Thailand offers all the benefits of an exotic destination – including climate, culture and convenience – without blowing the budget. Welcome to our Thailand travel guide.
Luxury wellness retreats, bustling cities alongside vast tropical beaches dotted with ancient temple ruins, exotic gourmet food and endless nature- and water-based activities – there are more than a few very good reasons why Thailand remains such an outstanding destination for travellers.
Things to see in Thailand
Budding mountaineers and adventurous types make tracks for Khao Sok in the south, or Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai in the north. With warm water temperatures (usually 27–30°C) and underwater terrain including swim-throughs, caves, caverns and ethereal karst islands surrounded by coral, Southern Thailand offers enticing opportunities for scuba divers and snorkellers.
Surrounded by stunning landscapes and river systems, Mae Hong Son province is a natural hub for eco-tourism, with the small district of Pai as an idyllic base for rafting and camping. In Phuket, take a high-octane speedboat trip to James Bond Island, or time your visit to catch the Anantara King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament in Hua Hin, Thailand’s answer to the Hamptons. Ethical elephant encounters – where you observe rather than ride – can be a real highlight of a Thailand trip, so do your research when choosing an operator.
The hundred or so buildings that make up the Grand Palace in Bangkok are a breathtaking introduction to Thailand’s ornate beauty and an absolute day-one must – a collection of palaces, courts, pavilions and temples showcasing marble, gold leaf-clad mythical figures and elegant chofas piercing the sky from multicoloured-tiled roofs.
Best places to visit in Thailand
Bangkok is full of famous markets, delicious street food, an emerging art scene and grand palaces – shopping is also a big drawcard here. Chiang Mai, Thailand’s unofficial second city, offers a stark contrast to bustling Bangkok, with an unhurried vibe alongside booming creative and culinary scenes; don’t miss Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most important Buddhist temple in the north.
For the more social traveller, hotspots like Hua Hin, Koh Phangan, Krabi, Koh Samui and legendary Phuket offer plenty of beach-based entertainment. For something quieter, Trat, Thailand’s easternmost province bordering Cambodia, has a collection of islands just off its coast that fly under the tourist radar. Of the roughly 50 islands here, Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood are best set up for visitors, while still maintaining a rugged, remote vibe thanks to their location within Mu Koh Chang National Park.
History and culture buffs will get their fill in Thailand’s former capitals, World Heritage-listed Ayutthaya and Sukhothai – once home to the Sukhothai Kingdom from the mid-13th to late 14th century, the old city (meuang gòw) is one of Thailand’s most visited ancient sites, with the Sukhothai Historical Park and Si Satchanalai Historical Park both UNESCO-listed.
Best time to visit
The best time to travel to Thailand is during the cooler dry season between November and early April. In the south, climate differs between the east and west coasts, so this affects when to visit each: the west coast is best during winter for diving and snorkelling, while the east coast is good for most of the year, with the lowest rainfall in January and February and the highest in November. Pack plenty of sunscreen, long pants and sleeves if you’re travelling to mosquito-affected areas, and a light raincoat if visiting during the wet season.
Where to stay in Thailand
Whether it’s a swanky skyscraper hotel in Bangkok or a lush tropical villa on one of Thailand’s picture-perfect islands, there’s an accommodation option to suit every type of traveller – there’s even a Four Seasons tented camp in the Chiang Rai jungle.
Best places to eat in Thailand
Street food is an absolute joy in Thailand – cheap, cheerful and endlessly varied. Learn to make your own Thai food with an afternoon cooking class at the Blue Elephant restaurant, housed in a period mansion in Bangkok. By night, Bangkok is a neon-drenched, cyberpunk spectacle best viewed from on high – Sky Bar at Lebua, one of the city’s most famous open-air rooftop bars, remains a benchmark spot for a cocktail with a view.
Cultural experiences in Thailand
You can’t claim to have seen Bangkok until you’ve seen it by boat via its tangle of waterways, or khlongs, most branching off the western banks of the Chao Phraya River. Take a riverboat tour to see life on the canals – rickety old houses overhanging the water, kids backflipping off jetties, and the famous floating markets.
Even if combat sports aren’t usually your thing, watching a bout of traditional Muay Thai kickboxing, Thailand’s national sport, is not to be missed. Head to Rajadamnern Stadium to catch a few rounds accompanied by traditional music, ritual and prayer, and the roar of a crowd fully invested in every landed kick.
Lampang’s charming township is gaining attention from travellers after a slower-paced holiday – its long history of human settlement spans the kingdoms of Hariphunchai, Lanna and Burma, with archaeological evidence dating back over 1000 years.
