Thailand Travel Guide — Hotels, Tours & Tips | Thai Holiday Guide

Thai Holiday Guide

Longtail boat beneath the limestone cliffs of Maya Bay

The Honest Guide to Thailand

Which coast is dry when you land, which hotels actually sit on the beach, which tours earn their price.

Where in Thailand?

Where to go now → Bangkok Phuket Chiang Mai Koh Samui Krabi

Where to go

Popular destinations

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Bangkok

กรุงเทพ

Phuket

ภูเก็ต

Chiang Mai

เชียงใหม่

Koh Samui

เกาะสมุย

Krabi

กระบี่

Koh Lipe

เกาะหลีเป๊ะ

Koh Phangan

เกาะพะงัน

Koh Tao

เกาะเต่า

Hua Hin

หัวหิน & ชะอำ

Pattaya

พัทยา

Koh Chang

เกาะช้าง

Khao Lak

เขาหลัก

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Cheap flights to Thailand

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Land smoothly

Airport fast-track & transfers

Handpicked experiences

Top-rated tours

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Coming up across Thailand

Events & festivals

All events →

Jul28

Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival

28–30 Jul 2026

Ubon Ratchathani's Candle Festival 2026 runs 28–30 July: giant beeswax sculptures parade through the city on Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent). Free to watch.

ubon ratchathani

Jul29

Asanha Bucha Day

29 Jul 2026

Asanha Bucha Day falls on 29 July 2026, marking the Buddha's first sermon. Temples hold wien thien candlelit ceremonies. Alcohol sales are banned nationwide.

Full Moon Party Koh Phangan: Dates, Survival Guide & What to Know

Jul31

Monthly

Full Moon Party Koh Phangan

31 Jul 2026

Monthly beach party on Haad Rin, Koh Phangan with 10,000-30,000 revellers. Upcoming dates, what to bring, safety tips, and how to get there.

koh phangan

Oct10

Phuket Vegetarian Festival

10–18 Oct 2026

Nine days of street processions, Chinese shrine rituals, and vegetarian street food across Phuket. Oct 10-18 schedule, top temples, and what to expect.

phuket

Oct25

Chonburi Buffalo Racing Festival

25 Oct 2026

October 2026 in Chonburi, 80km from Bangkok. Over 100 years of buffalo racing, beauty contests, and local festivities. Free entry, easy day trip from Pattaya.

chonburi

Oct26

Naga Fireballs

26 Oct 2026

26 October 2026 in Nong Khai. Mysterious glowing orbs rise from the Mekong River at the end of Buddhist Lent. Science or serpent? See for yourself.

nong khai

Oct26

Ok Phansa

26 Oct 2026

26 October 2026 marks the end of 3-month Buddhist Lent with illuminated boat processions on rivers, merit-making, and nationwide temple celebrations.

nong khai

Oct27

Chak Phra Festival

27–29 Oct 2026

Ornate barges carry Buddha images along Surat Thani's Tapi River at the end of Buddhist Lent. Long-boat races and land processions — lunar calendar dates.

surat thani

Timed to the monsoons

Where to go in July

How the seasons work →

The Gulf holds fair; the north turns deep green between showers.

Koh Samui

Koh Tao

Koh Phangan

Hua Hin

Chiang Mai

Browse by interest

Things to do in Thailand

All attractions →

Temples

Beaches

Islands

National Parks

Waterfalls

Historical Sites

Museums

Local Villages & Hill Tribes

The icons

Famous landmarks & attractions

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The Grand Palace

Bangkok

Wat Arun

Bangkok

Wat Pho

Bangkok

Maya Bay

Krabi

The White Temple

Chiang Rai

Doi Suthep

Chiang Mai

Sukhothai Historical Park

Sukhothai

Wat Mahathat

Ayutthaya

Erawan Falls

Kanchanaburi

The Big Buddha

Phuket

Tiger Cave Temple

Krabi

Chatuchak Market

Bangkok

Sanctuary of Truth

Pattaya

Damnoen Saduak Market

Ratchaburi

Phanom Rung

Buriram

Where to go & what to see

Best of Thailand

All guides →

Best Beaches in Thailand: 15 Top Spots for 2026

Thailand's 15 best beaches for 2026—Railay's limestone cliffs, Koh Lipe's 20m water clarity, budget picks from 300 THB. Practical tips and when to visit.

Thailand's Most Beautiful Islands: Our Top 10 Picks

From Koh Phi Phi’s famous bay to quiet Koh Muk — 10 Thai islands ranked by character, with details on beaches, diving, crowds, and how to get there.

10 Things To Do in Bangkok

Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Chao Phraya river boats, Chatuchak weekend market, Muay Thai matches, cabaret shows and Thai cooking classes — Bangkok highlights.

Things to Do in Phuket: Beaches, Islands & Culture

Best Phuket beaches (Freedom, Kata Noi, Nai Harn), Phi Phi and Phang Nga day trips, Old Phuket Town, Big Buddha, diving, cooking classes and night markets.

Things to Do in Chiang Mai: Temples, Markets, Mountains & Food

Chiang Mai's 30+ Old City temples, Doi Suthep at 1,076m, Doi Inthanon day trips, elephant sanctuaries, cooking classes, and where to eat Khao Soi.

Things to Do in Krabi: Railay, Islands & Rock Climbing

Best things to do in Krabi province — Railay Beach, Phi Phi Islands, Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool, rock climbing, and 4-island boat tours from Ao Nang.

12 Quiet Thai Islands Beyond Phuket and Samui (2026 Guide)

12 quiet Thai islands beyond Phuket and Samui, including Koh Mak, Koh Kood, Koh Lipe and Koh Phayam, with practical routes and seasonal advice.

Five Famous Buddhist Temples in Thailand

Five Thai temples worth visiting: Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun’s porcelain-tiled spire, the White Temple in Chiang Rai, Doi Suthep, and Wat Pho’s reclining Buddha.

Independent & honest

Recommendations you can trust

No paid placements dressed up as recommendations. Every hotel, tour and beach here earns its place on merit — and we'll tell you what to skip as readily as what to book.

How we choose

Rated by real guests

krabi

9.5 $356/night

Browse stays by type

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Essential pre-trip reading

Travel guides

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Best Time to Visit Thailand

Choose when to visit Thailand by region: cooler months for many first trips, Andaman dry season for Phuket, and later rains around the Gulf islands.

Getting Around Thailand: Transportation Guide (2026)

Trains, buses, flights, ferries, and ride-hailing apps — compare costs, routes, and booking options for traveling Thailand in 2026. Includes scam warnings.