Thailand Travel Guide

Highlights

Ayutthaya and Sukhothai World Heritage sites: rent a bicycle and explore the ancient ruins of these two former capitals, and take in the dilapidated temples.

Chiang Mai: known as the ‘rose of the North’, offers a mountain setting, ideal for jungle trekking or simply chilling out. Don’t miss Wat Doi Suthep for stunning views of the city.

The Grand Palace, Bangkok: the palace adjoins Thailand’s most famous temple, Wat Phra Kaew, where you can see the reclining Emerald Buddha.

Phuket: the place to be seen, beach paradise with bustling centres offering top-notch hotels and restaurants.

Pattaya and Hua Hin: are easily accessible from the capital, with the former beach resort being known for its naughty nightlife.

Krabi and Phi Phi Island: impressive limestone cliffs that are ideal for climbing characterise these two hubs, with the latter having been used in the movie The Beach.

Samui, Pha-Ngan and Tao islands: Sunbathe by day and party at night on Samui’s Chaweng Beach; groove to the famous full moon celebrations on Pha-Ngan and dive to your heart’s content on Ko Tao.

Kanchanaburi: visit WWII war cemeteries, remains of the ‘Death Railway’ and the famous Bridge over the River Kwai.

Recommended Itinerary

Two weeks is enough to enjoy the highlights of the ‘land of smiles’

Two or three days partying in Bangkok and picking up bargains at the city’s modern shopping malls and traditional markets.
Head south for a week on the beach, with Ko Pha-Ngan and Samui appealing to the party crowd and Phuket and Krabi attracting all pockets and ages.
Fly up north for a taste of hill tribe culture and jungle trekking. Chill out in the northern capital of Chiang Mai for a few days before heading back to the capital.

Extra time
Make an overnight trip to Kanchanaburi, where you can visit the Bridge over the River Kwai and some interesting historical museums.
Stop off at the ancient capitals of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya to explore the stunning ruins at the World Heritage sites.
Check out more idyllic islands, with Phi Phi drawing the crowds with its beauty; Ko Tao being ideal for divers; and Ko Chang for a relaxed break in a natural setting.

Health and Safety

Generally, Thailand is a safe place to travel, with the exception of its poor record for road safety. With a high rate of road accidents involving alcohol, it is wise to exercise caution when driving home at night. However, there is probably more chance of you getting scammed by a tuk-tuk driver than running into any real danger. Swimmers and divers need to be careful of dangers of the sea, such as sea creatures and rip tides. Food hygiene is very good and you are more likely to get a case of Delhi belly from overdosing on spice rather than from any nasty bacteria. Should you get sick, the city hospitals are modern and efficient, with English-speaking staff.

Thailand Travel

Bangkok’s newly opened Suvarnabhumi International Airport is the gateway to Thailand and it offers regular flights to all continents, many of which are direct. For regional and domestic travel, a handful of low-cost airlines offer cheap airfares, saving you plenty of travelling time if you want to get up and down the country in a hurry. Alternatives include trains and buses, which efficiently cover the entire country. First-class and VIP services offer a smooth and comfortable journey for those travelling long distances. Ferries run regularly from the mainland to the islands. For local travel, taxis are reasonably priced, with the quintessential tuk-tuk offering a more heart-stopping means of getting from A to B. Motorbikes are the most popular form of transport, while renting a car is also an option.

Why Thailand

What’s cool: Cutting-edge nightclubs in the country’s shiny capital, lively full moon beach parties, deserted southern beaches, trekking adventures in the north, diving in the Andaman, the new state-of-the-art international airport, reliable transport infrastructure, value-for-money prices and the famously relaxed Thai way of life.

What’s not: Bangkok’s pollution and traffic jams, dangerous drivers, stray dogs, uncomfortably hot weather, getting ripped off by tuk-tuk drivers, corrupt police officers, riptides and dangerous sea life, too-hot-to-handle curries, occasional bombs and coups!

When To Go?

Three seasons are experienced in the North, Northeastern and Central provinces, while the South only experiences two seasons.

The cool season (November to February) this season is only really experienced in the Northern provinces, with sunny days and refreshingly cool nights making it the best time to come.

The hot season (November to May in the North; February to April in the South) is dry, with temperatures and humidity being uncomfortable. Best to avoid the peak of this season if you want to get any sightseeing done.

The wet season (November to January in the South; July to November in the North) temperatures do not drop much and downpours are interspersed with sunny spells.

Main Festivals

Known for its abundant festivals, the Thais like to party and find any excuse to do so. Highlights not to be missed include:

February: Chinese New Year is celebrated with fireworks, dancing and parties by those of Chinese origin.
April: Songkran is the Thai New Year festival, where people take to the streets to indulge in three days of water splashing.
September: Vegetarian Festival in Phuket is an amazing sight, where devotees pierce their bodies with skewers and needles.
November: Loi Krathong is celebrated with fireworks, paper lanterns and small banana-leaf boats, which are released to wash your sins away.

Activities

Cultural sightseeing: the amazing country-wide temples, northern hill tribe villages, ancient ruins and historical places of interest are abundant.

Trekking: experience riding on an elephant, bamboo rafting and hiking through the jungle on a trekking trip.

Spas and health treatments: with spas boasting reasonable prices on nearly every corner, there is no excuse to not have a good pampering session.

Diving: dive centres and courses are available at many beaches, with Ko Tao having a reputation for some of the best dive sites.

Relaxing: plenty of people come here to simply relax, and what better way to do it than lying on a deserted Thai beach.

Climbing: the limestone cliffs at Krabi provide the perfect terrain for climbers of all levels.

Shopping: with every town having a market and the capital boasting some of the swankiest malls in Asia, there is no shortage of places at which to get spend-happy.

Eating: is one of the main drawcards, with excellent value seafood, spicy curries and Thai salads all being devoured by easily-hooked tourists.

Partying: at Bangkok’s mega-clubs, or on the beach at Samui or Phan-Ngan is a must for the younger generation.

Food and Hospitality

Thais are hospitable by nature and will make you feel welcome from the second you step off the plane. The cuisine here is world-famous for a reason; its combination of sweet, sour and spicy flavours will have you hooked in no time. The prices are also very reasonable, allowing you to indulge rather than watch your budget. Pampering is also a big industry here, with spas and beauty shops on every corner with an army of women waiting to give you a massage, manicure or facial. Accommodation is available in every bracket, from dirt-cheap beach bungalows and guesthouses to world-class five-star hotels.