- Thailand Special Tips & Tours -

INDIAN TRAVELERS

Although the climate varies throughout Thailand, you can visit all year round. The best time to travel is during the cool and dry season between November and early April.

In the south, the climate differs between the eastern and western coasts. The west coast is more favorable during the winter months, when diving and snorkeling will be at its best. The weather on the east coast is good for most of the year, with the lowest rainfall in January and February and the highest in November.

You can check the detailed guide to know exactly where and when to go in Thailand throughout the year.

Visas on arrival have been available for quite some time now, especially if you're planning to go to Thailand. With these visas, you're no longer required to visit an embassy anymore.

India is one of the 21 countries whose citizens qualify for this document, which means that they have it easy. They're able to apply online for a Thailand e-Visa, this way Indian citizens receive a pre-registration document and all they have to do is to complete only the second step of the process in the Thai airport.

What are the Thailand visa on arrival requirements for Indians?

The requirements for a Thailand Visa (Visa On Arrival) will require Indian Citizens to have a valid passport, return flight ticket, proof of accommodation, valid email address, and a means of payment. Here are the full requirement details:

Valid passport – getting a passport should be no problem, and if you already have one, take a look at when it expires. The passport needs to remain valid for at least another 30 days from your date of departure.

Return flight ticket – the Thailand visa on arrival allows you to spend only 15 days Per Entry inside the country. To make sure that you follow this rule, the immigration officer will ask you to present a confirmed return flight ticket.

Proof of accommodation – you need to have a hotel reservation or a letter from a host. The idea is to provide proof that you have a place to stay while in Thailand.

Valid email address – once you apply using iVisa services, we will send you an application form that you need to fill in before getting to Thailand. We will send you the document via email, which is why you need to make sure that the address you provide is valid and correctly spelled.

Means of payment – what you need to pay during the application process is a service fee to iVisa. You can do that using a credit or a debit card or even a Paypal account.

Plan a longer journey? Check out the guide for Thailand tourist visa policy

For the flight cost, check the information below in this article (Getting to Thailand from India)

Our recommended spending for your journey in Thailand is about $120-150/person/day (group of 2 people). Of course, you can either spend less at about $90-100/person/day (even $30-40/day - backpacker style) or you can spend much higher depending on the services you expect on spot.

Here is our detailed guide for Budget & Currency for travelling in Thailand

From India, you can get the flight to Thailand from Kolkata Airport (CCU)

As most international flights arrive in Thailand's capital city, Bangkok, travellers should be aware that there are two international airports near the city, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport.

Low-cost airlines such as AirAsia operate mainly to and from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport (DMK), connecting the country's capital to domestic airports throughout Thailand. For this reason, it can sometimes be cheaper to fly into Bangkok first before travelling to your final destination.

Flight FAQs

Q. When is the best time to book flights to Thailand?

Aim to have your flight tickets secured at least four months in advance to give yourself a chance of finding the cheapest flights to Thailand. If you can then book them even further ahead, especially if your dates coincide with a major event or the peak season. 

Once you’ve narrowed down your destination by choosing a city, usually either Bangkok or Chiang Mai, you’ll be able to figure out what dates offer the cheapest flights to Thailand and go from there. 

Flexibility is the key to securing discounted flight tickets so if you’re not governed by a particular set of weeks or to a specific location then you’ll give yourself the best chances of finding the cheapest flights to Thailand. 

Don’t worry too much about which side of the plane to sit on as each has their benefits and offer equally impressive view through your flight.

Q. How long is the flight to Thailand?

The distance between India and Thailand is 2475 km. The road distance is 4158.4 km.

The quickest flight from India to Thailand is the direct flight from Kolkata to Bangkok which takes 3h 45m.

Thai Airways International, GoAir, Malaysia Airlines and some other airlines offer flights from India to Thailand.

Q. Where should I fly to in Thailand if I’d like to visit the northern part of the country?

If you want to skip Bangkok and visit Thailand's north, including the "Golden Triangle" region near the borders with Laos and Myanmar, consider flying into Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). 

However, it can be expensive to fly to Chiang Mai, so many tourists travelling on a budget fly into Bangkok and take another budget domestic flight to Chiang Mai.

Q. Where should I fly if I’m visiting Phuket beaches and Thailand’s islands?

Non-Stop flight duration from Singapore to Phuket is 1 hour 40 minutes (Operated by Singapore Airlines)

Quickest one-stop flight takes close to 4 hours. However, some airlines could take as long as 31 hours based on the stopover destination and waiting duration.

Q. How much does it cost to fly to Thailand?

The price ticket ranges from $140 to $1,100 depending on your flight route and date. 

We recommend using some online ticket booking platform (Kayak, Cheapflights, or SkyScanner) to look for the cheapest flight possible according to your travel plan. They do have alert system when there is the price change on your travel date

Here is how to get the cheapest flight possible to Thailand

You’ll find a real gamut of transportation options in Thailand, from Bangkok’s modern Skytrain system to tuk-tuks, with plenty of options in between. While the traffic in Bangkok can be wretched, rural areas still offer generally good roads with zero snarl. So be flexible, and hop the tuk-tuk, subway, taxi, ferry, bus, train or plane that will best get you where you want to go. There’s plenty to explore!

Check How to get around in Thailand here

1. Do I need vaccines for Thailand?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Thailand. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Thailand: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. 

Here is the article for recommended vaccinations for Thailand.

2. How safe is Thailand?

Thailand is generally a safe country to visit, but it's smart to exercise caution, especially when it comes to dealing with strangers (both Thai and foreigners) and travelling alone.

• Assault of travellers is relatively rare in Thailand, but it does happen.
• Possession of drugs can result in a year or more of prison time. Drug smuggling carries considerably higher penalties, including execution.
• Disregard all offers of free shopping or sightseeing help from strangers. These are scams that invariably take a commission from your purchases.

Here is our guide for Safety and Precautions in Thailand

3. Do I need a travel insurance for Thailand?

The answer is a very loud YES. Protect yourself against the cost of medical care, missed connections, lost or stolen items and other common travel annoyances.

Be sure that your policy covers ambulances or an emergency flight home. Some policies specifically exclude ‘dangerous activities’, which can include scuba diving, motorcycling and even trekking. A locally acquired motorcycle licence is not valid under some policies. You may prefer a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and claim later. If you have to claim later, make sure you keep all documentation.

Check the detailed article for Thailand travel insurance here

4. What should I take to Thailand?

Here are some essential items to consider for your trip to Thailand:

• Slip-on Shoes are best, especially if you’re planning to travel to many temples. You will need to take your shoes off quite frequently.
• Bug spray to ward off mosquitoes that could be carrying disease.
• Shops in Thailand have sunscreen, but your options are limited.
• If you’re planning on visiting temples, buy clothing items that cover your shoulders, knees and ankles.

Here is the detailed guide for what to pack for Thailand

5. Are you supposed to tip in Thailand?

Tipping is NOT customary in Thailand, there is absolutely NO mandatory requirement to tip anyone, but small gratuities for great service are very much appreciated. Unlike some other parts of the world, you will never see a Thai service provider with his hand out waiting for a tip.

Check out the Thailand tipping guide & other local etiquettes here

6. Do I need to buy a Thailand SIM Card? And where can I buy it?

It is recommended to buy a local SIM card why travelling in Thailand as it surely has a stable connection and also the cheaper price for calling & data usage.

You can buy the SIM Card almost everywhere in Thailand, especially inside the big cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Phuket

Check out the detailed guide for Internet & phone in Thailand here

7. Do I need to bargain while shopping in Thailand?

Bargaining and haggling for a better deal is all part of the experience when shopping at markets in Bangkok. The first price offered is rarely the true price, especially in overly tourist areas like Khao San Road, Silom, Chatuchak Market, or the stalls around Nana BTS Station. 

Tips: 

• Remember that while bargaining is common in markets, it is not accepted or possible in convenience stores like 7-Eleven or upscale shopping malls.
• Look around and check with your guide to have the idea of what you are going to buy. 

Here is our guide for Buying and bargaining in Thailand

It is good to know exactly where the Indian embassy or consulates are located when traveling. Keep the address written down in case you have a legal problem, you lose your passport, or you want to report a crime. Keep a copy of your passport with you in case you lose the original.

Indian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand

• Address: 46, Prasarnmitr, Sukhumvit, Soi 23, Bangkok, Thailand
• Telephone: (+66) 2 258 0300-6
• Fax: (+66) 2 258 4627 / (+66) 2 262 1740
• Email: [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Website: embassyofindiabangkok.gov.in
• Social media: Facebook www.facebook.com/IndianEmbassyThailand/
• Office hours: Monday-Friday: 08:30-13:00 and 13:30-17:00