Thailand tours & travel

One of the most important centres of trade in the world from the 14^th to 18^th centuries, Thailand (once known as the Kingdom of Siam) was the only South East Asian country to avoid European colonisation in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Ruled in some form by the Chakri dynasty since the 1700s, the recently crowned Rama X succeed his beloved father Rama IX, who was the longest reigning monarch in the world until his death in 2016. Recently the country has seen political power change hands many times, often due to coups, revolutions and protests. Despite this, Thailand’s economy continues to grow due to its strong tourism industry.

The population of Thailand is mostly comprised of ethnic Buddhist Thais, with Muslims (predominantly in the south) making up the second largest group. Friendliness, politeness and respect are important parts of everyday life. For the Thai, smiling is a way of saying hello and showing kindness, so be sure to smile back. Greet new friends by placing your hands in a prayer sign, and try to use your right hand when giving and receiving (the left is used for the toilet). Be sure to cover elbows and knees when visiting temples, and remember to remove your shoes. To be respectful of monks refraining from taking photos of them, while women should also avoid touching or handing items directly to them. Never touch a Thai person’s head, and beware of your feet – never point with them or step over people, food or objects. As the lowest part of the body, this is a sign of disrespect. The royal family are widely beloved, and it’s a criminal offence to disrespect them – treat even money depicting the king with respect.

Thailand shares borders with its South East Asian neighbours Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The country has lengthy coasts along the South China Sea and the Andaman Sea, and its natural environment varies from the mountainous and forested area in the north to the soft sandy beaches of the south. Thailand’s highest mountain is the Doi Inthanon and its two major rivers are the Chao Phraya and Mekong River. Travellers to Thailand will experience the best of two worlds: pristine natural surrounds in rural areas where locals continue to live the traditional way of life, and bird and animal life are abundant; and the fast-paced city life.

Aside from smiles, elephants and pearly-white beaches, Thailand is also famous for its shopping. For an authentic market experience, head to the streets of Bangkok (Chatuchak Weekend Market) and Chiang Mai (Warorot Market) – though you’re likely to find market stalls in even the smallest of villages. Night or day, you’ll find stalls selling everything from fresh produce to souvenirs and more. Beautiful items that are classically Thai include batik died scarves and shawls, rubies and sapphires found in the region, and green glazed pottery. Handicrafts made from wood, silver, bronze and bamboo include sculptures, masks, jewellery and traditional dancing dolls. If there’s no price listed, feel free to negotiate, but remember, your best haggling technique is always a friendly smile.

Songkran

New Year in Thailand is celebrated with a national holiday and a ritual cleansing, which often turns into a water fight – handy when the new year falls in the height of summer (April 13). In 2018 the holiday was extended to cover 12-16 April. There are offerings to monks, lots of traditional foods, and the often impartial hurling of water which makes this a particularly boisterous celebration.

Phi Ta Khon

Held in Isan province sometime between March and April (the local mediums choose the dates each year), the Ghost Festival involves dressing up in elaborate masks and patchwork costumes and asking for protection from the spirit of the Mun river. Waving wooden phalluses and shaking bells, the locals parade through the town making enough noise to wake the dead – in homage to an ancient Buddhist story of the noise made celebrating Buddhas return. This is usually followed by the rocket festival, where locals compete for prestige with the firings of home-made rockets.

Loi Krathong

Celebrated in the southwest villages of Thailand in November, this beautiful festival – known as the Thai festival of lights – involves floating candles and incense in banana leaf boats on rivers. The idea is to wash away the sins of the previous year, ask for forgiveness, show respect to the river, and make wishes for the coming year. Flowers and fireworks all contribute to a very pretty event.

Yi Peng

At the same time as Loi Krathong, but in the north of Thailand, is Yi Peng. Religious events, cultural activities and street parades all mark this Buddhist tradition, but Chiang Mai is famous for its flying rather than floating lanterns, and the release of thousands that illuminate the sky makes this festival truly spectacular.

Thai food is based on the principles of blending five flavours: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty, and is one of the world’s most famous cuisines. Locals do much of their eating outside the home, so you’ll find restaurants and food stalls on practically every street and night markets in villages across the country. Thai food covers a vast range – from spicy Southern Thai to sweet/savoury Central Thai, Thai-Chinese and Thai-Muslim – so there are coconutty curries, spicy noodles, tropical fruits, and incredibly fresh seafood to be tasted. With Peregrine you’ll often get to visit a local home and share a home-cooked meal – it’s one of the best way to get to know a culture and cuisine.

Must try dishes:

• Pad Thai

You can’t have a list of Thai food and not include this flavour-filled, iconic national dish. Fried noodles with shrimp, chicken or vegetables topped with peanuts, it’s the perfect introduction to Thai cuisine and can be found on almost every street corner.

• Tom Yum soup

Steaming with aromatics that fill the senses, this soup – now popular around the world – is made with classic Thai ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, fresh lime, shallots, galangal, fish sauce, and comes with a strong chilli hit. There’s also the choice of a creamy coconut option for those after a less spicy kick.

• Son Tam (Green Papaya Salad)

Especially popular in the Isaan province of Northeastern Thailand, this salad ticks all the main boxes of Thai cuisine – sour lime, hot chilli, salty fish sauce, and sweet palm sugar – all pounded together in a pestle and mortar to make an addictively spicy and surprisingly refreshing dish.

• Pak Boong (Morning Glory)

One of Thailand’s most basic dishes, but also easily one of its most delicious. Known for being rich in nutrients, this spinach-like vegetable is usually stir-fried with soybean paste, soy sauce, garlic, chillies and more to a crispy, crunchy finish.

• Gaeng Keow Wan (Green Curry)

There are so many different curries found across Thailand, but if you’re looking to sample the spicy side of Thai cuisine, then the green from Central Thailand is the way to go. Coconut milk gives a sweet balance to the mix of fresh green chillies, ginger, thai eggplant, chicken – but make sure you have enough steamed rice to off-put some serious spiciness.

• Fresh fruit

Fruit shakes and fresh fruit juices are widely available from markets and restaurants across the country, and brave travellers might also like to try the infamously smelly, but surprisingly delicious, durian.

Thailand's climate is generally hot, humid and at times (like other South East Asian countries) monsoonal. The seasons differ from coast to coast, so depending on which areas you're visiting, the weather can vary.

Thailand's north, east and west are great to visit from November to February, when the weather is cooler and dryer. If heading south, it's best to travel from January to April as these months provide optimal conditions for diving and snorkelling. Naturally this means it’s peak time, so be aware that popular places like Chiang Mai, Ko Samui and Phuket can get particularly busy. It can also get quite busy from July to August during the northern hemisphere’s school holidays.

The monsoon season is from July to November, so it can get quite wet and the weather may be uncomfortably hot and humid for those who aren't accustomed to it. Yet travelling during this time can provide a different picture of Thailand, and is generally a less crowded time of year. March to June is less wet but is the hottest time in terms of temperatures. If you don't mind the heat, then this can be a good time to go on holiday to Thailand to avoid the crowds.

Peregrine takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously, and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information on Thailand before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: https://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/Pages/thailand.aspx

From Canada?

Go to: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/thailand

From the UK?

Go to: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand

From New Zealand?

Go to: http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/thailand

From the US?

Go to: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Thailand.html

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Go to: http://www.who.int/