This is our guide to every experience on ThailandWiki: temples and landmarks, islands and marine parks, wellness, sport and culture. Each page gives the official hours, fees and rules, checked at the source, and then the private way to do it.
What are the top 10 things to do in Thailand?
You have ten days and want the famous sights without the crowds. The top 10 things to do in Thailand mix royal Bangkok, the Andaman islands and the cool north. We do each one the private way: early entry, a private boat or a driver who waits. Each item links to a full guide with official fees, hours and rules.
- See the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha at opening time. The Bureau of the Royal Household charges foreign visitors ฿500.
- Cross the river by private boat to Wat Arun, after the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.
- Cruise Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island on your own yacht, ahead of the day boats.
- Land at Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh in the morning, before the crowds.
- Snorkel the Similan Islands, open only from mid-October to mid-May.
- Climb the naga staircase to Doi Suthep above Chiang Mai at sunrise.
- Walk through the White Temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand's most surprising modern temple.
- Float a krathong for Loy Krathong or watch lanterns rise at Yi Peng in November.
- Watch Muay Thai from a ringside seat at Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok.
- Spend a morning with rescued elephants at an ethical elephant sanctuary, with no riding.
Bangkok: temples, the river and the city at night
Bangkok is the place we suggest you start. In one city you have royal temples, the Chao Phraya River, great museums, flagship shopping and some of Asia's best restaurants. Stay by the river or in a calm corner of Sukhumvit, and move by private car and boat so traffic does not decide your day.
Start with old Bangkok. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun sit close together on the river. Wat Pho's own site gives its foreign-visitor fee as ฿300, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand lists Wat Arun at ฿200. Climb the Golden Mount late in the afternoon for a view over the old town. Or let a guide shape the day with our temple tours.
Next, the Bangkok of art and craft. The Jim Thompson House is a teak home full of Asian art, open daily with guided tours. Our art and culture guide covers the galleries and the Bangkok Art Biennale, which runs until 28 February 2027.
For shopping, ICONSIAM is the great riverside mall, open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. Our luxury shopping guide covers the flagship stores and private appointments, and Chatuchak Market is the weekend market for design pieces and gifts.
At sunset, go up the Mahanakhon SkyWalk, where adults pay ฿1,000 or ฿1,200 depending on the time of day. Then take a table on the river or at a rooftop bar. A day at one of the best spas in Bangkok or a Thai cooking class completes a long stay.
Bangkok is also one of Asia's great dining cities: the MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026 gives three stars to Sorn and Restaurant Sühring. Many more restaurants hold one or two stars. The 2027 stars are announced on 10 November 2026, and we book the tables that are hardest to get.
Evenings on the river are some of the most beautiful in Asia. A private boat at dusk, past Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, is the calmest way to see the city light up. Our yacht charter service also covers the coasts.
After dinner, Bangkok's nightlife is a world of its own. There are rooftop bars high above the river, members' clubs, live jazz and superclubs, with licensed clubs open until 04:00. Our Bangkok nightlife guide covers the best of it, all high-end, with a car waiting.
Day trips from Bangkok
The best day trips from Bangkok reach floating markets, war history, old capitals and a carved palace by the sea. With a private car and an early start, each one fits easily into a single day. You return to your hotel for dinner without waiting for a coach or a group.
West of the city, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is busiest from early morning to late morning, the Thai tourism directory says. Pair it with the Maeklong Railway Market, where the train passes through the stalls a few times a day.
Further west, Kanchanaburi town is 129 km from Bangkok, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission says. The Bridge on the River Kwai and the war cemetery tell the story of the Thailand-Burma railway with great dignity.
To the north is Ayutthaya, the old royal capital. The Fine Arts Department sells a combined ticket for its main temples at ฿220. To the south-east, the carved wooden Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya makes a fine half day by the sea.
You may also ask about the Eastern and Oriental Express. Since its 2024 relaunch, Belmond runs it in Malaysia from Singapore only. A route through Thailand is only a government proposal so far.
Kanchanaburi deserves a full day. The JEATH War Museum charges ฿50, the provincial office says. Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre is free and open daily from 09:00 to 16:00, the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs says. It closes from 3 to 23 May 2027. Plan quiet time at the cemetery, and dress with respect.
For a longer escape, Hua Hin is the royal seaside town south of Bangkok. The State Railway of Thailand timetable shows Special Express 43 leaving Bangkok at 07:30 and arriving at 10:31. A private car, though, goes door to door.
The Andaman islands by yacht
The Andaman coast is Thailand at its most dramatic: limestone towers rising from green water, white beaches and coral reefs. Phuket is the base, with the best hotels and the main airport. From there, a private yacht opens up Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi islands, Krabi and, in season, the Similan Islands.
Phang Nga Bay is the classic day. Glide past sea caves and karst towers to James Bond Island, then on to Koh Hong and its lagoon. The national parks department places Ao Phang Nga in its ฿300 fee group for foreign adults.
The Phi Phi islands come next. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists the Phi Phi park fee at ฿400 for a foreign adult. Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September, and swimming there is not allowed.
The Similan Islands are the finest reefs on the coast. The park is open from 15 October 2026 to 15 May 2027, and the foreign fee is ฿500 per adult. Daily visitor numbers are limited, so book early.
On land, the Big Buddha in Phuket reopened on 3 March 2026. The Tiger Cave Temple near Krabi rewards a long climb with wide views. For more time on the water, see our guides to island hopping, diving and snorkelling, watersports and big-game fishing. Rock climbing on Krabi's limestone is a highlight of the coast.
For a private day or a week at sea, our yacht charter service arranges a crewed boat; a Princess 65 is a typical choice. The route is built around the tides. If you want an island to yourselves, our private islands guide explains what is possible. Remember that sunscreen with oxybenzone and similar chemicals is banned in national parks.
Krabi, across the bay from Phuket, has its own beauty. Railay's cliffs, quiet beaches and calm sunsets make a fine second base, and the drive or boat ride between the two is easy to arrange. A week splits well: four nights in Phuket and three in Krabi.
For the Phi Phi islands in detail, our Phi Phi island tour guide shows the private way to see them, ahead of the day boats.
The Gulf: Koh Samui and Koh Phangan
The Gulf of Thailand offers softer, greener islands with a different season. Koh Samui has the luxury resorts, the spas and an airport; Koh Phangan has quiet bays and the famous beach party. The Gulf's driest months are February to April, and it is wettest from October to December, peaking in November.
Ang Thong Marine Park is the great day out from Samui: a scatter of jungle islands, a lagoon and calm water for kayaking. The park is closed from 1 November to 15 December 2026, the national parks department says, so plan it for later in the season.
On Koh Phangan, the Full Moon Party is a young crowd's night. The private way to see it is a speedboat from a quiet bay, a host on the beach and your own return time.
Samui is also Thailand's wellness island. Our guide to wellness retreats on Koh Samui covers the best programmes. Fans of The White Lotus can follow our filming locations guide; Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui was the main setting for season 3.
Getting there is simple. Samui Airport, run by Bangkok Airways, links the island with Bangkok, and Koh Phangan is a short boat ride away. Samui and Bangkok combine well for a calm week of city and sea.
Northern Thailand: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Northern Thailand is cooler, greener and more spiritual. Chiang Mai has old temples inside a moat, mountain views and some of the country's most peaceful resorts. Chiang Rai, further north, has two remarkable modern temples, and the cool, clear months from November to January are the best time to go.
In Chiang Mai, start at Doi Suthep, the temple on the mountain above the city, with its 306-step naga staircase. In the old city, Wat Chedi Luang is a vast ruined chedi that glows at sunset.
In Chiang Rai, the White Temple charges foreign visitors ฿200 from 1 January 2026, the temple announced. The Blue Temple is a short drive away, bright sapphire inside and out.
The north is also the home of Thailand's best elephant sanctuaries. Our elephant sanctuaries guide names the places we trust, such as Elephant Nature Park, where there is no riding. Avoid the haze months of February to April if you can; Chiang Mai's smoky season peaks in late March or early April.
For the wider wild side of Thailand, our national parks guide covers the mountains, forests and marine parks across the country.
Chiang Mai is a food city too. The MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026 gives a Bib Gourmand to Khao Soi Mae Sai, a simple place for the city's famous curry noodle soup. Pair it with a cooking class, the night markets and dinner at a riverside resort.
Further north, the Golden Triangle is where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet on the Mekong. A boat ride on the river and a night at a riverside resort make a peaceful end to a northern trip.
Festivals worth planning a trip around
Thailand's festivals are reasons to travel in their own right. Plan around Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in November, the music festivals of December, and Songkran in April. Each brings crowds and higher prices, so good rooms, boats and tables need to be booked months ahead.
Loy Krathong is on Tuesday 24 November 2026. In Chiang Mai, sky lanterns for Yi Peng are allowed on 24 and 25 November only, in permitted areas. Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, is a national holiday from 13 to 15 April 2027.
December is festival month. Wonderfruit runs from 3 to 7 December 2026. Tomorrowland Thailand runs from 11 to 13 December near Pattaya, and EDC Thailand from 18 to 20 December in Phuket. Our events calendar lists every date we track.
There is more. The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival lights up the bay on 27 and 28 November 2026. The Phuket King's Cup Regatta races from 7 to 12 December 2026. In 2027, the Thailand International Boat Show is in Phuket from 14 to 17 January. The SIAM Songkran Music Festival runs from 10 to 13 April at Bravo BKK.
Wellness, golf and sport
Thailand is one of the world's great wellness and sport destinations. Thai massage, spa rituals and medical wellness sit alongside fine golf courses, Muay Thai, polo and motorsport. You can build a whole trip around one passion, or add a morning of it to a beach or city stay.
For wellness, our guides cover the best spas in Phuket, wellness retreats across the country and longevity and medical wellness. They range from executive health checks to recovery programmes.
For sport, our golf guide covers the best courses and tee times. Train with a coach or watch a fight with our Muay Thai guide. Riders can join the season of polo and equestrian events, and speed fans can drive a circuit with our motorsport guide. MotoGP opens its 2027 season in Buriram from 5 to 7 March.
For something more active, our adventure guide covers ziplines, jungle treks and more. Our gentleman's guide to Thailand brings together tailoring, cigars, golf and refined nights out.
Thai massage is the simplest pleasure of all. Wat Pho has its own traditional medicine and massage school in the temple grounds, open daily from 08:00 to 19:30, the temple's site says. A hotel spa gives the same tradition in total calm.
What does a luxury week in Thailand cost?
A luxury week in Thailand costs far more than the budget figures you see online, and often less than a similar week in Europe. The price depends on your hotels, flights inside Thailand, private cars, yachts and dining. We quote every trip on request, built around your group, dates and taste.
Official figures give a benchmark. Ministry of Tourism data for 2025 show visitors from the Middle East spending ฿7,713 a day on average, for 11.45 days. The figure for all foreign visitors is ฿4,865 a day. Our advice: for a private trip, budget above both.
Questions such as "Is $1,000 enough for a week?" belong to a different kind of trip. At our level, one night in a top suite, one yacht day or one tasting dinner can pass that figure. Our luxury travel cost guide explains the main costs, and our packages page shows how we shape a trip.
The main costs, from largest to smallest, are usually:
- Hotels or villas, especially suites and pool villas in high season.
- Yachts and private boats, priced per day and by size.
- Private aviation or business-class flights inside Thailand.
- Private cars with drivers, guides and hosts.
- Dining, from street food to tasting menus.
Seven per cent VAT is included in every price we quote, and every extra is listed before you pay.
Where does the money matter most? In our experience, it is the private moments. Think of the empty temple at opening, the yacht that waits for you and the table that was full for everyone else. We spend your budget where you will feel it and save it where you will not.
When to go for each experience
The best time for things to do in Thailand depends on the coast. The Andaman side, with Phuket and Krabi, is driest from December to March, and the Gulf side, with Koh Samui, from February to April. The north is clearest from November to January, and Bangkok is pleasant from November to February.
The hot season runs from mid-February to mid-May, and the rainy season from mid-May to mid-October. Rain usually falls in short, heavy bursts, and many hotels are quieter, with a wider choice of suites. Some marine parks close, though, including the Similan Islands from mid-May to mid-October.
Our best time to visit Thailand guide gives the month-by-month detail for each region.
Plan it with Tanner
Tanner plans every experience on this page as one private trip: the boat, the villa, the car, the table and the guide. You tell him who is coming, when and what you love. One planner handles a couple or a company of fifty, with Thai staff in every region. Some famous sights are not worth the queue, and we name them. Three example plans, each shaped to the group:
- Bangkok and the Andaman, 10 nights. Spend four nights by the river with the Grand Palace at opening, then six nights in Phuket with two yacht days.
- North and Bangkok, 7 nights: Chiang Mai temples and an elephant sanctuary, a day in Chiang Rai, then the river and rooftops of Bangkok.
- Festival week: Loy Krathong on your own boat in Bangkok, then Yi Peng lanterns in Chiang Mai.
Every plan includes the details that make travel easy. You get meet-and-assist at the airport, a private car and driver, tickets bought ahead, tables booked and a planner on call. Tell us your dates. We get back to you right away.
Our VIP concierge service explains how we work from the first call to the last transfer.
