Unforgettable  Thailand tours and holidays

The best Thailand holidays are a mix of culture, scenery and some of the country’s glorious beaches. Most Thailand tours begin in Bangkok, where you can discover the modern side of the capital as well as floating markets, historic temples and the ornate Grand Palace. But don’t overlook second city Chiang Mai, with its own temples and lusher green setting. Here you can explore rice fields, head into the hills and mountains to learn more about Thailand’s many hill tribes, and visit elephants in one of the country’s sanctuaries. Find more history at former capital Ayutthaya, as well as a darker chapter of the more recent past at Kanchanaburi, home to the bridge over the River Kwai. Beyond the cities, there are over 100 national parks to explore, including Khao Sok with its own elephant sanctuary and rainforest tours, plus a string of marine national parks. And to relax, you have a choice of too many beaches to count, including on the mainland around Hua Hin and over 1,400 islands. While not all are inhabited, there’s still a huge choice whether you’re looking for an unspoiled, relaxed retreat, or somewhere offering plenty to do between swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing. Ko Samui, Phuket, Ko Samet, Ko Pha Ngan, Krabi, Ko Lanta, Ko Tao and Ko Chang are just a few of the best-known.

UK nationals do not need a visa to travel to Thailand if the purpose of their trip is tourism, for stays of up to 30 days (and a maximum of 90 days within any six-month period). Multi-entry visas are also available. Your passport must be valid for at least six months, with proof of onward air ticket and access to funds of at least 20,000 Baht (around £450) if required. Requirements can change, though – for the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.

In general Thailand is a very safe destination for tourists, with petty crime the biggest risk. Take sensible precautions against bag-snatching and pickpockets, and avoid displaying valuables where possible, including in open tuk-tuks as well as on overnight trains and buses. It’s also best to avoid handing over your passport as a guarantee if hiring motorbikes or jet-skis, as well as avoiding isolated areas after dark. The government advises against all but essential travel to parts of the far south of Thailand, near the border with Malaysia, including Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat  and southern Songkhla Provinces, plus the Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line that runs through these provinces. If you’re joining a Thailand guided tour, your tour leader can also advise.

The climate does vary across the country, but in general the best time to visit Thailand is during the cooler, dry season from November to early April. You can still expect temperatures in the low 30Cs in many parts of the country during these months. In southern Thailand, including many of the islands, the east and west coasts have different rainfall, with Koh Samui seeing some of its wettest weather from November to January but tending to be drier than other areas during midsummer. The north can also be cooler during the winter months, especially in the mountains around Chiang Mai, so it’s worth being prepared if you’re planning your Thailand holidays for December and January.

You are quite simply spoiled for choice when it comes to Thai islands, with over 1,400 scattered off the country’s coast, including the southern peninsula towards the Malaysian border and the coast stretching east to Cambodia. If you’re struggling to choose the best islands to visit in Thailand, we’ve picked out some of the most popular and most tempting. Phuket is the largest island, with plenty to do from visiting temples to great restaurants, elephant spotting and beach, while Koh Samui is known for its luxury hotels and activities, as well as for being a good option during the summer when other parts of Thailand are much wetter. For somewhere more laid-back, Koh Tao has beautiful beaches and great diving, while Koh Lanta has its own lovely stretches of sand, villages to discover and unspoiled mangroves and Koh Lipe is known for its pristine white sand. Koh Chang is great for hiking, with waterfalls within the rainforest, or for a taste of authentic Thailand (and the chance to spot turtles), head to Ko Samet.

The official currency of Thailand is the Thai baht. This is divided into 100 satang, with coins available in 25 and 50 satang and 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht. Notes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht. It’s rare to use satang or the smaller baht coins as their value is so low. ATMs are easy to find in urban areas, while larger businesses, hotels and restaurants accept credit and debit cards although cash is still used for the majority of purchases. Outside cities and the main tourist areas, you may have more trouble withdrawing cash and cards are often not accepted.

Thailand is a wonderful place to visit with children, who’ll be welcomed warmly wherever you go. Quite apart from the endless beaches for kids to enjoy, there’s plenty for all ages. Older kids can explore some of the national parks, with easy hikes through rainforest and the chance to visit elephant sanctuaries as part of your family Thailand holidays. Younger kids can get hands on planting rice around Chiang Mai, watching the bustle at floating markets or marvelling at the bright colours and golden ornamentation in the temples. Unless you want to head off the beaten track, the infrastructure is also good, which makes it easier to travel around Thailand with kids of all ages.

Thai people are generally very welcoming, polite and friendly, but there are some cultural (and legal) faux pas to avoid. It is considered rude to use your feet for anything, including pointing with them, while you should never have your feet towards the Buddha in temples. Losing your temper or trying to force someone to admit they are wrong is also considered rude, while touching someone’s head (including children) is also offensive. It is illegal to criticise the Thai monarchy, which includes everything from treating money disrespectfully as the notes feature images of the royal family, to sharing political content on social media. It can also be illegal to share images of people drinking alcohol or wearing inappropriate clothing on social media, with fines and stricter sentences for both the person who uploads the images and features in them. Smoking in public, including e-cigarettes, is also illegal. If police ask to check your passport, a copy of the photo page is usually sufficient, but otherwise you should have 24 hours to produce the original at a police station.

From buses, minivans and tuk-tuks to boats, trains and planes, you aren’t short of ways to get around Thailand. If you’re covering longer distances, internal flights can be the best option, with links from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and some of the islands, including Ko Samui, Phuket and Krabi, as well as bus/boat transfers onwards with some low-cost carriers. Alternatively, the train network connects the country, with four main long-distance lines (Northern, Northeastern, Eastern and Southern) depending which area you’re hoping to explore. Some routes include sleeper options. Long-distance buses also operate across the country, with government-subsidized the Transport Co as one of the best operators, while minivans tend to cover shorter distances, although the experience can be mixed. Ferries operate along the coast and to the islands, with hydrofoils and speedboats connecting some of the smaller islands. You’ll also find traditional long-tail boats for trips from the islands, as well as some of Bangkok’s waterways. The capital also has its own urban train system, with the metro system and SkyTrain. Tuk tuks are still an option in cities, but more of a tourist novelty these days. Taxis are also available;  the Grab app is one of the easiest ways to arrange a journey (similar to Uber/Bolt, which don’t operate in Thailand).

It takes around 12 hours to fly directly from the UK to Thailand. Most direct flights travel to Bangkok, where you can connect to other destinations in Thailand, but there are also international flights to Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Tipping isn’t expected in Thailand but it is always welcome. In restaurants, especially pricier ones, adding around 10% to the bill is usual, while rounding up the total in cafes is appreciated, as is a small tip for housekeeping in hotels. Tour guides and drivers will appreciate a small tip (we include recommended amounts for tour managers, drivers and guides in our useful information packs, which you’ll receive after booking). Remember that porterage is included in our Thailand tours, so there’s no need to tip for bags.