Best Time to Visit Thailand: A Month-by-Month Guide
Cool, hot and rainy seasons, the two coasts and the big festivals.
Read the guide →
The Thailand travel guide
Discover
Thailand.
Temples, islands and street food.
Bangkok · Central Plains · The North · Isan · Gulf Islands · Andaman Coast
About the guide
One kingdom.
Every corner.
Thailand runs for more than 1,500 km from the hills of the Golden Triangle to the islands near Malaysia. Discover Thailand is a complete travel guide to the country: when to go, how to get around, where to stay, what to eat, what it costs, how to behave at temples, and which coast to choose in each season.
1238traditional founding date of the Sukhothai kingdom
1782Bangkok becomes the capital of the Chakri dynasty
1932year Siam became a constitutional monarchy
The series
One country. Two coasts.
Thailand is a different trip in Bangkok and on the islands, and the Andaman and Gulf coasts have their rainy seasons at different times of year. The complete guide covers the whole country, and three companion books go deeper: an islands edition, a Bangkok edition and a guide to Thai street food.
The complete guide
Temples, rivers and white sand.
Mornings at the temples, afternoons on the river, evenings at a night market. The travel guide is built around regions, rail and ferry routes and easy day trips, with maps for each area.
See the regions on the map →- BangkokGrand Palace, Wat Arun, the river and Chinatown.
- Ayutthaya & the Central PlainsThe old royal capital, an easy day trip by train.
- Chiang Mai & the NorthOld city temples, mountains and hill-country roads.
- The islandsPhuket, Krabi and Phi Phi, or Samui, Phangan and Tao.
The complete guide · Coming soon
Discover ThailandThe Complete Travel Guide
Regions, routes & maps
- Region by region
- Train, flight & ferry routes
- Temples & etiquette
- Seasons, monsoons & festivals
Start here
Thailand highlights
BangkokWat ArunPorcelain spires on the river.
BangkokChao Phraya RiverThe city's main street is water.
BangkokTuk-tuksAgree the fare before you get in.
BangkokThe skylineRooftop views at sunset.
KanchanaburiErawan FallsSeven tiers of turquoise pools.
Phang NgaPhang Nga BayLimestone towers rising from the sea.
KrabiKoh Phi PhiTwin bays joined by a sandy isthmus.
Phi Phi LehMaya BayThe bay from The Beach, now protected.
Phi Phi LehPileh LagoonEmerald water inside sheer walls.
KrabiAo NangBoats out to Railay and the islands.
PhuketKaron BeachA long, wide beach on Phuket's west coast.
Andaman CoastLongtail boatsThe water taxis of the south.
Limestone & sea
Islands carved from ancient reefs.
The towers of Phang Nga Bay, Krabi and Phi Phi are limestone that formed as reefs and sea-floor sediment millions of years ago. Rain and waves have since worn them into sheer cliffs, sea caves and hidden lagoons. On the other side of the peninsula, the Gulf islands of Samui, Phangan and Tao are granite, with rounded boulders and palm-lined bays.
Read the history →The history of Thailand
A kingdom of many capitals.
Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Thonburi, then Bangkok. Siam was the only country in Southeast Asia never colonised by a European power. The guide opens with the story behind the temples and ruins you will visit.
- Sukhothai and the Thai script
- Ayutthaya, 1351 to 1767
- Bangkok, capital since 1782
- Siam becomes Thailand, 1939
Bangkok after dark
When the city comes alive.
Bangkok is at its best once the heat goes out of the day. Street food stalls fill the pavements, the riverside temples are lit up, and rooftop bars look out over one of the biggest cities in Asia. A few evenings spent eating your way through the night markets is part of any first trip.
Where to stay in Bangkok →- ChinatownYaowarat Road's food stalls, busiest after dark.
- Night marketsStreet food, clothes and crafts across the city.
- The riverWat Arun and the Grand Palace lit up at night.
- The guideA full Bangkok edition is on the way.
From the journal
Tips, maps & field notes
Where to Stay in Thailand: Bases Compared
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and the Gulf islands, by route and style of trip.
Read the guide →
Getting Around Thailand: Trains, Flights & Ferries
Sleeper trains, cheap flights, island ferries and when to take a Grab.
Read the guide →
The companion editions
Two coasts, three seasons.
From November to February the weather is at its coolest and driest across most of the country. March to May is the hot season. From May to October the monsoon brings rain to the Andaman coast, while the Gulf islands have their wettest months from October to December. Each companion book shows how to make the most of that.
Get notified when they launch →- Islands editionAndaman and Gulf islands, ferries, beaches and dive sites.
- Bangkok editionNeighbourhoods, the river, markets and day trips.
- Street foodDishes by region, markets and how to order.
- Rainy seasonWhich coast to pick from May to December.
The islands edition · Coming soon
Discover ThailandIslands Edition
Beaches, boats & reefs
- Andaman & Gulf islands
- Ferries & island hopping
- Snorkelling & diving
- Which coast in which month
The Bangkok edition · Coming soon
Discover ThailandBangkok Edition
Temples, river & night markets
- Neighbourhood by neighbourhood
- BTS, MRT & river boats
- Temples & dress code
- Day trips to Ayutthaya
The street food guide · Coming soon
Discover ThailandStreet Food
What to eat & where to find it
- Dishes from every region
- Markets & food streets
- Ordering & spice levels
- Eating safely
Beyond the postcards
Discover the quiet Thailand.
Away from the busiest beaches the country slows right down: mountain villages in the north, rice fields and Khmer ruins in Isan, and island shores where the only sound is the sea. The guide points you there too.
The country
Six regions, one long country.
Schematic map, not to scale. The grey line is the main route from Chiang Mai through Bangkok to the Andaman coast.
The guides
Four guides, every journey.
The complete guide and the islands, Bangkok and street food editions are in preparation. Leave your email below and we will tell you the day each one launches.
The complete guide
Discover Thailand
Regions, routes & maps
Coming soon
Islands edition
Discover Thailand
Beaches, boats & reefs
Coming soon
Bangkok edition
Discover Thailand
Temples, river & night markets
Coming soon
Street food
Discover Thailand
What to eat & where to find it
Coming soon
Free download
The Thailand Travel Checklist
A free two-page checklist for planning your trip, from landing at Suvarnabhumi to your last longtail boat ride.
One email per new guide. Unsubscribe any time.
- Getting there: Suvarnabhumi & Don Mueang
- Visa-free stay & the TDAC arrival card
- Trains, flights & island ferries
- Heat, rain & what to pack
- Temple dress code & etiquette
- Tourist Police (1155)
Part of the Discover series. Independent travel guides, one destination at a time.
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