Thailand travel guide




Thailand is...
Thailand isn't...
Our Thailand Holidays
Thailand tailor made holiday, elephants, jungle & beach
Elephant encounters, jungle treehouses and stunning Thai islands
Thailand adventure holiday, self drive Tuk Tuk
A Tuk Tuk Adventure in the stunning mountains of Thailand
Thailand family holidays
A fabulous family holiday including the best of Thailand
Thailand wildlife holiday, elephants & waterfalls
Family adventure or private tour for 2. Xmas availability!
Thailand beach & rainforest holiday
Thailand city, beach, and rainforest soft adventure holiday
Northern Thailand small group tour
Temples, ancient ruins & exotic markets of Northern Thailand
Thailand culture and beach holiday
Explore Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai & Koh Samui
Thailand family holiday, tailor made
Activity packed family holiday in the land of smiles.
Small group cooking holiday in Thailand
2-week Adventure. £1,575 exc flights. No Single Supplement!
Thailand photography tour
A 2-week, fully guided photography tour of Thailand
Northern Thailand and Laos cultural holiday
Overland tour from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Thailand tour, mountains & rainforests
From Bangkok back-streets to Andaman Sea islands
Thailand, Vietnam & Laos holiday
Some of Asia’s most remote but spectacular regions
Indochina holiday, Hanoi to Bangkok via Angkor
Awesome adventure through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand
Family tour to Cambodia and Thailand
Ruined Cities, Tropical Islands, 2-week private family tour
Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City
Thailand to Southern Vietnam via Angkor Wat
Thai Indo China holiday
An unusual journey across southern Indochina
Cycling holiday to Indochina and Angkor Wat
Cross three countries with contrasting recent histories
Thailand holiday, culture and beach
Experience Thailand's history, culture and tropical beaches
Thailand island hopping holiday
White sands beach paradise in Koh Chang, Koh Maak & Koh Kood
Learn to drive a Tuk Tuk & holiday in Thailand
A unique adventure in the mountains of Chiang Mai
Indochina tour, small group
Experience the diversity of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Indochina tours
An awesome adventure Cambodia Laos Thailand & Vietnam
North Thailand group holiday, a food adventure
Experience the freshness, tanginess and spiciness of Thailand
Southern Thailand holiday, tailor made
An idyllic combination of relaxation and tropical adventure
Northern Thailand tailor made holiday
An action packed adventure in the land of smiles
Thailand sailing holiday, 10 days
Join us in flotilla for "same, same, but different route"
Laos tailor made holiday, culture & adventure
Explore Pakbeng, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan, Viantiane & Pakse
Family elephant refuge volunteering in Thailand
Family elephant refuge volunteering in Thailand
What we rate & what we don't
Hill tribe treks
Khao Sok National Park
Respect for the Royals
Desert islands
Chiang Mai
Thai food
The beach(es)
The River Kwai Bridge
Party islands & island parties
Shoestring travel
Elephant trekking
Pattaya
Our top Thailand Holiday
Thailand tailor made holiday, elephants, jungle & beach
Elephant encounters, jungle treehouses and stunning Thai islands
This trip is only for tailor made departures throughout the year to suit your requirements
Food, shopping & people
Eating & drinking in Thailand
Rice is the national staple – over 5,000 varieties exist, but you’re most likely to encounter fragrant jasmine rice.Try rolling your sticky rice into a ball as an “edible utensil” – but remember, you can only touch your food with your right hand!
Size is important! The smaller the chilli, the greater the heat. The 12mm “garden mouse dropping chilli” is considered the hottest of all.
If you’re a fan of stinky fruit, head to Chantaburi’s annual World Durian Festival.


People & language
At Thai New Year, wish people “suk san wan songkran” – “Happy Songkran Day”
Never touch anyone’s head as it’s sacred. It’s also offensive to show the soles of your feet as they’re “dirty”
White travellers may find themselves called “Farang” - the Thai equivalent of “gringo"
Gifts & shopping
The Karen tribe’s silversmithing tradition includes bangles, rings, plates and cups – best bought in Chiang Mai. Check the hallmark to see the purity of the silver.Bor Sang is Thailand’s “umbrella village” – buy decorative “mulberry paper” parasols here, or oil-treated cotton umbrellas, with hand-painted designs.
Chiang Mai is also the best place for lacquerware, created using the black resin of the lak tree – hence the name. The lacquer may be inlaid with gold or mother of pearl.
Haggling is acceptable in a market or for buying multiple items – but remember, a tiny difference for you could be the cost of a meal or a school bus trip for a Thai craftsperson. Be sure the price is fair – for you and them.


How much does it cost?
Bowl of pad kee mow at the night market: 65p
Dinner in a restaurant: £5.50
Scuba diving excursion: £18.20
Beware a cheap tuk tuk – this usually involves stopping off in lots of the driver’s recommended shops.
A brief history of Thailand
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