Asia
Thailand
The classic first backpacking trip: islands, night markets and long-tail boats.
Thailand has been on the backpacker trail for decades, so everything just works. Buses and ferries connect everywhere, hostels are social, and you are never far from a plate of pad kra pao.
Spend time in Bangkok and the old city of Chiang Mai, then head south for the islands. The Andaman coast is best from November to April; the Gulf islands stay drier into the summer.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT+7
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C and O, 220V
- Emergency numbers
- 191 police, 1669 ambulance, 1155 tourist police
- Tap water
- Drink bottled or filtered
- Traffic drives on the
- Left
- Tipping
- Not expected at street stalls, but leaving 20–50 baht after a sit-down meal or a massage is common.
- SIM cards
- AIS and True tourist SIMs with unlimited data for 15 to 30 days cost 300–600 baht at the airport.
When to go to Thailand
Best months to go: November to March. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
September
The wettest month in Bangkok. Some Andaman ferries stop running.
- Daytime high
- 32°C
- Rainfall
- 320 mm
- Crowds
- Quiet
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C | 15 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| February | 33°C | 20 mm | Busy | Yes |
| March | 34°C | 40 mm | Busy | Yes |
| April | 35°C | 70 mm | Busy | No |
| May | 34°C | 190 mm | Quiet | No |
| June | 33°C | 150 mm | Quiet | No |
| July | 33°C | 160 mm | Busy | No |
| August | 33°C | 190 mm | Busy | No |
| September | 32°C | 320 mm | Quiet | No |
| October | 32°C | 240 mm | Quiet | No |
| November | 31°C | 50 mm | Busy | Yes |
| December | 31°C | 10 mm | Peak season | Yes |
What Thailand costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$476for 14 days, about $34 a day (฿15,700 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $10 | $140 | |
| Food and drink | $10 | $140 | |
| Getting around | $6 | $84 | |
| Things to do | $5 | $70 | |
| Everything else | $3 | $42 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Pad thai from a street stall฿60, about $1.82
- Plate of pad kra pao with a fried egg฿70, about $2.12
- Large bottle of Chang in a bar฿100, about $3.03
- Hostel dorm bed฿350, about $11
- One-hour Thai massage฿300, about $9.09
- Sleeper train, Bangkok to Chiang Mai฿1,000, about $30
- Scooter hire for a day฿250, about $7.58
Routes through Thailand
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 4 stops
Bangkok, the north and a taste of the Andaman coast, with one flight to save time.
Bangkok
3 nights
The Grand Palace, Chinatown street food and a rooftop bar.
Chiang Mai
4 nights
Old city temples, night markets and a cooking class.
Krabi
3 nights
Limestone cliffs, Railay beach and long-tail boats to the islands.
Koh Lanta
4 nights
Long, quiet beaches and some of the best sunsets in the south.
Getting around
Bus
$10–25 for a long overnight trip
Government buses from the main terminals are safer and more comfortable than cheap tourist minibuses.
Train
$25–45 for a sleeper berth
The overnight train to Chiang Mai is a backpacker rite of passage. Book a lower berth a few days ahead.
Ferry
$10–25 per crossing
Combined bus and boat tickets link Bangkok with the Gulf islands. Seas get rough out of season.
Tuk-tuk
$2–6 for a short ride
Agree the price before you get in, or use Grab or Bolt for a fixed fare.
Flight
$30–60 one way
Budget airlines connect Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Phuket in about an hour.
What to eat and drink
Pad kra pao
Minced pork or chicken stir-fried with holy basil and chilli, served with rice and a fried egg.
฿70, about $2.12
Khao soi
Curried noodle soup with crispy noodles on top. The dish of Chiang Mai.
฿60, about $1.82
Som tam
Green papaya salad pounded with lime, fish sauce and a lot of chilli.
฿50, about $1.52
Tom yum goong
Hot and sour prawn soup with lemongrass and galangal.
฿120, about $3.64
Mango sticky rice
Sweet coconut rice with ripe mango, best in the hot season.
฿80, about $2.42
Cha yen
Thai iced tea, bright orange and very sweet.
฿40, about $1.21
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello
สวัสดีครับ / ค่ะ
Say it like: sa-wat-dee krap (men) / ka (women)
Thank you
ขอบคุณครับ / ค่ะ
Say it like: kop-koon krap / ka
How much?
เท่าไหร่
Say it like: tao-rai
Too expensive
แพงไป
Say it like: paeng pai
Not spicy, please
ไม่เผ็ด
Say it like: mai pet
Delicious
อร่อย
Say it like: a-roy
No worries
ไม่เป็นไร
Say it like: mai pen rai
Cheers!
ชนแก้ว!
Say it like: chon gaeo
Places to go in Thailand
Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand’s old walled city: hundreds of temples, night markets and the country’s best khao soi.
Shoestring
Koh Phi Phi
Two islands off Krabi: limestone cliffs, Maya Bay and the Andaman coast’s busiest nightlife.
Shoestring
Questions travellers ask
What should I wear to temples?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off before going inside. A light sarong in your daypack solves most problems.
Do I need cash?
Yes, for street food, markets and most guesthouses. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards around 220 baht per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts.
Which islands should I visit?
It depends on the month. The Andaman side (Krabi, Koh Lanta, Phuket) is best from November to April, and the Gulf side (Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui) from January to August.
Someone told me the Grand Palace is closed. Is it?
Almost certainly not. It is a common scam that ends in a gem shop or an overpriced tuk-tuk tour, so walk to the entrance and check for yourself.
Can I rent a scooter?
Anyone can, but police checkpoints fine riders without a motorbike licence and travel insurance will not cover you without one. Always wear a helmet.