Welcome to GO PAC's Thailand travel guide, everything a UK traveller needs to know before landing in Bangkok or heading to the islands. From what to pack for Thailand's heat and temples, to where to go and what to eat, it's all here.
Quick answers: Thailand for UK travellers
- Best time to visit: November to April (cool, dry season).
- Currency: Thai Baht (THB). ยฃ1 โ 44 THB (May 2026).
- UK passport visa: Visa-free, 30 days on arrival.
- Flight time from London: 11 to 13 hours.
- Daily budget: ยฃ20 to ยฃ40/day mid-range; ยฃ80+ for upmarket.
- Power plug: Types A, B, and C. UK plugs need an adaptor.
- Best travel kit for Thailand: See the GO PAC travel accessories guide.
Thailand, before you go.
Thailand has three seasons. The hot season runs from mid-February to mid-May, the rainy season from mid-May to mid-October, with August and September the wettest months, and the cool season from mid-October to mid-February.
Getting in: from 15 September 2026, UK passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, and no more than twice in a calendar year. Every visitor completes the Thailand Digital Arrival Card in the three days before arriving.
Your passport needs six months left from arrival and one blank page, and border officers can ask to see 10,000 baht per person and proof of onward travel.
Fill every hour.
Thailand rewards the curious. Street food tours, cooking classes, island hops and temple dawns.
Island Hopping, Krabi
Book a four-island longtail tour for around เธฟ700 per person, or hire your own for the day and set your own agenda. Chicken Island, Tub Island, Poda Island, take your pick.
Thai Cooking Class
Half-day classes in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi all start with a market tour. You'll make four dishes, eat everything, and spend the rest of the holiday trying to recreate it. Can't be done. Go back.
Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
Only visit sanctuaries where elephants roam free, look for Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. Spend a day feeding, bathing and walking alongside them. No riding. Pure magic.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
An hour south of Bangkok, boats laden with fruit and noodle dishes converge at dawn. Touristy yes, but genuinely extraordinary. Get there early, hire a private longtail and go deep into the canals.
Open your eyes wide.
Phi Phi Islands
Maya Bay (yes, that one from The Beach) reopened in 2022. Come at dawn by speedboat, before the crowds. The water really is that colour.
Wat Phratahat Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai's golden hilltop temple at sunset, looking over the whole valley as it turns amber. Climb the 306-step Naga staircase. The effort is non-negotiable; the view is worth it.
James Bond Island, Phang Nga Bay
The limestone pinnacle from The Man with the Golden Gun. Kayak through sea caves at low tide, then sit in a longtail and watch the karst towers rise from the bay as the light changes.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Bangkok's 35-acre weekend market sells absolutely everything. Bring a tote, wear comfortable shoes, and budget at least four hours. Mango sticky rice from stall 27 is not optional.
The Thailand Kit.
Temples need covered shoulders. Beaches need sun cream. Flights need the sleep kit. Here it is.
What to pack for Thailand
- Satin Eye Mask, for the 11-hour overnight flight
- Memory Foam Travel Pillow, long-haul essential
- Noise-Cancelling Ear Plugs, block cabin noise and Bangkok traffic
- Travel Plug Adapter, Thailand uses Type A, B and C sockets
- Collapsible Water Bottle, refill after security, stay hydrated in the heat
- Keycode Luggage Lock (another brand's item, not GO PAC: see our Amazon travel picks), for guesthouses, hostels and airport lockers
- Waterproof Phone Case, non-negotiable for island beaches
- Travel Packing Cubes (other brands' cubes, not GO PAC: see our packing cubes guide), beach gear and temple wear separated in one carry-on
- Travel Wallet, keep your passport and cards secure in markets
- Light cotton cover-up, temples require covered shoulders and knees
For the flight, compare five travel pillows in our best travel pillow UK guide.
Stopping in Europe on the way? Read our guides to ETIAS for UK travellers and EES border checks at Dover, St Pancras and UK airports.
Memory Foam Travel Pillow
The long flight to Bangkok is the hard part. Slow-rebound memory foam, compresses to half its size in your carry-on.
£14.99 View the pillow →Free UK shipping · 30-day returns