Thailand travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 9 min read

Thailand is one of the easiest places in Asia to travel for the first time, and one of the hardest to leave. Bangkok runs on street food and river boats, Chiang Mai is temples and mountains, and the south has limestone cliffs rising straight out of warm, green water. Almost everything is cheap, the food is excellent at every price, and people are quick to help when you look lost.

The one thing that catches people out is the weather. Thailand has two coasts with different rainy seasons, so the right month for one beach is the wrong month for the other. This guide covers when to go, where, a two-week route, and how to plan it with friends.

Capital: Bangkok
Currency: Thai baht (฿)
Languages: Thai
Plugs: Type A, B, C and O, 230 V
Driving: On the left
Time zone: UTC+7, no daylight saving
Best time to go: November to February
Daily budget: About US$70–130 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

Cool season (November to February) is the best time for most of the country: sunny, drier and less humid, with the sea calm on the Andaman coast around Phuket and Krabi. It's also the busiest and most expensive time, especially around Christmas and New Year, when beach hotels fill months ahead. In the north, mornings in Chiang Mai and the hills can be properly cool.

Hot season (March to May) is hot and heavy, often well above 35 °C in Bangkok and the north. In the north, smoke from burning fields and forests can make the air poor from about February to April, so Chiang Mai is best avoided then. This is a good season for the islands, with cheaper rooms, and mid-April brings Songkran, the Thai new year, a nationwide water fight that closes some businesses and fills the roads.

Rainy season (June to October) brings short, heavy downpours, usually in the afternoon, rather than constant rain. It's green, cheaper and quieter, and a fine time for Bangkok, the north and temples. The Andaman Sea is rougher, with red flags on beaches and some boats and islands closed. The Gulf coast, around Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, is drier for much of the middle of the year and wetter in October to December.

In November, the full-moon festival of Loy Krathong sees floating lanterns and candlelit baskets on rivers and ponds across the country, and Chiang Mai also celebrates with lanterns in the sky. It's beautiful, and hotels fill in advance.

Where to go

Bangkok

A huge, loud, exciting city of river and canals, glittering temples, markets and some of the best food in the world. See the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, ride a boat on the Chao Phraya, and eat at street stalls in Chinatown. Three or four days is enough for a first visit. The city is hot, so plan outdoor sights for the morning. For a day-by-day plan, see the 3-day Bangkok itinerary.

Ayutthaya and Sukhothai

The ruined capitals of old Siam, with brick temples and stone Buddhas in historic parks. Ayutthaya is a day trip from Bangkok, around an hour and a half away. Sukhothai is further north and quieter, good for a night on the way to Chiang Mai if you have the time.

Chiang Mai

The northern capital sits among mountains and has a walled old town full of temples, cooking schools and night markets. Nearby are waterfalls and hill-tribe villages, and Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in the country. Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary where the animals are not ridden. Three or four days.

Chiang Rai and Pai

Chiang Rai, three hours north, is known for the White Temple, a modern fantasy of white and mirrored glass, and the Blue Temple. Pai is a small mountain town popular with backpackers, with hot springs and canyons; the road to it is famously winding.

Phuket, Krabi and the Andaman coast

Phuket is Thailand's largest island, with busy beaches and nightlife; Krabi and Railay, on the mainland, have limestone cliffs, climbing and long-tail boats. From here boats run to Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, and to the sea-canoeing bays of Phang Nga. Best between November and April. Allow five days for the area.

Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao

The Gulf islands. Samui has the airport and resorts, Phangan is known for its full-moon parties and quieter bays, and Koh Tao is one of the cheapest places in the world to learn to dive. Weather is best from January to August. Allow five days.

Khao Sok

A national park of rainforest and limestone peaks around a huge lake, reached by minivan from Phuket, Krabi or Surat Thani. Sleep in a floating bungalow on the lake and see gibbons and hornbills at dawn. One or two nights.

Isan and the east

The north-east, called Isan, has Khmer temples, great regional cooking and few tourists. The east coast has Koh Chang, a large forested island that is easy from Bangkok. Both are for a second trip.

A 14-day itinerary

Days 1–4: Bangkok. Spend the first day getting over the flight and walking the river and Chinatown. Do the palace and temples early on day two, and keep an evening for a night market. Add a day trip to Ayutthaya if you like ruins.

Days 5–8: Chiang Mai. Take the overnight sleeper train, or a one-hour flight, from Bangkok. Spend three days in the old town, the mountains and a sanctuary, and one on a day trip to Chiang Rai.

Days 9–14: The islands. Fly south to Krabi or Phuket. Spend the first three days in Krabi and on a boat to the islands, then a day in Khao Sok or Phang Nga Bay. For the last stretch, fly to Bangkok and home, or cross to the Gulf for beaches and diving if the season allows.

With less time, skip the north and spend a week in Bangkok plus one coast. For ideas for the rest of south-east Asia, read the guides to Vietnam and Indonesia.

Getting around

Flights are cheap and quick between Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the south, and are worth using on a short trip. Book ahead for holidays.

The overnight train between Bangkok and Chiang Mai takes around twelve hours and has sleeper berths. It's a good way to save a night's hotel cost; book early for the lower berths and for busy weeks. Trains elsewhere are slow, cheap and scenic.

Buses and minivans link the rest of the country. Long-distance buses run overnight; minivans connect towns to ferry piers and airports. Check the departure point before you book.

Ferries and boats connect the islands. Weather can cancel sailings in the rainy season, so don't plan a tight flight home straight after a ferry. See island hopping by ferry for how to plan the crossings.

In Bangkok, use the BTS Skytrain and MRT metro for most journeys, as the traffic is heavy; river boats are also quick. Ride-hailing apps work in all the main cities and are easier than haggling with tuk-tuk drivers. Always agree a price first if you do take a tuk-tuk or songthaew, the pick-up truck used as a shared taxi.

Driving is on the left. Renting a scooter is common on the islands, but many travel insurance policies don't cover riding without the right licence, and accidents are frequent. Check before you ride.

Money and costs

Cash is still king for street food, markets, small shops, taxis and boats; ATMs are everywhere, but foreign cards are charged a fixed fee on each withdrawal, so take out larger sums less often. Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants. Read how to pay abroad before you go.

Tipping isn't expected. Rounding up a taxi fare or leaving the small change at a restaurant is appreciated, and a small tip for a masseuse or guide is normal.

Food, local transport and massages cost little. Flights between regions, island boat trips, scuba diving and beach resorts at Christmas are the big costs. Prices for visitors can differ from prices for locals, and it's fine to ask the price before you order.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$30–55, with hostels or basic rooms, street food and buses.
Mid-range: about US$70–130, with hotels, restaurant meals and some flights and tours.
Comfortable: US$200 and up, with resorts, private boat trips and good dinners.

Planning Thailand as a group

Thailand is easy for groups because everything is cheap enough to share.

Stays. Villas with a pool for six to ten people are common on Phuket and Koh Samui, and they work well when divided. In cities and the north, book connecting rooms or a family room. Read where to stay with a group before you choose.

Transport. A car with a driver, or a minivan with a driver, is cheap for a group and saves working out buses. Agree the price and the route up front.

Boats and tours. Day trips to the islands and snorkelling tours are usually priced per person and often cheaper if you book ahead for a group; check what's included, such as lunch, park fees and gear, and what isn't.

Splitting. With cash used for most small things, it's easy for one person to pay and others to owe them in baht. Log each cost when it happens, and settle at the end.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of Thailand and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs, scooter use if you plan it, and cancellations in the rainy season.
Connectivity: an eSIM or a local SIM at the airport is easy and cheap. See eSIMs and staying connected.
A plug adapter: sockets vary and often accept several types; a universal adapter is safest. The voltage is 230 V.
Health: ask a travel clinic about vaccines well before you go. Mosquitoes carry dengue in cities and on islands, so use repellent. Drink bottled or filtered water.
Customs: dress modestly at temples, with shoulders and knees covered, and take your shoes off before entering. Never touch a person's head or point your feet at a Buddha image or a person. Speak respectfully about the royal family, as criticism is against the law. A wai, pressing your palms together with a small bow, is the polite greeting.

What to pack

Light, loose, breathable clothes in cotton or linen, plus one outfit with covered shoulders and knees for temples. Flip-flops or sandals that slip off easily, and one pair of closed shoes if you'll walk or hike.

Bring sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent and a light rain jacket or a small umbrella for the rainy season. A dry bag keeps your phone safe on boat trips. For the mountains near Chiang Mai in the cool season, pack a fleece or jumper for evenings.