Thailand travel guide

Friendly and fun-loving, exotic and tropical, cultured and historic, Thailand radiates a golden hue from its glittering temples and tropical beaches to the ever-comforting Thai smile.

Located in the heart of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia, it is the only country in the region never being colonized by European powers. A unified Thai kingdom has existed since the mid-14th century, and Thailand was known as Siam until 1939 when it officially became the Kingdom of Thailand.

The Thailand's cultural richness comes from its diversity. Its tradition incorporates a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia and the rest of Southeast Asia. The Bangkok capital is a teeming metropolis with gilded temples and palaces that recall the country's tradition, and the scent of spicy street food fills the air. The two coastlines, on the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand have post-card-perfect beaches. In the mountainous interior, hill tribes live as they have for millennia. Whether you are in an elephant trekking in the northern hills, or exploring Ayutthaya’s splendid ruins, or diving in the waters of the idyllic southern coast, there is the food: generous, warm, refreshing and relaxed, all express the fundamental aspects of Thai culture. And the unique spirit of the "land of smiles", adds warmth to any visit.