Thailand

Thailand has a rich history and a friendly culture. It offers travelers a tropical paradise, bustling cities, and world-renowned cuisine. You might feel overwhelmed when first trying to decide where to go in Thailand. Our local trip planning experts can help you design the perfect Thailand getaway.

To really experience real Thai food, you must come to the source. It will forever raise the bar; the variety of styles, dishes, and flavors simply don't exist anywhere else. The accessibility to food in Thailand is an experience of its own. It lines the streets and it almost doesn't matter what time of day it is; there will be plenty of food, and it will be cheap and fast. Parts of Bangkok also feature some really amazing Japanese and Indian food as well; they have thriving communities in the downtown Sukhumvit area.

Your visit to Thailand isn’t complete without escaping to the beach and island hopping. Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Samui, Krabi, Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Ko Chang, and Chicken Island are just a few of the many islands worth mentioning. Thailand truly has some of the most beautiful beaches, resorts, and boutique hotels in the world! You can snorkel off Ko Lipe, dive with whale sharks around Ko Tao, scale the sea cliffs of Krabi, go kiteboarding in Hua Hin, party on Ko Phi-Phi and recuperate at a health resort on Ko Samui.

Thailand is known for its smiles and warm welcome. Thai people are friendly, gentle, and very respectful of guests. They are known for their exceptional hospitality. You will feel great after every visit. Thailand is home to a diverse population. You'll find that a colorful medley of travelers and expatriates have found their way here.

As a Buddhist nation, religious devotion is colorful and ubiquitous. Gleaming temples and golden Buddhas dot the landscape. Shrines decorate humble homes as well as monumental malls. You are welcome to join in through meditation retreats in Chiang Mai, religious festivals in northeastern Thailand, underground cave shrines in Kanchanaburi and Phetchaburi, and hilltop temples in northern Thailand. Thailand has more than 40,000 Buddhist temples and are some of the best to explore in the SE Asia region and there are many more to explore in nearby Cambodia, Laos, and Bali.

Is your body craving more sun and humidity? Almost no matter where you are in the world, if you need to increase your heat level, Thailand is ideal. It pretty much never drops below 20°C / 70°F.

Thai elephants (or "chang" in Thai) have been part of the country's history and national identity since ancient times, and also have a close association with Buddhism and Hinduism. The number of elephants living in Thailand in 1900 was around 100,000. Just over 100 years later, this number had fallen to around 3,000. Nearly half of those numbers were domesticated, and the rest wild in National Parks.

Elephant riding has been banned and is widely considered to be unethical. Despite this, the demand has grown especially with the rise of tourism from China. The topic has been well covered in this piece by NYT which is aging well.

Our local experts can arrange safe and ethical encounters with these gentle, majestic creatures on your Thailand vacation. These interactions can be life changing and will absolutely leave you with a lasting sense of awe.

Have more questions about planning your Thailand trip? Explore our frequently asked questions for detailed answers on travel planning, trip prep, and everything you need to know before you go.