THAILAND
DESTINATION GUIDE

The Ultimate Guide Before You Plan for your Next Trip

Bangkok Phuket Pattaya chiang-mai krabi koh-samui

Thailand, a name which has now become synonymous to white sandy beaches, crystal clean water, limestone cliffs, dense forests, and fabulous night parties has many things in store for its tourists. From secluded paradise islands to busy street markets of Bangkok, Thailand is definitely the ultimate holiday destination for the Indian tourists. The unique Thai culture and the spicy Thai food with lots of cocktails will offer you the time of time as you can find open-air nightclubs located just beside some enchanting waterfalls. The place is where people stay in harmony with nature and yet have a lot of fun.

Attractions in Thailand

From historic towns to fabulous beach resort destinations, the attractions in Thailand are bound to give you a thrilling time.

Khao Yai National Park

Located in the eastern part of Thailand this place is the third-largest national park of Thailand. Known for its huge collection of Indian elephants this place is the natural habitat of many other wild animals like the black bear, deer, monkeys, and many other tropical animals. The place also has a huge number of birds. But what makes this place very special is the fact that you can go on for a jungle trek and see how the friendly elephants are being fed and bathed. There are a number of waterfalls in the area and you will most definitely find plenty of elephants casually roaming around the place. This park is an absolute paradise for nature and animal lovers and no where else in the world you will get an opportunity to come so up close to the wild.

Koh Nang Yuan

This tiny slice of island, very close to Ko Tao has very popular beaches for the tourists to enjoy. The sand is white and powdery and the water is crystal clear. It is the perfect location if you are willing to go somewhere to scuba dive or snorkeling. The dense forestland on the rocky terrain of limestone offers you a picture perfect backdrop as you can even stay overnight in this beautiful place. The open air restaurants and pubs make way for an enthralling nightlife and you can encounter quite a hip crowd in this area as a number of backpackers from Europe visit the place on their gap years. The seafood delicacies are fascinating in this place as you will never be tired of the view from the island.

Railay Beach

Perhaps the most famous beach in Thailand is known for its fabulous view and the soft white sand, under your feet. It is definitely a slice of heaven on earth and the beach provides you with all sorts of fun and frolic that you can imagine. It is always a party-like atmosphere when it comes to the Railay Beach as you can take part in the different water-based activities and if it proves to be too much for you then you can definitely take a boat cruise down to the various surrounding islands. There are many small coral cliffs surrounding the place, covered with dense forestation. This kind of landscape makes Railay beach an ideal rock climbing destination. You will find tourists from all across the globe flocking in Railay for a rock climbing adventure.

Nong Nooch

Once a lush green Thai village is now converted into a popular tourist attraction in the form of a beautiful botanic garden. This enchanting garden has several themed sections for you to come and enjoy. There is a 17th century French style garden along with European Renaissance garden making the place even more charming for the visitors. The place is ideal for a nice stroll for the tourists to enjoy as you can find many locals gathering here to have a picnic or two. There are also separate sections for specific plant categories like the tropical palm trees and a beautiful section of bonsai. The Thai Cultural Hall is also located in this garden where many performance artists perform on a regular basis.

Khao Yai National Park

Koh Nang Yuan

Railay Beach

Nong Nooch

Khao Yai National Park

Koh Nang Yuan

Railay Beach

Nong Nooch

Khao Yai National Park

Koh Nang Yuan

Railay Beach

Nong Nooch

Khao Yai National Park

Koh Nang Yuan

Railay Beach

Nong Nooch

Chiang Mai

Apparently a normal Thai street, Chiang Mai, gets a new life every Sunday night when food hawkers and vendors line the streets with their swanky stalls selling all kinds of Thai delicacies and mouthwatering treats that you can imagine. The Sunday Night Walking Street of Chiang Mai attracts a decent enough crowd, both locals and the tourists, and it is indeed a spectacle for you to savor. Starting from the famous pad Thai to crab cakes, from delicious chicken recipes to Indian snacks like samosas, you will get all kinds of comfort foods that you can imagine. The place enters a festive mode each Sunday as the decorations of the stalls comprise of Chinese lanterns, oil paintings, and various tribal designs.

Sukhothai Old City

The ancient capital of Thailand is a peace heaven for photographers and nature enthusiasts. Quite different from the vibrant lifestyle of Bangkok this old quaint town is ready to give you off-beat Thai experience. Considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site this place has many ancient relics and architectures that links back to the past of Thailand. Considering the number of historical artifacts and the monuments this place has, it can easily be regarded as the most important historic site of Thailand. The place consists of a long list of temples and architectures which connects back to Thailand's origin of Buddhist devotion and each of these structures narrates a story of its own.

Jomtien Beach

Stretching for about six kilometers this Thai beach offers a welcome relief to the tourists from the hustles and bustles of the city life. This bright golden shores of Pattaya allows you to enjoy a relaxing sunbathing experience as you can also savor the lush coconut plantation lining the entire beach. It is definitely not a dumb and boring beach where you are forced to just sit and grab a cold beer but if you are daring enough you can also go for many water-sporting adventures. Tourists from all across the world gather here to jet-ski, para-sail, kite-surf and enjoy many kinds of water-based frivolities. There are a plenty of nice cafes and shacks all around the beach from where you can grab a nice seafood lunch.

Ao Nang

Formally known as the Princess Bay this beach in Krabi is something for everyone. The enchanting stretch of land is now covered in proper walking pavement thereby making it easier for the pedestrians to have a nice afternoon and an evening walk. The place also has a huge range of nice restaurants and with the beautiful Andaman beachfront you can enjoy a really nice view of the crystal clear water. In case you are not willing to take a stroll down the pavement you can walk down to the beach and enjoy the view. You can take some boat trips to the surrounding islands like the Ko Hong, the beautiful Ko Poda and also the Chicken Island which is locally known as the Ko Gai.

Floating Markets

The floating markets of Thailand are certainly an authentic thing which will allow you to savor the flavors of this mystical oriental land. Long wooden boats carrying fruits, vegetables, spices, and tasty delicacies float around the bays of several harbors of Thailand selling their items to interested buyers. It is an spectacle to enjoy as you can see how the boats hustle against each other drawing the attention of the potential buyers and how they maneuver their way through the narrow canals connecting the bay with the sea. The floating markets are scattered across different parts of Thailand and the biggest one is located in Bangkok.

In the Spotlight

You will never be short of choices of restaurants and pubs when it comes to Thailand. The ultimate food destination will allow you to explore many kinds of cuisines in the cities and also in the beaches and islands. From Chinese to Indian, Thai to Italian, all sorts of delicacies will be served to you in the restaurants of Thailand. The fabulous seafood paradise will get you a chance to delve into some serious culinary delight. From the spicy to sweet, from tangy to salty, you are bound to get a fabulous time eating at a restaurant in Thailand.

Eat Me : This multi-cuisine restaurant of Bangkok specializes in Thai, Pacific, and Middle-Eastern delicacies. The ultra-modern restaurant run by international chef Tim Butler offers the guests with his experimental specialties. Read More

The decor of the place is absolutely stunning as this eatery, hidden behind some greenery tempts you to have a fabulous time. The minimalist decor of the place appeals to all kinds of crowd as there are art exhibitions and music performances hosted at the place. The fusion kitchen makes way for innovative recipes like the rabbit ragu, black truffle, and risotto. Overall you are bound to have a fascinating time once you step inside this restaurant. Read less

Blue Elephant: This 1980's global restaurant chain is not only a perfect lunch venue but also at the same time it offers a specialized cooking class.

The restaurant focuses mostly on traditional cooking methods and that its why it has an authentic appeal to its decor. The presentation and the setting is simply marvelous and the cuisine is also scrumptious. From satay to spring rolls, from dumplings to soup, everything is simply awesome and you should not miss out on the spicy Thai duck curry. If you are planning to taste something completely Thai then pad Thai is a must along with the delicious pork ribs and pork belly. Read less

Bo.Lan: Opened in the year 2009 this place has a very trendy and chic appeal. The entire black interior adds to the overall charm of the place as the kitchen serves some of the most delicious Thai recipes., Read More

The chef of this place has a tremendous inclination towards Thai cuisine as they makes innovative recipes possible. The interior decor of the place is mind-blowing as you can feel the rustic appeal of the place. Whilst many shacks in every odd beach of Thailand will sell you some Thai snacks but this place actually respects the heritage of Thai food and they deliver it accordingly. The chefs here put some real care in the selection of ingrediants and they make sure that you can taste some real Thai, in Thailand. Read less

Anchan Vegetarian Restaurant : The Now if you are a vegetarian and a Thai duck curry is a strict no-no for you then you will definitely love a visit in this fabulous vegetarian restaurant promoting an organic lifestyle. Read More

Starting from pastas made from potatoes this restaurant supports a completely vegan lifestyle and encourages people to embrace it. The menu of this place comprise of 100% vegetarian Thai ingredients and they are green and savory to say the least. The entire range of items is very suitable to the Indian palate and you are bound to have a nice time round here. The restaurant also serves homemade egg-less cakes at the end of your course. Read less

Suay Restaurant: If you are in a mindset of exploring authentic Thai cooking this restaurant is the right place for you. Apart from the popular Thai dishes this eatery also offers traditional dishes from the Isan region Read More

located in the northeastern border of the country. The crab cakes and the sweet chili aoili are quite special and you can also taste the tangy mango chutney which is quite popular in this place. Then you can also try out the famous roasted duck served with Thai curry and pineapple as the white-washed simplistic decor of the place evokes a welcoming essence. It is definitely one of the few genuine Asian restaurants in entire Thailand. Read less

The currency of Thailand is Thai Baht and there are many FOREX offices where you can exchange your Indian currency. You can carry as much as 10000 Thai Baht in cash from India to Thailand and it is vital that you carry much as possible because Thailand is mostly a cash dependent economy. The markets, shops, and the small eateries all accept cash payment and in order to have a true Thai experience you need to carry as much Baht you can. Some of the hotels and pubs also accept dollars and Euros but it is always safe to use the local currencies because the vendors will pay you by Baht.

Special Tips

The Thai authorities allow you to carry 10,000 Baht per person, however, if you are traveling with your family you can extend that up to 20,000 Baht per family.
Thailand is mostly a cash dependent economy and in order to get most of the Thai experience you need keep some Baht handy.
Whilst the big shopping malls will accept VISA or MasterCard, but if you are visiting the various night markets and the floating markets you need to keep some cash handy.
The seaside shacks from where you will grab some beer and food will only accept cash and along with the Tuk Tuk drivers of Bangkok you are ready to give you a fun ride.
Any place you visit you need to pay for food and experience in cash and that is why it is important that you fill your purse fully before the start of your holiday.

Entertainment & Event

The land of bizarre festivals and colorful traditions also have the most beautiful flower gardens in the world.

Flora and Fauna

Flora and Fauna

Flora and Fauna

The hardwood forestland of Thailand is home to many plants and animals. The highland forestation include plants like timber, teak, pine, and bamboos. There are also quite a thick vegetation observed in the souther banks and it includes the likes of palm, coconut, and even mangroves in some occasions. The constant rainfall in various parts of the country makes sure of the constant growth of the forestland, whilst the government takes special effort to maintain the greenery in some of the secluded islands of Thailand in order to maintain the tourism. Apart from the big trees Thailand also has 2700 different species of flowering plants making it easier for the people to decorate their gardens.

Whilst the farms of Thailand are known for their huge collections of ducks, poultry, goats, sheep, cows, and oxen there are also many animals out there in the wild. There are a huge number of monkey and gibbons all across the country and as a tourist you are bound to encounter them. You will also encounter the likes of Indian elephants in many national parks of the country. Apart from these there are other animals like in the form of rhinoceroses, tapir, different kinds of deer, wild hogs and snakes. Reptiles like monitor lizards, turtles, and crocodiles are also observed in the coastal areas.
Festivals

Festivals

Festivals

For a country which loves nightclubs and parties it is obvious that their calendar will be full of different festivals. The fun loving Thai people indulge in many kinds of customs and rituals and hence from traditional dancing to villagers taking vodka shots together, you are bound to feel the excitement wherever you go. Like for instance the Water Festival, which is locally known as Songkran is a wild occasion accompanied by music, drinking, and celebrations. Then there is the Ghost Festival or the Phi Ta Khon, which is a three day festival celebrating the mask making handicrafts of Thailand. It is a perfect blend of Buddhist and animist rituals and it is represented with gaudy colors and and bizarre clothes.

Then there is of course the lantern festival where people put up sky lantern in the November night. The gentle autumn breeze floats the lanterns and it is the perfect opportunity to take the most breathtaking photos. The Rocket Festival or the Boon Bang Fai is another fun festival of Thailand where you will find many locals bursting crackers and skyrockets. Thai people are well-connected with the nature and the Monkey Buffet Festival is another good example of it.
culture

culture

Culture

The Thai people are known for their hospitality and warmth and their love for color and food. You will feel more than welcome wherever you go in Thailand and they will embrace you with all the welcoming gesture that you can imagine. Thai people love exploring with their food and despite having a monarchy the people are very open to foreigners and they love treating them well. Culturally the Thai people are influenced by the other East Asian countries like Burma, Vietnam, and even India and you will not feel much away from home when you reach Thailand.

The people of Thailand knows how to party. The beach parties of Thailand are world known and people from all over the globe come here every year to have a fabulous time together. The music and food are swanky and live and you will feel every beat of the rhythm. The food scene is also quite vibrant here in Thailand and along with the spicy Thai cuisine you will also get a great variety of Chinese, Indian, and European foods here in Thailand.