Travel to Thailand

Flying to Thailand

Flights to Thailand are available from several national and international carriers. The national airline is Thai (www.thaiairways.com), which flies from dozens of international locations. Bangkok Airways (www.bangkokair.com) offer international flights to and from destinations within Asia.

Flights are cheapest from May to October as parts of the country are hit by the rainy season. November to March are the most expensive times to fly, so it’s best to book your tickets a few months in advance.

Major airports are: Bankok Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chiang Rai International Airport (Mae Fah Luang), Chiang Mai International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, Ubon Ratchathani Airport, Surat Thani International Airport, Udon Thani International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Khon Kaen Airport and Krabi International Airport.

Flight times:

From London to Bangkok: 11 hours 35 minutes
From New York to Bangkok: 20 hours (including stopover)
From Los Angeles to Bangkok: 19 hours 15 minutes (including stopover)
From Sydney to Bangkok: 9 hours 30 minutes

Departure tax:

Included in the air fare.

Airport guides

Airport Code: BKK. Location: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is about 42km (26 miles) west of the Grand Palace as the crow flies. Money: ATMs are available throughout Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Currency exchange... Read more

Airport Code: DMK. Location: Don Mueang International Airport is about 23km (14 miles) north of the Grand Palace as the crow... Money: ATMs are available throughout Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport. Currency exchange counters... Read more

Airport Code: HKT. Location: Phuket International Airport is located around 30km (19 miles) north of Old Phuket Town, a major... Money: ATMs are available. Currency exchange counters are in Arrivals. Read more

Airport Code: CNX. Location: Chiang Mai International Airport is located 4km (2.5 miles) southwest of the city centre.  Money: There are several currency exchange facilities in both terminals. ATMs, including one from ICBC (... Read more

Airport Code: CEI. Location: Chiang Rai International Airport is located 8km (5 miles) from Chiang Rai’s city centre.... Money: Two currency exchange facilities and five ATMs are available throughout the airport. Read more

Airport Code: KBV. Location: Krabi International Airport is located about 15km (9 miles) from the city centre.   Money: Currency exchange facilities can be found in Terminal 1 at arrivals. ATMs are available in both... Read more

Airport Code: HDY. Location: Hat Yai International Airport is located approximately 15km (9 miles) from Hat Yai city, Thailand. Money: ATMs are located on the first floor of the terminal. There is also a currency exchange counter on... Read more

Airport Code: KKC. Location: Khon Kaen Airport is located 8km (5 miles) from the city of Khon Kaen, Thailand. Money: Bureaux de change facilities are located on the first floor of the terminal. There are also ATMs... Read more

Airport Code: UTH. Location: Udon Thani International Airport is located 7km (4.3 miles) southwest of the Udon Thani city centre. Money: Currency exchange services are not available onsite. Read more

Airport Code: USM. Location: Samui Airport is approximately 2km (1 mile) north of the main city, Chaweng, and about 20km (12... Money: ATMs are available. A currency exchange counter is in the arrivals hall. Read more

Airport Code: URT. Location: Surat Thani International Airport is located 21km (13 miles) west of Surat Thani city, Thailand. Money: There is no bureau de change office at Surat Thani International Airport, but there are a few ATMs... Read more

Airport Code: UBP. Location: Money: ATMs can be found at one end of the terminal hall, near the coffee counters. Read more

Travel by rail

The opulent Eastern and Oriental Express (www.belmond.com) runs directly between Bangkok and Singapore, but it's expensive.

Driving to Thailand

Road passage into Thailand is possible through Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos. You can find coach operators at major bus stations, but minivan services (such as between Chiang Mai in Thailand and Vientiane in Laos) are often faster. Thailand has multiple border checkpoints to its neighbouring countries. The border crossings are split into international crossings (for foreign nationals in possession of a valid passport and visa) and local crossings (only open to locals). There are over 20 international border crossings.

Getting to Thailand by boat

The main port is Bangkok (www.bkp.port.co.th). Note - there are very limited passenger services available.

Cruise ships:

The ports of Laem Chabang (Bangkok) and Phuket are served by international shipping companies and several cruise lines. Cruises from Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Europe make regular stops at these ports.

River routes:

There are passenger crossings between Thailand and Laos at several points along the Mekong River. There is a slow boat along the Mekong River, from the Thai town of Chian Saen to Jinghong in China's Yunnan Province.




Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.