last-minute rate until 31 October. Those figures are for entries bought now, not for earlier rates.
The Bangkok Marathon, a separate event, was moved from 8 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027, according to the TAG Thai guide. It starts and finishes on Sanam Chai Road in front of the Grand Palace. The course passes temples and crosses the Chao Phraya River. The guide says the race starts shortly after midnight to avoid the heat, and that each category has its own start time. If you booked flights for November, check which event you entered.
Khon Kaen and Khao Yai in January
The Khon Kaen International Marathon is listed for Sunday 10 January 2027, with road races of 42.195 km, 21.0975 km, 11.5 km and 5.4 km. Finishers marks the date as confirmed but lists no start time or price.
The Khao Yai Marathon is listed for early January 2027 with no exact day. The Finishers page gives 259 metres of elevation gain for the marathon and 143 metres for the half. Treat the date as unconfirmed until the organisers publish it.
What an all-in weekend costs
Entry fees are the small part. For Bangkok, add a hotel near Sanam Luang or the old town, since roads close and a 2:00 am start rules out a long commute. The fees we found are ฿600 to ฿1,800 for a race entry. We did not find reliable current hotel prices for race weekends, so we give none.
Run sensibly in the heat
- Check the start time, not just the date. A midnight start changes your sleep plan.
- Heat and humidity can add strain, even on a cool-season morning. Ease off in the first hour.
- Ask about water and medical points on the course before race day.
Talk to a qualified doctor before taking on a marathon or half marathon, especially if you have a heart condition, have been inactive or are returning from illness.
Know before you go
- Where: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Khon Kaen and Khao Yai.
- Price: ฿600–1,800 for published entries (as published in October 2026). Other races list no fee in our sources.
- Book: Thailand Starter Kit events list and each race’s official site.
- Good for: Runners who want a cool-season race with a temple or national park backdrop.
- Check first: The exact date, start time, whether entries are still open, and which Bangkok event you have booked.
The habit that matters most is the boring one: sleep. Arrive a day early and protect the night before.
Jonas. Jonas covers medical travel, fitness, costs and the rules that affect wellness travellers in Thailand. A pragmatist who treats health as a long project, he wants to know what something costs, what the evidence says, and who it’s really for.
RestRobin is editorial content, not medical advice. Prices, programmes and opening details change, so check with the provider before you book, and talk to a qualified doctor before starting a treatment, fast or detox programme.
