Thailand travel guide: north, south and the islands you should actually visit (2026).

Thailand is the easiest country in Southeast Asia for a first visit and one of the best for a tenth. This Thailand travel guide focuses on the natural and rural side — beaches the day-trippers do not reach, jungle rivers, mountain hill tribes — rather than the bar streets.

Infrastructure is excellent, English is widely spoken, and food is genuinely cheap and excellent. The trade-off is that the famous spots (Phi Phi, Maya Bay, central Phuket) are crowded — the fix is to choose your islands carefully.

Bangkok (centre). Skip if you only have a week; 2 days is enough for first-timers. Eat your way through Chinatown, walk the Old City, take a klong (canal) boat.

Chiang Mai and the north. Mountains, temples, ethical elephant sanctuaries, Doi Inthanon national park. Cooler than the south. Stay 4–5 nights minimum.

Pai and the Mae Hong Son loop. The hippie hill town and the scenic motorbike loop through northern mountains. Worth 3 nights if you have time.

The Andaman coast (south-west). Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, Koh Phi Phi. Dramatic limestone cliffs, world-class snorkelling. Best November–April.

The Gulf coast (south-east). Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao. Different season — best June–September when the Andaman is wet.

Quiet alternatives. Koh Kood (south-east), Koh Lipe (far south), Khao Sok national park (south). Less developed, more landscape.

Thailand has three regional seasons. November–February is the safe country-wide window — dry, cooler, and the best time for the Andaman.

March–May is very hot (35–40°C) and ends the dry season. June–October is wet on the Andaman but dry on the Gulf — flip your island plans accordingly.

Peak prices and crowds run mid-December to early January, and around Chinese New Year. Shoulder months (November, February, March) are the sweet spot.

• Backpacker: $35–50/day (guesthouse, street food, public ferry, scooter)
• Mid-range: $80–120/day (3-star hotel with pool, mix of food, occasional taxi)
• Comfort: $200–350/day (4–5-star resort, private transfers, daily activities)

A meal of pad krapow moo at a street stall is 50–70 baht ($1.50–2). A Singha beer at 7-Eleven is 45 baht; the same beer at a beach bar is 120+ baht.

See our detailed Thailand budget travel guide for region-by-region price breakdowns.

Domestic flights on AirAsia, Thai Lion and Nok Air are cheap. Bangkok–Phuket or Bangkok–Chiang Mai for $25–40 if booked ahead.

Trains are great for some routes (Bangkok–Chiang Mai overnight is iconic, book a 2nd-class sleeper).

Buses and minivans cover everywhere. Bigger operators (Nakhonchai Air, Sombat Tour) are comfortable.

Ferries link the islands. In high season, book 1–2 days ahead.

Scooter rental is the norm on islands and in Chiang Mai (~250 baht/day). International driving permit required.

Days 1–2 — Bangkok. Chinatown food crawl, Wat Pho, klong boat through Thonburi.

Days 3–5 — Chiang Mai. Old City temples, ethical elephant sanctuary (Elephant Nature Park), Doi Suthep at sunset.

Days 6–7 — Pai. 3-hour minivan up. Pai Canyon, hot springs, slow mornings.

Day 8 — Fly Chiang Mai to Krabi (via Bangkok or direct). Transfer to Koh Lanta.

Days 9–11 — Koh Lanta. Beach days, 4-island day trip (Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, Emerald Cave), snorkel.

Day 12 — Back to Krabi airport via Trang.

Add 2 nights at Khao Sok national park between Bangkok and the south for the jungle lake experience.

• Visa: 30-day visa-exempt entry for most Western passports — extendable once for 30 days
• Carry a sarong/scarf — required for temple visits (covers knees and shoulders)
• Use the BTS Skytrain and MRT in Bangkok — traffic above ground is brutal
• Withdraw from bank ATMs (not 7-Eleven) — 220 baht foreign fee is standard
• Drink bottled water; ice in restaurants is fine (it’s factory-made)
• Smile and stay calm — losing your temper is the fastest way to a worse outcome anywhere in Thailand