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Summarize
The attractions of Thailand are myriad – ruined cities, ancient monasteries, Buddhist monks, colourful hill tribes, floating markets, rave parties, dense rainforests, exotic wildlife, tropical islands, golden beaches and pristine coral reefs. Then there’s Bangkok, the most exuberant capital city in Southeast Asia, which would justify a trip to Thailand all by itself.
The Thai people are famously hospitable, and Thailand was one of the first corners of Southeast Asia to really open up to outsiders – helped by the 19th-century king Rama IV, and his love of all things Western. It was Rama IV who launched Thailand on the path to modernisation, and also persuaded his people to swap chopsticks for knives and forks.
This travel smorgasbord has attracted everyone from backpackers to billionaires, and visitors can find any level of comfort they desire, from hippy hostels to five-star palaces. If anything, Thailand has become more upmarket as a destination since its backpacker heyday, with air-conditioning everywhere and almost every hotel offering Thai massages and spa treatments.
As well as relaxation – and what could be more relaxing than a massage on the beach? – Thailand is a place for adventure. The beaches and islands of the south call out to scuba divers, rock-climbers and watersports enthusiasts, while the dense jungles of the north are a natural playground for trekkers and wildlife spotters. Try bathing under a waterfall in an orchid-filled jungle clearing – you won’t forget it.
Then there’s the cuisine – one of the world’s finest, and certainly one of the spiciest. From fine restaurants to street stalls and night markets, Thailand always seems to have a fork in its hand. Above all else, though, Thailand is a place to feel at ease – stroll along the sand, take tea with a monk, snorkel over a coral reef, and let the stresses of modern life slowly slip away.
Travel guide
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Things to do and see
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Transportations
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Visa and Passport
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When to visit
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Currency and Shopping
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Food and Drink
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Geography and Population
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Festivals and Events
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Health and Security
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Tourist Destinations
Thailand holiday is the amazing trip to the ‘land of smiles’, the country surrounded by emerald waters, sensational food, jaw-dropping temples and there are so many interesting activities can be arranged during your holiday in Thailand.
Cheer the winning fighter at kickboxing match – Muay thai (Thai kickboxing) is the national martial art, an ancient form of combat with spiritual overtones. Energetic bouts can be seen in most major cities, preceded by elaborate rituals and accompanied by bombastic music played on drums, cymbals and the Thai oboe. If you fancy getting in the ring, there are training academies across the country offering training.
Dive into the jungle in a Thai National Park – Large areas of Thailand are given over to national parks, many in the jungle-covered highlands, where the landscape is too tortuous for agriculture. Doi Inthanon National Park near Chiang Mai surrounds the nation’s highest peak, while Khao Sok National Park near Phanom preserves the largest area of virgin rainforest in Thailand.
Drift around the islands of Phang Nga Bay – Covering 400sq km (154sq miles) Phang Nga Bay is one of the world’s great scenic wonders. Rising surreally from the turquoise ocean, are hundreds of limestone islands and outcrops, home to rare wildlife and peppered with caves and grottoes. If it looks familiar, it’s probably because The Man with the Golden Gun was filmed here in 1974.
Find a perfect beach on Thai islands – Now well recovered from the 2004 tsunami, Thailand’s islands offer some of Asia’s finest beaches. Take your pick from resort luxury on Ko Samui, backpacker vibes on Ko Chang, or a glimpse back to the early days of tourism on Ko Lipe. In fact, pretty much every Thai island has a perfect beach to kick back on.
Get in touch with your spiritual side on a meditation course – There are retreats all over Thailand where you can get in touch with your spiritual side, from yoga resorts on tropical beaches to remote forest monasteries offering strict training in Buddhist meditation. If you are just curious about Buddhism, try chatting to the monks at Chiang Mai’s popular ‘monk chat’ sessions.
Get soaked for Songkran – The biggest party on the Thai calendar, Songkran marks the Thai New Year every April. After genteel visits to monasteries to shower Buddha images with water, locals grab hosepipes and water pistols and engage in running water fights in the streets of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The atmosphere is incredible, and everyone – foreigners included – gets a soaking.
Go temple hopping in Chiang Mai – The temple-studded city of Chiang Mai is the capital of northern Thailand, and the homeland of the Lanna people, who were once an independent nation before unification with the Kingdom of Siam. Within the ruined medieval city walls are dozens of timeless wats (monasteries) with soaring, tiered rooftops adorned with golden carvings of nagas (sacred serpents).
Interact with elephants at Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai – Elephant riding is falling out of favour in Thailand because of concerns about animal welfare. These days, the focus is on more gentle elephant interactions, where visitors wander with herds of jumbos, rescued from tourist shows and logging camps. Elephant Nature Camp is one of the best, and visitors feed the herd and participate in elephant bath time.
Learn the fine art of Thai cooking – Why stop at just tasting Thailand’s fabulously spicy cuisine? Across the country, local cooks have started cooking schools where you’ll learn to whip up the perfect green curry and pound your own curry pastes, usually after a visit to a local market to buy ingredients. Chiang Mai is Thailand’s undisputed cooking school capital.
Make the pilgrimage to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai – The gleaming golden spire of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep rises above the rooftops of Chiang Mai from the slopes of Doi Suthep, the city’s most sacred peak. The monastery was founded in the 14th century, after the location was selected by a wandering white elephant, and it remains a stunning example of Northern Thai architecture.
Marvel at the grandeur of the Grand Palace, Bangkok – Rising like a gilded shrine beside the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok’s glittering Grand Palace is one of the wonders of Asia. In the grounds is the equally glittering Wat Phra Kaeo, covered in gold and mosaics and housing in its most sacred sanctum, the legendary Emerald Buddha, once enshrined in both Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
Measure up against Thailand’s biggest reclining Buddha – A stone’s throw from the Royal Palace, magnificent Wat Pho is the most important monastery in old Bangkok and the spiritual home of Thai massage. As well as chapels piled high with golden Buddha images, the monastery enshrines the largest reclining Buddha in Thailand, measuring 46m (150ft) from its gilded topknot to its mother of pearl-inlaid feet.
Ride the Chao Phraya Express – All day, the crowded ferry boats of the Chao Phraya Express cruise up and down the Chao Phraya river, offering gorgeous glimpses of the spires of the Grand Palace and the towering prangs (temple towers) of Wat Arun. As well as front row seats for life on the river, the boats are buffeted by welcome cooling breezes.
Roam through the ruins of a vanished empire in Ayutthaya – The ruins of abandoned royal capitals are scattered across the central plains in Thailand, but the UNESCO-listed remains of Ayutthaya, the most important power in the country from 1351 to 1767, are perhaps the most atmospheric. Exploring the ruins by bicycle, you’ll still be stuck by the grandeur of the crumbling monasteries and Buddha images on all sides.
Scale the limestone cliffs of Krabi – Krabi was a sleepy country town before rock climbers discovered the astonishing karst cliffs at Ao Nang and Rai Leh. Today, hundreds of bolted sport climbing routes ascend soaring limestone buttresses that rise dramatically above white sand beaches, and Krabi has become an essential stop on the backpacker circuit. Local climbing schools can show you the ropes.
Scuba dive the teeming reefs of southern Thailand – Thailand’s coral reefs are one of world’s best places to scuba dive, attracting everything from miniature shrimps to gigantic whale sharks. The southern coast is dotted with spectacular dive sites, some accessible from shore, others only open to divers on live-aboard cruises. Topping the list are the Surin Islands and Similan Islands, northwest of Phuket.
Step into Thai history in the National Museum – Bangkok National Museum is the largest museum in Southeast Asia and houses some remarkable relics from Thai history, including the gold-encrusted funeral chariots used for members of the Thai royal family. Nearby, on the far side of the river, are the Royal Barges used for ceremonial processions on the Chao Phraya river.
Trek in the hills above Chiang Rai – A hill tribe trek has become an established part of the Thai traveller experience, but the traditional image of hill tribe farmers in native costume is harder to find with each passing year. The most popular spot for treks into the hill tribe heartlands is Chiang Rai, worth visiting in its own right for its northern-style monasteries and laid-back attitude.
Unwind with a traditional Thai massage – Traditional Thai massage – reputedly founded by the personal physician of the historical Buddha more than 2,500 years ago – is offered on every other street corner in Thailand. Some of the best practitioners are trained by the massage school at Bangkok’s Wat Pho, the spiritual home of Thai massage, or graduates from government training programmes for the blind and rehabilitated ex-convicts!
Walk across the Bridge Over the River Kwai – Internationally famous thanks to the 1957 film The Bridge Over the River Kwai, the iron-bridge that spans the Kwai River was constructed as part of the Japanese Siam-Burma ‘Death’ Railway during WWII. An estimated 16,000 Allied prisoners of war died during in its construction, and the bridge remains a poignant symbol of the Japanese occupation.
Travel in Thailand is inexpensive and efficient, if not always speedy. Unless you travel by plane, long-distance journeys in Thailand can be arduous, especially if a shoestring budget restricts you to hard seats and no air conditioning. Nonetheless, the wide range of transport options makes travelling around Thailand easier than elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
GETTING TO THAILAND
By Air
Thailand currently has six international airports, in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Phuket and Ko Samui. The vast majority of travellers fly into Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Flights to Thailand are available from several national and international carriers. The national airline is Thai, which flies from dozens of international locations. Bangkok Airways offer international flights to and from destinations within Asia. Other airlines offering direct flights to Thailand from the UK include British Airways and Eva Air. There are no direct flights from the USA.
Flights are cheapest from April to June; from August to November flights are slightly more expensive; December to March and July are the most expensive times to fly.
By Train
Railway travel is not an ideal way to get to Thailand for the ride is slow and the route is not well-connected with hot Southeast Asian destinations like Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Driving to Thailand
Road passage into Thailand is possible through Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos. You can find coach operators at major bus stations, but minivan services (such as between Chiang Mai in Thailand and Vientiane in Laos) are often faster.
GETTING AROUND
By Air
Due to the large scale of Thailand, domestic flights are good choice to make when you need to travel between cities. The price is reasonable and there are often nice deals to snatch because competition on the routes is fighting hard. Book air tickets early if possible, seats can be reserved online for you don’t want to see the fares rocket high after a while.
By Train
Railway trips are cheap to make but it will cost more time on the road since Thailand is a large country. Delays can be expected. The prices of the best train class of are sometimes equivalent of budget airfares.
By Bus
Although the road condition in Thailand is way better than that in its neighboring countries Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, it’s not suggested take bus for travel for your safety is the biggest thing we are concerned about. Bad driving habits are prevalent among bus drivers, who often take drugs to fight against work shifts. In contrast, a private van is more considerable.
Tuk-tuk or Songthaew
Tuk-tuk is a small three-wheeled vehicle that can be found in all Southeast Asian countries. Songthaew is truck-converted and equipped with bench seats in the back, which is translated into ‘minibus’ in English. The two transportations are easy to hail everywhere, but remember to haggle with the price first. English works with some drivers but not all.
By Taxi
In major tourist cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, taxi is available. Don’t take those without a meter.
By Long-tail Boats
Long-tail boats are generally ferries that are great Thai trademarks. They are long, thin wooden boats powered by diesel engines at the end of a long drive shaft, which is quite noisy on the journey. They may take longer hours to get to your destination, but the experience for short distance cruise is interesting and worth trying.
Thailand has a open mind for visa policy. Nationals of America, Australia, New Zealand and most countries of Europe do not need a visa when entering Thailand.
If you arrive in Thailand by air, you can stay up to 30 days; if you take Thailand tours by crossing the border, 15-day is the normal duration of stay. For those who want to extend their Thailand stay, they can do a visa run to a neighboring nation either via the land or by a flight.
All visitors must hold valid passports, sufficient funds and confirmed airline tickets to leave Thailand within the time allowed by their entry stamp. Exceptions to the visa requirements are:
– Nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Romania who may apply for visas on arrival for stays of up to 15 days.
– Nationals of Croatia, who must apply for a visa in advance from the embassy.
60-day visits:
If you want to stay longer for a longer period you can obtain a two-month tourist visa from the Thai consulate or embassy in your country. However, if you are in Thailand and wish to extend your stay this can be done by obtaining a one-month extension from an immigration office (cost: 1,900 Baht).
Visits longer than 60 days:
People wishing to stay in Thailand longer than two months require a ‘Non-Immigrant Visa’ – this is not a tourist visa and a person must meet certain requirements before being granted one (e.g. having family members in Thailand, etc.). A ‘Non-Immigrant Visa’ is issued for three months and can be extended to one year under certain circumstances.
Thailand’s high season for tourists kicks off from November to March, which is the dry season everyone prefers. The second favored season to visit Thailand is July and August, when hotels and flights are in great demand.
Generally, the dry season is the recommended time to visit Thailand for the weather is pleasant although the temperature might boil up to 30°C at noon, but it’s still manageable. If you want to hit the beach, visit Phuket or Samui between March and May, when the sun shines heavily and the skies are super clear. For rain lovers or photographer seeking rain-themed works, from April to September they would find what they want in Thailand – no worries, the rainfalls lasts only within half an hour and the rest of the day is cloudless and wonderful.
Visiting Thailand when festivals take place will be an unforgettable experience of lifetime. Among the most popular we think Christmas and New Year is a good time to do your Thailand tours. Malls and shops will be dressed up for the holiday and the Thais absolutely love the blissful atmosphere. The Thai Lunar New Year is in late February or early March with traditional outdoor parties that will impress you. The Loy Krathong (floating crown) on the full moon of the 12th in the Thai calendar is the most romantic festival, which people celebrate in the way of sending crown-shaped leaves down the river and flying lanterns into the sky for best wishes.
Very few visitors leave Thailand without any souvenirs in bags because the country is a supermarket that offers amazing choices, good quality and cheap price! Some even granted Thailand ‘the shopping mecca’ for all kinds of shopaholics: shopping malls, department stores, local markets, quirky boutiques, etc..
CURRENCY INFORMATION
The currency of Thailand is the Baht in note and coin form. The most useful notes are the 20, 50 and 100 though there are 500 and 1000 as well. They are in different colors which helps in avoiding mistakes. The most common counterfeits are the 1000 incidentally.
Credit cards: American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. ATMs are found in all major cities and almost all provincial banks.
ATM: ATMs are found in all major cities and almost all provincial banks.
Travellers cheques: Accepted by all banks and large hotels and shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling.
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1530.
Currency exchange:
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks (which have the best rates), hotels (which charge high commissions) and bureaux de changes can be found in larger towns (generally open 0800-2000). Outside large towns and tourist areas, notes higher than ฿500 may be difficult to exchange, so visitors are advised to carry small change.
SHOPPING
What to Shop in Thailand
Thai Silk – Before being introduced to the market of the world after World War II, Thai silk had already gained recognition in the whole Asia. The texture is beautiful and the weave are gorgeous with outstanding quality. It’s either hand reeled or hand woven, which gives it a natural uniqueness that people turn it into clothes, shawls, neckties and even photo frames.
Jewelry or Gold – Some provinces in Thailand, for instance, Kanchanaburi, are famous for its rich resource of valuable jewels like rubies and sapphires. Moreover, even in small towns you’ll notice the great number of gold shops due to the reason that the Thais prefer to keep their money in gold. The quality would not let you down!
Wood Carving – Wood carving has a good reputation of its ancient patterns and delicate craftsmanship. It can be made into aesthetic forms from animals, buildings to figures you see on the wall of traditional temples. Chiang Mai is a good place to shop this item.
Dried Fruits – As a tropical country, Thailand owns abundant lists of exotic fruits that will tease your taste buds. If you want to bring some for your friends or relatives, why not try the dried fruits? They are convenient to carry and do not spoil for a short time. The best thing is that they taste just like the real fresh ones you have in Thailand!
Lacquerware – Again, Chiang Mai has the best lacquerware to shop due to its distinctive style and unique dark-red-on-black coloring. The intricate decoration presents the ancient tradition that once had impact on the lacquerware industry of Myanmar. Vase, cup, bowl made from wood or woven bamboo are the different forms of lacquerware for your choice.
Always remember to bargain in a shop that doesn’t belong to a mall, do not accept the first offer. Shops often run from 10am to 10pm. Malls don’t close on Sundays, but small shops do.
Thailand has one of the world’s greatest cuisines, rivalling China and India in its astonishing variety and complexity. For many, the taste of Thai curries – flavoured with rich pastes made from herbs, roots, spices and ground-chillies – is the definitive taste of Southeast Asia.
In reality, Thai cuisine is a fusion of tribal cooking traditions from the far north and flavours from the spice trade, which reached the country via the ports of the south. The cornerstone of any Thai meal is rice – most commonly fragrant jasmine rice or sticky glutinous rice – and it serves as a cool counterpoint to the fiery flavours of Thai curries and stir-fries. Not every Thai dish is spicy, but most are – locals say that something sweet will douse the heat!
Specialities:
Tom yam: A hot and sour soup prepared with kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lemongrass, chilli and lime juice, plus prawns or chicken.
Kaeng khiao wan: Thailand’s famous green curry, based on coconut milk, fish sauce and a curry paste made from green chillies, onions, ginger and lemongrass.
Gang pet: A hot curry with coconut milk, herbs, garlic, chilli, shrimp paste, coriander and seasoning.
Som tam: Pounded green papaya salad with green beans, dried shrimp, and peanuts in a lime juice, chilli and palm sugar dressing.
Pad Thai: Stir-fried rice noodles, served with shrimp or chicken and garnished with peanuts.
Satay: A Malay-inspired dish, made from grilled chicken served with a peanut, shallot and palm sugar dip.
Kaeng phanaeng: A mild coconut curry with a curry paste including roasted spices and beef chicken or pork.
Pad Kaphrao: Chicken, beef, pork or prawns, fried with copious quantities of chilli, Thai basil and garlic.
Tod man pla: Thai fishcakes, flavoured with kaffir lime leaves and served with sweet chilli sauce and a cucumber relish.
Kaeng massaman: A mild Thai curry with star anise, cinnamon, cloves, potatoes and beef or lamb, inspired by Indian and Persian cooking.
Mekhong: Thai whisky, usually served with coke and ice.
Sam Song: Thailand’s most popular rum.
Cha yen: Thai iced tea, made with locally grown tea, sugar and milk.
Singha: The best of Thailand’s local beers.
Chang: Cheaper than Singha and popular for just that reason.
Coconut milk: Served straight from the shell during the harvest season.
Tips for Dining in Thailand
1.Tipping is not commonly practiced in Thailand but it’s specially appreciated.
2.There are top-notched Western restaurants in major tourist places, such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Ko Samui. Even in less touristy cities western food is served at cafes.
3.Thanks to the increasing number of western visitors, the staff working in restaurants is able to conversation with English. So the language barrier is cleared!
4.Foods are supposed to be eaten with your right hand for the left hand is reserved for hygiene.
5.In Thailand, dishes are share by all at the table instead of individuals.
6.The Thais use a spoon in right hand and a fork in the left to have meals.
7.Street foods can be inviting, but they can also make you sick. Avoid stands hovered with tons of flies and stick to clean eateries.
Located in the center of Southeast Asia, Thailand is truly at the heart of the region. Looking over a map of Thailand will reveal a country whose borders form the rough shape of an elephant’s head: the head and ears forming the mostly landlocked northern and eastern provinces and the trunk extending down the Malaysian peninsula between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Inland area: 513,115 Km2
Length: 1,648 Km
Width: 780 km at the widest point.
The geography of Thailand features many natural borders with neighboring countries: a mountainous border with Myanmar (Burma) to the north and west; a long stretch of the Mekong River separating Thailand from Laos to the north and east; and the Mekong River and the Dongrak Mountains delineating the border of Cambodia to the east.
Covering an area of approximately 513,000 square kilometers (200,000 sq miles), Thailand is the 50th largest country in the world, most nearly equal in size to Spain. Located just 15 degrees north of the equator, Thailand has a tropical climate and temperatures typically range from 19 to 38 degrees C (66-100 F); monsoon rains fall predominately from May to July and cooler, drier weather occurs around November and December.
Despite the geographical boundaries of Thailand all falling within the tropics, Thailand’s four primary regions are each geographically distinct from each other.
Along Thailand’s western border with Myanmar, the forested mountains of Thailand rise higher as they stretch north, peaking at the 2,565 meter (8,415 ft) Doi Inthanon. Thailand’s northern peaks are replete with wildlife and feature Thailand’s coolest winters.
Northeastern Thailand’s geography, where the kingdom borders Laos at the Mekong River, features the Khorat Plateau, which extends south towards the Thai border with Cambodia. The Isan region of Northeastern Thailand is the most populous region of Thailand (with the exception of Bangkok) and features a number of bustling provincial capital cities.
The geography of Thailand’s interior is dominated by the Central Plains, the “Rice Bowl of Asia,” through which the Chao Phraya River feeds expansive rice fields and then enters the bustling capital of Bangkok before spilling into the Gulf of Thailand.
Stretching down the Malaysian peninsula, the slender trunk of the figurative elephant separates the Andaman Sea from the Gulf of Thailand, providing Thailand with beaches and islands along opposing shores. Once, the sheltered coves of the narrow Isthmus of Kra were important ports along an ancient, strategic trading route; today the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui are equally important as tourist destinations, though both coasts also contain numerous historical attractions as well as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and spectacular forests, waterfalls, and beaches.
In addition to these natural, geographical regions, Thailand is divided into 76 political provinces, with Bangkok serving as the political, commercial, industrial, educational, and entertainment capital of the country.
Thailand has a population of 63 million which is made up of ethnic Thais (75 percent) and Chinese (14 percent), with the rest comprising mainly immigrants from neighbouring countries as well as hill-tribespeople.
History of Thailand
Thailand’s social history can be traced back to the Neolithic period, but the country we know and love came into effect with the establishment of an alliance between three kingdoms – Lan Na, Sukhothai, and Phayao in the 13th century. The 14th and 15th centuries witnessed the emergence of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which continued until it fell to the Burmese, initially in 1569, then again in 1760, before finally succumbing in 1767.
Thailand’s current Chakri Dynasty began in 1782 when Phraya Chakri ascended the throne as King Ramathibodi, Rama I. The new dynasty moved the country’s capital city to Bangkok where it remains to this day. King Mongkut, Rama IV, instigated trade and diplomatic relations with European countries in the mid-19th century, as well as educational reforms.
During the reign of King Prajadhipok, Rama VII, Thailand changed from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy following a coup d’état in 1932. The country’s name was officially changed in 1939 from Siam to Prathet Thai, or Thailand, meaning ‘land of the free’, a phrase used to express pride in the fact that Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to be colonised by a European state.
The Thai military government sided with the Japanese in WWII and allowed US forces to use Thai territory during the Vietnam War. Democracy developed slowly in Thailand and after a quarter of a century of military rule, civilian government was restored in 1973 following student riots in Bangkok, but this was to last only three years before the military again took control.
The country continues to move between civilian and military administration – the latest coup in May 2014 resulted in new elections with an end to martial law declared on 1 April 2015, prompting one commentator to note that in the 83 years since absolute monarchy ended in 1932, uniformed or ex-military men have led the nation for 55 years.
Current king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, is the world’s longest serving head of state and Thailand’s longest reigning monarch, having ascended the throne in 1946.
Thailand Culture
Religion: The vast majority adhere to Buddhism (Theravada form), 5% are Muslim and there are Christian and Hindu minorities.
Social conventions:
Western visitors will generally receive a handshake on meeting. A Thai will be greeted with the traditional closed hands and a slight bow of the head – the wai. Buddhist monks are always greeted in this way.
The Thai Royal Family is regarded with an almost religious reverence. Visitors should respect this. It is very bad manners to make public displays of anger, as Thais regard such behaviour as boorish and a loss of ‘face’. Public displays of affection between men and women are also frowned upon, and it is considered rude to touch anyone on the head or to point one’s feet at someone. Shoes should be removed before entering someone’s home or a temple.
Informal dress is widely acceptable and men are seldom, if ever, expected to wear suits. Beachwear should be confined to the beach and topless sunbathing is frowned upon. Smoking restrictions have been in place since 2002 and it is illegal to smoke in public establishments such as bars, restaurants and markets. Not everyone complies with this ban, but those flouting the law face fines.
Language in Thailand
While the official Thai language is widely spoken throughout Thailand, many Thais also speak and understand English, though more so in Bangkok and the major tourist areas. As visitors to Thailand also include many Europeans and other Asians, Thai people’s language skills often also include these other languages to varying degrees. The Thai language itself is challenging to master, but Thai people are happy to help foreigners learn a few words to help them get around. However, English is typically the common currency for cross-cultural conversation as Thailand hosts visitors from around the world.
Nearly all Thai festivals have a religious aspect. The most theatrical are generally Brahmin (Hindu) in origin, honouring elemental spirits and deities with ancient rites and ceremonial costumed parades. Buddhist celebrations usually revolve round the local temple, and while merit-making is a significant feature, a light-hearted atmosphere prevails, as the wat grounds are swamped with food and trinket vendors and makeshift stages are set up to show likay folk theatre, singing stars and beauty contests.
January–March
Chinese New Year Nakhon Sawan (three days between mid-Jan and late Feb). In Nakhon Sawan, the new Chinese year is welcomed in with particularly exuberant parades of dragons and lion dancers, Chinese opera performances, an international lion-dance competition and a fireworks display. Also celebrated in Chinatowns across the country, especially in Bangkok and Phuket.
Flower Festival Chiang Mai (usually first weekend in Feb). Enormous floral sculptures are paraded through the streets.
Makha Puja Nationwide (particularly Wat Benjamabophit in Bangkok, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai and Wat Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat; Feb full-moon day). A day of merit-making marks the occasion when 1250 disciples gathered spontaneously to hear the Buddha preach, and culminates with a candlelit procession round the local temple’s bot.
Ngan Phrabat Phra Phutthabat, near Lopburi (early Feb and early March). Pilgrimages to the Holy Footprint attract food and handicraft vendors and travelling players. For more information, see Ban Vichayen.
King Narai Reign Fair Lopburi (Feb). Costumed processions and a son et lumière show at Narai’s palace.
Ngan Phra That Phanom That Phanom (Feb). Thousands come to pay homage at the holiest shrine in Isaan, which houses relics of the Buddha.
Kite fights and flying contests Nationwide (particularly Sanam Luang, Bangkok; late Feb to mid-April).
April and May
Poy Sang Long Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai (early April). Young Thai Yai boys precede their ordination into monkhood by parading the streets in floral headdresses and festive garb.
Songkhran Nationwide (particularly Chiang Mai, and Bangkok’s Thanon Khao San; usually April 13–15). The most exuberant of the national festivals welcomes the Thai New Year with massive waterfights, sandcastle building in temple compounds and the inevitable parades and “Miss Songkhran” beauty contests. For more information, see Chiang Mai festivals.
Ngan Phanom Rung Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung (usually April). The three-day period when the sunrise is perfectly aligned through fifteen doorways at these magnificent eleventh-century Khmer ruins is celebrated with daytime processions and nightly son et lumière.
Visakha Puja Nationwide (particularly Bangkok’s Wat Benjamabophit, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Wat Mahathat; May full-moon day). The holiest day of the Buddhist year, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha all in one go; the most public and photogenic part is the candlelit evening procession around the wat.
Raek Na Sanam Luang, Bangkok (early May). The royal ploughing ceremony to mark the beginning of the rice-planting season; ceremonially clad Brahmin leaders parade sacred oxen and the royal plough, and interpret omens to forecast the year’s rice yield.
Rocket Festival Yasothon (Bun Bang Fai; weekend in mid-May). Beautifully crafted, painted wooden rockets are paraded and fired to ensure plentiful rains; celebrated all over Isaan, but especially lively in Yasothon.
June–September
Phi Ta Khon Dan Sai, near Loei (end June or beginning July). Masked re-enactment of the Buddha’s penultimate incarnation.
Candle Festival Ubon Ratchathani (Asanha Puja; July, three days around the full moon). This nationwide festival marking the Buddha’s first sermon and the subsequent beginning of the annual Buddhist retreat period (Khao Pansa) is celebrated across the northeast with parades of enormous wax sculptures, most spectacularly in Ubon Ratchathani.
Tamboon Deuan Sip Nakhon Si Thammarat (Sept or Oct). Merit-making ceremonies to honour dead relatives accompanied by a ten-day fair.
October–December
Vegetarian Festival Phuket and Trang (Ngan Kin Jeh; Oct or Nov). Chinese devotees become vegetarian for a nine-day period and then parade through town performing acts of self-mortification such as pushing skewers through their cheeks. Celebrated in Bangkok’s Chinatown by most food vendors and restaurants turning vegetarian for about a fortnight.
Bang Fai Phaya Nak Nong Khai and around (usually Oct). The strange appearance of pink balls of fire above the Mekong River draws sightseers from all over Thailand.
Tak Bat Devo and Awk Pansa Nationwide (especially Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Phanom; Oct full-moon day). Offerings to monks and general merrymaking to celebrate the Buddha’s descent to earth from Tavatimsa heaven and the end of the Khao Pansa retreat. Celebrated in Ubon with a procession of illuminated boats along the rivers, and in Nakhon Phanom with another illuminated boat procession and Thailand–Laos dragon-boat races along the Mekong.
Chak Phra Surat Thani (mid-Oct). The town’s chief Buddha images are paraded on floats down the streets and on barges along the river.
Boat Races Nan, Nong Khai, Phimai and elsewhere (Oct to mid-Nov). Longboat races and barge parades along town rivers.
Thawt Kathin Nationwide (the month between Awk Pansa and Loy Krathong, generally Oct–Nov). During the month following the end of the monks’ rainy-season retreat, it’s traditional for the laity to donate new robes to the monkhood and this is celebrated in most towns with parades and a festival, and occasionally, when it coincides with a kingly anniversary, with a spectacular Royal Barge Procession down the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
Loy Krathong Nationwide (particularly Sukhothai and Chiang Mai; full moon in Nov). Baskets (krathong) of flowers and lighted candles are floated on any available body of water (such as ponds, rivers, lakes, canals and seashores) to honour water spirits and celebrate the end of the rainy season. Nearly every town puts on a big show, with bazaars, public entertainments, fireworks, and in Chiang Mai, the release of paper hot-air balloons; in Sukhothai it is the climax of a son et lumière festival that’s held over several nights.
Ngan Wat Saket Wat Saket, Bangkok (first week of Nov). Probably Thailand’s biggest temple fair, held around the Golden Mount, with all the usual festival trappings.
Elephant Roundup Surin (third weekend of Nov). Two hundred elephants play team games, perform complex tasks and parade in battle dress.
River Kwai Bridge Festival Kanchanaburi (ten nights from the last week of Nov into the first week of Dec). Spectacular son et lumière at the infamous bridge.
Silk and Phuk Siao Festival Khon Kaen (Nov 29–Dec 10). Weavers from around the province come to town to sell their lengths of silk.
World Heritage Site Festival Ayutthaya (mid-Dec). Week-long celebration, including a nightly historical son et lumière romp, to commemorate the town’s UNESCO designation.
New Year’s Eve Countdown Nationwide (Dec 31). Most cities and tourist destinations welcome in the new year with fireworks, often backed up by food festivals, beauty contests and outdoor performances.
Although Thailand’s climate, wildlife and cuisine present Western travellers with fewer health worries than in many Asian destinations, it’s as well to know in advance what the risks might be, and what preventive or curative measures you should take. For security, as long as you keep your wits about you, you shouldn’t encounter much trouble in Thailand.
Health
No vaccination is required, but visitors are advised to receive inoculations against hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus. Inoculation for yellow fever and tablets for malaria are not necessary although doctors still usually recommend them.
Health insurance is recommended. Medical facilities are good in main centres. All major hotels have doctors on call.
HIV and AIDS
HIV infection is widespread in Thailand, primarily because of the sex trade. Condoms (meechai) are sold in pharmacies, convenience stores, department stores, hairdressers and even street markets. Due to rigorous screening methods, Thailand’s medical blood supply is now considered safe from HIV/AIDS infection.
Security
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are two of the main problems – not surprising considering that a huge percentage of the local population scrape by on under US$5 per day – but the most common cause for concern is the number of con-artists who dupe gullible tourists into parting with their cash.
Most travellers prefer to carry their valuables with them at all times, but it’s often possible to use a safe box in a hotel. Padlock your luggage when leaving it in hotel rooms, as well as when consigning it to storage or taking it on public transport. Padlocks also come in handy as extra security on your room, particularly on the doors of beachfront bamboo huts.
Violent crime against tourists is not common, but it does occur, and there have been several serious attacks on women travellers in recent years. However, bearing in mind that fourteen million foreigners visit Thailand every year, the statistical likelihood of becoming a victim is extremely small.
Thailand tours, regardless of types and length, are destined to be fascinating. When the skyscrapers soaring in Bangkok, the hill tribes in Chiang Rai still stick to their traditional life; you can trace a by-gone glory at Ayutthaya, explore jungles on the back of an elephant in Chiang Mai, or just bathe in the sunshine on Phuket’s beaches. With so many things to see and do, travelers never got bored here.
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