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Thailand


This ancient land represents all the exoticism of the Far East distilled into its purest form. One of the few countries of the region not to have been colonised, Thailand has retained a unique and fascinating culture, blending bustling commercialism with age old traditions. It is also a land of incredibly diverse landscapes, from the warm tropical south with its endless beaches to the bueatiuful ancient ruins ot Ayuthaya and Sukothai in central Thailand, and the mountainous north with its hilltribes. The dramatic city of Bangkok hides many secrets around every turyn of its bustling streets, whilst the shimmering beach resorts of Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi are evocative of what many consider to be paradise on earth. Travel north from Bangkok and you reach the jungle-bound city of Chiang Mai, close to Thailand’s famed “Golden Triangle”. With the beach playground of Pattaya to entertain, or the quieter seaside resorts of Hua Hin and Cha Am, there is a wide variety of destinations to suit every holiday need.
 


Cities and places within Thailand
Fast Facts
Capital City: Bangkok
Population: 64,000,000 (estimate) of which around 9.4 million live in Bangkok
Area: 198,115 sq miles
Geography: Thailand shares a border to the west with the Indian Ocean and Myanmar (Burma), to the south and east with Malaysia, to the north by Laos and to the east by Cambodia.   Thailand’s north is mountainous, the centre is flat and dominated by the Chao Praya river valley, and the south is a narrow isthmus that widens into the Malay peninsula.
Climate: Thailand has a hot, tropical climate, with monsoon conditions.  The main monsoon season is between June and October, when conditions are wet, hot and humid. The best time to visit Thailand is between November and February, although the best weather conditions in the southern islands (e.g. Koh Samui) falls between June and September.
Language: Thai, although English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas.
Currency: Thai Baht Current rate £1 = THB64.72
Time: GMT +7 hours
Visa Requirements: UK passport holders do not need a visa to visit Thailand, though they must be in possession of an outbound ticket.


Getting to Thailand
By Air
Thai Airways is the national carrier of Thailand, operating direct flights from London to Bangkok in around 12 hours. British Airways, Qantas, and Eva Air also offer direct flights to Bangkok. Bangkok’s International Suvarnabhumi Airport is located 19 miles east of the city, and the journey between the two takes around one hour – use either the airport express buses, the overhead city rail link (Dec 07), or taxi. 
 
Other airlines operating flights (non direct) to Bangkok include Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines, Kuwait Airways, China Airlines (Taiwan), Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Air Astana, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Swiss, KLM Royal Dutch Airline, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Malev Hungarian Airline,and Finnair,
 
There are also international airports at Chiang Mai (non-direct route operated by Thai Airways, Eva Air, Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, and Etihad Airways), and Phuket (non-direct route operated by Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Eva Air, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, MartinAir Holland NV, Sri Lankan Airlines, and Etihad Airways)
 
By Boat
There are only very limited options for accessing Thailand by boat. There are some passenger crossings between Thailand and neighbouring Laos at various points along the Mekong River.
Thailand features on a number of cruise ship itineraries – Phuket is a major port.
 
By Rail
The State Railways of Thailand operate trains from Malaysia (Butterworth) and Singapore, and also up to the borders with Laos and Cambodia. The Eastern and Oriental Express train service also links Singapore with Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur.
 
By Road
There are international road routes into Thailand from Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos, and there are a number of coach operators offering journeys across these borders. The land border with Myanmar is not open to tourist traffic.


Getting Around Thailand
By Air
Thai Airways operates an excellent domestic network covering 12 airports including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, and Surat Thani (access point for boats to Koh Samui). Bangkok Airways also operate domestic routes, serving several additional routes including Koh Samui. Other domestic airlines include PB Air and Nok Air.
 
By Boat
Travelling by boat is a popular way of getting around Thailand, as some of the best beaches are to be found on islands. There are regular ferry services from Surat Thani to Koh Samui, from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, and Trat to Koh Chang. Services may be disrupted or cancelled during the monsoon season (May to October on the East Coast and November to January on the Gulf Coast). It is also possible to travel by boat along some of Thailand’s 1000 miles of navigable inland waterways – there are numerous services along the Chao Phraya River, including longtailed motorboats.  
 
By Rail
There are over 2860 miles of railway track in Thailand, and all the major cities, except Phuket, are linked by an excellent train network. There are four main routes out of Bangkok, serving the northern, north eastern, eastern and southern regions, plus other services including one to the River Kwai Bridge.   It is possible to buy a 20 day rail pass.
 
By Road
There are a number of highways criss-crossing Thailand, and on the whole major roads are of a good condition. There are masses of bus operators offering routes to the major tourist destinations, which are cheap but as a result can be very crowded. There are plenty more comfortable coach options available.
 
Bangkok has an extensive public transport system comprising conventional buses and minibuses, and fares are generally low, though you can pay a premium for are conditioned or express buses. There are a range of motorboat services that plough up and down the Chao Phraya River between Rajburana Pier in southern Bangkok and Nonthburi Pier in the north. The Skytrain service is an elevated mass transit system that runs from 6am until midnight every day. Alternatively there are plenty of taxis or the more traditional three wheeled tuk tuks – these are not metered and you should negotiate a price for your journey before you set off. Other cities such as Chiang Mai don’t have an extensive public transport network but rather rely on minibuses and tuk tuks.


Top Ten Things to Do and See in Thailand
BANGKOK
Bangkok is one of the Far East’s most popular cities, and is a truly amazing place, brimming with attractions for the visitor. Enjoy the sights, notably the spectacular glittering Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaeo, home to the famous Emerald Buddha, and Wat Pho, which is both the largest and the oldest temple in Bangkok and a must for any visitor as it houses the famous Reclining Buddha, which is a staggering 150 foot long and 49 foot high. Experience some true local colour with a boat trip through the Floating Market, or a trip along the klongs, a network of canals leading off the Chao Phraya River that runs through Bangkok. And for a special treat, why not follow in the footsteps of 20th Century writers Somerset Maughan and Joseph Conrad and take afternoon tea at the Oriental Hotel, one of the most renowned hotels in the world?
 
BEACHES
Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in the world for a beach holiday, and it certainly does boast some fantastic beaches. Some of the most popular beaches include: Pattaya, an international playground under 100 miles South East of Bangkok so easily combined with a city stay, has something for everyone; Koh Samui, in the Gulf of Thailand is the country’s third largest island, and as one of the major tourist destinations in South East Asia, has a wide range of accommodation and restaurant options, vibrant nightlife, and easy access; Phuket, in the Indian Ocean, is the only one of Thailand’s islands to be a province in its own right, and has some great beaches as well as being the stopping off point for surrounding islands such as Koh Phi Phi. This is just a tiny selection of Thailand’s beaches.
 
HISTORY
Thailand has a fascinating history – take a step back in time and visit Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand, and once one of the most prosperous cities in all of Indo-China. Now you can explore numerous ruined temples and palaces – either on foot, by bicycle or even by elephant! Also a previous capital of Thailand is Sukothai, 267 miles north of Bangkok, a city founded in 1238. You can still wander inside the ancient city walls and visit ruined temples and palaces. More recent history is on display at Kanchanaburi – for this is home to the Bridge over the River Kwai, where Allied Forces under the control of the Japanese were forced to build both the bridge itself and the Death Railway that it carried.
  
TREKKING
Northern Thailand is a great place for trekking, the remote provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son being the most popular. With a professional guide, explore the forests and rice terraces of this spectacularly beautiful part of the country. As an alternative to trekking, you can also take to the water and raft through parts of the region, or even see the sights from the back of an elephant. The Golden Triangle, where Thailand meets Myanmar and Laos, is also popular for trekking excursions – here are the old opium growing regions, now transformed into a stunning nature reserve.
 
DIVING
Thailand is very popular with divers from around the world, and some of the best sites are to be found in the Andaman Sea off Phuket, and off Pattaya and Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. As well as stunning marine life, there are also wrecks to be explored. There are lots of dive operators offering either day trips or live aboard trips.
 
 
FOOD AND COOKING
Thai food is popular the whole world over and where better to learn more about it, and even try your hand at it, than where it all originated? Thai food combines the four central elements of sweet and sour, hot and spicy into many of its most popular dishes. Numerous cooking schools exist around Thailand, some including the shopping at markets as well as the cooking (and eating!) There are even tours of the country that have a culinary twist, so you can learn about regional specialities. Eating out is a pleasure in Thailand, be it in a sophisticated award winning restaurant in Bangkok or from a roadside stall – make sure you try red and green curries, phad thai noodles, Tom Yum Goong and plenty of seafood! And if you are feeling brave, try the durian fruit – many can’t get past the foul smell of it, but for those that do, the reward is the delicious taste!
 
SHOPPING
As with other destinations in the Far East, shopping is an unmissable treat! Must buys are tailor made clothes, run up often overnight and for a fraction of the price you would pay elsewhere, handicrafts, fabrics and gems. There are plenty of designer stores in the sleek malls of Bangkok, or if you don’t mind your merchandise not being the real deal, then head for the markets at Patpong and get “almost” designer gear for tiny prices! Bargaining is part of the fun of shopping – you can expect to get up to 40% off the starting price – just be polite and patient and you will be rewarded in the end!
 
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Thailand is home to many unique experiences – perhaps one of the quirkiest is the Mahut Discovery package at the Anantara Resort and Spa Golden Triangle – a three day mahout (elephant “driver”) training course, covering all aspects of elephant care. You will learn basic commands, how to drive, bathing, daily care, and feeding requirements – and a short test at the end of the course will determine whether or not you get your certificate of mahout competence!
 
THAI TRADITIONS
Thai Kick Boxing, or Muay Thai, can be watched every day of the year both in Bangkok and in the provinces in major stadiums and arenas, the most famous of which is the Lumpini Stadium in Bangkok.  It is not just the boxing though – the fight is preceded by a wai khru dance, in which each contestant pays homage to his teachers. Other traditional sports include kite fighting, where opposing reams fly male and female kites in a “battle of the sexes”; and takraw, an Asian take on volleyball or basket ball where players try to keep a rattan ball in the air using any part of their body before kicking it into a basket. Less energetic traditions include meditation and traditional massage, both of which are widely available in temples, meditation centres, and even on beaches throughout Thailand.
 
GOLF
Thailand is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations for a golfing holiday, and golf courses are springing up all over the country, usually linked to high quality hotels and resorts. The year round excellent weather means that no matter what time of year you choose to travel you are sure to be able to play golf most days. Musts for the keen golfer is the Royal Hua Hin, Thailand’s oldest golf course, and the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, reputedly the best championship course in Asia.




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