Thailand travel advice
Tips on getting away from it all
Dee Edwards, from our supplier Tell Tale Travel, shares her Thailand travel advice on avoiding the crowds – without having to travel too far: “You don’t actually need to be geographically very far from somewhere to be off the tourist trail. For example, in the last few years tourism in Krabi has exploded. There are so many big resorts, a lot of three star resorts, the main sea front is almost like Benidorm – it’s what a lot of people want. But just 15 minutes away from Krabi, people are living traditional lives, and there are little resorts you can stay in.”
Our Thailand Holidays
Thailand tailor made holiday, elephants, jungle & beach
Elephant encounters, jungle treehouses and stunning Thai islands
From
£1349
14 days
ex flights
Thailand cultural tour, floating market & beach
Get a taste of rural Thai life and traditional cuisine
From
£690
4 days
ex flights
Northern Thailand and Laos cultural holiday
Explore remote northern Thailand and northern Laos
From
£1950 to £2000
14 days
ex flights
Small group cooking holiday in Thailand
2-week Adventure. £1,575 exc flights. No Single Supplement!
From
£2225
15 days
inc UK flights
Thailand beach & rainforest holiday
Thailand city, beach, and rainforest soft adventure holiday
From
£2405
11 days
inc UK flights
Thailand family holiday, tailor made
Activity packed family holiday in the land of smiles.
From
£7800 to £12500
13 days
ex flights
Bangkok to Singapore small group tours
Small group adventure tour in Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand
From
£782 to £979
14 days
ex flights
Indochina tour, small group
Experience the diversity of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
From
£1200 to £1545
26 days
ex flights
Thailand island hopping holiday
White sands beach paradise in Koh Chang, Koh Maak & Koh Kood
From
£619
7 days
ex flights
Family volunteering in Thailand
Family wildlife sanctuary volunteering in Thailand
From
£739
7 days
ex flights
North Thailand group holiday, a food adventure
Experience the freshness, tanginess and spiciness of Thailand
From
£893 to £1045
8 days
ex flights
Learn to drive a Tuk Tuk & holiday in Thailand
A unique adventure in the mountains of Chiang Mai
From
£575 to £650
5 days
ex flights
Southern Thailand holiday, tailor made
An idyllic combination of relaxation and tropical adventure
From
£2000 to £2500
8 days
ex flights
Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City
Thailand to Southern Vietnam via Angkor Wat
From
£599 to £800
9 days
ex flights
Thailand beach tour, West Coast
Clear waters, white sands, swaying palms & a beach bungalow
From
£902 to £1105
9 days
ex flights
Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, Mekong adventure
Bangkok, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan, Siem Reap & Phnom Penh
From
£3250
14 days
ex flights
Family elephant refuge volunteering in Thailand
Family elephant refuge volunteering in Thailand
From
£739
7 days
ex flights
Northern Thailand tailor made holiday
An action packed adventure in the land of smiles
From
£2500 to £3350
11 days
ex flights
Northern Thailand small group tour
Temples, ancient ruins & exotic markets of Northern Thailand
From
£747 to £890
8 days
ex flights
Thailand adventure holiday, self drive Tuk Tuk
A Tuk Tuk Adventure in the stunning mountains of Thailand
From
£1395 to £1595
11 days
ex flights
Thailand tour, mountains & rainforests
From Bangkok back-streets to Andaman Sea islands
From
£1475
14 days
ex flights
Indochina overland tours
Discover the heart and soul of Indochina
From
£1513 to £1839
30 days
ex flights
Thailand, Vietnam & Laos holiday
Some of Asia’s most remote but spectacular regions
From
£2100
22 days
ex flights
Thailand family holidays
A fabulous family holiday including the best of Thailand
From
£1750 to £2500
15 days
ex flights
Highlights of Thailand holiday
Bangkok, Northern Thailand, Khao Sok National Park & Phuket
From
£2450
12 days
ex flights
Indochina holiday, Hanoi to Bangkok via Angkor
Awesome adventure through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand
From
£1088 to £1330
22 days
ex flights
Indochina tours
An awesome adventure Cambodia Laos Thailand & Vietnam
From
£2825 to £3170
30 days
ex flights
Tips on whether to choose a guided tour
Lesley Schofield, from our supplier All Points East, shares her Thailand travel advice:“One of the perceptions of Thailand is that it’s very well known, there are an enormous number of tourists that go every year, so people think it’s very easy to do on your own. And in some ways it is. But the majority of people that go there will go to three or four places – all well-known places that are massively commercialised, and certainly for the beach resorts you could be anywhere in the world. But what Thailand offers beyond that is loads and loads of beautiful little islands, loads of unspoilt places – which is what we take people to. It’s much more much more “real” Thailand. So you can do Thailand by yourself, but to really get to know people, to get out to the areas where they don’t speak English and where they’re not as affected by tourism, it’s best to have a guide.”
Tip on visiting ancient cities
Liddy Pleasants, from our supplier Stubborn Mule Travel, shares her Thailand travel advice:“One of my top recommendations is an ancient city called Kamphaeng Phet, which is in the middle of Thailand. It’s not very well known, unlike Sukhothai. Kamphaeng Phet is older and in a really lovely, peaceful forest setting. It’s perfect to tour by bike as it’s a very small town, easy to get around with not very busy roads. The ruins are just gorgeous to tour by bike. That’s one of the true off the beaten track places – if you end up there, you’re going to have a complete ball.”
Beach advice
Liddy Pleasants, from our supplier Stubborn Mule Travel, shares her Thailand travel advice:
“You need to be really careful with which beaches you go to. Many of the west coast places in particular are very, very developed and not at all like the pristine brochure images. There are highrise buildings, loads of girly bars and gap year students. You need to look a bit harder – but there are still some nice islands. On Koh Jum, for example, you can get away from everyone else and it’s a Robinson Crusoe-style island. It’s not got the amazing beaches with palm trees that you see in the brochures, and it’s rather rocky – but there’s also no crowds, high rise buildings or girly bars, so from that point of view it’s lovely.”
“You need to be really careful with which beaches you go to. Many of the west coast places in particular are very, very developed and not at all like the pristine brochure images. There are highrise buildings, loads of girly bars and gap year students. You need to look a bit harder – but there are still some nice islands. On Koh Jum, for example, you can get away from everyone else and it’s a Robinson Crusoe-style island. It’s not got the amazing beaches with palm trees that you see in the brochures, and it’s rather rocky – but there’s also no crowds, high rise buildings or girly bars, so from that point of view it’s lovely.”
Our top Thailand Holiday
Thailand tailor made holiday, elephants, jungle & beach
Elephant encounters, jungle treehouses and stunning Thai islands
From
£1349
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip is only for tailor made departures throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip is only for tailor made departures throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Thailand or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Health & safety
HEALTH
See the latest Thailand health advice on the CDC website.
SAFETY
Thailand tips from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Thailand travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Thailand travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
If you want to get away from it all, Khao Sok National Park is the place. There are attractions for all your senses and authentic Thai hospitality. Do not expect luxury – instead, let the place enchant you by its simplicity and beauty.
– Magdalena Bakowski
“Get out there and experience. The guides are there to make sure you are safe, but it’s up to you to bring back the greatest memories!” - Federico Mingozzi
“Take lots of currency in 100s and 20s, most of the holiday these are the notes you will use.” - Suzanne Smith
“Take few clothes and get those you do take with you washed locally - very great service and very cheap. Take advantage of local massages.” - Gary Remekie
“Take twice us much sunscreen and insect repellent, you quickly run out of them.” - Jennie Agustin
“Don't go if you like Big Macs and daytime telly. On seconds thoughts, do. It will broaden your horizons.” – Guy Hart
“Take lots of currency in 100s and 20s, most of the holiday these are the notes you will use.” - Suzanne Smith
“Take few clothes and get those you do take with you washed locally - very great service and very cheap. Take advantage of local massages.” - Gary Remekie
“Take twice us much sunscreen and insect repellent, you quickly run out of them.” - Jennie Agustin
“Don't go if you like Big Macs and daytime telly. On seconds thoughts, do. It will broaden your horizons.” – Guy Hart
Cycling in Bangkok is not suitable for young children as a lot of it is on busy roads.
– Afsha Malik
“Expect to get dirty: the combination of mosquito repellent, sun cream, sweat and jungle dirt has imprinted itself forever in two of my favourite t-shirts!” - Franck Schmidlin
“The Bangkok train south overnight made me feel young again – we made good use of the bar and then slept very well.” – Marian and Richard Beaver
“Thai people are very open and kind. I had fascinating conversations with them about their lives and they were more than happy to recommend interesting places to visit.” - Ora Culmer
“We each had a sick day or two so bring medicine for your stomach.” - Marc Teicholz
“We all like nice hotels, but doing a homestay was fantastic as the families were so welcoming and they involve you in local life, which you would never get staying in the usual holiday 'bubble'.” - Michael Anderson
“The Bangkok train south overnight made me feel young again – we made good use of the bar and then slept very well.” – Marian and Richard Beaver
“Thai people are very open and kind. I had fascinating conversations with them about their lives and they were more than happy to recommend interesting places to visit.” - Ora Culmer
“We each had a sick day or two so bring medicine for your stomach.” - Marc Teicholz
“We all like nice hotels, but doing a homestay was fantastic as the families were so welcoming and they involve you in local life, which you would never get staying in the usual holiday 'bubble'.” - Michael Anderson
More about Thailand
In our travel guide, we reveal the best time to visit Thailand, with climate charts, a month by month guide and information on peak periods and local festivals and events.
Our Thailand travel guide reveals the lesser visited side of this hugely popular destination.
Our suggested Thailand itineraries and interactive map help you choose where to go in Thailand - whether you're after activity or relaxation, culture or nature, big sights or off the beaten track adventure.
Things to do in Thailand stretch far beyond sipping cocktails on beaches and hanging out at all night raves.
If you’ve heard of hill tribes in Thailand and want to know more about how to visit them in the most responsible way then trekking might well be the answer.
If you’ve ever had a ride in a tuk tuk on the streets of Bangkok then you might be slightly reticent to embark on a self drive tour.
If you’re visiting Thailand for the first time it’s a good idea to get to know some of the cultural customs first just to help you travel with more confidence.
Although life can be all about the beach in Thailand we think it’s worth checking out other local locations, too, rather than just hanging out in a hammock all day, every day.
Check out our top 10 Thai dishes that will take you into sweet, salty and zesty-sour ecstasy as well as providing inspiration for your next foray to Bangkok, and beyond.
Bangkok can be a magical place as well as absolutely mind-blowing if you’re not prepared for the whirlwind that awaits.
Across Southeast Asia, Thailand has to be the best set up for families, with a great infrastructure, welcoming hotels and beachside cabins, thrilling markets and that infectious Thai smile.
It's a heavenly destination for most - but not everything is paradisiacal.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: SasinTipchai] [Tips on getting away from it all: Andrzej Suwara]
[Beach advice: borshop]
[Health & Safety: Sven Scheuermeier]
[Magdalena Bakowski quote: Wanjak Atikomchakorn]
[Marian and Richard Beaver quote: Kelvin Yup]
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