Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & the Islands
Temples and river life in Bangkok, the old walled city and mountain temples of Chiang Mai in the north, then a beach to finish: Phuket and Krabi on the Andaman Sea from November to April, or Koh Samui in the Gulf from January to August.
- Best time to go
- November to February is cool and dry across Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the Andaman coast. Koh Samui is best from January to August and wettest from October to December.
- Flying from India
- Bangkok is about 2½ hours from Kolkata and 4 to 4½ hours from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, all non-stop. Phuket has non-stop flights from several Indian cities.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Visa-free for Indian passports for stays of up to 30 days, plus the online Thailand Digital Arrival Card in the three days before you land.
- Currency
- Thai baht (THB). Cards work in hotels and malls; carry cash for street food, markets and temple donations.
Thailand at a glance
Most first trips start in Bangkok: the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the morning, a long-tail boat through the Thonburi canals, and dinner in Chinatown or on a rooftop. An hour's flight north, Chiang Mai is calmer and greener, with more than 300 temples inside and around its moated old city, cooking schools, night markets and the hills where ethical elephant sanctuaries let you feed and bathe elephants rather than ride them.
For the beach, pick the coast by month. Phuket and Krabi on the Andaman Sea are at their best from November to April, with boat days into Phang Nga Bay's limestone islands and Railay's cliffs. Koh Samui and its neighbours in the Gulf of Thailand have a different pattern and are good from January to August, when the Andaman coast is in its monsoon.
Must-see
- Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
- Wat Pho's Reclining Buddha
- Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai
- Phang Nga Bay by boat
- Phuket Old Town
Food to try
- Pad krapow and khao man gai from street stalls
- Khao soi, Chiang Mai's curry noodle soup
- Tom yum goong
- Massaman curry
- Mango sticky rice
Where to shop
- Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok
- ICONSIAM and Siam Paragon, Bangkok
- Chiang Mai Sunday Walking Street
- Bo Sang umbrella village, near Chiang Mai
- Phuket's Sunday market on Thalang Road
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Bangkok, Chao Phraya riverside
River hotels with their own boat piers
Hotels along the river put the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and the old town a short boat ride away, and the hotel shuttle boats avoid Bangkok's traffic. Riverside terraces are the best place for dinner.
Chiang Mai, old city and Mae Rim
Boutique hotels and valley resorts
Lanna-style boutique hotels inside the old city walls, a walk from the temples and night markets, or garden resorts in the Mae Rim valley 30 minutes north, among rice fields and hills.
Phuket west coast
Beach resorts on quieter bays
We favour the smaller bays such as Kata, Kamala and Surin over busy Patong: sandy beaches, sunset views and easy boat departures for Phang Nga Bay and Krabi.
Koh Samui
Gulf island villas
Pool villas and resorts on Samui's north and east coasts for travel between January and August, with boat trips to Ang Thong Marine Park and the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Thailand journeys around
Phang Nga Bay by long-tail and sea canoe
A day on the water among more than 40 limestone islands: paddle into the hidden lagoons (hongs) inside the rocks, stop at Ko Tapu, the 'James Bond island', and lunch at the stilt village of Koh Panyee.
An ethical elephant sanctuary
Half a day at a sanctuary in the hills outside Chiang Mai where elephants are not ridden. You prepare their food, walk with them and watch them bathe in the river.
Cooking class in Chiang Mai
A market visit to buy herbs and curry pastes, then a morning cooking four or five dishes such as khao soi, green curry and papaya salad. Vegetarian menus on request.
Wat Pho and a traditional massage
See the 46-metre Reclining Buddha, then book a massage at the temple's own school, where Thai massage has been taught for generations.
Phuket Old Town on foot
Pastel Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Thalang and Soi Romanee, Peranakan cafés and the Sunday walking market. Best in the late afternoon.
The Big Buddha and Promthep Cape
Drive up to Phuket's 45-metre white marble Big Buddha for the view over Chalong Bay, then on to Promthep Cape on the island's southern tip for sunset.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Thailand traveller
When to visit
November to February
The cool, dry season and the best time for the whole route. Book Christmas and New Year well in advance.
March to May
Hot, often above 35°C in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with Songkran's water festival in mid-April. Samui is excellent.
June to October
Monsoon on the Andaman coast and in Bangkok, usually as afternoon storms. Chiang Mai is green and Samui stays good until September.
Getting there and around
Arrival
Fly into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, 40 to 60 minutes from the riverside by car. Some Indian cities also fly direct to Phuket.
Between stops
Bangkok to Chiang Mai is a 70-minute flight, and Chiang Mai to Phuket about two hours. Samui is reached by a short flight from Bangkok.
Insider notes
Dress for the Grand Palace
Shoulders and knees must be covered and the dress code is checked at the gate. Go at the 8.30 am opening, before the heat and the tour groups.
Choose the coast by month
From May to October the Andaman coast has rough seas and some boat trips stop; that is when Samui is at its best.
Lantern festival dates
Chiang Mai's Yi Peng lanterns and Loy Krathong fall on the November full moon. Hotels fill a year ahead, so tell us early.
Fill in the arrival card
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is free and online. Ignore paid look-alike websites.
Thailand: Common Questions
It depends on the month. November to April, choose Phuket or Krabi on the Andaman Sea. January to August, Koh Samui is the better choice. We plan the beach part around your dates.
Plan your Thailand journey
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Journeys from here
Itineraries that include Thailand
Journey · Culture & Beach
Bangkok, Chiang Mai & the Andaman
Journey · Beach & Adventure
Andaman Coast, Phuket & Krabi
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