Thailand travel guide
Practical writing by the people who run the trips: when to go, how long to stay, what things cost, and the etiquette that keeps you out of trouble.
Month by month
12 guides
Thailand in January: the best month?
If you can only pick one month for a first trip, January is the safest bet: dry, calm seas and cool evenings in the no…
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Thailand in February: dry, warm, slightly quieter
February keeps January's weather but loses the crowds, which makes it the most comfortable month to actually travel ar…
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Thailand in March: hot, dry and hazy in the north
March is the last reliable month for the Andaman before the heat peaks — and the worst month for the north's air.…
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Thailand in April: Songkran and the heat
The hottest month, the loudest holiday and the cheapest beach prices of the dry season — all in the same four weeks.…
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Thailand in May: the shoulder month
May is the hinge between seasons: the first rain, half the crowds and prices that have not yet caught up with the weat…
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Thailand in June: green season begins
June is when the Andaman gets rough, the Gulf gets good and the whole country gets 30% cheaper.…
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Thailand in July: green season on the Gulf
July splits the country: the Andaman is rough, the Gulf is often lovely, and prices everywhere are 30–40% lower.…
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Thailand in August: the Gulf's best month
August is the month to be on Koh Samui, Phangan or Tao — and the month to avoid a Phuket boat trip.…
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Thailand in September: the quietest month
September is the wettest month on paper and the cheapest in practice — and for city and food travel, it is excellent.…
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Thailand in October: the wettest month
October is the low point of the weather and the high point of the value — and the month the season turns.…
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Thailand in November: what to expect
November is the month the weather turns, the lanterns go up and the whole country starts its high season.…
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Thailand in December: peak season, honestly
December is the most reliable month for weather and the most expensive two weeks of the year. Both facts are worth pla…
Read guideWhen to go
3 guides
The best time to visit Thailand, month by month
Thailand has three seasons and two coasts, and they do not run on the same calendar. Getting this right matters more t…
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Thailand weather by month
A month-by-month guide to temperature, rainfall and which coast to choose.…
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Thailand festival calendar: what happens when
Thailand's calendar runs on two clocks: fixed national holidays, and lunar Buddhist dates that move every year. Get th…
Read guideItineraries & planning
14 guides
Thailand in 10 days: three routes that work
Ten days is the most common length for a first trip and the easiest to get wrong. Three routes, each with a different …
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Two weeks in Thailand: the full loop
Fourteen days lets you add the north's second city, a rainforest stop or a second coast without turning the trip into …
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What a trip to Thailand actually costs
Real numbers for hotels, food, transport and tours — and where the money is worth spending.…
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Thailand or Vietnam? How to choose
Both are cheap, both are beautiful, and they suit different trips. A short, practical comparison.…
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How many days do you need in Bangkok?
Two days is the accepted answer. Three is better. Four only works if you leave the city.…
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Getting around Thailand: flights, trains, buses and boats
Thailand's transport is cheap and frequent. The trick is knowing when to fly, when to take the train and when to hire …
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Honeymoon in Thailand: how to plan it
Thailand does honeymoons well if you avoid the two mistakes everyone makes: too many hotels, and a beach-only trip.…
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Thailand in 7 days: what actually fits
A week is enough for two places, not five. Three shapes that work, and the one mistake that ruins them.…
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Bangkok in 3 days: the version that works
Three days is the right amount for Bangkok if you split it by geography and stop at noon.…
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Chiang Mai in 4 days: temples, elephants and hills
Four days lets you do the mountain, the elephants and the food without turning the trip into a schedule.…
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Phuket in 5 days: boats, beach and one day off
Phuket rewards people who treat it as a base rather than a resort. Five days, three boat days, one do-nothing day.…
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Thailand or Bali? How to choose
Both are tropical, both are cheap, and both have been photographed to death. The differences are in transport, culture…
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Thailand or Sri Lanka? An honest comparison
Two Buddhist countries, both cheap, both with beaches, tea and temples. They suit different travellers, and the differ…
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Thailand or Malaysia? How they differ
Malaysia is the comparison people make when they want Thailand but with better roads and less hassle. It is a fair com…
Read guideBefore you go
3 guides
Thailand visa and entry rules for 2027
Visa exemption, the digital arrival card and what you need at the border — checked against current Thai immigration ru…
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Is Thailand safe? An honest answer
Thailand is one of the easier countries in Southeast Asia to travel in. The risks are specific rather than dramatic, a…
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Thailand by train: the routes worth taking
Thailand's railways are slow, cheap and often beautiful. Four routes are worth planning a trip around, and the rest ar…
Read guideCulture & food
3 guides
Songkran: how to do Thai New Year properly
Three days of water fights, temple rituals and family reunions. It is the best and most chaotic time to be in Thailand…
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What to eat in Thailand, region by region
Thai food is not one cuisine. The north, the northeast, the centre and the south cook differently, and the differences…
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Temple etiquette in Thailand: what to wear and how to behave
A short, practical guide so you are not the person turned away at the gate.…
Read guideSpecial trips
3 guides
The best islands in Thailand, ranked by what you want
There is no single best island. There is a best island for quiet, for diving, for families and for parties — and they …
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Thailand with children: what actually works
Thailand is one of the easiest countries in Asia to travel with children. The trick is to slow down and always end the…
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Diving in Thailand: where, when and with whom
The Andaman and the Gulf run on different calendars, and the best diving is offshore. Here is the honest version.…
Read guideCommon questions
Continuously. Weather, costs and visa sections are checked at least twice a year; the month-by-month pages are revised each season.
No. Nothing on this site is sponsored, which is why we can tell you to skip things.
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