ThaiLand Travel Guide

Amazing Thailand – it begins with the people” is the slogan becoming the most popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia, and the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been colonized by a European power. With endless attractions for visitors of all budgets and interests, Thailand attracts travelers from all over the world to Southeast Asia about 35-40 million tourists every year!

With a colorful culture of Buddhism, take you through thousands of impressive Buddhist temples across the country, and enjoy Delicious Food to learn Thai culinary arts. For beach holiday lovers to Explore the spectacular islands and bask on world-class beaches, also see some exotic wildlife, and tour the country’s landscapes as Pattaya, Phuket, and Koh Samui offer life in paradise with their miles of pristine sand and crystal water.

Bangkok- the biggest capital city, never sleep city with numerous Bars and nightclubs, so The nightlife is also guaranteed to please the party crowd, heaven with its millions of product types, brand names, and prices at every corner, either at an affordable market or a luxury mall. Most importantly, everywhere you go, you will be warmly greeted by the Thai locals with smiles – Thailand is the ‘land of smiles.

Otherwise, Thailand offers you a great adventure holiday, homestay, trekking, hiking, cycling, kayaking…. with beautiful mountains, rivers, and colors of different hill tribe groups of people such as Northern Thailand –Chiangmai, Kanchanaburi…

Travel Update News: For Safe and responsible travel, always.

When we are ready to get back on the road, we want to ensure our trips remain safe for everyone — for our travelers, us, and the people we visit along the way.

To enter the Kingdom of Thailand is required to obtain a visa from Royal Thai Embassy or apply visa on arrival. However, nationals of certain countries do not require a visa if they meet visa exemption requirements as follows:
(a) they are nationals of countries which are exempted from visa requirements when entering Thailand for tourism purposes. Such nationals will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30 days.
(b) they are nationals of countries which hold bilateral agreements with Thailand on the exemption of visa requirements

Please see this official website for travelers holding passports have to obtain or apply the Visa to Thailand  : https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ 

Requirements for Tourist Visa On Arrival to Thailand:
(a) Hold the citizenship of a country on the list issued by the minister under the consent of the Council of Ministers of Thailand.
(b) Aim to enter Thailand for tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days.
(c) Submit one headshot photo taken no longer than 6 months.
(d) Does not fall into the category of aliens prohibited from entering Thailand under the Immigration law.
(e) Possess the return ticket (flight) within 15 days. Open tickets do not qualify. Travelling overland out of Thailand by train, bus, etc to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (including en route to Singapore), Myanmar, etc is not accepted as proof of exiting Thailand.
(f) Truthfully notify the verifiable places to stay in Thailand.
(g) Present evidence of adequate finance, not less than 10,000 Baht (250US$) per person and 20,000 Baht (500US$) per family.
(h) Possess a passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months.
(i) A fee of 2,000 THB is payable upon entry and is subject to change without notice. It must be paid in cash and Thai currency only.

Thailand Facts :

Population: roughly 70 million

Capital: Bangkok

Currency: Baht

Language: Thai, English, Chinese

Religion: Buddhism, Islam, Christianity

Thailand Attractions:

1. Bangkok:

Bangkok will never let you down if you want to Party or do business in the field of entertainment, art, or religion. Bangkok is the center of everything—all the chances and entertainment emerge along the canal, hopeful and joyful. Also, check out The Grand Palace and hundreds of Temples

2. Phuket Island: It is one of the best tourist resorts in Southeast Asia. It is the largest island in Thailand with the Indian Ocean to its west coast and 862 kilometers away from south Bangkok. It boasts all the fascinating tropical sceneries: prosperous tropical rain forests, neatly lined rubber trees in plantations, soft and fine beaches, steep cliffs.
3. Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand, governed by Surat Thani. It is 80 kilometers away from its provincial capital and 560 kilometers away from Bangkok. In the recent decade, it has grown from an island of little fame into one of the top seashore tourism resorts in Thailand.
4. Pattaya Resort has won worldwide fame as “Oriental Hawaii” owing to its nice sunshine, beaches, and seafood there. It is a newly-emerged seashore tourism resort. Pattaya Resort is 154 kilometers away from the Southeast part of the capital Bangkok. It is located in the Siam Gulf between Indian Peninsula and Malaya. And it has 20-plus square kilometers with charming sceneries and a comfortable climate.
5. Wat Phra Kaew is the most famous temple and one of the three national treasures in Thailand. It is located in the northeast part of Bangkok Grand Palace. It was built in 1784 and is a part of Bangkok Grand Palace, sizing in 1/4 of the latter. It is a place for worship and religious ceremonies and it gets its name because an emerald Buddha is worshiped
6. Kanchanaburi is the largest of the western provinces of Thailand. The neighboring provinces are (clockwise, from the north) Tak, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, and Ratchaburi. In the west, it borders Kayin State, Mon State, and the Tanintharyi Region of Myanmar. Tourists are attracted by beautiful mountains, the National Park, Rivers, the history of its ancient civilization, and the World War II Bridge over the River Kwai (also spelled “Khwae”).

7. Chiang Mai :

Chiang Mai means New City, it is used for the Capital of the Lana Kingdom which offers everything you want to do and see!

This is the second-biggest province of Thailand after Bangkok, it is bordered by Lamphun and Tak on the south, Chiang Rai, Lampang, and Lamphun on the east, and Mae Hong Son on the west. In the north, Chiang Mai borders the Shan State of Myanmar. Chiang Mai is situated at about 310 meters above sea level, in the Mae Ping River basin, Ping is the most important river in Chiang Mai and it flows along 540 km. from North to South.

Chiang Mai, a Mountain area, is home to different minority groups including the Lua, Mon, Karen, Lahu, Yao, Lisu, Akha, Hmong, and Muser people. Many of these tribes maintain their traditional lifestyles. Many foreign visitors prefer to visit to study the way of life of these villages. Today, Chiang Mai is a political, economic, geographical, cultural, and tourist, due to its excellent infrastructure with international direct flight connections to inside the country and other countries in the region including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma, Cambodia, and Taiwan. Flying to Chiang Mai is easy and cheap, flight time is about one hour; the city is also easily accessible by train and by bus.

Chiang Mai offers great adventure opportunities with, ziplining jungle tours, mountain bike riding, river rafting, elephant riding, and mountain trekking. It is also a good starting point to explore nearby locations like Doi Suthep, Chiang Dao, Pai, Soppong, Mae Salong, Mae Hong Song, Chiang Saen, and Mae Chaem.

Otherwise, you just wander around the old city with lots of beautiful old temples, check out the old and night markets for shopping, and rest at Thai Massage places the nightlife is so lively with Ladyboy show, kickboxing …

GETTING AROUND IN THAILAND:
Thailand offers plenty of ways to get around, the transportation system in Thailand is one of the most advanced and modern in Southeast Asia and continues to improve.
Plane:
Many new airports offer both international to connect all over the world and domestic airlines that cover distances within an hour. All are great service!
Airport Rail Link to City
The Airport Rail Link provides train services at a maximum speed of 160 km/hr on an elevated track parallel to the eastern railway, which covers a distance of approximately 28 kilometers, passing through 8 stations: Phyathai Station, Rajprarop Station, Makkasan Station, and City Air Terminal, Ramkhamhaeng Station, Hua Mark Station, Thab Chang Station, Lad Krabang Station, and Suvarnabhumi Station.

Bangkok BTS Sky train & MRT Subway:
Thailand entered the 21st century with several modern, electric rail systems that help ease traffic congestion and make travel around the city more comfortable and convenient.
Train
The Thai train network is quite extensive and in addition to being reasonably priced, is a charming way to travel the countryside.
Bus and coach:
Thailand features a wide variety of bus options, including comfortable air-conditioned coaches, linking all major and minor cities and towns throughout the kingdom.
Mobile home
Several international motor home agencies offer the opportunity to explore Thailand in a mobile recreational vehicle. Depending on the size, some mobile homes feature bedrooms with TVs and even kitchens with dining tables.
Private car
For those who wish to avoid driving in Bangkok but also prefer a more private means of transportation than public taxis, there are a number of custom limousine services that provide professional drivers and a selection of vehicles.
Car rental
For those who prefer driving though, car rentals are available as a relatively inexpensive way of getting around but should be done only after familiarizing yourself with the local driving laws and customs.
Taxi
Bangkok arguably has more taxis than any city on Earth. Not only are they plentiful, but they are also very reasonably priced now that meters have become the norm.
Tuk Tuk:
One of the most iconic modes of transportation, the tuk-tuk is the quintessential Thai vehicle. The colorful, noisy, open-air tuk-tuks that are found throughout Bangkok are both a “must ride” experience for visitors and a convenient way for both visitors and locals to quickly get around.
Motorbike and scooter
Motorbikes and scooters are two of the most popular modes of transportation in Thailand as they are inexpensive and fuel-efficient. Both within cities and around the countryside, motorbikes, and scooters are used by locals for work and personal travel. It is easy and quick to get around in the short distance
Bicycle:
There are various opportunities for cyclists to enjoy Thailand. Hire a tandem bike to cruise around beach towns such as Hua Hin, go on an extreme mountain biking adventure in Chiang Mai, or take a multi-day bike tour that passes through small Thai villages and stops at natural and historical attractions along the way.
Boat:
Thailand has a network of rivers and a long history of transportation by boat.

THAILAND VISA GUIDE:
Most international tourists arriving via an international airport will be given a 30-day visa exemption stamp, however, those with back-to-back visa-exempt entries might be questioned. As of December 31st, 2016, the number of visa exemption entries at a land border has been limited to two per calendar year, for a maximum of 30 days each time. For those who would prefer to get a visa, a valid tourist visa offers a maximum of a 60-day stay.
The Thai visa photo criteria are 6 cm high x 4 cm wide on a bright background color.
Visa exemptions
The citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Thailand for a certain amount of time:
• Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and South Korea (maximum stay of up to 90 days)
• Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia, Vietnam (maximum stay of up to 30 days)
• Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brunei, Belgium, Canada, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia(unlimited), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Slovak, Slovenia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, and the USA
(maximum stay of up to 30 days when entering Thailand at an airport, plus 2 extra 30-day exemptions at a land border in a calendar year)

Visa on Arrival (VOA)
The citizens of countries that are eligible for a VOA to enter Thailand can NOT enter Thailand at any Thai / Cambodian border: Andorra, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
All other foreign citizens must obtain a Thai visa from their nearest Thai embassy/consulate.
Note: It is recommended to keep a copy or record with your camera, your passport, visa, most recent entry stamp, and your embarkation card

THAILAND WEATHER & CLIMATE:
Like some other southeast Asia countries, Thailand’s cool season runs from November until the end of February. With its low humidity, relatively low temperatures, and clear skies, the cool season is the best time to visit, though regular days of the high 20s and low 30s might leave you wondering just who came up with the term ‘cool’. It is also the peak tourist season, so expect lots of new friends at the more popular spots like the islands and major towns.
In northern Thailand, the dry season with cooler temperatures falls between November and May, with heavy rainfall between June and October.
In the south, the climate differs between the east and west coasts. The weather on the east coast is good for most of the year, with the lowest rainfall in January and February, and the highest in November. The west coast is more favorable during the winter months when diving and snorkeling will be at their best.