Thailand
Thailand
OVERVIEW
Iconic natural bays, intriguing hill tribes, colourful cities, white sandy beaches, soaring limestone karsts and enchanting people all make Thailand one of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations.
Thailand, often referred to as the land of smiles and formally known as Siam is the 50th largest country in the world and the 20th most populous country with a population of around 69 million. The main religion in Thailand is Buddhism with around 95% of the population identifying themselves as Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city acts as a gateway to the Indochina region with Suvarnabhumi International Airport being one of the busiest in Southeast Asia.
GET THE GUIDE
Thailand Travel Guide
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Thailand’s high season is November to February, which coincides with when the weather is generally at its best.
Thailand’s climate is largely influenced by monsoon winds and is split into three seasons:
- Rainy season – May to October
- Cool season – November to February
- Hot season – March to May
The best time to visit weather wise would be the end of January to mid-April as most of Thailand becomes very hot from April.
Northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai
October to April is the best time to visit as it’s usually cool and pleasant with a light breeze but this is also peak tourist season, getting even busier in December so expect crowds!
TRANSPORT
Metro
In Bangkok one of the best options for getting around is the metro MRT or skytrain BTS. Most journeys will cost as little as 10-50 baht per trip and will avoid the chaos and congestion of Bangkok’s roads.
Tuk-tuks
Tuk-tuks are readily available across most of Thailand, but they can be a more expensive means of transport with even short trips costing anywhere from 100-300 baht. It is always advised to agree the fare with the driver before getting into the tuk-tuk. You may also find the driver will take a detour to a local suit or gem shop and ask you to go in a look around. This is a way for the driver to get some form of kickback or petrol coupon from the shop owners, regardless of whether you buy an item or not.
Taxis
Metered taxis are also widespread with trips costing around 70-100 baht per trip. The fares tend to increase on the islands, when compared to Bangkok.
Buses
There is a good network of buses around Thailand and they are probably the cheapest means of transport costing as little as 10 baht per trip.
Trains
Thailand also has a rail network offering a more comfortable alternative to some of the cheaper bus routes, Bangkok to Chiang Mai is a popular train route taking 11-12 hours by express train and is a good way to see some of the scenery Thailand has to offer.
Air Travel
Internal flights are often a cheap and convenient way to get around Thailand, with budget airlines offering affordable airfare on most of the routes.
AVERAGE COSTS
Thailand’s currency is the Thai Baht and note denominations come in 20, 50,100, 500 and 1000.
ATMs are widespread in Thailand but nearly all charge a transaction fee of 200 baht which can soon add up, especially since your own banks will usually charge another transaction fee on top.
Average Costs (in Thai Baht)
- Mid Range 3–4 star hotel 1000–4000
- Budget accommodation from 300
- Street food meal 50–150
- Local beer 100
- Bottle of water 14
- Cup of coffee 50–80
- Public transport 20–50
- Meal for two in a mid-range restaurant 700–900
ATTRACTIONS
Thailand is one of the most popular countries to visit in Southeast Asia and it’s jam packed with things to see and do. From the bustling city of Bangkok to the idyllic islands, below is a list of some of the most popular attractions Thailand has to offer.
Grand Palace
The Grand Palace in Bangkok is one of the most popular attractions and for good reason. It can get very crowded, but it is well worth the visit. There are beautiful royal halls, temples covered in jewels and glistening gold and perfectly manicured gardens to discover. It was built in the 18th Century and within the grounds also lies Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) that contains the very famous, but surprisingly small Emerald Buddha, that dates back to the 14th Century. A strict dress code is in place to enter the Grand Palace as legs and arms should be covered. There is a booth at the entrance to hire appropriate attire or you could bring a change of clothes and use the dressing rooms provided.
Phi Phi Islands
These gorgeous islands are some of the most popular to visit in Thailand. The two main islands are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley and the reason for their huge growth in popularity is undoubtedly due to the film The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio that came out in the year 2000. It was filmed at gorgeous Maya Bay on the smaller and uninhibited island of Phi Phi Ley that now receives thousands of visitors a day. Due to this in 2018 Thailand’s National Parks and Wildlife Department have asked for the beach to be shut off from tourists for 4 months from June each year so it can recover from environmental damage. There are also other beautiful bays on Phi Phi Ley to discover, such as Monkey Beach. Phi Phi Don is the larger island and has many different hotels to suit all budgets.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Located near Chiang Mai is this popular temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, that sits on a mountain with incredible views over the city. The mountain is called Doi Suthep so often that is what the temple is referred to. It was built as a Buddhist monastery in 1383 and is one of northern Thailand’s most sacred temples. To get to the temple from the city you could take a taxi or tuk tuk or even hike from Chiang Mai University. From the car park at the top there is then a steep climb up to the temple, which is over 300 steps, although there is also a funicular-style lift available for a fee. The entrance fee is 30 baht for foreigners and it is open during daylight hours.
Phang Nga Bay
Located about 60 miles (95 km) north east from the island of Phuket is Phang Nga Bay, full of limestone islands that jut out of the emerald green water, as well as grottoes and caves. The most famous island is Koh Tapu, that is more commonly known as James Bond Island as it was featured in the James Bond movie ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ in 1974. One of the most popular ways to visit the bay is via sea kayak as they are the only way to get inside the caves and grottoes, but there are also many other boat tours available. Koh Panyee village is also a popular place to visit as the whole fishing village is ‘floating’ as it is built over the water on stilts.
Ayutthaya
An abandoned, historic city about 50 miles (80 km) north of Bangkok that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. Over four centuries the city grew and prospered before it was attacked by the Burmese Army in 1767. They burned the city and the inhabitants were forced to flee. The city was never rebuilt and so the remains are now a huge archaeological site. The remains of the many temples and palaces are fascinating to explore and give you an insight into the past grandeur of this once thriving city. There is an entrance fee of 50 baht or less to visit each temple and you can explore on foot, bicycle or by hiring a tuk tuk.
AREA GUIDES
Bangkok
Most trips in and out of Thailand will often start and finish here, in the capital city, so even if you want to head on to other parts of Thailand, we highly recommend staying in Bangkok for at least a couple of nights. Bangkok is full of intrigue with its network of canals, old temples, vibrant streets, crazy nightlife, luxury malls and bustling night markets. For more information on this bustling city check out our Bangkok guide below.
Phuket
The largest island in Thailand is 30 miles (49 km) long, has miles of beautiful coastline, lively, party towns and a huge range of hotels and restaurants situated all over the island to suit of every type of budget. Although the island itself has plenty to explore from temples and beaches, to the aptly named Big Buddha, it is also has lots of options to be able to explore the many nearby tropical islands.
Krabi
This relaxing destination in southern Thailand has 93 miles (150 km) of coastline and over 150 islands, including the famous and stunning Phi Phi Islands. The area is known for its natural beauty and limestone cliffs and there is a wide number of activities to chose from such as jungle trekking, rock climbing and sea kayaking. There are many areas and hotels to chose from to both on the mainland or on one of the numerous islands.
Koh Samui
The second largest island in Thailand lies off the east coast of the mainland with laid back beach towns, buzzing nightlife, luxury resorts and basic beach side bungalows. There are a variety of beaches, inland waterfalls and temples to explore.
Chiang Mai
The largest city in northern Thailand is where old meets new, with ancient temples alongside contemporary cafes. It has a laid back atmosphere and friendly locals, with plenty of street food markets and restaurants around the city. There is plenty to see within the city, but there are also tours offering treks into the jungles or visits to ancient hill tribes.
INTERESTING FACTS
- The worlds smallest mammal is found in Thailand — the Craseonycteris thonglongyai, also known as Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat or Bumblebee Bat.
- It is illegal to step on money in Thailand.
- The head is regarded as the most sacred part of the body in Thailand so should not be touched.
- The highest elevation in Thailand is 2,595 m (8,514 ft) in Doi Inthanon National Park in Northern Thailand.
- Misbehaving officers in Thailand are made to wear bright pink Hello Kitty armbands as a badge of shame.
- When a Thai person uses ‘555’ it means ‘ha ha ha’ (or the equivalent of ‘lol’) as five is pronounced ‘ha’ in Thai.
- Crispy fried seaweed is one of the most popular snacks in Thailand. Tao Kae Noi is the largest seaweed manufacturer in Thailand.
- Thailand has more 7-Eleven stores than the United States and the 2nd largest number of stores in the world (Japan has the most).
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