Thailand
The Beginners Travel Guide to Thailand is an overview of places to visit in Thailand, things you can not miss, practical info, popular festivals, best time to visit and more. Interested in Buddhism? Read the Beginners Guide to Buddhism. Or explore Thailand with the virtual picture tour.
The tall shape of the country ensures a divers climate from forests and mountains in the north, vast plains with rice fields in the central regions and islands, white sandy beaches and karst landscape in the south. The majority of the population is Thai along with Chinese, Indians, Malay Thai and traditional tribes in the mountains such as Akha, Lisu and Yao.
The Thai civilization strives for harmony and self-possession, the pillars of the Buddhist philosophy of life. The Thai know how to celebrate a wedding or festival. Inviting family and friends over while eating and having a drink are an integral part of the Thai culture.
Interesting places to visit
The Kingdom of Thailand is formerly known as Siam. The country has a population of 67 million people. The country has never been colonised and because of this the Thai culture developed on its own. The Buddhist traditions are an important part of the Thai culture. Thailand has a great appeal in different areas, such as historical monuments, national parks, tropical islands, white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters.
In northern Thailand you have popular places like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. You will find many beautiful temples in this region. The mountain ranges and National Parks are ideal to go hiking. Travel south to Ayutthaya, the capital city of Siam from 1350 to 1767. Admire the amazing Wat Phra Ram and watch the sunset at Wat Chai Watthanaram.
Are you a fan of monkeys? Make sure to visit Lopburi. The cheeky monkeys steal your food and are not shy to climb on your shoulders. Visit Sukhothai Historical Park and explore the ruins of the old capital city of the Sukhothai Kingdom.
The Thai capital Bangkok is legendary. The official name of the city is 172 letters long and it’s the longest city name in the world:
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
The Thai prefers the name Khrung Thep which means City of Angels. Or just Bangkok.
After visiting the metropolitan city it’s time to explore the wonderful and pretty islands of Thailand. A good start is to go to Phuket or Krabi. From there on it’s easy to travel to Koh Samui, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta or the smaller and more idyllic islands at Phang Nga Bay, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Festivals
Flower festival: the Flower Festival in Chiang Mai is in the second week of February. The highlight of the Flower Festival is the parade. In this week they organise competitions for flower arranging and exhibitions of orchids.
Songkran: the Thai New Year, 13-15 April. The Thai people sprinkle holy water on Buddha statues and celebrate Songkran with fireworks.
Loy Krathong: the Festival of Light. It’s the festival of the floating lights and celebrated at lakes, rivers and canals. The festival honours the Goddess of Rivers, Mae Khongkha. Lotus shaped boats, krathongs, float on the water and are filled with flowers, coins, candles and incense. The festival takes places in November.
Yi Peng: The lantarn festival is celebrated on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai calendar, usually in November. It’s an unique festival held in northern Thailand. The origins of the Yi Peng festival is from Brahmin. The best place to experience the festival is in Chiang Mai were you will see thousands of lanterns, khom loy, flying into the sky.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival: for nine days a lot of restaurants in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi only serve vegetarian dishes.
Practical info
Currency: Thai Baht ฿
ATM: In the cities are many ATM’s. Most of them accept Mastercard, Visa and Maestro. Be sure to bring a credit card in case a maestro-card doesn’t work. A tip: withdrawing money from an ATM is cheaper when using a credit card instead of using a debit card.
Languages: Official language is Thai. In major cities many people speak English.
Religion: Buddhism
Capital city: Bangkok
Visa: Most nationalities don’t require a visa and can stay for 30 days. Read the article about visa Thailand for more information.
Local SIM card: It’s easy to get a local Thai sim card. You can buy one from many providers at the airport, 7-Eleven stores, Family Mart Shops, Tesco Lotus or mobile phone stores. Bring your passport. Without ID you can’t purchase a tourist sim card. Every sim card must be registered to the buyer’s ID by law.
eSIM: Consider Airalo as a viable option for purchasing an eSIM. It’s crucial to ensure that your phone supports eSIM usage before investing in a plan.
Country code: +66
Time: UTC +7
Official Tourism Website: Amazing Thailand is the promotional campaign for tourism in the country. Visit the Official Website of Tourism Thailand to read more about the land of smiles.
Practical info: Are you planning a trip to Thailand and you need some practical info? Read the ultimate planning guide when you are going for a long term journey or download the packing list. I share tips about setting up a travel budget. Or find out the best travel apps to use.
Sustainable travel: I have written a few articles about sustainable travel. I give tips about how to make your trip more sustainable and how to fly more sustainable. I believe even the smallest effort can help. When travelling in Thailand don’t go for an elephant ride. A better idea is to visit an elephant sanctuary and support them.
Best time to go
Depending on location in Thailand you can travel all year round. In general the best time to go is from November until March. The months of April and May are very warm. June to November is monsoon season but the weather is dry at the east coast of the southern peninsula from February to September.
Public transport
Trains
Public transport in Thailand is safe. Trains are more comfortable and safer but surprisingly slower than a bus. There are three classes and three different kind of trains. The fast and express trains only have first and second class seats. The normal trains also have third class seats. Trains are usually fully booked and if you like to travel by train you have to book in advance.
Buses
The most popular and easiest way to travel around is by bus. There are state buses without AC and faster express buses with AC and comfortable chairs. Bus stations are usually located outside of the city centre. You can get there by tuktuk, bus or taxi.
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