Thailand Travel Guide

When to go?

Thailand is warm and tropical with three distinct seasons.
Best: November-February, The cool season is the best time to visit, when there are clear skies, pleasant temperatures and no rain.
Worst: March-June, The hot season can be unbearably hot and dry, and is the least recommended time to visit.
The wet season (July to October) means tropical downpours and humidity but some sunny weather.

Highlights

Grand Palace Bangkok: beautiful temples, gilded chedis and throngs of tourists; a must-see. Wat Po and Wat Arun are brilliant nearby temples.

Ayutthaya and Sukhothai historic parks: 17th and 15th century ruined former capitals of Siam kingdoms, north of Bangkok.

Chiang Mai City: a living museum with a beautifully maintained moat, bastions and restored gates protecting a square-mile old town. Relaxed Northern capital.

Phuket: Thailand’s jet-set destination, with its fantastic beaches and world-class hotels, an ideal location near Phi Phi Island and Pha Nga Bay.

Krabi and Phi Phi Island: typified by incredible jaw-dropping karst seascapes, azure waters and pristine beaches, along with Pha Nga Bay.

Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao islands: three popular islands on the Gulf side of the isthmus, famous for boutique villas, Full Moon parties and diving respectively.

Pattaya: naughtiest venue in Thailand, 2 hours drive from Bangkok and loaded with weekender condos, go-go bars and numerous golf courses.

Kanchanaburi: an overnight trip from Bangkok and the site of the famous Bridge Over the River Kwai, and WWII death railway.

Recommended Itinerary

Two weeks is the least you can get away with to enjoy some of the highlights.

Two or three days seeing the capital’s highlights and having some fun.

A week for the tropical paradise of the islands, fly to Phuket/Krabi or Samui, or bus it to Hua Hin, Pattaya, Koh Samet or Koh Chang.

Four or five days in Chiang Mai for the historical, cultural and adventure attractions.

Additional time

Three days to see one or both of the World Heritage sites of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.
Two days to visit Kanchanaburi (Bridge over the River Kwai) or Khao Yai National Park from Bangkok.
Another week to visit the famous Phi Phi islands, Full Moon party on Koh Pha Ngan or the diving centre on Koh Tao.

Health and safety

You’re more likely to be ‘gem scammed’ or taken on unscheduled shopping trips by tuk-tuk drivers than get mugged. Watch out for pickpockets in tourist places, avoid white water rafting, swimming in riptides or getting in drunken altercations with locals. Hygiene isn’t as bad as you think, but the chilli will get you! Don’t drink the tap water though and stay out of the midday sun. Thai hospitals are excellent, if you do get the ‘Delhi belly’.

Why Travel to Thailand?

What's Cool: Nightlife and shopping in Bangkok, stunning beaches of Phuket and Krabi, history and culture, trekking in the Northern jungle, scuba diving in the Andaman Sea, climbing in Krabi, lots of cheap Thai food, great hotels, friendly people and comfy tourist infrastructure.

What’s Not: Bangkok traffic, overly spicy food, hustling tuk-tuk drivers and bar girls, crowded Patong (Phuket), noisy neighbourhoods, the hot season, reckless driving, riptides, corrupt officials and the occasional coup!

Main festivals

Thais love having fun and their calendar is packed with excuses to avoid work. Here are some of the best to attend.

January: Chinese New Year is widely celebrated by those of Chinese ethnic origin.

April: Songkran is the biggest festival of the year, a massive country-wide, three-day water fight.

June: Rocket festival in remote Yasathon is a bizarre tradition with some alarming results.

October: Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is an island highlight.

November: Loi Kratong is an enchanting religious festival of lights and the second most important on the Thai calendar.

Activities

Cultural sightseeing: is a must, with all the lovely temples and landmarks, beautiful scenery and intriguing 1,000-year old culture.

Trekking and elephant rides: best done in the mountainous north, a quintessential Asian experience through the jungle visiting unique hill tribe villages.

Spas and health treatments: get pampered Thai style at prices everyone can afford, available in all tourist areas.

Diving: fantastic on both coasts, with numerous sites, excellent reefs, clear waters and plenty of courses to learn. Koh Tao is the centre for this.

Climbing: highly rated on the karst cliffs of Krabi province and attracts plenty of enthusiasts.

Kayaking: is an ideal way to explore the lagoons and caves of the karst covered Krabi coast.

Shopping: unbeatable value for clothes, handicrafts, antiques, furniture, décor, electronics and jewellery.

Eating: Thai food is famous and tastes far more authentic in the oodles of restaurants.

Partying: is a favourite pastime among locals and visitors alike, with cheap grog, numerous bars and plenty of friendly company.

Food and hospitality

Cooking and pampering is what the Thai do best, and always with a smile. It’s also incredibly cheap, whether you spend a day at the spa, spoil yourself in one of the award-winning five-star hotels or join the locals for a Chang beer. Restaurants are everywhere, and an excellent range of accommodation includes humble and clean guesthouses, good value resorts and posh places like the world-famous Oriental in Bangkok. What out for the spicy dishes though!

Transportation

The new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport handles 40 million passengers a year and is a major regional hub. Budget flights to all regions of the country are very affordable. A rail network (with sleeper trains) runs south, not quite to Phuket, and also north as far as Chiang Mai, via Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. VIP buses are quicker and cheaper but less comfy for long journeys, and connect every small town. Taxis across Thailand are cheap, but insist on the driver using the meter. Bike hire is also popular for pottering around, but beware of reckless driving. Ferries to the islands run regularly year-round.