Thailand
Southeast Asia's most-visited country, and for reasons that hold up. Bangkok is a city that rewards slow exploration. The north is cooler, greener, and entirely different.
I just got back from Thailand, which puts me in the useful position of writing about it with everything still fresh. Bangkok takes a few days to decode and then becomes genuinely addictive - street food at midnight, air-conditioned malls that double as transit hubs, and temples that appear without warning in the middle of a shopping district. The BTS Skytrain has expanded and makes the city far more navigable than the traffic suggests from street level.
The north - Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai - is a different country in all but name: cooler, slower, built around food markets and temples rather than rooftop bars. Pick a zone - Bangkok and the centre, or the north - and do it properly. The south and the islands are a separate trip.
The Best Time to Visit Thailand
Thailand runs three seasons rather than four: the cool dry season (November to February), the hot season (March to May), and the wet season (June to October). The temperature figures below are Bangkok averages - the north is noticeably cooler in the cool season, which is a real relief. In Chiang Mai in December and January the nights drop to around 15°C; locals wear jackets. Bangkok in December is 28-30°C with low humidity, which is as close to ideal as the city gets.
November to February is peak season - low humidity, manageable temperatures, blue skies most days. This is when accommodation prices are highest and the islands are at their most accessible. I was in Bangkok in April - Songkran season - which means the city-wide water festival and temperatures pushing 38°C. It is an extraordinary thing to experience once. I would not go back in April by choice.
The wet season is underrated for Bangkok and Chiang Mai city trips - the rain is usually a heavy afternoon downpour rather than all-day grey, and prices drop significantly. The islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan) have their own rain patterns offset from the mainland - the Gulf coast gets rain in October-November when the Andaman coast is dry, and vice versa. Worth checking by island rather than applying a single Thailand window.
Monthly temperature
Bangkok averages. Cool and dry November-February is peak season. March-May is the hottest period. Wet season (June-October) brings afternoon rain but the city stays open. Check island-specific calendars separately.
Getting there
Select your origin to see the best routing options.
London now has nonstop service again; from Ireland the Gulf carriers are the cleanest one-stop. Expect ~12h direct, 14-16h via the Gulf.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thai Airways | LHR - BKK | Direct | ~11h 40m | The flag carrier resumed nonstop from London. Daily. |
| EVA Air | LHR - BKK | Direct | ~11h 40m | Direct from London; strong onward connections at Bangkok. |
| Emirates | LHR/DUB - DXB - BKK | 1 stop | 14-16h | The clean Gulf routing and the best option from Dublin. The BKK lounge is useful homebound. |
| Qatar Airways | LHR/DUB - DOH - BKK | 1 stop | 14-16h | The closest competitor to Emirates; good from Dublin via Doha. |
No nonstop from the US to Bangkok. Connect through Asia (Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei) or the Gulf.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANA / JAL | JFK/EWR - NRT/HND - BKK | 1 stop | 20-23h | Via Tokyo; reliable and comfortable. |
| Qatar Airways | JFK - DOH - BKK | 1 stop | 21-23h | Via Doha; one of the smoother one-stops. |
| EVA Air | JFK - TPE - BKK | 1 stop | 21-23h | Via Taipei. |
No US carrier nonstop. Air Canada flies the only North America nonstop (from Vancouver); otherwise one stop in Asia.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | YVR - BKK | Direct | ~16h 25m | The only nonstop from North America, via Vancouver. Year-round from summer 2026, building toward daily. |
| United | LAX - HKG - BKK | 1 stop | 19-21h | Via Hong Kong (launched 2025). |
| EVA Air | LAX/SFO - TPE - BKK | 1 stop | 19-21h | Via Taipei. |
Nonstop from the east coast - one of the easier long-hauls into Asia.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas | SYD - BKK | Direct | ~9h 50m | Nonstop from Sydney; also serves Melbourne. |
| Thai Airways | SYD/MEL - BKK | Direct | ~9-10h | Nonstop from Sydney and Melbourne. |
| Jetstar | MEL - BKK | Direct | ~9h 10m | Budget nonstop from Melbourne. |
Where to go
Work one zone properly. City guides below; full city hubs are on the way.
Bangkok →
The centre of everything. Temples, markets, rooftop bars, and a street food scene that runs at all hours.
Chiang Mai →
The north's main city. Old City temples, Nimman cafe culture, and Doi Suthep on the hill above town.
Phuket →
The main Andaman island. Patong for nightlife, Kata and Karon for something quieter, the north for luxury.
Getting around Thailand
Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and MRT metro have expanded considerably and now cover most of the useful zones - air-conditioned, fast, and cheap. Grab (the local Uber) removes the haggling. For anything outside Bangkok, domestic flights are the default: Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways connect the main destinations in under 90 minutes. And the State Railway runs atmospheric overnight sleepers Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Bangkok to Surat Thani for Koh Samui.
Tested routes
2024Emirates First Class: the cheapest fare I have found (Bangkok-Hong Kong)Excellent→Planning the logistics?
The facts above are the short version. The full libraries - every carrier, line and lounge - live one level down under Getting There.