Thailand Guide
Land in the capital

Thailand, planned from the ground

12 min read See the guide
Seasons Andaman or Gulf, not both Nov to Apr vs Jan to Sep First week Bangkok plus one fork 7 days Food Eat by city, not by slogan 60 to 150 THB plates
Landing city Bangkok North hub Chiang Mai Andaman Phuket Gulf Koh Samui Karst lake Khao Sok
Bangkok first nights Lock two nights near a BTS station before you pick a coast.

Regions of Thailand

Amnat Charoen Ang Thong Bangkok Bueng Kan Buri Ram Chachoengsao Chai Nat Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chon Buri Chumphon Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Kanchanaburi Khon Kaen Koh Chang Koh Kood Koh Lanta Koh Phangan Koh Phi Phi Koh Samui Koh Tao Krabi Lampang Lamphun Loei Lop Buri Mae Hong Son Maha Sarakham Mukdahan Nakhon Nayok Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Si Thammarat Nan Narathiwat Nong Bua Lam Phu Nong Khai Nonthaburi Pathum Thani Pattani Phang Nga Phatthalung Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phichit Phitsanulok Ayutthaya Phrae Phuket Prachin Buri Prachuap Khiri Khan Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Sa Kaeo Sakon Nakhon Samut Prakan Samut Sakhon Samut Songkhram Saraburi Satun Si Sa Ket Sing Buri Songkhla Sukhothai Suphan Buri Surat Thani Surin Tak Trang Trat Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani Uthai Thani Uttaradit Yala Yasothon Bangkok Ayutthaya Kanchanaburi Hua Hin Lop Buri Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Pai Nan Sukhothai Phitsanulok Pattaya Khao Yai Koh Chang Koh Kood Khon Kaen Udon Thani Ubon Ratchathani Khao Sok Phuket Krabi Koh Phi Phi Koh Lanta Koh Lipe Chumphon Koh Tao Koh Phangan Koh Samui Surat Thani Songkhla Amnat Charoen Ang Thong Bueng Kan Buri Ram Chachoengsao Chai Nat Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Lampang Lamphun Loei Maha Sarakham Mukdahan Nakhon Nayok Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Si Thammarat Narathiwat Nong Bua Lam Phu Nong Khai Nonthaburi Pathum Thani Pattani Phatthalung Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phichit Phrae Prachin Buri Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Sa Kaeo Sakon Nakhon Samut Prakan Samut Sakhon Samut Songkhram Saraburi Si Sa Ket Sing Buri Suphan Buri Surin Tak Trang Trat Uthai Thani Uttaradit Yala Yasothon
Bangkok Ayutthaya Kanchanaburi Hua Hin Amphawa

Bangkok & Central Plains

Land in Bangkok, then add Ayutthaya ruins, a Kanchanaburi waterfall day, or a Hua Hin weekend. Amphawa is the Friday canal, not a first-morning stop.

See regions

Top destinations in Thailand

1 Bangkok BTS hotel strips, river wats, two airports. 2 Chiang Mai Moat temples, khao soi at lunch, one mountain day. 3 Phuket West-coast sand. November to April. 4 Koh Samui USM plus one Gulf island. January to September. 5 Krabi Railay longtails and Ao Nang desks. 6 Khao Sok Cheow Lan raft night. Different door from 401.

Plan your trip

Seasons & Monsoons Andaman Nov to Apr. Gulf Jan to Sep. Visas & TDAC 60-day visa-free for many passports. File TDAC. Airports & Sleeper Trains BKK, DMK, and SRT 9 and 10 north. Ferries & Island Transfers Lomprayah, Seatran, and longtails. Grab, BTS & MRT 2026 BTS tap 17 to 62 THB. Money, SIMs & Scams PromptPay, eSIMs, and the closed-palace line.

See all planning tools

Popular trips and routes

First week Bangkok plus Chiang Mai or one coast. Best 14 days Capital, north, then one sea. Classic 10 days The usual first spine. Andaman hop Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi. One sea. Gulf islands Samui, Phangan, Tao. Jan to Sep. Northern loop Chiang Mai first, then one fork.

See itineraries

Two-Country Trip Planning

Combine Thailand & Vietnam: Nonstop Flights & 2-Country Routes

Bangkok and Chiang Mai sit under two hours nonstop from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Pair your Thailand itinerary with our sister guide Vietnam TravelGuide.

Find your interest

Thai food Beaches and islands Temples and history Nightlife Resort living Diving and snorkeling Muay Thai Massage and spas

See all interests

Stories & Deep Dives

Weather Monsoon flips and burn-season haze Updated 2026

Which coast is open, and when Chiang Mai air is a problem.

 Bangkok Grand Palace morning, then Wat Pho 500 THB

Mani Noppharat Gate, dress code, and the closed-palace scam.

 Andaman Maya Bay with the park fee on the voucher 400 THB extra

One boat day from Phuket or Krabi. Not both.

 Food Yaowarat after 18:00 from Wat Mangkon Monday rest

Guay jub, Texas Lane, and fried dough. Cash still wins.

 Parks Similan boats from Tab Lamu 15 Oct to 15 May

500 THB park fee. Confirm it is in the Klook price.

 First trip Grab, BTS tap-in, and scams to skip Practical

The apps and the tuk-tuk lines that waste a first morning.

More stories