Thailand is one of the popular Southeast Asian tourist destinations offering the best of travel experiences meeting the expectations of every traveler. More than 15 million tourists flock to this beautiful country annually. It is one among the very few countries still were able to maintain its rich heritage with so much of western influence these. If you are planning to visit Thailand, it is nice to scan through Thailand Travel Guide to know the famous destinations that you should not miss out during your trip. We have applied a conscious effort to bring all the important elements that are essential to make the travel guide the best source of information for Thailand travel.
To make your Thailand Travel Plan a memorable event, you should have an experienced travel agent like Indochinavalue, who are capable of handling all your travel requirements, visa, and hotel and arranging travel packages.
Thailand Culture and Thailand Travel Guide
Thailand’s culture and customs can be a bit weird to people from western countries because it is a potent mix of Indian and Chinese and unique Thai traditions. Thailand is 95% occupied by Theravada Buddhists with minorities of Christians, Muslims, and other religions. Thai Theravada Buddhists has the backing of the local government with various benefits like free public transportation, economic incentives, etc. A major portion of Thailand’s culture derived from the ethnic Thai tribes along with Buddhism, which we have moderately explained in this Thailand Travel Guide.
Wai- The Thai greeting style
Wai is the traditional greeting style of Thai people. Palms are kept together as in prayer position by bowing down your head is a simple traditional greeting style of Thailand. It is a traditional Thai style to shower respect to one another. You will have the chance to experience different types of Wai greeting styles during your Thailand travel.
The delicious Thai cuisine
Thai cuisine and foods are as rich as its history and culture. Food is one of the major inclusions of most of the social events. There are no such things as starters in Thai cuisine. When you are dining, order main course dishes and share between people. Thai people believe eating alone will bring bad luck. Therefore, they always prefer to eat in at least small groups. Thai cuisine consists of spicy foods flavored with 5 main species.
Mesmerizing Thai art
All traditional art in Thailand has tremendous influence by Hindu and Buddhist culture and architecture. You will bale to spot Buddha’s images in most of the Thai sculptures and temple arts. During your Thailand Travel, you will be able to find some of the ancient art forms belonging to the Ayutthaya, Bangkok and Sukhothai period that have their own influences in Thailand’s history.
Know the best time to visit Thailand
The weather in Thailand is complex than other countries. Although the climate varies throughout the country, the best time to visit is during the cool season, which falls between November-February. Still, during the cool season, the daytime temperature can reach up to 30 degrees but the nights will be pleasantly cool. The cool season temperature is more manageable with less rainfall. As it is the best season, no wonder that it is the busiest season too. Therefore, you need to plan things far ahead if you are planning to do your Thailand Tour during this time.
Understand the weather and climate before your Thailand Travel Plan:
Thailand experiences three main seasons during every year, which are a cold, hot and rainy season. Cool season falls on Nov-Feb, hot season is during March-May and the Rainy season is during May-October. In Thailand, The temperature varies according to regions.
For example, in South regions of Thailand, the weather is more constant whereas, in Northeast, the climate gets worse during the hot season. After cool season temperatures starts to rise and reaches its peak during March and May. The high temperatures most probably continue to stay even during the early months of rainy season. Therefore, plan your Thailand travel plan, as per your preferred season.
Do’s and Don’ts
• Do respect Buddhist culture and everything, which represents it. Buddha images are very much sacred and any insulting acts treated as blasphemy and punishable offense.
• Mind the dress code and etiquettes while visiting religious places especially temples.
• Give respect to monks and Buddhist priests.
• Do keep calm and do not raise your voice whenever having a conversation with local people.
• Bowing down a little is a form of respect as per Thai culture. Do it whenever you see a monk or an elder person.
• Showing disrespecting a Thai family and you must show respect to Thai royal families.
• Do not go by the images of Thai women in bars and pubs. Most of the local Thai women are conservative. Do not touch a woman without her consent. Show adequate respect to women.
• Sunbathing nude is offensive to local people, so avoid doing so in public even in beaches.
Currency of Thailand
Thai Bhat is the official currency of Thailand. Traveler’s checks are acceptable only at certain banks or foreign exchange shops. There are plenty of ATM’s everywhere around the country. Exchanging cash in Thailand is much easier with no extra fees.
How to Reach Thailand
As Bangkok is the main tourist hub of Thailand, you can reach the country via Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. It is one of the primary airports for both domestic and international flights. The other international airport locations are Phuket, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai and Hat Yai. Train service is available from Malaysia only from where you to reach Thailand.
Visa Requirements and procedures
All foreigners require a visa for their Thailand Tour and getting a tourist visa is easy through any Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General office. People belonging to certain countries are eligible for applying for Visa on arrival. You need to possess a passport with a validity of at least 6 months to apply for the visa. The visa is valid for 3 months in general, but you can also get a visa for an extended period up to 3 years. You also need to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are coming from a country listed in the group of yellow fever affected areas. More information is available with your travel agent, Indochinavalue.
Tips for travelers
Do not touch on head
As per Thai culture, the head is a sacred parts of the body, so do not apt anyone on their head. It might be a friendly gesture in your country but not in Thailand. You may ask permission before touch someone's head, especially of little kids.
Respect monks
Most of the Thailand Travel packages include meeting monks and talking to them. Do not be over friendly with monks and ask any personal questions to them. Do not touch their body or their clothes. If you are women, keep a distance when you are standing near to them. Women should not touch a monk as per Thai culture.
Thailand is the most economical destination:
Traveling to any of the Southeast Asian countries is much cheaper than you think. You will be able to fly to Thailand for cheap airfares. If you make a plan and spend wisely throughout the trip, the biggest expenditure will be the flight ticket. Tourists are always a victim for excess pricing and subjected to pay excess rates. However, you can have some relief if you could have an experienced Thailand Travel Guide with you, who can help you to get things for a bargain price.
Pack lighter
While packing for your Thailand Tour, you just need a lighter backpack because you can purchase almost everything you need. Even if you forget something, that is okay because you are traveling to Thailand.
Be prepared to face challenges
Indochinavalue will do its best to keep you comfortable and provide for all your needs during your Thailand Tour. However, let us be realistic, as you are going to be in a new place especially if you are a first timer visiting Asia, there are going to be many challenges on your way. There will be language and cultural differences to add up your confusions. Bu at the end of the day, you are going to experience and amazing Thailand Travel because the people here are so friendly and cooperative.
The Must see places in Thailand
Sukhothai- the old Kingdom of Glory
Sukhothai is a famous ancient kingdom of the Golden Age of Thai civilization. It features more than 190 ancient heritage sites spread out in the midst of lakes, trees, villages and rice fields in various regions. Sukhothai historical park is one of the famous tourist destinations marked as the world heritage site by UNESCO. It is also the venue for the famous Loy Krathong festival, held each year at the time of full moon in Thailand.
How to get there
Sukhothai has a small bus station, and it is easy to reach by buses and taxis from almost all the other cities. You can find regular minibus services from Mae Sot, and it will take about a 3 hours journey to reach there. Now Sukhothai is dived into 2 different districts mainly known as New and old Sukhothai. New Sukhothai is Muang Mai and old Sukhothai is Muang Gao.
Things to do
There are many popular attractions like Wat Mahathat and Wat Si Chum to visit, but there are many unknown destinations worth for a visit. While a couple of days are enough for most of the people, it is nice to spend a week in Sukhothai. Sai Rung Waterfall, Ramkamhaeng National Park, Muang Mai, Wat Saphan Hin, Sangkhalok Museum, Wat Si Chum, Wat Chetupon, Wat Phra Phai Luang and cities like Si Satchalanai and Kamphaeng Phet are some of the areas where you can visit. Ramkamhaeng was one of the powerful kings of the bygone era and regarded as the father of Thailand.
Ayutthaya- The Ancient capital city
Ayutthaya or Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya is an ancient capital city in Thailand. It became the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai. It is an island at the conjunction of three rivers namely Chao Phraya river, Lopburi river and the Pa Sak river. The old glorious kingdom of Thailand is one of the major historical highlights of the Thailand tour. With 3 palaces and over 400 temples, Ayutthaya continues to be an amazing city since ancient times.
How to get there
Public transport services by train and minivan are the easy modes of transportation to reach the place. You can find many daily train services to Ayutthaya from Bangkok. The train journey takes around 1 and half hours with a few stops. Minivan services are also available regularly leaving from the Victory Monument in Bangkok. The journey takes about 1 hour from Bangkok and cost very less amount. Buses are not a practical option for the Thailand travel program because the northern bus station is far away from most of the cities and it takes a very long time.
Things to do
There are a lot of historical places and temples clustered together in Ayutthaya. You can find many impressive Wats located outside of the island. Wat Chai Wattanaram, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, Wat Phanan Choeng are some must see places in Thailand. Moreover, there are many resorts and home stays around the city, if you are looking for a comfortable stay. The massive annual world heritage fair conducted in Ayutthaya in the month of December. The famous Loi Krathong festival also celebrated in November during the full moon. There will be a small entry fee to some of the mentioned locations.
Pattaya- The City of Wild night party scenes
When you think about Thailand naturally, Pattaya will dominate because of its exotic attractions. It is a resort city in Thailand offering endless choices for entertainment, accommodation, and nightlife. From a quiet village to today's exotic nightlife, Pattaya has gone through a stunning transformation. Wild party nightlife and fantastic water beach resorts attract tourists to the place.
How can you reach Pattaya?
Pattaya is to the southeast of Bangkok, and it is one of those easiest cities to reach because of the easy proximity from the national highway. The nearest airport is the U-Tapao Airport located around 30 km away from the city, but it offers only limited access to some of the places. Another airport is the Suvarnabhumi airport located 120 km away from the city and it takes about 90 minutes to reach the airport.
Suvarnabhumi has excellent connectivity with almost all of the popular locations in Pattaya. Regarding bus services, frequent services are available from Bangkok to most of the main terminals in Pattaya. The train journey is also another relaxed mode of travel to enjoy your Thailand Travel. By taxi, you will take about 2 hours to reach Pattaya from Bangkok.
Things to do
It is hard to cover all the possible things to do in Pattaya because of the plethora of possibilities available. It might be easy to talk about things that you cannot do in Pattaya because there aren’t any. Jet Skiing, Parasailing are some of the popular water sports you can enjoy at Pattaya's beautiful beaches. Some of the must-see destinations in Thailand and Pattaya are Sanctuary of Truth, Anek Kusala Sala, Ko Lan, Khao Phra Tamnak, Art in Paradise, Greta Farm, Underwater world and Dolphin Roundabout. Many of these locations charge nominal entry fees.
Indochinavalue Thailand Tour Packages
Indochinavalue is a reputable tour operator located in Vietnam. With years of experience in the tourism industry, the company is competent enough to the different requirements of travelers. The tour operator offers a lot of travel packages and tailor made packages accommodating all of your requirements. Some of the best Thailand Travel Packages are as follows:
The most amazing Thailand & Cambodia tour
The Thailand Travel Package is an 18-day tour to some of the most stunning destinations in Indochina. The tour starts at Bangkok and ends at Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The trip offers a lot of destinations and things to do. The destinations include Bangkok, Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, Phi Phi Island, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Angkor complex, Tonle Sap Lake, Local community village, Phnom Penh and
Battambang.
Elephant tour is one of the highlights of this trip. You will get a chance to visit the most famous Mae-Sa elephant camp in the country. It gives you a broad idea about everything connected with elephants.
Luxury Thailand and Vietnam Tour
The Thailand Tour package is a 23-day luxury trip starting from Bangkok and ends at Hanoi in Vietnam. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand welcoming more travelers than any other city. Known for its ancient shrines and vibrant nightlife, it is also the most populous city in the country.
You can have many activities like sightseeing, dining, and shopping to do in the city throughout the trip. Luxurious stay and dining facilities are the specialties of the package. The destinations include Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi an, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Le Jarai, Mekong Delta, and Cu Chi tunnel.
Honeymoon holiday in Thailand and Vietnam
Thailand is a beautiful country and perfect location for a honeymoon trip. If you want to spend your honeymoon, opt for a 14-day Thailand Travel Package. Thailand is capable of catering all your fantasies with a gorgeous backdrop, fantastic beaches, luxurious resorts, and other splendid sights. You are going to have mind-blowing moments through this trip.
Whatever you want, you simply name it, and you will get it. Phuket is one of the most romantic honeymoon destinations in the country. The destinations include Bangkok, Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, Chiang Rai, Hanoi and Halong Bay. This vacation is going to be perfect as you enjoy a beach walk with your sweetheart.
Amazing Thailand tour with Elephants and Beaches
The Thailand Travel Package is an excellent choice if you want to club adventure along with other classic activities. The trip also included an exclusive short to trip to the elephant hills where you will be able to see herds of Thai elephants. It is more than just watching them; you also get to pay along with them. If you are an elephant lover, you are going to love this part of the tour.
The other attraction of this 12-day tour is the visit to the Bangkok cooking school. Foodies will thoroughly enjoy this, as it is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the famous Thai cuisine. You are going to learn some of the exclusive tips for making Thai food before returning home. The must see places in Thailand include Bangkok, Phuket, and Krabi.
Luxury Thailand and Vietnam Tour
The hidden streets of cities in Thailand and Vietnam contain cultural treasures. With rich sceneries and proud tradition, these countries are beyond perfect spots to spend your vacation in a luxurious manner. The destinations include Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Halong Bay, Hoi an, Hanoi, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Cu Chi tunnels and Le Jarai.
Throughout the trip, you are going to enjoy the beauty of the beaches and some of the unique ancient towns. A luxurious dinner cruise is a great way to end your day and is the highlighted part of the Thailand travel package.
Highlights of Thailand & Cambodia holiday
The sparkling blue water beaches, natural landscape, world heritage sites make the Thailand and Cambodia holiday package a special one. You are going to spend your vacation reveling in the sand, exploring dark forests and discovering how incredible the local life is.
In this Thailand travel package, you will visit Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor, and Tonle Sap Lake. You will also be visiting elephant hills, take part in Bangkok cooking classes, visiting local community villages, and do long tail boats ride.
Deeply impressed Thailand & Vietnam
Deeply impressed Thailand and Vietnam tour is a Thailand Travel Package, which is 100% loyal to its name. It gives an excellent opportunity to explore the 2 countries in a span of 20 days. Get to know more about the culture, traditions and customs and daily life of local Thailand community.
It is a custom-made trip for people who love to discover the country's incredible history and natural landscapes.
The destinations include Bangkok, Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, Phi Phi Island, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Danang, Hoi An, Tra Que, Ho Chi Minh, and Mekong. The highlights of this tour are elephant tour, island tour, the traditional Thai style Khan-Toke dinner, and Cruising and spa services.
Best of Central and Northern Thailand tour
It is an 8-day Thailand tour covers both the central and northern parts of the country. The tour includes visiting a lot of temples and ancient landmarks. If you are interested in knowing the old culture of Thailand in detail, you will love the trip more. The ancient Thailand capital, Ayutthaya is one of the famous destinations included in the tour.
Composite arrangements let you know the history of historical monuments and Thai architecture in a better way during this trip. The destinations included are Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phrae, Chiang Rai, Akha village, Golden Triangle, Chiang Mai and Doi Suthep.
The real adventure in Thailand and Cambodia
It is an 18-day Thailand travel, starting from Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Adventure lovers have all reasons to be a part of this trip because it will take you the most beautiful and adventurous locations. Activities like trekking, hill climbing, cycling, and other outdoor adventurous sports are a part of this tour. Excursions to the wilderness will help you to discover the wildlife and daily lives of tribes living in these areas.
In this package, you will have the must see places in Thailand including Bangkok, River Kwai, Hintok Tented Camp, Chiang Mai Tour, Trat, Koh Chang, Poi Pet border, Siem Reap, Phnom Bok, Banteay Srei, Bengmealea and Phnom Kulen.
Conclusion
Gifted with pristine beaches, fascinating culture and amazing climate, Thailand is one of the incredible tourist destinations in the world. Indochinavalue provides many exciting tour packages to explore the splendors of the country. You will have fantastic tour support from Thailand Travel Guide throughout your trip to make your visit a pleasant experience. Thailand never fails to enchant its visitors! Pay a visit to this beautiful country to experience the hidden beauty and treasure.
