Thailand Country Guide
With expert insights from Meg Yash, Travel Specialist
Inspiring books and films across the world, Thailand might be the most popular of the South East Asian holiday destinations, but it’s not without good reason. The surfeit of idyllic, coconut-strewn beaches and hidden islands, colourful jungles and vibrant metropolises, have long held fascination with travellers, and the combination of tropical and laidback, frenetic and exciting (and don’t forget the history and food) is magical. So, where to start? Delve into our all-encompassing Thailand country guide and start planning your own Thai escape.
Thailand at a glance
- Two halves to the country: the centre and north for culture, history and food; the south and the islands for beaches, diving and jungle.
- Main gateway: Bangkok, whose international airport has become one of the busiest hubs in Asia.
- Gateway to the north: Chiang Mai, reachable from Bangkok in 2 hours by plane, 10 hours by bus or 11-15 hours by train.
- Gateways to the south: Phuket and Krabi, with ferries and speedboats onward to most of the islands.
- For history: Ayutthaya, the UNESCO-listed ancient capital of Siam, and Kanchanaburi for Thailand’s WWII story.
- For quiet beaches: Koh Yao Noi, Koh Lanta and off-the-radar Koh Kood.
- Beyond the beach: Khao Sok National Park, where jungle-topped karsts replace sand and sea.
Where to go in Thailand
| Destination | Best for | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Floating markets, street food, tranquil temples | International flights; Thailand’s main hub |
| Ayutthaya | Ancient temples and monasteries, UNESCO World Heritage Site | Just over an hour by train from Bangkok |
| Kanchanaburi | WWII history and the infamous bridge | 3 hours by train from Bangkok |
| Chiang Mai | Cooking classes, markets, massages, preserved temples | 2 hours by plane, 10 hours by bus or 11-15 hours by train from Bangkok |
| Chiang Rai | Breathtaking surrounding landscapes | 3-4.5 hours by bus or 3 hours by private car from Chiang Mai |
| Krabi & Khao Lak | Limestone karsts, snorkelling, kayaking, small fishing villages | Krabi has its own airport; Khao Lak is 1.5-2 hours from Phuket |
| Phuket | Luxury resorts and easy island access | Busy airport with local and international flights |
| Koh Samui | Quiet beaches, rainforest, waterfalls, five-star spas | Own airport with flights from Bangkok and Phuket |
| Koh Yao Noi | Serious peace and quiet | Boat only: 30 minutes to 2 hours from Krabi or Phuket |
| Koh Lanta | Laid-back island days | Around 2 hours by ferry from Krabi |
| Koh Kood | Getting totally off the beaten track | 5-hour drive from Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier, then a 1-hour boat |
| Khao Sok National Park | Jungle-topped karsts, wild flora, unusual birds and beasts | 2-3 hours by car or bus from Phuket Airport |
Lamplit Buddhist ceremony in Chiang Mai
Central Thailand and the north
Thailand’s central and northern regions are a riot of culture, history and incredible cuisine. We hate to sound cliché, but the phrase, ‘there really is something for everyone’, most certainly rings true up here! The capital Bangkok is just as you might imagine – loud, vivacious and glittering – and whilst it can be initially overwhelming, give the city a chance and you’ll quickly fall in love. Take a boat out to explore the floating markets, hit the pavements to discover the famous street food scene, and wander amongst the tranquil temples. When the glitz and gold gets too much, head into the far north of the country and slow down in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Chiang Mai, with its beautifully preserved temples and elaborate historical architecture, will draw you in with its promise of cooking classes, markets and massages whereas Chiang Rai will take your breath away with the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Then there’s Kanchanaburi. Set near the border of Myanmar, the town and the infamous bridge will be on your radar if you’re looking to find out more about Thailand’s role in WWII. The hard truths aren’t glossed over here and the area serves as a powerful memorial. Finally, history buffs need look no further than Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam. This former trading port is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is packed with ancient temples and monasteries and surrounded by picture-perfect rice paddies and waterways.
“Bangkok can feel overwhelming when you first arrive — it’s loud and glittering and comes at you all at once. Give the city a chance and you’ll fall in love with it: the floating markets, the street food scene, and the tranquil temples tucked in between.”
— Meagan Yash, Asia travel specialist
How do I do it?
The international airport in Bangkok has become one of the busiest hubs in Asia and needless to say, you won’t have trouble finding your way here. For the far north, Chiang Mai is the gateway and is reachable from Bangkok by train (11-15 hours), bus (10 hours) or more speedily by plane (2 hours). Travelling by train or bus is a fantastic way to see the picturesque, rural landscapes of Thailand but if you’re in a hurry, the option of a flight is usually there to fall back on. Chiang Rai is a little trickier to get to but options from Chiang Mai include buses (3-4.5 hours) or private cars (3 hours). Kanchanaburi is easily reached from Bangkok by train and takes a mere 3 hours; perhaps a tad far for a day trip, but there are some beautiful spots to stay overnight. Lastly, Ayutthaya is located not far from Bangkok and will take just over an hour on a train from the capital.
Where do I start?
Our Discover Thailand’s History trip is the perfect way to explore the country’s cultural heart, leading you through every single one of the above hotspots in an all-singing Thailand experience. With a full 13 nights spent getting under the skin of Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, you’ll be sure to return home packed to the gills with Thai history and full of that delicious northern cuisine.
Explore the lush and languid bays of Koh Samui
The south and the islands
Dreaming of turquoise waters and endless beaches? The south and its megawatt islands are for you. Here, you’ll find the palm fringed coves, pristine dive spots, and powder-soft sands you’ve been dreaming of. First up is the mainland, and lovely Krabi, a place of emerald seas and jutting limestone karsts where snorkelling and kayaking is a must, and Khao Lak, a collection of small fishing villages and a smattering of pretty beaches. Onto the islands and you’ll undoubtedly have heard of Phuket, the most well-known of the isles, and whilst it may have incurred its fair share of negative press over the years, there are still magical places to discover and luxury resorts to indulge in. For serious peace and quiet, look no further than Koh Yao Noi, or laid-back Koh Lanta, or get totally off the beaten track on Koh Kood, an under-the-radar island off the east coast of Thailand, right next to the Cambodian border. And there’s Koh Samui. A much-visited spot that’s a favourite for all the right reasons, the island has everything from quiet beaches to lush rainforests, waterfalls ripe for swimming and a host of five-star spas – and a healthy nightlife scene if that’s your cup of tea. And, if sun, sea and sand isn’t quite what you’re looking for, try Khao Sok National Park. Truly paradise found, you’ll discover the raw beauty of Thailand amongst the jungle-topped karsts, an immense collection of wild flora, and all manner of unusual birds and beasts.
“If sun, sea and sand isn’t quite what you’re looking for, Khao Sok is where I’d send you. It’s paradise found — the raw beauty of Thailand amongst jungle-topped karsts, with wild flora and all manner of unusual birds and beasts.”
— Meagan Yash, Asia travel specialist
How do I do it?
Both Phuket and Krabi serve as excellent southern hubs with their busy airports and good selection of local and international flights, and most of the islands are easily reached from one of the two, usually by ferry. Koh Yao Noi feels like an island adventure from the off, given that it can only be reached by boat. You can travel here from either Krabi or Phuket, by speedboat or ferry, and it will take between 30 minutes and 2 hours. For Koh Lanta, it’s a ferry from Krabi, and once you get going (sometimes there’s a bit of a wait), it will take around 2 hours. The trickiest to get to is probably Koh Kood, but a 5-hour drive will take you from Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier, and from there it’s just a one hour boat journey to the island. If you’re short on time and in need of an accessible paradise, Koh Samui has its own airport with flights to and from Bangkok and Phuket. On the mainland, Khao Lak is just 80km north of Phuket and a 1.5 – 2 hour car or bus journey, and Khao Sok National Park is also easily reachable by car or bus from Phuket Airport, taking between 2-3 hours.
Where do I start?
Our Explore the Rainforests & Beaches of Thailand trip will give you time to discover the delightful chaos of Bangkok before whisking you off to Khao Sok National Park and the beaches and islands for a spot of down time. The Best of Thailand from North to South is one of our favourite Thai trips and combines the tranquillity and culture of Chiang Rai with the buzz of Bangkok and the laidback ease of the beaches. A perfect blend if you ask us.
Thailand FAQs
What is the best way to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
You have three options: a 2-hour flight, a 10-hour bus, or a train that takes between 11 and 15 hours. Travelling overland by train or bus is a fantastic way to see the picturesque, rural landscapes of Thailand, but if you’re short on time the flight is always there to fall back on.
Which are the quietest islands in Thailand?
For serious peace and quiet, head to Koh Yao Noi, which can only be reached by boat, or laid-back Koh Lanta. To get totally off the beaten track, Koh Kood sits under the radar off Thailand’s east coast, right next to the Cambodian border.
How do you get to the Thai islands?
Phuket and Krabi are the two southern hubs, both with busy airports and a good selection of local and international flights. Most of the islands are reached from one of the two by ferry or speedboat. Koh Samui is the exception, with its own airport served by flights from Bangkok and Phuket.
Is Phuket still worth visiting?
Yes. Phuket is the most well-known of the isles and has incurred its fair share of negative press over the years, but there are still magical places to discover and luxury resorts to indulge in. It also works well as a base, since ferries run from here to most of the surrounding islands.
Where should I go in Thailand for history?
Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with temples and monasteries and surrounded by rice paddies and waterways. Kanchanaburi, near the Myanmar border, is the place to understand Thailand’s role in WWII – the hard truths aren’t glossed over and the area serves as a powerful memorial.
What is there to do in Thailand besides the beaches?
Plenty. Khao Sok National Park offers jungle-topped karsts, wild flora and unusual birds and beasts. In the north, Chiang Mai is known for cooking classes, markets and massages, while Bangkok delivers floating markets, street food and temples.
How long do you need in Thailand?
It depends how much of the country you want to cover. Our Discover Thailand’s History trip spends 13 nights working through Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. If you want to combine north and south, the Best of Thailand from North to South pairs Chiang Rai and Bangkok with the beaches.
Which trip combines Thailand’s jungles and beaches?
Our Explore the Rainforests & Beaches of Thailand trip starts with the delightful chaos of Bangkok before moving on to Khao Sok National Park and the beaches and islands for some down time.
Latest blogs
As seen in
