Thailand travel guide for Indians 2026–27

Plan Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai: visa and arrival card rules for Indians, best time, island choices, food, how many nights and what our trips cost.

By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 6 min read

Why go

Thailand is the most popular foreign holiday for Indian travellers, and for good reason. Flights are short, food suits Indian tastes, Indian restaurants are everywhere, and the country has beaches, temples, shopping and nightlife in one trip.

The challenge is choice. Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai each feel different. This guide helps you pick.

Visa and entry

Rules for Indian passport holders have changed several times in recent years. At the time of writing, Indians enter Thailand visa-free for tourism, for a fixed number of days. Check the current length of stay on the official Thai e-visa site before you book.

Every foreign visitor must fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within three days before arrival. The card is free. Use only the official government site.

Carry a printed return ticket, hotel bookings and proof of funds. Immigration officers ask for them at random. Your passport needs at least six months of validity.

See our Thailand visa page for the latest links.

When to go

November to February is the cool and dry season, the best time for most of the country. Days stay around 30 to 32°C on the beaches.

March to May is the hot season, often 35°C and above. Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, falls from 13 to 15 April.

June to October is the monsoon on the Andaman coast, Phuket and Krabi. Seas turn rough and some island trips stop. The Gulf side, Koh Samui, gets its rain mainly from October to December.

Diwali and the Christmas to New Year weeks bring the highest prices for Indian travellers. Book early.

Month by month

Average night low to day high, from long-term climate averages. Higher places run colder.

Which places to pick

The stops that appear most often in our Thailand itineraries:

• Phuket
• Bangkok
• Krabi
• Pattaya
• Chiang Mai

• Bangkok: temples, markets, malls, river cruises and food. Two or three nights
• Pattaya: 2 hours from Bangkok. Coral Island, water sports, shows and nightlife. Two nights
• Phuket: the largest island, with beaches, Phi Phi and James Bond island trips. Three or four nights
• Krabi: limestone cliffs, Railay beach and the four-islands trip. Quieter than Phuket. Two or three nights
• Koh Samui: villas and calm beaches on the Gulf side. Good for honeymoons
• Chiang Mai: temples, night markets and elephant sanctuaries in the north. Two or three nights

First trip with family: Bangkok and Pattaya, or Bangkok and Phuket.

Honeymoon: Phuket and Krabi, or Koh Samui.

Culture and food: Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

How many nights

• 4 nights: Bangkok and Pattaya
• 5 nights: Phuket and Krabi
• 6 nights: Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket
• 7 nights: Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi
• 8 nights: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket

Domestic flights between Bangkok and Phuket or Chiang Mai take about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Getting there

Direct flights run to Bangkok from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities, in 3 to 5 hours. Some routes fly direct to Phuket and Krabi.

Bangkok has two airports. Suvarnabhumi handles most full-service airlines. Don Mueang handles many low-cost flights. Check which one your ticket uses.

Bangkok

• The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha. Strict dress code: covered shoulders and long trousers or skirts
• Wat Pho, with the reclining Buddha, 46 m long
• Wat Arun, across the river, best at sunset
• A long-tail boat ride on the canals of Thonburi
• Safari World and Marine Park, popular with families
• Chatuchak weekend market, with thousands of stalls
• Shopping at Pratunam, MBK, Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM
• A dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya
• Rooftop bars for the city view

The BTS Skytrain and MRT metro beat traffic. Grab and Bolt apps work well.

Pattaya

• Coral Island, Koh Larn, by speedboat, with parasailing and sea walks
• Sanctuary of Truth, a huge temple carved entirely from wood
• Nong Nooch Garden, with shows and landscaped gardens
• Alcazar or Tiffany's show
• Walking Street at night
• Floating market

Phuket and Krabi

In Phuket, base yourself at Patong for nightlife, Kata or Karon for families, or Kamala and Bang Tao for quieter stays.

Day trips from Phuket:

• Phi Phi islands and Maya Bay, by speedboat

• Phang Nga Bay and James Bond island

• Big Buddha and Phuket Old Town

• Simon Cabaret show

From Krabi:

• Four-islands tour with Phra Nang cave beach and Koh Poda

• Hong islands

• Railay beach, reached only by boat

• The Tiger Cave temple, with 1,260 steps to the top

Maya Bay closes for a period each year to let the reef recover. We confirm before booking.

Food for Indian travellers

Thai food uses fish sauce and shrimp paste in many dishes. Vegetarians should say "jay" for vegan food or "mai sai nam pla" for no fish sauce. Indian restaurants are easy to find in every tourist area, and many serve Jain food.

Thai dishes to try: pad thai, green curry, tom yum, som tam papaya salad, massaman curry, mango sticky rice and coconut ice cream.

Money and connectivity

The currency is the Thai baht. Exchange some at home, and the rest at exchange booths in the city, which give better rates than the airport. Cards work in malls and hotels. Carry cash for markets and street food.

Buy a tourist SIM at the airport or use an eSIM. Data is cheap and fast.

Our Thailand packages

Prices start from ₹32,000 per person on twin sharing, excluding flights. International prices use current exchange rates, and the final amount is confirmed at booking.

Practical tips

• Fill the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before you fly
• Respect the monarchy. Criticism is a crime in Thailand
• Dress modestly at temples
• Agree the fare before you board a tuk-tuk, or use an app cab
• Avoid elephant rides. Pick ethical sanctuaries that do not allow riding
• Wear a helmet if you rent a scooter, and check your insurance covers it
• Carry a photocopy of your passport. Leave the original in the hotel safe

Tell us your travel month. We pick the coast that has the best weather for your dates.