Area Guide – Thailand

The information below is a general guide to help you familiarize yourself with the culture, geography and practicalities of Thailand. Here you can also gain a clearer insight into what areas offer the most to visitors.

Thailand is often called the "land of smiles", and rightly so because you will see more smiling people here than anywhere else in the world. More visitors go to Thailand than any other country in South East Asia and Thailand offers something for every type of traveller. Thailand has breathtaking beauty, ruins of ancient kingdoms and wonderful temples and its national symbol is the elephant.

The Kingdom of Thailand covers an area of 514,000 sq kms in the heart of South East Asia, roughly equidistant between India and China. It shares borders with Burma to the West and north, Laos to the north and northeast, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south. The time zone is GMT + 7 hours. The currency of Thailand is the baht, divided into 100 satang.

Thailand's capital is the fantastically hot, crowded, traffic-choked city of "Krung Thep" - Bangkok. Bangkok is an exciting city with plenty of rewards in store for adventurous travellers. Built on the banks of the Chao Phraya River it is home to many of Thailand's most spectacular temples and monuments and amazing shopping, dining and nightlife.

The three main destinations that cater for families are Hua Hin, Phuket and Bangkok. Hua Hin is just a three-hour drive from Bangkok or a short flight, and it boasts good beaches for swimming, golf courses, spa resorts and excellent shopping.

Phuket is an island known as the "Pearl of the South" and has a huge choice of resorts from three to five star. The scenery is beautiful and diverse and the attractions are many, including the spectacular limestone scenery of Phang Nga Bay, the idyllic Phi Phi Island, elephant rides, canoeing, rock climbing and horse riding.

95% of the population follow the Buddhist religion which is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha, "The enlightened". About 4% of the population, mainly living in the south of Thailand, are Muslim. The remaining 1% are Confucians, Taoists, Christians, and Hindus. Thai people are very tolerant of other faiths and treat all religions with respect.

One of the oldest languages in East and South East Asis Thai is a monosyllabic language which uses five tones (high, mid, low, rising and falling tone) and this alters the meaning of a single syllable. English is widely spoken in all major tourist locations.

The Thais really appreciate it when foreigners respect both their laws and heritage as their culture is very different to the west. Sunbathing on the beaches is banned by law and rudeness or anger should never be shown in public as Thai people are very polite and rudeness is not tolerated in any form. When visiting a Buddhist Monastery the grounds are holy so it is appreciated if appropriate dress is worn. Women should be careful as no monk may come into physical contact with any woman. Touching people of the head should be avoided and your feet should not be pointed at people or objects as it is considered rude. Footwear should be removed when entering a private home and public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon.

The temperature is high in both heat and humidity and is dominated by monsoons. The hottest months are April and May and the beginning of the monsoons starts in June bring with it the rainy seasons which continues on and off until the end of October.

Most visitors prefer to be in Thailand between November and the end of February when there is a cool north east breeze and a reduction in the humidity level making it the main tourist season.

The primary means of employment is agriculture and Thailand is one of the world’s largest producers of rice with industry, commerce and services account for 80% of the gross domestic product.

Thailand has several international airports, including Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, and Thai Air is the national airline

Public transport in Thailand is extremely cheap and very convenient. All major towns are linked by rail or bus routes and more out of the way places can often be reached by songtaew which is a utility truck with two rows of seats for passengers in the back. Transport around towns is usually in the form of taxis or tuk-tuks which are three-wheeled motor-cabs. In Phuket the word tuk-tuk refers to small, red vans with seating in the back. Many cities now have metered taxi services, but when getting in a tuk-tuk, it is advisable to negotiate a fare first, and don't be afraid to do some hard bargaining!

The elephant, although the national symbol of Thailand, faces a decline in natural habitat as ivory poachers if caught within human settlements. There is a strong bond between the Thai people and elephants and they hold a revered place in society because of their symbolic importance to monarchs, religion and the nation as a whole.

Information Required When Travelling to Thailand

You may also be interested in the following:

• Thailand Area Guide
• Guide To Property In Thailand
• Dalaman Area Guide
• Bansko Area Guide
• Thailand Property