Why should you holiday in Thailand?

Thailand has it all!

Experiences you can enjoy here include fascinating mountain tribes, cities full of contrasts, unique national parks, delicious cuisine and endless white sandy beaches.

Thailand is an exciting country and one of Asia’s top destinations, and whether you’re into big cities, nature or beach holidays, you’re guaranteed the holiday of a lifetime in Thailand.

Our package holidays to Thailand

On a tour of Thailand, you can look forward to experiencing an array of Thailand’s top attractions, such as the lively capital Bangkok, the rich history and lush nature of the River Kwai and exceptional beaches in the south.

Read more about selected highlights in Thailand below.

Bangkok

Bangkok is Thailand’s capital and largest city – a city that takes most people’s breath away.

Here, you will experience illuminated shopping centres and architect-designed skyscrapers, located side by side with small shops and shiny temples; the aromas from the many street kitchens mixing with the fumes from the dense traffic, which is slowly being overtaken by the many boats on the canals; and the orange-clad monks zigzagging between busy business people, schoolchildren and tourists in the city streets.

In Bangkok, you will find plenty of contrasts between old and traditional, and new and contemporary in one beautiful union.

Discover sights such as:

• The royal Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s biggest attractions. The palace, which was completed in 1782, was the king’s home for 150 years. The palace houses Thailand’s most sacred Buddha statue, made from one huge piece of shining green jade.

• In Bang Yai, you will experience a very different Bangkok, with narrow streets and not as much traffic as in the city centre. Visit Bangkok’s second largest reclining Buddha at Wat Bang Yai. (The biggest is at Wat Pho).

• The large network of waterways, or “klongs”. Sail in a traditional Thai long-tail boat, and experience Bangkok from the water, where you will see that buildings face the water rather than the streets, showing just how important the canals are.

• One of Bangkok’s countless markets, where you can buy clothes and souvenirs or eat at the street kitchens. Visit, for example, the Chatuchak market, which has more than 15,000 stalls and is one of the biggest weekend markets in the world, or one of the many floating markets, which, as the name suggests, take place on the water.

• Well tucked away across the Chao Phraya River, you can experience an untouched corner of Bangkok, Bang Kra Jao, which can only be reached by boat. Discover green, undisturbed nature with banana palms, waterfalls and thick bamboo. Go on a scenic bike ride around the villages, meet the smiling locals and catch a glimpse of the Bangkok skyline in the background.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city where, despite its size, you will find a peaceful and extremely charming city with an interesting cultural background.

From 1296 to 1768, Chiang Mai was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, which extended to the present-day Laos. The legacy of the Lanna Kingdom still remains, in the local cuisine, for example.

In and around Chiang Mai, you can:

• See northern Thailand’s beautiful and extremely sacred temple Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, located on a mountainside in Doi Pui National Park. Doi Suthep is a stunning golden pagoda from 1383 containing relics of Buddha. From the temple, there is a beautiful view over Chiang Mai.

• Visit one of Chiang Mai’s many markets, such as Chiang Mai’s famous night market, where locals and visitors gather to shop or dine at one of the many street kitchens.

• Experience Doi Inthanon National Park, which among other things is home to Thailand’s highest mountain (2,565 AMSL). Look forward to discovering the stunning, wild scenery on a hike along the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail, for example, where one of Northern Thailand’s most beautiful panoramic views awaits you.

Beach holiday in Thailand

In southern Thailand, there is ample opportunity to round off your tour with a beach holiday at one of Thailand’s beautiful beaches, either on the mainland or on one of the fabulous islands.

Under our practical information, you can read more about the best time to visit the various beach holiday destinations.

Beach holiday in the Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan)

Enjoy a beach holiday in the Gulf of Thailand on the eastern side of Thailand and experience some of Thailand’s most popular beach holiday islands such as Koh Samui or Koh Phangan.

It has everything you dream of in a beach holiday destination: beautiful, long sandy beaches, turquoise-blue waters and coconut palms. Laze at the water’s edge, go snorkelling among vibrant, colourful fish and hike through the lush jungle with waterfalls and lookout points!

Beach holiday by the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta, Koh Ngai, Koh Mook)

On the western side of Thailand, by the Andaman Sea, you will also find some unique beach holiday areas.

This is where the holiday paradise Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is located, with its impressive golden sand and shady palm trees. Enjoy your holiday on the beach or head off on an excursion to, for example, Phang Nga Bay, which is characterised by its impressive limestone cliffs jutting vertically from the emerald green waters.

Other experiences in Thailand

Thailand offers a whole host of experiences, in addition to those mentioned above.

In Thailand, you can, for example, experience the following:

• The River Kwai and the surrounding area, where you spend the night at a “flotel” – a hotel built on a raft on the River Kwai. Discover the Death Railway, built from Thailand to Myanmar during World War II. It took 18 months to build the 415-km stretch, and more than 100,000 men died in the process. Hell fire Pass was one of the hardest places to build on the route.

• North of Chiang Mai, near the border with Myanmar and Laos, is Chiang Rai. The area, which is known as The Golden Triangle, was once at the centre of the opium trade. The scenery here is unique, with valleys, mountains and rainforest, as well as interesting villages and ethnic mountain tribes. Visit the beautiful, sacred temple Wat Phra Kaew and sail on the Mekong River, which marks the border with Laos.

• The ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary, where you gain an insight into the lives of the mighty giants. They live a peaceful life here, and as a visitor, you can observe them from a distance, e.g. when they take mud baths or socialise with each other. The sanctuary opened in 2017 in collaboration with World Animal Protection.

• Khao Sok National Park, which is one of Thailand’s largest and most scenic national parks. Discover ancient, undisturbed rainforest where you can encounter the local wildlife, including macaques, and sail on the expansive Cheow Lan Lake, and experience the beautiful scenery from the water.

• The historic ruin city of Ayutthaya, which was the capital from 1350 to 1767. The park itself offers some impressive temples and ruins, including the UNESCO-listed Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. Take a boat trip around the historic park and watch the sun set over the impressive Wat Chai Wattanaram, which some find reminiscent of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Read more about our tours to Thailand

To learn more about the different tours in Thailand, click on “Read more” further up the page, where you will find more information about the highlights, itinerary, price of the tour and much more besides.

Any questions?

You can read more about the practicalities of travelling to Thailand on our practical information page.

If you have any further questions about Thailand, our other tours to South-east Asia, how to book, or something else entirely, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to helping you on the holiday of your lifetime!

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller