How many regions does Thailand have?
Thailand has six official regions under the Royal Institute's scheme: North, Northeast, Central, East, West and South. The Office of the Royal Society says the division comes from the National Geographic Committee in 1977. Other government bodies group the same 77 provinces in different ways, so the answer depends on who is counting.
The National Statistical Office uses a second scheme for its yearbook. It follows the national development plan and reports in seven groups: Bangkok and vicinity, Central, East, West, North, Northeast and South. Under this scheme the North has 17 provinces, because it adds the lower northern provinces such as Sukhothai and Phitsanulok.
You have two weeks and one question: which Thailand? The official lines matter less than the coastline. The east and west coasts of the south have opposite rainy seasons, so we split the beach regions by sea. On this site we use seven travel areas. They are the North, Isan, Central Thailand with Bangkok, the East, the Gulf coast, the Andaman coast and the far south.
Map of Thailand's regions
The map above shows our seven travel areas. They follow the Royal Institute's six regions with one change: the south is split into the Gulf coast, the Andaman coast and the far south. Bangkok sits in the middle of the country, at the top of the Gulf, and almost every trip passes through it.
Here is how the areas line up with the official scheme.
North. Royal Institute North (9 provinces). Main bases: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Isan. Royal Institute Northeast (20 provinces). Main bases: Khao Yai, Buriram, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani.
Central Thailand. Royal Institute Central (Bangkok and 21 provinces), plus the West. Main bases: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and Sukhothai.
East. Royal Institute East (7 provinces). Main bases: Pattaya, Ko Samet and Ko Chang.
Gulf coast. The Gulf side of the South, plus Hua Hin in the West. Main bases: Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Andaman coast. The west side of the South. Main bases: Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak and Koh Lanta.
Far south. Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, near the Malaysian border.
Northern Thailand
Northern Thailand is the mountain region, with Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai as its two main cities. The best time to go is November to January, when the air is cool and clear. Thai Meteorological Department normals for the North show December and January are the driest months, and September the wettest.
The North suits you if you want culture, food and nature in one trip. Chiang Mai has temples, craft villages and good restaurants. Chiang Rai has the White Temple and the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet on the Mekong.
The White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, has charged foreign visitors ฿200 since 1 January 2026, the temple says. Entry is free for visitors aged 70 and over. Further into the hills, Nan and Lampang show a quieter, older side of the North that few foreign visitors see.
For hotels, Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai sits among rice terraces in the Mae Rim valley. Anantara Chiang Mai is on the river in the city. Near Chiang Rai, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle offers luxury tents in the jungle above the river.
Plan around the smoky season. The Chiang Mai haze runs mainly from February to April and peaks in late March or early April. The province counted 53 days over Thailand's fine-dust standard in the first five months of 2026, fewer than in earlier years. We move spring trips to the beaches instead.
Mid-November brings Yi Peng, the lantern festival, which falls with Loy Krathong. In 2026, Chiang Mai Province allows sky lanterns only on 24 and 25 November, from 19:00 to 01:00, in permitted areas. Read our Northern Thailand guide.
Getting there is easy by air, as Chiang Mai has flights from both Bangkok airports. The State Railway of Thailand's fastest day train, the Special Express 7, takes 10 hours 20 minutes from Bangkok. The railway cancelled nine northern long-distance trains after floods in September 2026, so check the line before you book.
Pai has no scheduled flights, and Mae Hong Son has no flights from Chiang Mai at present, so both mean a long mountain drive. For medical care, Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai and Chiangmai Ram Hospital both hold Joint Commission International accreditation.
Isan, the northeast
Isan has more provinces than any other region: 20, on the Khorat Plateau between Bangkok and the Mekong. It sees far fewer foreign visitors than the coasts. Its strengths are Khmer temples, national parks, strong regional food and big events, such as MotoGP at Buriram.
The National Statistical Office counts all 20 Isan provinces, including Bueng Kan, created in 2011. Khao Yai National Park sits on Isan's western edge and is the easiest trip from Bangkok. Its hills hold vineyards, golf courses and some of Thailand's best country resorts.
The Khmer temples are the main draw for culture lovers. Phanom Rung is an ancient stone temple on an extinct volcano in Buriram. The Fine Arts Department charges foreign visitors ฿200, or ฿250 with nearby Mueang Tam. Phimai, near Nakhon Ratchasima, holds its festival from 11 to 15 November 2026.
Buriram hosts the MotoGP Thailand season opener from 5 to 7 March 2027 at Chang International Circuit, with the race on Sunday 7 March. Official tickets are on sale from 9 November 2026. We arrange hospitality, transfers and the best nearby stays for race weekend.
Isan is for the second or third trip, when you have seen the classic sights and want something real. We pair it with a private guide and a driver, because luxury hotels are few outside Khao Yai. Read our Isan guide.
Flights make Isan easy to reach. Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air fly from Don Mueang to Udon Thani in about 1 hour 5 minutes. They fly to Khon Kaen in about an hour. Udon Thani is the gateway to the Mekong towns of Nong Khai and the north-east.
Isan food is the country's boldest: grilled chicken, sticky rice, spicy papaya salad and minced-meat salads with lime and herbs. In Bangkok, many of the best Thai restaurants cook Isan dishes, so you can taste the region before you go.
Central Thailand and Bangkok
Central Thailand is the country's heartland: the rice plains around the Chao Phraya River, with Bangkok at the south end. The Royal Institute counts Bangkok and 21 provinces in this region. It holds the capital, the old royal cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, and Kanchanaburi's river valley to the west.
Bangkok opens and closes most trips. It has the main airports, the best hotels in the country and the widest choice of dining. The MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026 gives three stars to two Bangkok restaurants, Sorn and Restaurant Sühring.
The riverside hotels are the classic base: Mandarin Oriental, The Peninsula, Capella and Four Seasons. Give a first visit three or four nights, no fewer. Add a private boat on the river and a guide for the Grand Palace and the old town.
Ayutthaya, the old capital, is a day trip north. The Fine Arts Department charges ฿50 per temple or ฿220 for a combined ticket at the historical park. Since 1 August 2026, a fast State Railway service reaches Ayutthaya from Bangkok in just over an hour.
Further out, Kanchanaburi has the River Kwai and floating resorts, and Sukhothai has the most peaceful of the ancient cities. Bangkok is wettest in September, Thai Meteorological Department normals show, so the cool, dry months from November are the best. Read our Central Thailand guide.
The Grand Palace in Bangkok charges foreign visitors ฿500, including Wat Phra Kaew, the Bureau of the Royal Household says. It opens from 08:30 to 15:30 daily. Closures are announced at short notice, so we check the day before.
In Kanchanaburi, the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre is free and open from 09:00 to 16:00, the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs says. It closes from 3 to 23 May 2027. The JEATH War Museum charges ฿50, the Kanchanaburi Provincial Office says.
Eastern Thailand: Pattaya and the eastern islands
Eastern Thailand is the coast south-east of Bangkok, from Chonburi to Trat near Cambodia. It holds Pattaya, the islands of Ko Samet and Ko Chang, and Chanthaburi's gem market. The Tourism Authority of Thailand puts Pattaya about 150 km from Bangkok, a two-hour drive, so it is the closest beach to the capital.
Pattaya is a large resort city with golf, family attractions and lively nights. Skip the centre: the quieter districts of Pratumnak, Naklua and Na Jomtien are where we put you. InterContinental Pattaya Resort sits on the Pratumnak headland, and the Royal Cliff group runs three hotels in Pattaya.
The eastern islands are greener and calmer. Ko Samet is a short boat ride from Rayong. Ko Chang and Koh Kood lie further east, near Trat, and Soneva Kiri on Koh Kood is one of Thailand's most private resorts.
The east has two big December festivals near Pattaya: Wonderfruit, from 3 to 7 December 2026, and Tomorrowland Thailand, from 11 to 13 December 2026. U-Tapao airport, south of Pattaya, takes private jets and is open 24 hours.
Because it is so close to Bangkok, the east works well for a short break or a weekend added to a city stay. Read our Eastern Thailand guide.
Ferries to Ko Chang leave from Ao Thammachat pier, and the Department of National Parks charges foreign adults ฿200 for the Mu Ko Chang park. Bangkok Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi to Trat in about an hour, which is the fastest way to the eastern islands.
Licensed entertainment venues in Pattaya, and licensed venues inside hotels, may stay open until 04:00 under a 2023 ministerial regulation. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya holds Joint Commission International accreditation. There is no ferry from Pattaya to Hua Hin; by road the trip takes about five to six hours around the top of the Gulf.
The Gulf coast: Hua Hin and Koh Samui
The Gulf coast is the east-facing shore of southern Thailand, on the Gulf of Thailand. It runs from Hua Hin, a royal seaside town south of Bangkok, to the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Its weather runs opposite to the Andaman side, so it is the better beach choice from May to September.
Thai Meteorological Department normals for Koh Samui show November is the wettest month. The driest stretch runs from February to April. Summer is Samui's moment, because the Andaman coast has its monsoon then.
Hua Hin. The State Railway of Thailand timetable lists the Special Express 43 from Bangkok to Hua Hin in 3 hours 1 minute. The town has golf, long beaches and calm resorts such as Chiva-Som, a destination spa. It is the easy beach for families who want to stay close to Bangkok.
Koh Samui. The Gulf's luxury island, with Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Six Senses Samui, Banyan Tree Samui and many private villas. Four Seasons was a filming location for The White Lotus season 3. Samui Airport is owned and run by Bangkok Airways, and opens from 06:00 to 22:00.
Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Koh Phangan is known for the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin and for quiet northern bays. Koh Tao is a diving island. Both are short boat rides from Samui. Read our Gulf coast guide.
The Full Moon Party runs once a month; its 2027 dates start on 22 January and 22 February. Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park, a day trip from Samui, closes from 1 November to 15 December 2026. Bangkok Hospital Samui is the island's international hospital, and Phangan International Hospital operates on Koh Phangan.
The Andaman coast: Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga
The Andaman coast is Thailand's west coast, facing the Andaman Sea from Ranong to Satun. It holds Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe. Thai Meteorological Department records for Phuket show the coast is driest from December to March, with February the driest month and September the wettest.
This is Thailand's most famous beach region. Limestone islands rise from green water in Phang Nga Bay and around Railay. The Similan Islands, open from 15 October 2026 to 15 May 2027, have some of the country's best diving. Phuket has the widest choice of luxury resorts and villas in the country.
Our favourite bases are Surin and Kamala in Phuket, Railay in Krabi, Koh Yao Noi in Phang Nga Bay and Khao Lak for the Similans. Our top hotel picks are Amanpuri, Trisara, Rayavadee and Six Senses Yao Noi.
See this coast from a private yacht. You leave Phuket after breakfast, and by lunch you are anchored between limestone walls. A five-day route covers Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yao Noi, Krabi's islands and Phi Phi without long crossings. National park rules apply: boats moor only at buoys, never on coral.
From May to October, the south-west monsoon brings big waves, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand warns of rip currents. A red flag means do not swim. Read our Andaman coast guide.
Phuket's airport is open 24 hours and has a private jet terminal. Krabi opened its new terminal on 23 September 2026. Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Bangkok Hospital Siriroj, both in Phuket Town, hold Joint Commission International accreditation.
Southern Thailand and the far south
Southern Thailand covers the long, narrow peninsula from Chumphon down to the Malaysian border. The Royal Institute lists 14 southern provinces. The island coasts are the famous part. The south also has rainforest parks, Hat Yai's busy trade city, and the four border provinces of the far south.
Inland, Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani has limestone peaks, old rainforest and a large lake with floating rafts. It makes a strong two-night break between a Gulf island and the Andaman coast. Nakhon Si Thammarat has one of the south's most important temples and a strong food culture.
Hat Yai, in Songkhla, is the south's commercial centre and a gateway for visitors from Malaysia and Singapore. Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Bangkok Airways fly from Bangkok in about 1 hour 25 minutes.
The far south provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, with parts of Songkhla, have a long-running security problem. Several foreign governments advise against travel there. Check your own government's advice before planning anything in this area. We do not plan leisure trips to these provinces.
Our advice: in the south, start with the islands. Read our Southern Thailand guide for the full list of places.
Two southern provinces work as gateways. Chumphon, on the Gulf side, has boats to Koh Tao. Surat Thani has the car ferries to Koh Samui and the boats to Koh Phangan, so guests who drive or take the train change here.
Which region when? A month-by-month guide
The best region depends on the month. In short, go north from November to January, to the Andaman coast from December to March, and to the Gulf coast from February to April. Bangkok works all year, but its coolest, driest months run from November to February.
Here is how we plan the year. These are general patterns from Thai Meteorological Department normals; weather in any single year can differ.
November. North at its best. Andaman coast drying out. Gulf coast at its wettest; avoid Samui.
December and January. Best all round: the North, Bangkok and the Andaman coast. Samui improves from January.
February and March. Andaman coast at its driest. Gulf coast good. Avoid Chiang Mai from late February because of the haze.
April. Hot everywhere. Beaches still fine on both coasts. Songkran, the Thai New Year, runs from 13 to 15 April 2027.
May and June. Rains start on the Andaman coast. The Gulf coast is the better beach choice.
July and August. Gulf coast is the strongest beach option. Bangkok and the North are green and wet, with fewer visitors.
September. The wettest month in the North, Bangkok and Phuket. Samui is often still fair.
October. Rains ease in the North and Bangkok; the Gulf coast starts its wet season. The Similan Islands open in mid-October.
For the full climate figures, see our best time to visit Thailand guide.
Festivals can also decide the month. Loy Krathong falls on 24 November 2026, with lanterns in Chiang Mai the same week. Chinese New Year is on Saturday 6 February 2027, a lively time in Bangkok's Chinatown. MotoGP comes to Buriram in early March 2027. Songkran fills every city with water fights in mid-April.
All 77 provinces by region
Thailand's 77 provinces are listed below under the Royal Institute's six regions, the official geographic scheme. The Royal Institute's own page lists 19 provinces in the Northeast because it predates Bueng Kan, created in 2011. We add Bueng Kan to make 20, as the National Statistical Office does.
North (9). Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Uttaradit.
Northeast (20). Amnat Charoen, Bueng Kan, Buriram, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Loei, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom. Then Nakhon Ratchasima, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Yasothon.
Central (Bangkok and 21). Bangkok, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Chai Nat, Kamphaeng Phet, Lopburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Sawan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani. Then Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Uthai Thani.
East (7). Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat.
West (5). Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Tak.
South (14). Chumphon, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phang Nga, Phatthalung, Phuket, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Trang, Yala.
The total is 9 + 20 + 22 + 7 + 5 + 14 = 77. The Department of Provincial Administration's own count is 76 provinces plus Bangkok, which is governed as a special local administration. Pattaya is the only other city with the same special status, but it is part of Chonburi province, not a province of its own.
What happens at 6pm in Thailand?
At 18:00 each day, the national anthem plays in public places across Thailand, and people stop and stand still until it ends. The same happens at 08:00. You will hear it in parks, at some train stations and on public loudspeakers. As a visitor, simply stop walking and stand quietly for about a minute.
Other customs are the same in every region. In cinemas, everyone stands when the royal anthem plays before the film. At temples, dress with shoulders and knees covered, and leave your shoes at the door of each hall. The wai, palms pressed together with a slight bow, is the Thai greeting, given first to older people.
Alcohol rules are national too. Shops may sell alcohol from 11:00 to 24:00. On five Buddhist holy days each year, sales are banned, though hotels and licensed venues are exempt. In 2027, Visakha Bucha falls on Thursday 20 May.
Combining regions in one trip
Most luxury trips combine two or three regions: Bangkok plus one beach, or Bangkok, the North and a beach. Domestic flights link the main cities in about one hour, so choose regions with good weather in the same month. A 10- to 14-day trip handles three regions without rushing.
Here are the combinations we plan most often.
December to February. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket or Krabi. Cool north, dry Andaman coast.
March and April. Bangkok and two beaches, such as Phuket and Koh Samui. Skip the North because of the haze.
July and August. Bangkok and Koh Samui, perhaps with Hua Hin. The Gulf coast is at its best.
Example plan, two weeks in January. Spend four nights in Bangkok on the river, then fly to Chiang Mai for three nights in the hills. Fly south to Phuket for four nights in a villa. Then take a private boat to Koh Yao Noi or Railay for the last three nights.
For speed and privacy, a private jet can use any public airport. It needs permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, a ground handler and a slot. Phuket, Don Mueang and U-Tapao have private jet terminals. Helicopters use the runway at the main airports, as none has a separate helicopter landing area.
A private jet turns a two-week, four-region trip into an easy one. See our private jet charter page, or our two-week Thailand itinerary for a full sample route. For every city and island in one place, start at our destinations guide.
On arrival, our host meets you in the arrivals hall and walks you through, using the priority lane where your ticket or status allows. A driver waits at the kerb, and your bags go straight to the car.
Plan a multi-region trip with Tanner
Tanner plans multi-region trips around your dates and the weather in each region. One planner holds the whole trip: the order, the hotels and villas, the flights or jet, the drivers and the guides. Our Thai staff work in each region we send you to. When a region is wrong for your month, we steer you to the one that is right.
Send your dates and who is coming, and Tanner suggests the right regions for the month. You get one plan, one contact on WhatsApp and one invoice from VIP Luxury Services. We get back to you right away.
