Thailand Guide
Compare Cheap Flights to Thailand
Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand has been a popular destination for Australian travellers for years. The country is so diverse, with each region of the country different to the next. In the north, the Thai Highlands are mountainous and made up of some of the best nature in Thailand. Down south, there are endless beautiful beaches and some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world. And in the middle, Bangkok offers an exciting big-city experience full of culture, history, nightlife, and great food.
Cheap flights to Thailand depart from many airports around Australia. You can catch direct flights to Thailand from many major cities, and even with a stopover, you’ll arrive to Thailand in no time. Many airlines offer cheap airfares to Thailand from Australia, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates. Webjet compares cheap airfares to Thailand from across the web to find the best prices. So when you book flights to Thailand with us, you know you’re getting a great deal. Book your cheap flights to Thailand with Webjet, and use our guide to Thailand to make the most of your Thai holiday.
When should you book cheap airfares to Thailand?
Thailand is a geographically diverse country. Southern Thailand is in the heart of the tropics, and the north is mountainous with lots of jungle. Because of the different geography, each city has a slightly different climate. But each region of Thailand has a couple of things in common. There are two seasons: wet and dry. During the wet season, humidity levels are high and rain storms are common. Everywhere in Thailand is warm year-round, and southern Thailand gets particularly hot and sunny due to its location in the tropics. The wet and dry seasons occur during different months in each region of Thailand.
Bangkok’s dry season lasts from November to March. During this time, it’s hot, but not too humid. Wet season lasts from April to October, and rain storms are common during this time.
Phuket’s dry season lasts from November to April, and wet season is May to October. Phuket experiences monsoons during wet season. Rain is strong, some attractions close, and swimming and diving are not recommended due to strong waves and riptides.
Koh Samui is one of the Thai islands. It experiences a short wet season from October to December. From January to September, weather is hot and sunny. Tropical rainstorms can still happen throughout the year, but they don’t last long outside of wet season. The driest months in Koh Samui are February and March.
Chiang Mai’s dry season lasts from November to February. During this time, it’s dry and not too hot. Wet season peaks in August and September, but even during the wet season, Chiang Mai doesn’t experience as much rain as southern Thailand.
So when is weather the best across Thailand?
If you are hoping to take a trip to several areas of Thailand, you’ll experience the best weather between January and March. Each area of Thailand is warm and sunny during this time, and experiences very little rain.
Major Holidays in Thailand
Thailand is a country with some exciting and unique holidays. Two festivals in particular are great times to book flights to Thailand.
The Songkran Water Festival is held in April each year. It celebrates the Thai New Year and involves lots and lots of water. People have water fights in the streets, and others dump buckets of water over crowds in the city. Water is seen as purifying in Thailand, so getting soaked during the festival is a way to wash away any bad memories from the past year and start the new year with a clean slate. This holiday is unique to Thailand and like no holiday you’ll experience in Australia!
A more peaceful festival—the Loy Krathong Festival—is held in November. The exact date of the holiday changes each year, but it always takes place during a full moon. During the festival, hundreds of floating lanterns are released into the sky in cities and towns all across Thailand. While you can join in on the celebration anywhere in Thailand, the festival is the most famous in Chiang Mai.
Five Things First Time Travellers To Thailand Should Know
- Don't talk about the king. Disrespecting the King of Thailand by insulting him could land you in prison for up to 15 years. To avoid causing any offence, it's best not to talk about the monarchy at all.
- Show good dinner etiquette by eating off your spoon, not your fork. In Thailand, it's considered rude to eat your food off a fork. Rather use it to push your food onto your spoon.
- Respect the dress code for temples. You need to cover up your elbows, shoulders and knees before entering a wat. Keep a light jacket on your back just in case you stumble across a beautiful temple you want to explore.
- Don't touch a Thai person on the head or point your feet to anyone. In Buddhism, this is considered rude as the head is the most sacred part of the body and the feet are the lowest.
- The tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink. Luckily, bottles of clean water are available at all convenience stores such as 7 Eleven. Plus you can even fill up your water bottle for less than THB 5 at public dispensers around town.
Top Cities
Top Cities to Visit in Thailand
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest city in Thailand and has something to offer all types of travellers. The city is full of history, amazing food, and some of the best nightlife you’ll ever experience. The landscape of Bangkok is beautiful with a series of rivers and canals throughout the city. Being a city built on canals has led to Bangkok being called the “Venice of the East.” In addition to being exciting and beautiful, Bangkok is a very affordable city for Australian travellers, meaning you’ll be able to take advantage of all the activities available to you. Bangkok is exciting, cosmopolitan, and unique to anywhere else in Thailand.
Phuket
Phuket is the largest city in southern Thailand and has so much to offer visitors. Few places around the world can compare to the sheer natural beauty you’ll experience in Phuket. The region is full of beautiful beaches and some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world. Just off the coast of Phuket, there are a variety of smaller islands you can visit for a magical experience. Apart from its natural beauty, Phuket has a fascinating culture which you can learn about through the region’s many temples and festivals. The food is incredible, the locals are welcoming, and prices are affordable for Australian travellers.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is located in the very north of the country in the Thai Highlands. Due to its location in the mountains, it offers a much different experience to cities further south in Thailand. The area is perfect for hiking and adventure sports and offers plenty of great day trips to the mountains, rice fields, and several elephant sanctuaries. Chiang Mai and its surrounds are extremely green, and the area is full of natural beauty. Chiang Mai also has a unique history. It was the centre of the ancient Lanna Kingdom in Thailand hundreds of years ago, and you still see temples and relics from the kingdom throughout the city.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is a small Thai island located in the Gulf of Thailand. It is full of activity, but it’s also peaceful and relaxing at the same time. The island is lined with gorgeous beaches, and lush jungles make up the island’s interior. Just off the coast of Koh Samui are beautiful reefs with some amazing snorkelling and diving. Along with its natural beauty, Koh Samui is full of history and culture. Throughout the island, you can visit traditional temples that will give you an insight into the spiritual side of Thailand. With a short wet season, Koh Samui is hot and sunny for most of the year, making it the perfect place to book a tropical getaway.
Top Attractions
Top Attractions in Thailand
The Thai Islands
Southern Thailand is made up of many beautiful islands. They are a true paradise with palm trees, white-sand beaches, bright blue water, and some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world. It is easy to travel between islands by catching a ferry, speedboat, or quick flight. Phuket is the largest city in southern Thailand and a great place to start your tour of the Thai Islands. From there, be sure to visit both the Phi Phi Islands and Koh Samui.
The Grand Palace
Located in Bangkok, the Grand Palace was once home to the country’s king and royal family. The architecture of the palace is extravagant and beautiful. The palace also houses the Emerald Buddha, which is an important spiritual symbol in Thailand. Today, the royal family still hosts ceremonies and government events in the palace.
Elephant Sanctuaries
Throughout northern Thailand, there are many elephant sanctuaries you can visit. Elephants are endangered in Thailand, so many of these sanctuaries were created as a way to protect the elephants and get their population back up. When you visit the elephant sanctuaries, you will learn all about Thai elephants and get to interact with them. Baby elephants love to play, and you can help give the elephants a mud bath. Note that some sanctuaries allow visitors to ride elephants, but others do not.
The Thai Highlands
The northern region of Thailand is mountainous and extremely green. The area is full of rice fields to visit and some great hiking trails. There are several places to visit around the Highlands. Chiang Mai is the biggest city and the perfect place to start off your travels around the north. Pai and Chiang Rai are other beautiful towns worth visiting.
Wat Arun
Thailand is full of so many impressive temples, there’s no way you’d be able to see them all. If you only visit one temple during your time in Thailand, make sure it is the Wat Arun just outside of Bangkok. The temple is named after Aruna, the god of dawn. Wat Arun is covered in porcelain and ceramic tiles, which reflect light. The temple is especially beautiful to visit at sunrise and sunset.
Floating Markets
Thailand is full of exciting markets, but the best ones to visit are floating markets. You can find floating markets all over the country, and many are located around Bangkok. Vendors sell food, souvenirs, and crafts right out of their boats. The best way to experience a floating market is to take a boat tour with a local and slowly row through the market.
Airports
Major International Airports in Thailand
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) - Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the largest airport in Thailand. The majority of international flights to Thailand arrive into this airport. Suvarnabhumi Airport is made up of three terminals—two international and one domestic. It is located about 25 km from the Bangkok city centre.
Don Mueang Airport (DMK) - Bangkok
This is Bangkok’s second international airport and is the second busiest airport in Thailand. Don Mueang Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is international, and Terminal 2 is domestic. The airport is located about 25 km from central Bangkok.
Phuket International Airport (HKT) - Phuket
Located 30 km north of the city, Phuket Airport is the gateway to southern Thailand and many of the Thai islands. The airport is made up of three terminals. Terminal 2 receives international flights to Thailand, domestic flights land in Terminal 3, and Terminal X receives charter flights to Thailand and private planes.
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
Chiang Mai’s international airport is located just 10 km from the centre of town. It is the main airport for visitors to the north of Thailand. The airport has two terminals—one for international flights to Thailand and the second for domestic flights within Thailand.
