Thailand has been attracting travellers for over 50 years and is now one of the worlds most popular travel destinations. This tropical paradise has become a mecca for backpackers and high-end travellers alike, thanks to its amazing scenery and broad appeal. The beauty of Thailand is that it offers a little something for everyone. The country has a wonderful history and heritage and there are countless historic sites throughout the country. It’s also a place that is steeped in culture with wonderfully friendly people and an exquisite cuisine. Lastly and most certainly not least is Thailand’s natural beauty. Ranging from jungles to turquoise seas, picture perfect islands and endless rice paddies, you’ll be amazed by this spectacular country.
Most visitors are drawn to one of three main areas of Thailand. The northern rural region, the central Bangkok region or the southern region with its spectacular islands. The north of Thailand is the countries cultural centre with Chiang Mai as its capital. There are numerous courses and opportunities to learn and immerse yourself in the Thai culture here. So whether its a yoga retreat, learning muay thai boxing or discovering the secrets of Thai cuisine, there’s plenty of reasons to visit and stay for a prolonged period of time. There’s also wonderful trekking in the region, particularly around the Golden Triangle area.
The central region of Thailand is where most visitors begin their trip to Thailand. It’s home to the sprawling capital of Bangkok, as well as the ruins of the ancient capitals of Sukothai and Ayutthaya. In the region is the popular destination of Kanchanaburi with it’s fascinating WWII history and taste of the jungle. There’s also established beach resorts at Pattaya and Rayong as well as the beautiful islands of Koh Chang Koh Samet.
The south of Thailand is the most popular region and is dominated by wonderful white sand beaches and turquoise seas. There’s numerous islands on both the west and east coast, nestled in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand respectively. Major destinations on the mainland such as Krabi and Phuket have become household names, but there still remains some hidden gems with wooden beach huts and quiet pristine beaches.
Thailand is located in south east Asia and is just south of the Tropic of Cancer. The country shares borders with 4 other Asian nations; Malaysia to the south, Cambodia to the east, Laos to the north and Myanmar to the west. Thailand has an extensive eastern coastline along the Gulf of Thailand that extends for 1037 miles. On the west coast a much smaller coastline in the southern part of the country extends for 466 miles along the Andaman Sea.
Thailand has a warm and varied climate with the country impacted by a number of different weather systems. An example of this is the differing wet seasons between the west and east coast of Thailand despite the relatively small distance between the two areas. What this means for you, is that the best time to visit is largely driven by where you intend to visit. The table below gives a break down of the best time to visit and the wet season for each area:
Area | Best Time to Visit | Wet Season |
Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) | November to February | May to October |
Central Thailand (Bangkok) | November to February | July to October |
Andaman Coast (Phuket/Krabi) | December to March | June to October |
Gulf of Thailand Coast (Koh Samui) | December to April | October to December |
The other consideration around when to visit is Thailand’s spectacular festivals. Probably the best of these is Songkran or Thai New Year. This celebration covers a period of 5 days and is probably best characterised as a nationwide water fight. A visit during this time is an amazing if somewhat wet experience.
Thailand is a destination like no other. Amazing weather, welcoming people and amazing scenery and sights, it’s no wonder it’s called ‘the land of smiles’. With so much to see and do, it can be difficult to decide where to go, so we’ve pulled together some of the stunning highlights of this fantastic country.
Thailand’s towns are varied and colourful. These range from cultural centres in the north, to historic towns of the central region, along with the metropolis that is Bangkok.
Our top 5 towns and cities in Thailand are:
Thailand’s long coastline and many islands make this a very competitive category. We’ve selected five but the reality is this list could easily be double or triple the size.
Our top 5 beaches in Thailand are:
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