Kingdom of Thailand facts
Thailand name
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam. The capital city was known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep, a shortening of the ceremonial name. The full name reads as follows:
Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop
Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan
Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit .
Translates as:
City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat
of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by
Vishvakarman at Indra’s behest.
The name is listed in Guinness World Records as the world’s longest place
name, at 168 letters.
FAST FACTS
Capital: Bangkok
Currency: Thai Baht – THB (฿)
Official language: Thai
Code: +66
Time zone: GMT+7
Religion: Buddhism (90%), Islam, Christianity, and other Electricity: 220V AC
Driving: right hand side Bordered: Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos
Number of Provinces: 77
Weather
The weather forecast during your trip to Thailand
Thailand has three different seasons: summer (March to May), green season (June to mid Oct) and winter (mid Oct to Feb). Every season has its own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to travel which makes Thailand really a year round destination. Climate change is also noticeable in Thailand and therefore weather patterns can vary.
March – May (Summer)
The weather in the whole country will be sunny and warm, especially in the afternoon – around 35 degrees Celsius in the middle of the day – so you are advised to plan sightseeing more in the mornings and evenings. The landscapes can be a bit drier and the air a bit hazier. It’s a good time to visit the beaches and the southern part of Thailand’s as well as Isaan, Chanthaburi and East Thailand island like Ko Chang.
June – mid October (Green Season)
The temperatures drop to about 25 – 30 degrees Celsius, and the scenery is beautifully green. Sightseeing is not too hot and not too dusty. It’s a perfect time to visit the centre, the north and the eastern provinces (Isaan). It’s the raining season which means mostly brief refreshing showers at the end of the day. Sightseeing is great as it’s quieter in the green season – it’s Thailand at its best! During this period, it rains on average less than once every two days and as the days are longer, you actually have more sun hours in a day than in winter.
If you like sunbathing on the beach, it’s best to choose carefully which beach to stay. Generally, the beaches on the west coast (The Andaman sea: Krabi, Phuket, Khao Lak, Koh Phayam, Koh Phrathong) get more then average rain in this period, which is not beneficial for your suntan. Beach buns better choose a beach in the Gulf of Siam (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan) in this period.
Mid-October – February (Winter)
This is the most popular season for tourists to travel because of the lower temperatures (evenings in the mountains can be cool – 10 degrees Celsius), while there is less chance of rain. Daytime temperatures are around 30 degrees Celsius. It’s a good time to visit any place in the country but the downside is that it can be busy around the major tourist attractions. For photographers this is an ideal time with blue skies. Sept, Oct and Nov are the wetter season in Koh Samui.
Passports & VISA
The Visa Exemption rule allows tourists from 64 countries to enter Thailand without applying for a visa. Travellers can visit Thailand for up to 30 days if they are entering Thailand through an international airport or land border checkpoint from a neighboring country. Hold a genuine passport with a valid expiry of over 6 months.
Check on websites like www.ivisa.com if you need a visa to travel to Thailand.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Exploration Travel will do everything possible to ensure that our clients have a safe and enjoyable trip. However, travelling could be a risk and these risks should be recognized by participants. We highly recommend buying short- term travel insurance for our adventures to protect yourself and your equipment in unexpected events of problems like baggage lost or damaged, flight delays, cancelled, or medical problem.
Internet connection and Communication
Upon arriving in Thailand, you can purchase a local SIM card with high-speed internet at the airport for as low as THB 300 or you can use pocket WIFI if you need more stable internet and more data or if you visiting Thailand as a group or family. You will only need to give them your information such as name, country of origin, and passport copy as they need to register the number under your name.
There are a lot of internet providers such as AIS, TRUE, DTAC, 3BB, and TOT. WiFi and cellular speed in Thailand have significantly improved over the years. In fact, in 2020 the country ranked in second place out of all ASEAN member states when it came to internet speed with 4G and 5G.
Phone data can reach up to 10 GB for a low price. As long as you are within your data in your package, you get it at the maximum speed that the company can provide, however, when you have finished your data, they won’t cut the internet. Instead, they will give you a lower speed that is not enough to browse photos.
Many places like hotels do give you free WIFI during your stay.
MONEY
ATMs are extremely common in most cities and towns. You’ll find them at bank branches, on street corners, airports, bus stations, at stores such as Tesco Lotus, Big C or 7-Eleven and in shopping malls. You might not find ATMs in rural areas or some local towns, so it’s best to withdraw money in THB beforehand.
Thai ATMs work with MasterCard (Cirrus, Maestro) and Visa (Plus) cards. ATM daily withdrawal limits vary depending on the bank. Credit cards can only be used mostly in Bangkok.
TIPPING
Most preferably tips for our driver are 5$ and 10$ for our guide which is already highly appreciated. Of course, tipping is always related to the quality of service rendered. In restaurant, tipping is not require.
HEALTH
Thailand is one of the countries where you can easily access health services. You can walk into clinics, tell the pharmacist your symptoms and they will provide you. The health system in Thailand is one of the best in the world plus it is quite cheap. Before travelling to Thailand it is suggested that you consult with your General Practitioner a few weeks before departure. This will allow a medical professional to assess your specific health risks, including past medical and vaccination history, before recommending the necessary vaccines and/or antimalarial medications.
Aside from the prevention of diseases with vaccinations, important health issues when travelling through or around Thailand can include unsafe food and water that can result in an upset stomach or traveller’s diarrhoea, Choler; road accidents; sunburn and sunstroke; insect bites; jellyfish stings; catching a virus or the flu. Rabies disease is extremely rare. Dengue fever is also rare and not dangerous.
| If there is an emergency, you can tell us so we can assist you and ensure you receive the necessary medical attention, medication or treatments. |
FOOD & DRINK
Thailand’s cuisine is quite famous around the world. You might have heard our famous dishes like Tom Yam Kung or Pad Thai. Thai people use a fork and a spoon to eat. Thais usually have rice or noodle meals. We share our food when eating as a family so there will be rice and Kab Kao. Thailand is rich in ingredients, flavours, and even fruits. You can see a lot of variety dishes and desserts in Thailand. Thai street food is also quite famous among foreigners. So it would be best to try many dishes while you are here! We suggest you try some of our favourites such as:
Pad Kra Pao
A single dish that can be eaten in any meal or if Thais don’t know what to eat they usually get this dish because it is flavourful and very delicious. A minced pork or chicken stir-fried with chillis, minced garlic, holy basil and seasoning top with fried egg. Don’t forget to tell the vendor whether you want Ped, Mai Ped, or Ped noi (less spicy).
Nam Prik Noom
Northern Thai Green Chili Dip originated in Northern Thailand. It is one of the tastiest green chilli dips you could ever eat. Mostly to eat with pork crackling or so-called ‘khab moo’, fresh or boiled vegetables, and sticky rice. It contains roasted green chillies, garlic, shallots, and a pinch of salt. This menu is vegan- friendly. Even though the major ingredient is chillies, it was not spicy at all!
Som Tam
A spicy papaya salad is considered an Esan dish. A crunchy papaya strips with tomatoes, limes, cowpeas and roasted peanuts in a sweet, sour and a little spicy flavour. Thai people can handle a lot of spicy so you should start with Mai ped (no spicy). It is quite an addicting dish that many Thais can have it every day!
Guay Tiew Nam Tok
One of the Thai noodle staples. We eat it hot despite the weather. Nam Tok means waterfall. The soup was darkened because of raw clod blood or pig’s blood for enriched flavour. With beef or pig, broth, blood, noodles, pieces of liver, dumplings, green vegetables and spices.
Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiaw
When locals from Northern Thailand move elsewhere in Thailand, Nam Ngiaw is probably the dish they miss the most. It is sort of a stew, often made with a tangy tomato base, that includes dry roasted chillies, pork bones or beef, and cubes of congealed blood. It is typically served with Khanom Jeen (fresh rice noodles), a variety of raw vegetables like bean sprouts, cilantro, lime wedges and dry chilli flakes to garnish. There are many different versions of Nam Ngiaw, according to province and location, with a similar yet slightly different taste with a choice of spice and ingredients.
Khao Yam
Khao Yam (Spicy Rice Salad with Vegetables) is a popular breakfast or lunch dish in Thailand’s southern region, particularly in the lower south. Khao Yam is a highly nutritious and wholesome food that contains a wide range of nutrients. Because it contains a variety of vegetables and herbs, each with its flavour, aroma, and colour, it reflects the southern eating culture. Depending on location it might be different in spices and ingredients.
Moo Nam Tok
Another can’t-miss dish is called Moo Nam Tok or Thai grilled pork salad. It’s full of Thai signatures like herbs, spicy, and sour, with juicy pork fillet and important ingredients like Khao Khua (Thai roasted rice powder) to make everything mellow. We usually eat this dish with rice or sticky rice and fresh vegetable.
| We also suggest you try a variety of fruits here in Thailand as well because each part of Thailand has a different recommendation that also depends on when you visit. Thailand is enriched with tasty fruits and foods. We have a lot of products year-round more than we can consume before it goes out of season so we also process fruits and foods as well. The folk wisdom of Thai people is amazing, the artisans, the agricultural, and of course Thai food! |
You cannot drink tap water in Thailand. It contains harmful bacteria and contaminants and can be dangerous to consume. Most of the tap water comes from surface water and groundwater sources, it should have been sterilized first. It is not uncommon for travellers to get ill from drinking tap water in Thailand, so it is best to avoid it. Thais buy filtered water instead otherwise they have filtered at their home.
Must try drinks!
Cha Thai or Thai iced milk tea
Sweet iced milk tea
O-Liang or Thai iced coffee
Thai traditional coffee. It is usually sweet and has a nice smell of coffee.
Coconut water
Sweet and refreshing and also good for health Krating Daeng
An original “Red Bull”, which is stronger in taste and smell!
Culture and etiquette
“Wherever you go, do what you see” because there are some unwritten rules hidden in the culture. Along with this, it is always good to try to understand what lies underneath what we see, to understand it and apply it correctly. To travel to Thailand you should try following these rules.
Feet is not for pointing out things. The feet are the most impure body part in the Buddhist religion, so pointing at things or persons with your foot is considered rude, disrespectful and is very frowned upon.
The figure of the king and the royal family. Thailand’s law requires respect for the king and his family from both locals and foreigners. It is forbidden to speak ill of the king and other members of the royal family.
Feet is not for pointing out things.
The Wai is not only used to greet people; it is also used to apologies, thank someone or say goodbye.
When visiting a Thai temple you must
Wear long trousers or skirts that cover at least below the knees (long trousers/skirts covering down to the ankles are only mandatory in Bangkok’s Grand Palace).
Covering your shoulders is preferable. Avoid plunging necklines.
Do not wear semi-transparent garments that allow to see the part of the body it is supposed to cover.
You will have to remove your footwear before entering the main areas (inside the enclosure).
Women cannot have any kind of physical contact with monks.
In general, men should also try to avoid touching the monk or his robe or sitting very close to a monk.
In the temple, you should sit in a place that is lower than that occupied by a monk.
Thais are friendly people and their smile is a way of showing respect, so if you’re the recipient of a smile, make sure you smile in return.
Don’t touch people’s heads. The head is revered as the highest and most sacred part of the body, therefore, you should never touch a person’s head or hair — this includes ruffling children’s hair.
Pointing at someone in Thailand is inappropriate and rude as it is in many other countries too.
LANGUAGE
Thai language is a national language and the most spoken in the country along with a lot of languages and dialects such as in the northeastern area you might hear Isan or Lao language. Many locals know a little English but do not worry Thai people are usually willing to help you out.
Here are some words you should know to enhance your visit:
*ending words or sentences with Krub/Ka (male/female) will make you sound more polite
Useful contact
Police & emergencies – 191 Tourist Police – 1155
Public Ambulance (Everywhere) – 1669
