Thailand tailor-made holidays

Glittering temples and the remains of ancient kingdoms, exotic islands fringed by white-sand coves, gently swaying palms and towering limestone cliffs have all made a holiday in Thailand something of a traveller's dream.

A well-trodden trail highlights the main attractions: frenetic, intoxicating Bangkok; hill tribes and treks in the mountainous north; the old Siamese capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai; put togther a tailor-made trip to Thailand to experience the best of what the country has to offer.

All this, and islands like Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samui that continue to fulfil a fantasy of places to unwind and savour the pleasures of beach life, make Thailand holidays perennially popular.

At a glance

Flying time from UK
12 hours

Time zone
GMT +7

Currency
Baht (Bt)

Language
Thai

Travel advice
Not required

Top itineraries in Thailand

Bangkok, River Kwai & Elephant Hills

14-day tailor-made holiday from £3,775 pp incl. flights

Offering a flavour of three very different regions of Thailand, this tailor-made tour explores the vibrant capital Bangkok, before a cruise on the River Kwai and the wildlife, rainforests and beaches of the tropical south.

Laos & The Mekong

12-day tailor-made holiday from £3,150 pp incl. flights

See the best of Laos, before taking a Mekong River cruise into Thailand and the northern town of Chiang Rai, a centre for the country's unique hill tribes.

Thailand Top to Toe

15-day tailor-made holiday from £3,050 pp

When people think of Thailand, the first picture that springs to mind for many is one of gorgeous white-sand beaches, swaying palms and a sparkling turquoise sea in the resort islands of the south. Scratch a little deeper however and you'll find a rich tapestry of culture, cuisine, temples and trib…

A river journey from Laos to Thailand

14-day tailor-made holiday from £7,745 pp incl. flights

Discover the multi-layered cultural heritage, fascinating history and natural beauty of Laos and Thailand on this richly immersive adventure, including a three-night boutique river cruise on the Upper Mekong.

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Top places to stay in Thailand

Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa

Contemporary resort

Just a 20-minute speedboat ride from Phuket, the Santhiya Koh Yao Yai is a brand new five-star resort and spa surrounded by 38 acres of tropical forest, untouched white-sand beaches and the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea.

The Surin, Phuket, Thailand

Contemporary resort

With a collection of 108 stunning thatched cottages and magical location on a hillside overlooking the gorgeous white sand of Pansea Beach, The Surin is, without doubt, one of the finest properties on the Thai island of Phuket.

Centara Grand, Bangkok, Thailand

Contemporary hotel

As its name suggests, Centara Grand at CentralWorld is located in the heart of Bangkok, offering easy access to the city's many attractions while providing guests with five-star facilities, amenities and service.

Trisara, Phuket, Thailand

Accommodation

Situated on the north west coast of Phuket, Trisara offers stunning accommodation with panoramic sea views and infinity pools, complemented by a white sand private bay and plenty of activities. A resort perfect for both couples and families.

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Where to go in Thailand

Bangkok

Bangkok is a modern metropolis merging old and new, sacred and profane. Bustling street markets peddle bargains alongside high-end shopping malls, trendy nightclubs and restaurants that tempt devotees, while serene Buddhist temples and majestic palaces stud the riverbanks and boulevards.

Eastern Thailand

The eastern province of Thailand is far less visited than the rest of the country, but a trip here allows the opportunity to get off the beaten track and see some of the area's small towns and unspoilt landscapes, before continuing on to islands in the Gulf of Thailand or into Laos or Cambodia.

Central Thailand

Bird watching and historical sites are among the attractions of the central and western regions of Thailand, parts of which have been given over to mountainous and forested national parks where rare animal species can be seen.

Northern Thailand and Chiang Mai

Heading north from Thailand's dusty central plains, the heat gives way to cool, clean air and a terrain of forested limestone hills and rivers. The pace and people seem gentler in this colourful corner of Thailand, bordering Burma and Laos.

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When to go to Thailand

Inland Thailand has a tropical, humid climate for most of the year. The area north of Bangkok has three seasons whilst the southern peninsular region has only two. In the north the weather is mostly dry between November and May, though from March to May sees a sharp rise in temperatures as the cooling breezes of the northeast monsoon subside. May to November is dominated by the southwest monsoon, when rainfall is heaviest. The south is more definitively split between wet and dry seasons. On the west coast the southwest monsoon brings rain and heavy storms from April to October, while on the east coast the heaviest rains fall from September …

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Thailand articles

Adventures beyond the beach

If you prefer to combine culture or wildlife with your relaxing beach break, take a look at our favourite places on the planet for combining a beach holiday with adventures and expeditions.
Top trips to take this autumn

Whether you refer to this time of year as autumn, Fall or Indian summer, smart travellers know that this is the ideal season to get away and see the world as crowds calm down but temperatures remain warm. We've rounded up a selection of the places at the peak of their powers during the months Septe…
The Other Side of Thailand

Alex Robinson heads south to discover secret spots and hidden pleasures. Pictures by the author.
How to avoid high season crowds

Lots of destinations around the world have a best time to visit or a high season, when the majority of travellers arrive. Whilst these periods can often be driven by good reasons, there are also ways in which a savvy traveller can get away around these months, escape the crowds and save money. We r…