Luxury Thailand Travel

Thailand’s high season is from October through to March. At this time travellers can expect warm weather, low humidity, and clear skies wherever they are in the country. These months are the busiest for international arrivals, with visitor numbers (and hotel rates) reaching a peak over late December, when thousands escape the cool winters elsewhere in the northern hemisphere and descend on Thailand for guaranteed winter sun. Read more on our guide When to Visit Thailand.

Temperatures then build through late spring, marked by the ‘songkran’ water festival in April, before rains sweep across the country from June through to September. Thailand is a large country however and there are outliers: the eastern Gulf islands are gorgeous in May when the rest of the country is baking; Koh Samui has great weather during July & August while other islands are drenched; and if you’re focused more on interior exploration then September and October can be lovely. With careful planning, and well-managed expectations, it is definitely possible to travel in Thailand year-round.

Elephant tours are a controversial subject. Although elephants (‘chang’ in Thai) are the country’s much revered national animal, Thai elephant tourism has a poor track record, with exploitative training, overwork, and appalling living conditions unfortunately common finds. Recent years have seen a backlash against such practices – from both tourists and Thai tourism providers alike – and we are pleased to find a shift from ‘park’ to ‘conservation centre’, where you’ll find animals treated with respect and care, and physical interaction (particularly riding which as a company do not support) kept to a minimum. This is a big deal for our consultants so please be assured that any elephant interaction included in your itinerary will have been personally vetted.

All our tours are 100% bespoke and we’ll put together an action-packed tour regardless of how much time you have. Typically we’d recommend at least 9-10 days, as this will allow you to experience three distinct locations: Bangkok, followed by time up in the north or in the rainforest, closing out with time on a beach. Longer tours of 14 days or more can combine multiple destinations in the north – Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, and/or the Golden Triangle – take in some of Thailand’s rich history – in Ayutthaya and perhaps Sukhothai – or visit two or more islands.

Thailand’s pulsating capital is one of the world’s great cities. Cosmopolitan travellers will be in heaven here, especially those who love the sultry chaos of a tropical Asian city. Bangkok offers non-stop nightlife and shopping, the world’s best food scene, and heritage sightseeing for days. The convenient metro system and an endless swarm of taxis will also make it quick and easy to get around independently. We’d typically recommend no less than two full days to explore the Thai capital, but you could spend a week and not run out of things to do.

What are the must-visit places for a first-time tour?

A classic Thailand itinerary covers capital Bangkok, northern capital and second city Chiang Mai, and a beach (or two!). Chiang Mai offers both urban and rural attractions, with beautiful surrounding countryside to explore, and classic Thai experiences such as elephant interaction, cooking classes, bamboo rafting, and jungle hikes. For maximum efficiency a similar city-nature-beach combo can be put together overland, with Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, and Hua Hin offering a similar variety of experience without involving any domestic flights or boat transfers.

Thailand may see millions of visitors each year but this doesn’t mean the whole country is busy – far from it! Step away from the most popular tourist sites and you’ll quickly find a whole new world of adventure opening up: just north of Chiang Mai are hills, villages, forests aplenty, with numerous isolated lodges to cater for you. Further north still – Pai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Khong, Chiang Saen – the mountains open up and although the accommodation standard drops off the adventures just keep on coming. Out to the east, the flatter and drier Isan provinces have long been a treasured destination for domestic tourists, offering backwater escapes and distinctively fiery cuisine. And down in the south you’ll never run out of new islands to explore!