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Discover Thailand with our comprehensive travel resources. Dive into the heart of Thai culture, cuisine, and natural wonders for a truly immersive experience.

About Thailand

From bustling Bangkok to tropical beaches of the south, Thailand is known for its beautiful landscapes, ancient temples, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine.

Bangkok Floating Market

Countries neighbouring Thailand: Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.

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Mapping Thailand

Map of Thailand

Map of Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, has never been a dependency of another country.

Thailand Overview

Thailand, officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country located in South-east Asia bordered by Myanmar (Burma) to the north-west, Laos to the north-east, Cambodia to the south-east, and Malaysia to the south.

It also has coastlines along the Gulf of Thailand to the east and the Andaman Sea to the west.

Capital

The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok, which is also the country's largest city.

Bangkok is a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant street life, ornate shrines, and vibrant culture.

Cuisine

Thai cuisine is renowned world-wide for its bold flavours, fresh ingredients, and aromatic spices.

Dishes like Pad Thai, Green Curry, Tom Yum Goong, and Som Tum (papaya salad) are just a few examples of Thai food we all adore.

Culture and People

Thai culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism, which is practiced by the majority of the population.

The Thai people are known for their friendliness, hospitality, and deeply ingrained respect for the monarchy.

Economy

Thailand has a diverse economy, with agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism being significant contributors.

It is one of the largest exporters of rice in the world and has a rapidly growing industrial sector.

History

Thailand has a rich and ancient history dating back thousands of years.

It was formerly known as Siam and has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples and empires.

The country has never been colonised by Western powers, unlike many other countries in South-east Asia.

Language

The official language of Thailand is Thai.

However, English is widely spoken in tourist areas and among younger generations.

Politics

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.

The King is the head of state, but the country is governed by a Prime Minister and a bicameral legislature.

Religion

Buddhism is the predominant religion in Thailand, practiced by over 90% of the population.

There are also minority religions such as Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism.

Tourism

Thailand is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, known for its stunning beaches, lush jungles, ancient temples, and bustling cities.

Major tourist destinations include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, and the Phi Phi Islands.

Visiting Thailand

Thailand is a vibrant and diverse country with a rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and warm hospitality, making it a top destination for travellers from around the world.

Throughout your trip, don't forget to immerse yourself in Thai culture, try local delicacies, and interact with the friendly locals for an authentic experience in the Land of Smiles.

Thailand Highlights

Bangkok

Most journeys begin in the bustling capital city of Bangkok.

Explore the Grand Palace, home to the revered Emerald Buddha, and Wat Pho, known for its giant reclining Buddha.

Take a boat tour along the Chao Phraya River and visit the floating markets to experience local life.

Discover the vibrant street food scene in places like Chinatown and sample delicious Thai dishes from roadside stalls.

Chiang Mai

Take the train to Chiang Mai, a charming city in northern Thailand known for its ancient temples and laid-back atmosphere.

Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a stunning mountaintop temple offering panoramic views of the city.

Explore the historic old town, stroll through the bustling night markets, and sample traditional Lanna cuisine.

Koh Samui

No trip to Thailand is complete without a visit to Koh Samui, known for its palm-fringed beaches, luxury resorts, and vibrant nightlife.

Relax on the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai, visit the iconic Big Buddha temple, and explore the island's lush interior with waterfalls and tropical forests.

Enjoy fresh seafood at beachside restaurants, indulge in spa treatments, and take part in water sports like kayaking, jet skiing, and paddle-boarding.

Phuket

Head south to Phuket, Thailand's largest island, famous for its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife.

Relax on the pristine sands of Patong Beach, visit the iconic Big Buddha statue, and take a boat trip to nearby islands like Phi Phi or James Bond Island.

Experience Phuket's nightlife in Patong or explore the quieter beaches and coastal towns for a more tranquil atmosphere.

Phuket to Krabi

From Phuket, travel to Krabi, another stunning coastal province known for its limestone cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and picture-perfect beaches.

Explore the famous Railay Beach, accessible only by boat and surrounded by towering cliffs ideal for rock climbing and hiking.

Take a day trip to the Phi Phi Islands or go snorkelling and diving in the Andaman Sea to discover vibrant marine life.

Monarchy in Thailand

The modern Monarchy is still very important to Thai people and visitors should show respect for the Thai King, Queen, Princes and Princesses.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Phra Bat Somdet Phra Paraminthra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitalathibet Ramathibodi Chakkrinaruebodin Sayamminthrathirat Borommanatthabophit) passed away on 13th October, 2016; having reigned since 9th June. 1946.

At the time of his death, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (88) was the world's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history, serving for 70 years and 126 days.

Bangkok

Map of Bangkok

Map of Bangkok

There are more than 400 Buddhist temples and monasteries, wats, in the capital city, with Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn, one of the most well known.

The central prang rises 104 metres above the temple compound, in the typical style of Ayuthaya, and is best seen from the opposite side of the Chao Phraya River.

Bangkok, Oriental City:
The capital of Thailand is often the starting point for travel to Thailand, unless you are travelling up by land up from Singapore and Malaysia.

Where to Stay in Thailand

Bangkok Accommodation

Whether you want to reserve a hotel near the airport, for a late arrival or early departure, or in the popular Sukhumvit Road part of Bangkok, you're sure to find a suitable hotel in your budget.

Hotels in Bangkok.

Around Bangkok

Three to five days should be enough for Bangkok.

The traffic in the city is horrendous, although the many wats offer sanctuary from the noise and pollution.

Getting Around Bangkok

Tuk-tuks are an ideal mode of transport around the city, when your feet get tired, as buses can be rather overcrowded.

On December 5, 1999 a new form of transportation became available to the citizens of Bangkok: The Skytrain.

Bangkok Tourism

As one of Thailand's premier tourist destinations Bangkok has numerous attractions, including temples, markets, palaces, and museums to keep visitors entertained in the capital of Thailand.

You may need a visa for onward travel to neighbouring countries and Bangkok is as good a place as any to get them.

Bangkok Introduction:
While Bangkok has embraced modernisation, you only need to look a little under the surface to see that it remains undeniably a Thai place at heart.

Bangkok Magazine:
This electronic magazine provides a wide range of information about Bangkok, its people, and the many things to do and places to go in the City of Angels.

Follow Me Bangkok Bicycle Tours:
Join friendly and experienced multi-lingual Thai guides on a bicycle tour that takes you off the tourist trail and into a Bangkok that few, if any, visitors to Thailand ever see.

Onyx Hospitality:
Leading hotel management company in Thailand with 31 properties across the country under four different brands: Amari, The Mosaic Collection, Ozo and Shama.

The Former Thai Capital

Ayuthaya:
For a pleasant day-trip out of Bangkok, visit the ruins of the ancient capital of Thailand.

Around Thailand

Travelling around Thailand is easy, cost effective and comfortable.

Once they've done Bangkok, most people then head up to the hills of the north, or the Thai beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui Island to the south; ideally you would want to do both.

The train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes between nine and fourteen hours.

For those on limited time, Pattaya Beach is closer to the capital, but it's getting to be like one giant brothel - you can get all that in Bangkok too - around Patpong.

If you get the chance, you should see a performance of colourful Thai court dance, brought to Thailand by the Thai armies which sacked Angkor in 1431.

Amari Hotels and Resorts:
There are currently sixteen properties in the group: in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Samui and Phuket. Amari Hotels and Resorts also manages a nature resort in the very north of Thailand and two city lodge properties.

Bangkok Airways:
If time is limited you can even fly to Koh Samui or Chiang Mai. Bangkok Airways also have services to Cambodia, Myanmar, and Singapore.

Centara Hotels and Resorts:
The largest hotel chain in Thailand offering idyllic locations, international standards, and gracious Thai hospitality.

Tourism Authority of Thailand:
A warm welcome to the Land of Smiles with plenty of helpful tips and advice to help you plan your trip to Thailand.

Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand:
Day trips to the Wildlife Rescue Centre and Elephant Refuge. Price includes transportation from Hua Hin or Cha Am, a welcome drink and Thai buffet lunch. Extra charge for departs from Bangkok and Pranburi.

Pattaya

Pattaya is a great holiday destination and is perhaps one of the best places to escape to.

Unusual and exotic, Pattaya is among the few cities in the world that offers a unique blend of urban life and tropical paradise. Warm and sunny throughout the year, this city is the prefect getaway for the family, or if you just want to be by yourself.

Accommodations in this beautiful city range from hotel rooms at very low rates to those with exorbitant price tags. The cheaper hotels offer basic but clean rooms with a fan or with air conditioning, with bathroom facilities usually also provided.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, five-star and luxury resorts offer their guests plush rooms with spa treatments and massages. The grandest of rooms and the most sparse, all can be found in Pattaya.

Northern Thailand

Chiang Dao:
Chiang Dao, literally translated 'the City of Stars', is North of Chiang Mai en route to Tha Ton.

Northern Thailand:
The Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai Magazine is an informative source for northern Thailand. There's even a travel help section where they will try to answer your e-mail questions.

Chiang Mai

Advice for Visitors to Chiang Mai, Thailand:
Many guide books on Thailand only partially cover the subject of health and well-being while travelling in the country, so this article gives you some advice about transportation, protocol, health, and the law.

Chiang Mai has many ancient temples to visit, and is the jumping off point for Chiang Rai.

North Thailand Adventures:
If you don't have much time and want to go elephant riding, do a little rafting and spend the night in a traditional hill tribe village; this is the program for you.

Tarin Hotel - Chiang Mai:
First Class accommodation in 170 spacious guest rooms and suites, ten minutes from Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar. Personal attention to detail and caring in the 'Lanna' tradition.

Wayfarers Travel:
Tours and treks in Chiang Mai and throughout Northern Thailand. Itineraries take you to temples, handicraft centres, elephant camps, hill-tribe villages, bamboo rafting and some fantastic scenery. Customised programs anywhere in northern Thailand.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai:
Ride an elephant around the hill-tribe villages, spend time trekking, or visit the Myanmar border market.

Koh Phangan

Ko Pha Ngan is the nearest island to Samui. Boats can be readily hired for the trip. The beaches are good and there are also several scenic waterfalls, but while there is some budget accommodation, the island is much less developed than Samui.

Full Moon Party Tips

If you're going out to the famous Full Moon Party at Haad Rin Beach, make sure that you only take out what you really need - most resorts provide a free safety deposit box to keep your valuables in.

Phangan Info:
A natural paradise island in the Southern Gulf of Thailand, Koh Phangan is a perfect getaway retreat for relaxing on deserted beaches, learning to dive at Koh Ma or trekking Than Sadet National Park.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui has more than it's fair share of beautiful beaches, from quiet, laid back beaches with few people and authentic Thai villages to busy beaches and modern resorts with lots of people and attractions.

Koh Samui is the third largest island of Thailand after Phuket and Koh Chang and one of the most popular destinations for travellers.

Getting to Koh Samui

Bangkok Airways is the only airline that flies directly to Koh Samui or you can fly to the Surat Thani airport with Thai Airways and make the bus and ferry connection to Koh Samui.

Where to Stay on Koh Samui

Finding a place to stay on Koh Samui is not that hard; the bungalow owners will probably find you first, if they have vacancies.

To be sure that you have a bed in the resort of your choice, it might be wise to book online before you go.

Budget Accommodation in Koh Samui.

Stay in traditional Thai bungalows and enjoy modern facilities, right on Chaweng Beach.

Samui Beach Resort

All the bungalows at the Samui Beach Resort stand in a tropical garden right on the quiet beach of Lamai.

They range from standard bungalows with fan and hot water to superior bungalows with air-conditioning Restaurant, bar and swimming-pool.

Hotels on Samui Island.

Phuket

Those who visit Phuket for its beaches will be surprised to discover that the small island offers much more than soft sand and warm water.

Phuket Beaches:
The reason most people go to Phuket. Also includes the islands within a daytrip of Phuket.

Phuket Sailing:
Sail away from the main island of Phuket and discover hundreds of unspoiled idyllic anchorages in the Andaman Sea.

Accommodation in Phuket

Hotels in Phuket.

Crystal Clear Thailand:
One of a very few PADI Dive Resorts in Phuket that can offer both diving and accommodation.

Thavorn Beach Village Hotel & Spa:
Set in a truly breathtaking environment; a prime location amongst the lush greenery of Nakalay Bay, close to the crystal clear ocean and fine white sands. Guestrooms are arranged in traditional Thai style with direct access to the swimming pool, or with a magnificent view over the ocean.

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is about 70km south of Krabi, on the eastern side of southern Thailand's Phang Nga Bay.

Getting to Koh Lanta

The nearest airports are Phuket, Krabi and Trang.

From Phuket

Most travellers to Koh Lanta make the journey from Phuket, via Phi Phi Island. This is only possible from November to April.

From Krabi

Coming from Krabi, two boats a day depart from the Klong Chi Lard Pier (west of the town). The journey takes around two hours and again only runs from November to April.

From Trang

Minibuses to Koh Lanta leave from opposite Trang railway station at 12:00 throughout the year, with more departures in operation from November to April (10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 15:30).

Koh Lanta Island:
Not long ago there were only ten resorts on Lanta, now there are around a hundred. This site lists them.

Lanta Info:
Koh Lanta Island is a long thin island running north to south. The west coast (or sunset coast) faces the Andaman Sea with a string of beautiful white-sand beaches that host the island’s resorts.

Surin

Surin is internationally famous for the elephant festival in mid-November.

Thailand Tours

Motorbike Thailand:
One of the longest established motorcycle touring companies in Thailand, offering many unique road and off-road packages as well as adventure riding tours for people with little or no off-road experience.

Thai Travel Tips

Do not wear shorts around The Grand Palace or in religious shrines, and women definitely shouldn't parade themselves in a bikini top.

Shoes have to be removed when entering the chapel where the principal Buddha statue is located.

Outdoor footwear is also removed when entering Thai homes, and you should avoid pointing your feet at people when sitting on the floor; it is considered rude.

If a Buddhist priest is to receive anything from a woman, it is first passed to a man, and then to the priest.

When greeting Thais it is customary to press the palms together in a wai, or prayer-like gesture.

Never touch a Thai on the head, this is considered the highest point of the body in a very literal sense.

Learning Thai Online

Learn how to read Thai, write Thai and speak Thai with a grounding in basic Thai words and common phrases. Listen to audio files spoken by real Thai natives to learn the correct pronunciation in ten, easy Learn Thai lessons.

If you enjoy the lessons, there's also a free, seven day e-mail course with Thai grammar notes and 1,000 essential Thai words.

Plan Before You Arrive in Thailand

Thailand has great beaches and great inland scenery and accommodation of all standards. To make your trip run smoothly do some planning before you arrive and if its the high season or public holidays make sure you have transport and accommodation pre-booked.

Community Travel Trips By Wayfarers Travel.

Thailand News

The Nation:
The digital version of Thailand's English newspaper.

Thailand Travel Guides

The Rough Guide to Thailan Lonely Planet Experience Thailand (Travel Guide)

Thailand Travel Guides - Thailand Maps.

Weather in Asia:
Local weather forecasts for destinations around Asia.

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