Thailand Travel Guide

• It’s generally cheap to travel and stay there.
• It has a wide range of good hostels.
• As it’s so popular with travellers, you’ll get to meet lots of other people from the UK and elsewhere.
• There are many incredible beaches to choose from.
• Thai people are very welcoming and relaxed.
• It’s a beautiful country to visit - as well as the beaches, there are hills, mountains and other great natural beauty spots.
• The food is excellent, always fresh and very cheap.
• The weather is reliably hot, and although there are rainy spells, they pass quickly (best to avoid the monsoon period though).
• Thailand is a convenient stopover for long-haul flights to Australia and New Zealand.

Bangkok is the capital and commercial centre and by far the largest city, with over 11 million inhabitants.

Travellers often make the mistake of treating Bangkok as nothing but a place of transit, when Thailand’s capital really has so much to offer! With something extraordinary hidden behind every massage parlour, Bangkok is a visual feast of markets, food vendors, temples and tuk tuk’s.

Be sure that when you visit Bangkok you stay on the Khao San Road – a real backpacker ghetto, and the place to be if you want to meet like-minded gappers – here you’ll discover a vast selection of restaurants, bars and boutiques.

• Bangkok: See the Grand Palace and the extraordinary Emerald Buddha, visit the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Po), or check out backpacker heaven on Khao San Road and shop at the amazing shops, malls, boutiques and night markets. Pay a visit to the bustling and vast Chatuchak Weekend Market where you will find acres of bargains and get to practice your haggling skills.
• Traditional massage - there is simply no other massage like it!
• Ayutthaya and Sukhothai – explore the temple ruins of these former capitals
• Koh Phangan – party hard at the Full Moon Party at Hat Rin. One reason why so many young travellers head to the islands each month is to dance until sunrise at the Full Moon Party.
• Head down to the tropical beach resort of Koh Samui and drink Pina Coladas amongst the coconut trees.
• Ao Phang Nga – paddle your kayak around the extraordinary lagoons and take in the beautiful scenery.
• Koh Phi Phi – Hop on one of the many taxi boats scattered around this island and head to Maya bay. Made famous by the popular film ‘The Beach’, this paradise cove offers idyllic surroundings and crystal clear waters. Do a spot of snorkelling here and you’ll be dazzled by the vibrant schools of fish.
• Phuket has been made a popular location for its palm tree-scattered beaches, and great scuba diving opportunities. Take a day trip here and explore the many islands and caves it has to offer. If relaxing is your number one priority, then grab a table at one of its many restaurants and choose from a selection of mouth-wateringly fresh seafood.
• Khao Sok and Khao Yai National Parks – Great places to explore and see the jungle, wildlife and tropical flora and fauna. Khao Sok, located in Southern Thailand, has a breathtaking and diverse landscape, made up of rainforest, huge limestone mountains, deep valleys, beautiful lakes and interesting caves. You can explore the park on foot and there are many other activities to try such as elephant trekking, canoeing and jeep safaris. Khao Sok is home to some incredible wildlife including elephants, gibbons, deer, leopards, sun bears, colourful birds and snakes. In Khao Yai, there are over 150 different species of animals including wild elephants, leopards, black bears, tigers and deer. If bird spotting is your thing then this park is particularly good for spotting exotic native birds like the hornbill.
• Railay Peninsula –scale the limestone cliffs here for amazing views of the coastline.
• Taste the local dishes – Green Curry, Pad Thai, Spring Rolls and Tom Yum Soup – all traditional and deliciously fresh.
• Try some mouth-watering pineapple or coconut on the beach, freshly picked that day and sliced in front of you.
• Buy some banana pancakes from a local stall.
• Slurp up cocktails from a Thai bucket, which are great to share with your mates.
• Learn to dive – Koh Tao is the place to do it.
• Take an overnight train and sleep while you travel… it’s fun and surprisingly comfortable and you arrive feeling all refreshed.

Thai cuisine has become increasingly popular in the UK so many travellers will have already sampled the flavours of the coconut and chilli-based curries made ‘green’, ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ depending on the strength of the curry paste. Noodles and rice also feature heavily on Thai menus, as do exotic flavours such as lemongrass, tamarind and kaffir lime. Fresh fruit such as mango, lychees and papaya can be found in abundance. To the foreign palette, some of Thailand’s street vendors may look quite suspect, particularly if you come across one serving nothing but fried cockroaches! Grasshoppers, silkworms and scorpions can also occasionally be found in the street markets but despite this, street vendors also offer a wide and tasty selection of some of the freshest foods in Thailand. Buying from these stands allows you to dine on a seriously tight budget, so why not pull up a chair and watch the world go by with a cold Chang and some super cheap eats?

Thailand has an equatorial climate in the south and a tropical / monsoon climate in the north, making it very hot and humid. From June to October, the country experiences high rainfall from the southwest monsoons, but the rain tends to come in the late afternoon and normally only rains for around an hour. April and May are the hottest months, but due to the location, it rarely gets cool except in the mountainous northern region in the months of September to January.

If you want to spend most of your days lounging on Thailand’s beaches, the best time to visit is probably the peak season months of November to March. However, Thailand is a great to place visit at any time of year, and those who find the heat and humidity overwhelming will enjoy the heavy but short bursts of rain during the wet season. 

Visa

Visas may be required in order to enter or transit through certain countries depending on your passport nationality, your reason for travel and how long you intend to stay.

Visa, passport and entry rules are subject to change and you should check the most up-to-date information from the relevant embassy or visa specialist.

To make things easier we have teamed up with The Travel Visa Company who are one of the UK’s leading travel visa specialists. You can use their website, alongside embassy websites,  to find out the specific entry requirements for the countries you intend to travel to.

For a fee, their dedicated team of experts can also apply for visas on your behalf, taking away the hassle and streamlining the process for you if you wish. For more details on the services they provide please click here – The Travel Visa Company

Passport

Passports must be kept in good condition. Travellers with damaged passports may be refused entry at immigration. It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure that all travel documents are in good condition before they travel. Most countries will also require at least 6 months of validity on your passport from the time you finish your trip.

Further Entry Requirements

Some countries will require proof of certain vaccines, such as yellow fever or covid, in order to gain entry. Please check with the relevant embassy or a visa specialist before travelling.

The language spoken in Thailand is Thai, and you’ll likely pick up the odd word here or there. Unless you’re keen to learn the language, a phrase book isn’t a necessity as English is spoken in most tourist areas.

The locals are a friendly bunch and will be more than willing to chat. You might find it comical when they eagerly drop phrases like’ lovely jubbly’ into a conversation. 

The electric current in Thailand is 220V and the cycle is 50Hz.

Thailand uses the same two flat-prong plugs as the USA. Sometimes this comes with a third round prong which acts as the earth. You, therefore, need an adapter for your appliances which fits these “American” sockets.

Although a handshake is accepted in Thailand, common courtesy – especially when greeting an elder – is that you should favour the wai – a slight bow with palms pressed together.

If you don’t want to receive a disapproving look, then don’t touch a Thai person on the head. The head is regarded as the highest part of the body – literally as well as figuratively – and touching it is considered rude.

When visiting one of the many stunning Thai temples, make sure your shoulders and knees are covered as a mark of respect.  You should also remove your shoes in temples, something you also need to do when entering a Thai home. 

In Thailand, it is a criminal offence to make critical or defamatory comments about the King or other members of the Royal family. This is known as Lèse Majesté and is punishable by a prison sentence of three to fifteen years, or longer. Foreign nationals have been convicted of Lèse Majesté, so you should strictly observe this law while visiting Thailand.

Public displays of affection with the opposite sex are frowned upon in certain parts of Thailand.

Please note that you are not allowed to bring vaporisers (eg. e-cigarettes) and refills into Thailand. If you are found to have these items, it is likely they will be confiscated and you could be heavily fined or face a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The supply or sale of e-cigarettes or similar is also banned in Thailand, if convicted you could face up to 5 years in prison.

Smoking any form of tobacco is illegal on some beaches in Thailand. The penalty for violating the ban is a large fine or imprisonment. Please check local signs before smoking in public areas.

Ethical treatment of animals

While Thai attitudes to elephants and other wildlife are slowly changing for the better, elephant riding is still widespread in Thailand and you may be offered the opportunity to ride elephants by other tourism companies in the country. Gap 360 does not support elephant riding and we do not offer any elephant riding as part of our experiences. We encourage our travellers to not take part in any experiences that involve the mistreatment of animals. This includes visiting places that mistreat tigers or other wildlife.

We have selected what we believe to be the key points that you should be aware of when travelling in Thailand.

Gap 360 follows advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and we recommend that you frequently check the FCDO for updated travel advice. You can find the website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office

Please check our general Travel Advice section for more detailed information and general health and safety advice.

Crime

Assaults and robberies have been reported in popular tourist areas of Thailand, including Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Krabi, and Chaweng on Koh Samui. You should take extra care, particularly at night.

Exercise caution when visiting Koh Phangan, especially during Full Moon and Black Moon parties, as these events can attract opportunistic crime.

Avoid accepting drinks from strangers, particularly at clubs and parties in areas like Koh Samui, Pattaya, and during Koh Phangan’s Full and Black Moon events.

Be vigilant against credit card fraud. Always keep your card in sight during transactions and protect your PIN.

Travel

We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.

Passenger boats are a common way to get between the mainland and the Thai islands. Avoid travelling on overloaded boats or those in poor conditions and take care at all times. Make sure life jackets are available. On Koh Phangan, during the Full Moon parties, speedboats to and from the island are often overloaded.

Adventure activities and swimming

Bungee jumping can be dangerous and accidents do happen. If you want to bungee jump in Thailand, you should check that the company has the right safety features, is using the most up-to-date equipment and are fully licensed and insured.

Use a licensed and reliable tour guide if you go jungle trekking in Thailand. Take care when swimming in coastal regions, especially in the monsoon season. Strong riptides in areas such as Phuket, Koh Chang, Hua Hin, Cha-am, Rayong and Pattaya and the Koh Samui. Pay attention to warning signs, particularly red flags and only swim from approved beaches. Jellyfish can sometimes come close to the shore, especially during the rainy season, so always exercise caution when swimming.

If you are swimming, diving, kayaking or white water rafting in rivers or close to waterfalls, particularly in the rainy season (May to October) take care as currents can be extremely strong.

When renting jet skiis or water sports equipment, you should be satisfied that adequate safety precautions are in place, and only rent from a reputable, licensed and insured provider. Check for damage before use and make sure they offer training. Do not allow your passport to be held as a guarantee against returning a jet ski.

If diving, check a dive operator’s credentials carefully before using them and make sure you’re covered by your insurance. Inexperienced divers should ask their dive operator to explain what cover they offer before signing up. Make sure safety equipment is available on the boat, particularly oxygen.

Drugs

Possession of illegal drugs in Thailand can lead to imprisonment. Amphetamines and ecstasy are regarded as Class A drugs and possession or trafficking carries the same penalties as heroin. 

Importing more than 200 cigarettes per person is illegal and is enforced at customs at the airport on arrival. 

Passports

The law in Thailand states you must carry your passport with you at all times, and tourists who are unable to produce their passport on request risk arrest. You should ensure you have completed the next of kin details section in the back of your passport.

Rainy season

The rainy season in Thailand runs from May to October, with the monsoon at its peak in September and October. In Koh Samui and the South East of the Thai peninsula, the rainy season is from November to March.

Health

Check at least 8 weeks before your trip starts that you have all the necessary vaccinations. All hospitals in Thailand will require a guarantee of payment before treating patients, so always make sure you are protected by travel insurance.

Dengue fever is present in Thailand, and you should use measures to avoid mosquito bites.

Drink spiking

Keep an eye on your drink at all times to prevent drink spiking, and don’t drink too much. This rule applies everywhere, especially at events such as the Full/Black Moon parties. Take extra care about taking drinks from strangers and don’t leave your drinks unattended.

While you’re enjoying yourself, it’s important to be aware of the risk of drink spiking and methanol poisoning, so it’s worth familiarising yourself with the steps you can take to help you keep safe. To learn more visit the FCDO Travel Aware page on spiking and methanol poisoning and visit FCDO Travel Advice for information specific to Thailand.

Full Moon/Black Moon/Half Moon Party

If you are visiting Thailand, you may well time your trip to coincide with a legendary Full Moon, Black Moon or Half Moon Party! Known as one of Thailand’s must-do amazing experiences, the famous Full Moon party attracts thousands of visitors a month, who flock to the laid-back paradise island of Koh Phangan to experience this wild and wonderful all-night party first hand! If you miss the Full Moon Party, never fear, the equally fun-filled, buzzing Black Moon Party or Half-moon Party means a party is never far away in Koh Phangan.

The Full Moon party is held at Haad Rin beach and people from all over the world come every month for this unforgettable night; expect to see anywhere from 10,000 – 30,000 people! You will find everything from trance to reggae being played from dusk until the sun rises the next morning. The Black Moon party is held on Baan Tai beach, and you’ll enjoy a magical and memorable night filled with the latest trance music and guest DJs. Whichever party you end up at, it should be one of the best nights of your life and one you’ll be talking about for a long time to come. Please read carefully the health and safety advice below to ensure your Full/Black Moon party night is memorable for all the right reasons.

• We advise against skipping with fire at the Full Moon parties.
• Keep your shoes on: with thousands of glass bottles being drunk from, it’s inevitable that some will get broken and left in the sand.
• Thialand is notorious for the ‘buckets’ of drink that are readily available. They are a mix of a Red Bull equivalent, Coca Cola and a large quantity of vodka or Thai whisky. The Red Bull sold in Thailand contains something called ephedra, which is said to contain the same amount of caffeine as 6 cups of coffee. Mixing this with alcohol can be dangerous, so be sure to drink responsibly.
• Crowds increase the risk of theft, especially at the Full/Black Moon party. Carry only what you need and keep valuables locked away. For photos, consider using a disposable camera instead of leaving your camera unattended.
• After a few drinks, you might start thinking that swimming or playing in the sea seems appealing, but the sea in Thailand is full of strong waves and currents and there’s a real risk of drowning, especially if you’re too drunk to pay attention. 

Hydration

Thailand’s tropical climate is hot and humid year-round, which means your body loses more fluids than usual – especially if you're exploring temples, hiking, or lounging on the beach. Dehydration can sneak up quickly, leading to fatigue, dizziness, or even heatstroke. So it is important to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day and during the evenings.