%3Aformat(webp)%2Fheader_media%2F8fdf5c68-143d-4dbb-9401-7ab4a73c269d-chiang-mai-thailand-banner.png&w=1920&q=75)
Thailand rewards a little preparation. It is one of the easiest and most welcoming countries in Asia to travel — warm, friendly and well set up for visitors — but it has its own etiquette, and the heat sets the pace.
This guide answers the practical questions UK travellers ask most before a trip to Thailand, so you arrive feeling ready rather than uncertain.
If a question here is not covered, our team — part UK-based, part on the ground in Thailand — is always happy to help.
%3Aformat(webp)%2Fday_detail%2F77a43a59-b02b-4f45-95ce-2daa11a26d6a-bangkok-photography.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Thailand is a very safe country for travellers, with low levels of violent crime and a long, easy familiarity with visitors. Streets feel safe day and night.
The things to watch are smaller: opportunistic scams around temples and tuk-tuks, pickpocketing in crowded markets, and above all the roads. Thailand's road-accident rate is high, and we would not recommend hiring a scooter, however tempting it looks.
Standard travel sense still applies: keep your documents safe and take out travel insurance before you go.
British citizens travelling for tourism do not currently need a visa for Thailand and can enter under a visa exemption for up to 60 days. You will need a passport valid for at least six months, and you may be asked to show onward travel.
Rules can change, so always confirm the latest requirements with the UK government's Thailand travel advice and the Royal Thai Embassy in the UK before you travel. Different British nationality types, or longer stays for work or study, have different rules.
Thailand has three seasons, and the cool, dry season (November to February) is the pick of them — warm days, comfortable evenings, and our busiest departures.
Hot season (March to May) - genuinely hot, often above 35C. Rewarding if you pace yourself, and quieter at the big sights.
Green season (June to October) - short, heavy downpours rather than all-day rain, lush landscapes and the best prices.
One candid note: the two coasts have opposite rain patterns, so there is almost always a beach somewhere in Thailand having good weather.
%3Aformat(webp)%2Fheader_media%2Fd80c2a69-da97-4231-bba9-cd183f77cb0b-chiang-rai-4-.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Our Thailand tours involve a moderate amount of walking — temple complexes, markets, old towns — usually a few hours on your feet across a day, and almost always in heat and humidity.
You do not need to be especially sporty, but you should be comfortable walking for a few hours and carrying a small day bag. The heat, rather than the distance, is what tires most people.
We build the day around the temperature, starting early where it makes sense.
%3Aformat(webp)%2Fhubspot_blogs%2F180920596402-ASIBPThafood2.png&w=1920&q=75)
Food is one of the great joys of Thailand and often a highlight of the trip - fragrant curries, pad thai, grilled river fish, and street-food markets that are an event in themselves. Come with an open mind and an empty stomach.
An open heads-up: vegetarians and vegans travel well here, but fish sauce and shrimp paste are in a great many dishes by default, including things that look plant-based. Tell us your needs when you book and your guide will help you order with confidence.
If you have a serious allergy you must tell us at the time of booking. We'll do everything we can, but cross-contamination can't be fully guaranteed in every kitchen, so please plan accordingly.
%3Aformat(webp)%2Ftravel_report_photo%2F83020%2Fad5fe18c-c2ee-428e-a7d4-ffaa10ccd272-3B6340C7-AB88-4C30-895E-0A614668CF1E.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Plenty of our guests travel solo — a small group is one of the easiest, most sociable ways to see Thailand on your own.
You can choose to share a room with another solo traveller of the same gender, or book a single room for an additional fee.
Our reviews are full of travellers who arrived alone and left with friends.
Currency is the Thai baht (THB); carry cash for markets, street food and temple donations
Cards and contactless work well in cities, malls and hotels
ATMs are everywhere, though a withdrawal fee usually applies
A travel eSIM gives excellent, inexpensive coverage across the country
Tipping is not customary, but rounding up and small tips for guides and drivers are appreciated
%3Aformat(webp)%2Fprovider%2Fb454e341-d147-47c7-a560-d0f7897c3b0d-261508260_437949961072712_7179494131224748457_n.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Comfortable, well-located hotels chosen for character and position — usually a short walk from the old town or the river rather than stranded on a ring road.
On some trips you will stay in a jungle lodge or a floating raft-house on a lake, where the point is the setting rather than the thread count. Power and Wi-Fi can be limited, by design.
Rooms are air-conditioned as standard, which matters more than anything else in this climate.
%3Aformat(webp)%2F270b7c47-5d44-4d6c-981f-189c9c7c9893-budhist-alms-offering-giving-by-boat-amphawa-1.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Getting there: Flights are around 11-12h direct, or a little longer with one stopover. See our recommendations.
Time difference: Thailand is 6-7 hours ahead of the UK (7 in winter, 6 in summer); no daylight saving
Currency: Thai baht (THB)
Plugs: Types A, B & C, 230V — bring an adapter
Language: Thai; English is common in hotels and tourist areas
Best time to travel: the cool, dry season (November to February) — see our Thailand tours
Our team can help with anything this guide did not cover.
Contact us
We’d love to hear from you. Please fill out this form.
All fields marked with (*) are mandatory.