Why Thailand
This is the country to land in when you want to go far without complicating everything. Domestic transport is frequent and cheap, mobile coverage reaches almost everywhere, and decent accommodation can be found within days in any town.
Four distinct regions. Bangkok and the centre, with Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi. The north — Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai — mountainous, cooler, culturally Lanna. Isan, in the north-east, rural and almost never visited. The south, split between the Andaman coast to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east, whose seasons are offset: when it rains in Phuket the weather is fine on Koh Samui, and the other way round.
November to February: dry and bearable. March to May: very hot. June to October: monsoon, short violent downpours.
Entry and stay
Requirements depend on nationality. Check yours with the local authorities before booking.
No duration is quoted here, for want of an official source verified at the time of writing — 22 September 2026.
Getting around
Trains link Bangkok to the north and the south for a few euros, in sleepers if the night is long. Buses go everywhere else. Domestic flights remain cheap and save a full day over long distances.
In the cities, Grab replaces the taxi and shows the price before the ride. Motorbike taxis are faster at peak times and cost three times less.
The southern islands are reached by ferry from Surat Thani, Krabi or Phuket depending on the group. Crossings are cancelled during the monsoon.
Money
Cash is used more often than elsewhere. Cash machines charge a flat fee per withdrawal, so taking out large amounts at once costs less. Large chains take cards, markets do not.
Health
No vaccination required from Europe. Dengue circulates year-round and more so in the rainy season.
The private hospitals in Bangkok and Chiang Mai are of excellent standard and draw medical tourism. The point to know: they require payment or an insurance guarantee before treatment.
Before you go
Crop-burning smoke makes the north difficult from February to April, especially around Chiang Mai, with pollution peaks well beyond health thresholds. This is not a detail: it is a contraindication for sensitive people.
Temples require covered shoulders and knees. Light trousers in the bag save buying a sarong at the door.
Lèse-majesté is a heavily punished offence and applies to foreigners. Any public comment on the royal family, online included, falls under that law.
Riding a motorbike requires a locally recognised licence; without valid equivalence, insurance does not cover you, and this is the leading cause of serious injury among visitors.