Thailand is the easiest international trip from India, and the one people most often get slightly wrong. Not the flights or the hotels, but the coast.
The Andaman side, meaning Phuket and Krabi, runs November to April. The Gulf side, meaning Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, holds up later and takes its worst weather in October and November. Book the wrong coast for your month and you have booked rain.
Why go to Thailand
Direct flights from most Indian metros
Bangkok is served from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Cheap, fast internal flights
Bangkok to Phuket or Chiang Mai takes under 90 minutes, which makes a multi-region trip realistic.
Genuinely good value
Food, transport and mid-range hotels cost less than equivalent domestic trips in India.
It suits everyone
Temples, beaches, night markets and islands. Families, honeymooners and groups all find their version of it.
What people come for
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Bangkok
The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in one long morning, then Chatuchak at the weekend.
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Phuket
The largest island and the base for the Andaman coast. Beaches from loud to quiet.
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Krabi and Railay
Limestone walls straight off the sand, reached only by longtail boat.
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Chiang Mai
A walled old city of temples at 300m, cooler than the coast and walkable.
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Pattaya
Two hours from Bangkok, with Jomtien at the south end the quieter half.
Full guide: the best places to visit in Thailand →
Before you book
How long you need
Five nights covers Bangkok and one beach area. Chiang Mai adds three more plus an internal flight. Bangkok, islands and the north together need at least nine nights or you will spend the trip in airports.
Who it suits
First-time international travellers, families and honeymooners. English is widely spoken in tourist areas and the infrastructure is excellent.
What to watch for
Chiang Mai's burning season, roughly late February to April, produces some of the worst air quality in the world. Visit the north between November and February instead.
Thailand — Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket
Bangkok's temples and markets, then the coast at Pattaya or Phuket. Visa guidance, airport transfers and attraction tickets all arranged before you fly.
From₹34,999
See the full itineraryBest time to visit Thailand
| When | What it is like | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| November – February | Cool and dry, the best months nationally and peak on the Andaman coast. | Best overall |
| March – May | Hot, up to 40°C. Northern burning season makes Chiang Mai unhealthy in March and April. | Avoid the north |
| June – October | Southwest monsoon. Andaman swells and rain; the Gulf coast stays more usable. | Gulf coast only |
| October – November | Heaviest rain on the Gulf islands while the Andaman side dries out and reopens. | Andaman coast |
Getting to Thailand
By air. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang take direct flights from most Indian metros. Phuket and Chiang Mai also have some direct services from India.
Getting around. Domestic flights are cheap and frequent. Overnight trains to Chiang Mai are comfortable and save a hotel night.
Permits and entry rules
Entry requirements for Indian passport holders have changed repeatedly in recent years, including periods of visa exemption. We check the position on the official Thai government portal against your specific travel dates rather than relying on what was true last season.