Thailand Tour Packages

Thailand is one of the easiest countries in the world to travel in: the infrastructure is excellent, the food is superb, the people are welcoming, and your money goes a very long way.

Getting around

• Domestic flights are cheap and frequent — Bangkok to Chiang Mai or Phuket takes about 90 minutes and is the sensible way to cover distance.
• Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and MRT metro are fast, cheap and air-conditioned — and they sail over the city's famous traffic.
• Grab (ride-hailing) works well in the cities. Taxis should use the meter — insist on it, politely.
• Tuk-tuks are fun, but agree the fare first; they are often pricier than a taxi.
• Longtail boats and ferries connect the islands. Book ahead in peak season.
• Overnight trains to Chiang Mai are a genuinely lovely, old-fashioned way to travel.

Money

The currency is the Thai Baht (THB). Cards are widely accepted in hotels, malls and better restaurants, but Thailand still runs on cash at street stalls, markets and small islands. ATMs are everywhere (they charge a per-withdrawal fee, so take out more, less often).

Practical tips

• All arrivals must now complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before landing — see the Visa section.
• Carry temple-appropriate clothing: shoulders and knees covered, and shoes that slip off easily.
• Drink bottled water. Ice in restaurants and cafes is factory-made and generally fine.
• Tipping is not expected but is appreciated — rounding up is plenty.
• Power is 220V, with two-pin plugs (Type A/B/C).
• Learn two words: sawasdee (hello) and khop khun (thank you) — add krap if you are male, ka if female.

Thailand is tropical, warm all year, and broadly has three seasons — though the two coasts follow different rhythms, which is the single most useful thing to understand when planning a trip.

Cool season (November to February) — the best time

Warm days, low humidity, blue skies and very little rain. Perfect for Bangkok, the temples, the north and the beaches alike. This is peak season, so book ahead.

Hot season (March to May)

Genuinely hot — often 35°C to 40°C, and humid. It is the season of Songkran (mid-April), when the whole country cools off with an enormous water fight. Head for the islands or the mountains.

Rainy season (June to October)

The southwest monsoon. Rain usually comes in heavy afternoon bursts rather than all day, the countryside is spectacularly green, and prices drop sharply. September and October are the wettest months.

The two coasts (this matters)

• Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta): driest and best November to April.
• Gulf coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao): a different pattern — generally good February to September, with its wettest spell in October to December.

So if you are travelling in, say, June, the Gulf islands are the better bet; in January, take your pick.

Thailand is one of the most visited countries on earth, and it has been perfecting the art of hosting travellers for fifty years. Excellent flights, outstanding hotels at every price point, effortless internal travel, world-class food and a genuinely warm welcome — all at remarkable value.

Thailand holds several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ruined former capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, the ancient settlement of Ban Chiang, and vast protected forests such as Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng and Khao Yai.

Four very different Thailands

• Bangkok — a thrilling, chaotic, delicious megacity of golden temples, riverboats, rooftop bars and the best street food on the planet.
• The North — Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai: temples, mountains, ethical elephant sanctuaries, cooking schools and cool evenings.
• The Islands and Beaches — from the limestone drama of Krabi and Phi Phi to the diving of Koh Tao and the luxury of Phuket and Samui.
• The Ancient Kingdoms — Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Kanchanaburi: history, ruins and river.

It is also one of the easiest countries in the world to combine — beach and city, temple and jungle, in a single two-week trip.

Thailand is a year-round destination — but where you go should depend on when you travel, because the two coasts have opposite monsoons.

November to February — the best overall

The cool, dry season: comfortable temperatures, low humidity, sunshine and calm seas on the Andaman coast. Ideal for combining Bangkok, the north and the beaches. This is peak season — book flights, hotels and island transfers well ahead, especially over Christmas and New Year.

March to May — hot season

Very hot and humid inland, but still excellent on the islands, and hotel rates soften. Songkran (13–15 April) is a joyous, drenching, nationwide water festival — huge fun, but expect everything to close and everyone to travel.

June to October — green season

Rain arrives in short, heavy bursts; the landscape is lush and the crowds thin out. Great value. Head to the Gulf islands (Samui, Phangan, Tao), which stay relatively dry through much of this period, rather than the Andaman coast.

Quick guide

• Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi: best November to April.
• Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao: best February to September.
• Bangkok & the North: best November to February.
• Diving the Similans: the park is open roughly mid-October to mid-May.

Thai food is one of the world's great cuisines, built on a constant balancing act between sweet, sour, salty, spicy and bitter. It is fresh, fiercely aromatic, and best eaten from a plastic stool on a busy street.

What to eat

• Tom yum goong — hot-and-sour prawn soup, electric with lemongrass, galangal and lime.
• Pad thai — the famous stir-fried noodles. Order it from a street cart, not a hotel.
• Green, red and massaman curry — from fiery and herbal to rich, mild and Persian-influenced.
• Som tam — green papaya salad, pounded in a mortar. Say "not spicy" and it will still be spicy.
• Khao soi — Northern Thailand's glorious coconut curry noodle soup. Do not leave Chiang Mai without it.
• Pad kra pao — minced pork or chicken with holy basil and a fried egg. The nation's default lunch.
• Larb — the zingy minced-meat salad of Isaan.
• Moo ping & sticky rice — grilled pork skewers from a street grill.
• Mango sticky rice — the perfect dessert, at its best in the summer mango season.

Where to eat

Eat on the street. Bangkok is one of the world's great street-food cities — several stalls have even earned Michelin recognition. Look for a queue, a single specialist dish and high turnover. Then balance it with a river-side dinner, a rooftop bar or a modern Thai tasting menu. Note that regional food varies enormously: Northern food is milder and herbal, Isaan is fiery, Southern curries will genuinely test you. We are happy to arrange food tours, market walks and cooking classes.

Thailand has recently made entry considerably easier, and most travellers now need no visa at all for a holiday.

Visa exemption

Citizens of a large number of countries — 93 nationalities, including the UK, most of Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada and India — can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days for tourism. This can typically be extended once by a further 30 days at a local immigration office.

Visa on Arrival

A smaller group of nationalities is eligible for a Visa on Arrival (usually 15 days) for a fee. Check whether this applies to you.

Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

This one catches people out. All foreign arrivals must now complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online — it replaces the old paper TM6 form. It must be submitted within three days before arrival, is free, and produces a confirmation you present at immigration. Complete it only on the official Thai government site.

What you will need

• A passport valid for at least six months from your date of entry.
• Proof of onward or return travel — airlines do check this.
• Confirmed accommodation.
• Immigration may ask for proof of funds (commonly quoted as 20,000 THB per person / 40,000 per family), though it is rarely requested in practice.

Important: Thailand's visa rules have changed several times recently, and an electronic travel authorisation scheme is being introduced. Always check the official Thai immigration or Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before booking. If you travel with us, we will confirm exactly what you need before you fly.