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Introducing Thailand
Thailand is often referred to as a golden land, not because there is precious metal buried underground but because the country gives off a certain lustre, be it the fertile rice fields of the central plains, white sandy beaches or the warm hospitality of its citizenry.
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Although the rainy season (roughly July to October) gets a bad reputation, there are some bonuses: temperatures tend to be cooler, tourists are fewer and the landscape is lush and green.
First introductions are made in Bangkok, a modern behemoth of screaming traffic, gleaming shopping centres and international sensibilities interwoven with devout Buddhism. Chiang Mai, the country's bohemian centre, is where the unique and precise elements of Thai culture become a classroom, for cooking courses and language lessons; while climbing into the mountain ranges around Mae Hong Son you'll find stupa-studded peaks and villages of post-Stone Age cultures. Sliding down the coastal tail are the evergreen limestone islands of Ko Tao and Kho Phi Phi Don, filled with tall palms angling over pearlescent sand. Thailand's beaches are stunning, hedonistic and mythic among residents of northern latitudes.
People come here as miners: first perhaps for the uniquely Western concept of R&R. And while they toast themselves to a bronze hue on the sandy beaches, they find in the daily rhythm of Thailand a tranquillity that isn't confined to vacation time. The northeast is a region better suited for homestays and teaching gigs than quick souvenir snapshots: here, you can dive deep into the Thai psyche, emerging with a tolerance for searingly spicy food and a mastery of this strange tonal language. Welcome to a life-altering experience disguised as a holiday.
Visa updates: Note that in 2008, Thailand's visa regulations were altered, affecting the length of stay for those arriving in Thailand by land. For details see our Visas section, and for further updates, check the Thorn Tree travel forum
.Make it happen
- check out our complete range of Thailand guidebooks
- book Lonely Planet reviewed and recommended hotels in Thailand
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
- discover the Northern hilltribes and villages
- explore Thailand and Laos cycle
- visit the River Kwai and Kanchanaburi
- get in early and save on travel gear backpacks, sleeping bags and more
Visiting Bangkok? Check out:
- the food, wine and nightlife tour to get under the skin of the city
- Recommended transfers and transport
Travel Alert: Travellers should be aware that the political situation in Thailand is potentially volatile. Go to Safe Travel for current government warnings, or check out what travellers are saying on the Thorn Tree forum.
Last updated: Nov 9, 2009
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Thailand
Our Top Picks For Thailand
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1 Vegetarian Festival, 18 - 26 Oct
Bangkok, Trang and Krabi are festooned with yellow banners heralding vegetarian vendors. In Phuket Town the festival gets extreme, with entranced marchers turning themselves into human shish kebabs.
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2 Ko Tao
Be a small fish in a big tank while diving with mighty whale sharks from this coral-fringed island, stay a while, or choose another beach paradise
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3 Sangkhlaburi
Border outpost amid a misty lake and rugged karst mountains far from the tourist trail; the bus ride here from Kanchanaburi is one of Thailand's best scenic journeys
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4 Cooking classes in Chiang Mai
Learn about Thai culinary herbs and spices, tour a local market and prepare a feast - choose from loads of classes in Chiang Mai, which is also a top ecotourism spot
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5 Mae Hong Son Province
Remote crossroads with ethnic minorities, jungle trekking and the hippie retreat of Pai
Fast Facts about Thailand
- Pick-up joint: the world’s second-largest pick-up truck market after the US
- Border countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma)
- Population: 65,493,296
- Guinness World Records: longest condom chain, most couples married underwater and most Mini Coopers in a convoy (444 cars parked to spell out ‘Long Live the King’)
- Karaoke culture: every major band or singer releases video CDs (VCD) specially formatted for karaoke-style singalongs
- Religion: 95% Buddhist
- Literacy: 92.6%, though reading anything other than the newspaper or comic books is regarded as an eccentric hobby
- Currency: what's the Thai baht worth today?
- Prime Minister: Abhisit Vejjajiva
- Number of 7-Elevens currently: 3912
- Highest point: Doi Inthanon 2565m
- Head of state: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
Related Groups
Our favourite Thailand Blogs (beta)
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Thailand's Internet Problems Bigger than Vietnam's Facebook
Blog: Fish Egg Tree - 20 November 2009
As frustrating as Vietnam’s apparent government-initiated black-out of Facebook has been this month, we can be thankful that Vietnam is not Thailand. It might surprise people to know that Thailand is one of the most repressive countries in Southeast Asia when it comes to internet access.
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Phi Phi Island
Blog: Where is Rob? - 19 November 2009
Phi Phi island was bloody lovely! This was the first place I actually felt like I was in the Thailand you see in the magazines and on TV, it was beautiful. I had 4 great days there even though I was still recovering from my little illness it was great to finally kick back on a proper chilled out island.Getting to Phi Phi was fairly funny and defiantly worth a mention. Feeling still not 100% I
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Koh Tao
Blog: Where is Rob? - 19 November 2009
Had an amazing time in Koh Tao as we decided to take a Scuba diving course which was just quality. While for me this was possibly the most enjoyable and rewarding things I have done while I am traveling it also absolutely rattled my budget. Scuba diving was not something that was originally on my list of things to do while traveling but after the fun I had in Phi Phi snorkeling I was now well up
