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Thailand is known for its palm-fringed beaches and lively Bangkok streets, but there’s a lot more to do and see if you’d like to explore further, including ancient capital ruins, vast swathes of forested mountains, and a rich cultural heritage.

If you’re a history lover, you could learn about the Siam Kingdom as your guide walks you through the expansive, intricately carved ruins in Sukhothai or Ayutthaya. If nature piques your interest, you could take a night safari in Khao Yai National Park to spot wild elephants, sambar, and gibbons. Or if you prefer soaking in the local culture, we can arrange a visit to a Hmong and Lahu village in the hills near Chiang Khong where you can learn how to decorate clothing using traditional dyeing techniques.

Thailand offers a diverse array of accommodation options, from luxury villas on the beach to family-run hotels in the heart of the city, as well as eco-friendly lodges resting upon jungle-clad hillsides. But you don’t have to choose just one — some of the most rewarding Thailand trips take you across the country, allowing you to experience a tapestry of Thai living.

Take a look at where you could stay on your Thailand trip.

Bangkok provides a launchpad into the rest of Thailand, including the pearly white beaches of the south and remote villages of the north, but it also offers a vibrant introduction to the country’s culinary culture with street food aplenty.

Then, you can head to Khao Lak, a more tranquil alternative to Phuket, to explore secluded coves and unwind on powder-soft beaches. The karst-carved scenery of Khao Sok National Park is nearby where you can spend the day hiking to hidden waterfalls or meeting the resident elephants at the ethical Elephant Hills Camp. Alternatively, you could head further north to Chiang Rai to experience authentic local life with fewer crowds around. Around here, you can learn about tea and coffee farming, explore hillside villages, and delve into highly decorative Buddhist architecture dating back centuries.

It takes around 22 hours to fly from either New York or Los Angeles to Bangkok, Thailand. We recommend flying with Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and a few other airlines, which we can advise on.

The time zone in Thailand is UTC +7, and daylight saving time isn’t observed so the clocks don’t ever change.

The best way of getting around in Thailand depends on where you want to go and the activities you’re doing there. If you’re heading from the busyness of Bangkok to the tranquil beach resorts of the south, taking a domestic flight will be simplest. For other routes, we can advise if it’s best to take the train, ferry, or a private car arranged by us. Once at your destination, you can explore by foot or take an open-air tuk-tuk to cover more ground with panoramic views.

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Thailand. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

• Entry requirements travel tool

You should check with your doctor to find out which vaccinations you need for Thailand, but you should be up to date with your home country’s recommend vaccinations as a minimum. You can also take a look at the for suggested vaccinations.

If you’re traveling to Thailand from a country that’s considered to have a risk of yellow fever by the World Health Organization (WHO), then you may be asked to provide proof of vaccination against the disease upon arrival.

Thai people are very tolerant of visitors and don’t expect you to conform to their culture, but take care to respect the monarchy and Buddhist religion. It’s polite to avoid raising your voice in public as Thai people are typically softly spoken and avoid confrontation. Finally, if someone bows with their hands together (a ‘wai’), it’s polite to do the same in return.

You must treat any portrait of the King or members of the royal family with respect, which extends to currency and stamps. If you drop a Thai coin or note, be sure to pick it up, and never stand on a coin or note if you see one on the floor. When sending letters or postcards, use the small sponge available for attaching the stamp to a letter instead of licking it.

When visiting a temple in Thailand, you’ll be expected to cover your shoulders and knees and remove your shoes and hat. Some temples, such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok, ask that you wear clothing that covers your body down to the ankle.

Once inside, don’t touch anything that may be of religious significance, such as Buddha statues, altars, and burial grounds. You should also avoid pointing the soles of your feet toward a Buddha image — or anyone, for that matter.