Thailand is one of the most popular expat destinations and has a lot to offer. It has gorgeous islands, great temples and beautiful beaches. Moreover, Thai food is delicious.
Thailand has a tropical climate which is divided into three seasons:
The average temperature is around 28-35 °C the whole year.
Thailand has some of the best beaches in the world. There are so many beaches it is difficult to find the perfect beach for you!
Phuket has some of the most popular beaches in Thailand. Patong beach is one of the largest beaches in Phuket with a wide coastline, soft sand, warm water, and many hotels, restaurants and shopping spots. Patong beach has a vibrant nightlife, so if you would like to have some peace and quiet, this might not be for you.
Railay beach is the opposite of Patong beach and is very quiet, this beach is only accessible by boat. There is not much to do aside from climbing, swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing.
Hua Hin beach is popular among both locals and international visitors. There are plenty of things to do and it is easy to travel to Hua Hin from Bangkok. This beach is not the best beach for swimming due to jellyfish but it is good place for families and children.
Kata beach is located in southern Phuket but is a lot quieter than Patong beach. There are no high rise hotels or shopping malls. The waves at Kata beach can be very strong during low season that is from May until August. This beach attracts surfers but not a good spot for families with young children.
The majority (95%) of the Thai population is Buddhist and therefore there are over 31,200 temples, also known as “wats”. Some of the best temples are Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat pho, Wat Saket and Wat Benchamabophit. Wat Arun is a buddhist temple located in Bangkok.
Visitors should note, when entering a temple, legs and shoulders should be covered.
Thailand has numerous national parks, but the largest is Kaeng Krachan and is located on the eastern slope of the Tenasserim Mountain Range.This national park consists of circling lakes, waterfalls and mountains. You also might see elephants in the wild if you are lucky. Public transportation all the way to the park does not exist, however, some areas such as Erawan , Khao Laem , Sai Yok Thong Pha Phum are accessible by public transportation.
Krachan National Park is accessible by car and it can be reached within three hours from Bangkok.
Phuket is one of the most popular destinations for divers, however, various diving destinations all offer something different. For instance, Koh Tao is the mecca for learning how to dive whereas Pattaya offers some of the best wreck diving in Thailand.
Phuket has a crystal clear ocean with shallow and deep diving locations and many diving shops and centres. The best place to dive at Phuket is Ter Bay where it possible to dive around an old ship wreck.