Thailand - The Facts

Following the tsunami in December '04 the Foreign Office is constantly updating its advice to travellers to Thailand. Click here for their information.

Size: 200,000 square miles (517,997sq km)
Capital: Bangkok
Language: Thai
Currency: Baht
Weather: Warm and humid with temperatures as high as 40°C in March and April and 80% humidity. The monsoon season is between June and October, the coolest time is from November to February.

This is an easy country to travel in with friendly people. However it is important to be aware the monarchy is revered and treated with great respect and that religion is a very important part of Thai life. When visiting a Buddhist temple modest clothing must be worn and shoes removed. Public displays of affection, even between married couples are not considered appropriate and women must be careful not to touch or brush past monks.
Following the terrorist attacks in Bali on 12 October 2002 in which Western tourists were deliberately targeted, the Foreign Office has warned that the threat to British nationals in Thailand has increased significantly. See Further Info for Foreign Office contact details.

Thailand - Attractions

Bangkok

This teeming city with a reputation for pollution and sex shows also has havens of beauty and tranquillity. There are hundreds of temples in the city, ones not to miss include the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho which has a 50 foot high Buddha. Museums worth visiting are the National Museum and the Royal Barges Museum. The city has a network of canals called khlongs and exploring these by river taxi provides a different view of Bangkok life. Bargain hunters should head for the open-air markets at Chatuchak Park.

Phuket

This is the country's largest island and one of its main tourist destinations, which means some of the beach resorts are ugly and crowded but do have lots going on. If you're after neon and nightlife you'll enjoy Patong. If you want peace head north to Mai Khao and Nai Yang which are a national park with unspoilt beaches and marine turtles. There's masses of activities on offer such as bungy jumping, elephant trekking, sea kayaking, cookery courses and mountain biking; that's if you can tear yourself away from the spectacular diving and snorkelling. The interior is interesting too with its paddy fields, rain forests and plantations of pineapple, rubber and coconut.

Other islands that have excellent beaches, swimming and snorkelling are Ko Samui, a place of coconut plantations and palm-fringed beaches. Nearby Ko Phangan is less busy although the beach at Hat Rin is renowned for wild full moon parties. Ko Samet gets busy at weekends because it's close to Bangkok but is relatively undeveloped with some peaceful beaches.

Pattaya

Thailand's infamous sex resort is not a pretty place but then scenery is not what most people who come here are after. The town is famous for its prostitutes, transvestites, massage parlours and go-go bars. It's home to Thailand's largest gay scene too. Efforts are being made to clean up both the town's image and its environment.

Chang Mai

This lovely old city is the second largest in Thailand. There are interesting temples and markets in the town and it's a good base for exploring the north of the country. The road from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son close to the Burmese border winds through mountains, paddy fields, jungle and limestone cliffs. There are lots of mountain treks on offer, particularly to the villages of hill tribes. Nearby is Doi Suthp National Park with a 5,000 foot peak, Buddhist temple and Phuping Palace, the winter residence of the Royal Family.

National Parks

Thailand has over 80 such conservation areas. Khao Yai in the northeast is the oldest and one of the best for wildlife with elephants, bears, leopards, tigers and a good selection of snakes. Thung Salaeng Luang in the centre is one of the largest forest areas with unusual rock formations. Khao Sok is dense tropical rain forest and home to elephants, leopards and a wealth of birds, reptiles, and insects. Thaleh Ban on the Malay border has a huge variety of wildlife including the Malayan sun bear, gibbons, macaques and several rare birds. In the south of the country there are several marine and coastal parks, however many have not escaped development.

Thailand - Activities

Diving and snorkelling

Some of the best underwater scenery in the world can be found off the coasts of Thailand. All the major resorts have diving schools which provide tuition, trips to outlying islands and the necessary equipment. Pattaya and the east coast have all year diving. Gulf Coast resorts such as Ko Samui and Ko Pha Nang offer diving from January to October and the diving season on the Andaman coast is November to April.

Kayaking, canoeing and rafting

Sea kayaking tours of the islands, limestone caves and rock formations around Phuket and Ao Phang-Nga are popular. Inland raft trips are available on the Mae Klong and Kwai Rivers in Kanchanaburi Province and there's excellent white water rafting on the Pai River in Mae Hong Son Province.

Cooking Classes

Lessons on how to prepare Thai food are widely available in most towns and tourist resorts.

Thai Boxing

English language courses in Thai boxing are available in Bangkok and at Naklua, north of Pattaya. It's quite a bruising sport and the training is demanding.

Meditation programmes

Many temples and meditation centres provide instruction in English on the art of Buddhist meditation. Instruction and accommodation are often free, but donations are expected. Staying in a monastery means sticking to the eight Buddhist precepts which include not eating after mid-day, no sex, alcohol, tobacco or use of cosmetics.

Climbing

The south coast has a lot of limestone cliffs that make for good climbing. Laem Phra Nang in Krabi province has several climbing schools and equipment can be rented.

Cycling and mountain biking

Bikes are a good way of getting around once you're away from busy cities such as Bangkok with bike rental available in many towns and guest houses. If you're after flat terrain, head for the area around the Mekong River area in the north. Mountain biking is popular in the north around Chiang Mai with a good network of dirt roads in the hills.

Trekking

The main trekking areas are around Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Chiang Rai. Treks here are more about seeing the way the local hill tribes live rather than hikes for the sake of scenery. The attraction initially was the isolated and unique lifestyle of the villagers, but the tens of thousands of trekkers who go to observe this each year are likely to change that. Independent trekking is difficult as there are few maps, but hundreds of agencies offering guided treks can be found.

Thailand - Entertainment

Bangkok has a surfeit of nightlife possibilities that include backpacker bars, girlie go-go bars, British style pubs, beer gardens, clubs and discos. Patpong is the most notorious nightlife area with seedy bars that mainly cater for men, where leaving without spending is actively discouraged by large bouncers. The bars on Kao San Road attract a lot of backpackers and Silom Soi 2 is the centre of the gay activity. The music bars around Soi Langsuan and Soi Sarasin offer more sophisticated alternatives.

Some restaurants put on Thai music and dance shows and Thai boxing matches are quite an experience. You can see one most nights at the Rajdamnoen or Lumpini Stadia. They are quite violent, punching and kicking any part of the body is allowed. The Bangkok Post and The Nation have good information on what's on where.

Bangkok's mixture of nightlife is mirrored in many of the popular resorts which have similar offerings on a smaller scale.

The Thai New Year, Songkran, takes place in April. The tradition of washing statues of the Buddha has developed into huge public water fights. Alongside this are parades and lots of parties. One of the best place to celebrate Songkran is Chiang Mai, be prepared to get drenched. Kite flying contests are held around the country from February to April.

The Surin Elephant Round-Up in November is a chance for elephants to show off their log pulling and tug of war skills. They also get dressed up in medieval fighting costumes.

Around 600 monkeys are feted and fed at the Lop Buri Monkey Banquet in November. The feast is held in the Khmer ruins.

The Chiang Mai Food Festival during November and December provides a chance to watch demonstrations and try a huge range of delicious Thai food.

During November and December The River Kwai Bridge Fair provides re-enactments of the horrors of its construction with a sound and light show. Alongside this is a celebration of the present with carnivals and concerts.