Thailand Holidays 2026/2027

Bangkok: The capital rewards two or three nights at the start of any trip. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and the Chao Phraya river boats sit within one compact district, while Chatuchak weekend market and the rooftop bar scene fill the evenings — few city breaks anywhere pack this much into a single day.

Phuket: Thailand's largest island offers the broadest range of hotels of any beach destination in the country, which is why most package holidays to Thailand begin here. Patong delivers the nightlife, Kata and Karon suit families, and Bang Tao and Mai Khao in the north stay noticeably calmer.

Krabi & Railay: On the mainland facing Phuket across Phang Nga Bay, Krabi is all about scenery — sheer limestone karsts rising straight from the sea. Railay beach is reachable only by longtail boat, which keeps it special, and Ao Nang makes a practical base with day trips to the Phi Phi islands.

Koh Samui: The Gulf coast's main island balances lively Chaweng with the boutique feel of Bophut's Fisherman's Village. Its season runs on a different clock to the Andaman side, making it the smart pick for summer departures, and the 42 islands of Ang Thong Marine Park sit right offshore.

Chiang Mai: The northern capital is ringed by a 700-year-old moat and holds more than 300 temples inside and around its old city. Cooler evenings, the famous night bazaar, and easy access to hill country make it the natural third stop on a longer itinerary.

Hua Hin & Khao Lak: Two quieter choices worth knowing. Hua Hin, the royal family's traditional seaside retreat, is under three hours by road from Bangkok with no flight needed. Khao Lak, north of Phuket, offers long, uncrowded sands and a slower rhythm that suits families and couples alike. Both often deliver the sharpest prices among cheap holidays to Thailand, without the compromise on quality you might expect.

Grand Palace & Wat Pho: Bangkok's royal palace complex and the neighbouring temple of the 46-metre Reclining Buddha sit side by side on the river. Arrive for opening time — the heat and the crowds both build quickly, and a morning covers the pair comfortably.

Phang Nga Bay by boat: The bay between Phuket and Krabi is scattered with limestone sea stacks, including the famous needle rock at Khao Phing Kan. Sea-canoe trips paddle through tidal caves into hidden lagoons inside the karsts — a genuinely memorable day out.

Ang Thong Marine Park: A 42-island protected archipelago an hour's boat ride from Koh Samui, with kayaking between the islets, an emerald saltwater lake, and a viewpoint climb that earns every photograph taken from the top.

Doi Suthep & the northern temples: The golden hilltop temple above Chiang Mai is reached by a 306-step staircase flanked by carved serpents, with views across the whole city from the terrace. Combine it with two or three of the old city's finest temples for a full cultural day.

Ethical elephant sanctuaries: The area around Chiang Mai leads the way in observation-based elephant experiences — feeding, walking alongside, and river time, with no riding. Book a recognised sanctuary and it becomes the day most guests name as their trip highlight.

Thai cooking classes: Half-day courses in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and most island resorts start with a guided market tour and end with you eating your own pad thai and curry. One of the few souvenirs that genuinely lasts.

Floating & night markets: Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa, both within reach of Bangkok, show market life conducted entirely from boats, while every major town runs a night market where dinner, souvenirs, and people-watching merge into one evening out.

Snorkelling & diving: The Similan Islands, reachable from Khao Lak and Phuket during their open season from roughly mid-October to mid-May, rank among Asia's finest dive sites. On the Gulf side, Koh Tao remains one of the cheapest places in the world to learn to dive.