Where to go in Thailand
19 destinations we know well enough to tell you which to skip. Each page covers what to see, how long to stay, when to go — and the tours that work there.
We cover 19 destinations in Thailand across four regions: Central Thailand (Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Khao Yai), the North (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Sukhothai, Pai, Mae Hong Son), the Andaman Coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Khao Lak) and the Gulf (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Khao Sok).
Thailand is not one destination and the single most useful decision you will make is which coast to be on. The Andaman (Phuket, Krabi, Lanta, Khao Lak) runs November to April. The Gulf (Samui, Phangan, Tao) runs January to August. Between May and September the Andaman is in monsoon and the Gulf is at its best; in October almost nowhere is reliable.
The regions also differ in what they are for. The north is mountains, temples and hill-tribe culture, and it is the part of Thailand that feels least like a beach holiday. The central plains hold the old capitals and the national parks within reach of Bangkok. The Andaman has the limestone scenery and the best diving. The Gulf has calmer water, cheaper islands and the Full Moon Party.
Each destination page here answers the same four questions — how long to stay, when to go, what it is actually like, and what we would skip — and links to the attractions and tours that use it. Fourteen of the nineteen we know well enough to give an honest opinion about; the rest are marked accordingly.
Central Thailand
Northern Thailand
Andaman Coast
Gulf Coast
Southern Thailand
Common questions
Bangkok plus the north, or Bangkok plus one coast. Trying to do both coasts in one trip means an internal flight you do not need.
One base per 3–4 nights. In two weeks that means four or five, not eight.
Yes — it is the cultural half of the trip. Most travellers do three or four nights in the north and five on a coast.
Not sure which part of Thailand?
Tell us the month and the number of days. We will tell you which coast is working and which cities are worth the drive.