Recommended Reading:
Eyewitness Travel Guide to Thailand
by Philip Cornwel-Smith (Editor), Deni Bown
Looking for quality packable travel gear at great prices?
Outdoor Travels shops at these suppliers.
If we don't use a supplier, we don't endorse them.
Area Overview: Thailand
How was our trip?
Travel Diary
Experience being there!
Travel Photos
Thailand Fast Facts:
Full country name: Kingdom of Thailand
Area: 517,000sq km
Population: 62 million
Capital city: Bangkok (pop 6 million)
People: 75% Thai, 11% Chinese, 3.5% Malay, also Mon, Khmer, Phuan and Karen minorities
Language: Thai
Religion: 95% Buddhism, 4% Muslim
Climate: Thailand has three seasons: rainy from July to October, cool and dry from November to February, and hot from March to June.
Currency : There are 100 satangs in 1 baht. (B=baht) Notes are issued in denominations of B1000 (gray), B500 (purple), B100 (red), B50 (blue), B20 (green), and B10 (brown). There are 10, 5 and 1 baht coin, and 50 and 25 satang. Most foreign currencies and traveller cheques are easily changed at banks, hotels or moneychangers. All major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the kingdom.
Electricity : The electric system is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles). There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travelers with shavers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug-adapter kit.
Visas : Visitors to Thailand who hold valid passports or travelling documents issued by any country included in an officially issued list of eligible countries are permitted one-month visa-free visits. If planning a longer stay, a Tourist Visa valid for 60 days must be obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad. Visa extensions can be applied for at the Immigration Department in Bangkok.
Government: Democratic constitutional monarchy
Overview
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict.
The country divides into four regions - North, Northeast, Central and South - sharing borders with Malaysia on the south, Burma on the west, Lao on northeast and east, and Kampucha on the east. Thailand is an easy country to travel in, with efficient transport, cheap accommodation and a delicious national cuisine. In fact your biggest ee will be your travel to Thailand. Once there, the adventurous traveler can find lodging anywhere in Thailand for under $15 a night. The traveler requiring more luxurious accomodations will find a lot of great hotels for less than $70 a night.
The Thais are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality to strangers. The Thais have an unlimited inclination to smile. Thais truely welcome visitors, they sincerely enjoy being of service and getting to know people. If you're interested in ruins, temples and deserted cities, this is the place to go. If the beach scene interests you, you're in luck. Thailand's islands and beaches are very nice and provide many lvels of amenities and services; everything from a $10 night bungalow to luxurious hotels. As for the urban adventure, a visit to one of the largest cities on earth is a must. Bangkok, although it can be a little overwhelming with its chaos and scale, can provide a lot of entertainment from its energy and cultural treasures.
The bad news?
Like every country, Thailand has its own issues. The following is an "offical warning" from the United States Central Intelligence Agency:
"The Cambodian and Myanmar border areas contain a volatile mixture of land mines, bandits, smugglers and rebels, and are the scene of occasional low-level military stoushes. Travellers should steer well clear of the borders or contact their embassy to receive the latest reports on the security situation.
An incident in March 2000 in which one Australian tourist was murdered and his partner attacked in the Doi Ang Khan National Park in Chiang Mai has prompted embassy warnings not to camp in undesignated areas in national parks."
