Thailand
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Thailand, or officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is an independent constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia on the Indochina Peninsula. It is bordered by Laos and Cambodia to the east, Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand (Siam) to the south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to the west.
Until the summer of 1939, the official name of the country was Siam.
Railay
Although not technically, Railay is like an island. Surrounded by mountains and accessible only by small boat, Railay is one of the largest rock climbing destinations in Southeast Asia.
The limestone cliffs rising out of the blue water offer an unforgettable landscape, which can often be seen on postcards from Thailand.
Ayutthaya
Just a short two-hour train ride from Bangkok, Ayutthaya was the ancient capital of Siam for 417 years.
Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since the modern city contains many temple ruins.
Khao Sok National Park
Although not the largest or oldest national park in Thailand, Khao Sok is a favorite among many visitors. This 739 square kilometer nature reserve in southern Thailand is famous for its floating bungalows and picturesque lake.
With a little luck and good timing, we can even see the rare Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world.
Phuket
Phuket is Thailand’s largest and one of the most popular islands. The island is well-developed, a perfect place for rest and relaxation.
Koh Samui
It is an ideal location for families or even for honeymooners. Although many resorts have been built on the island, it has nevertheless preserved its charm and we can get a glimpse of the everyday life of the locals.
Koh Tao
Ko Tao is a stronghold for divers. If you’ve never been diving before, but you want to try it, you should definitely visit here.
Ko Lipe
Ko Lipe is paradise. It is a tiny island close to the Malaysian border, which can be explored even on foot. According to many visitors, the most beautiful and romantic beaches of Thailand can be found here.
Weather:
Thailand can best be described as tropical and humid for the majority of the country during most of the year.
In northern Thailand the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and May the weather is mostly dry, however this is broken up into the periods November to February and March to May. The later of these two periods has the higher relative temperatures as although the northeast monsoon does not directly affect the northern area of Thailand, it does cause cooling breezes from November to February.
The southern region of Thailand really has only two seasons — the wet and the dry. These seasons do not run at the same time on both the east and west side of the peninsula. On the west coast the southwest monsoon brings rain and often heavy storms from April through to October, while on the east coast the most rain falls between September and December.
Wind:
Moonsoon Seasons:
Northeast monsoon lasts from October till May with dry and sunny weather and with north east wind 5 to 20 knots.
From June till October the south west monsoon appear. It’s humid and rainy with south west wind 5 to 30 knots.
General:
The majority of Thailand’s population is made up of peoples who speak various Thai languages.
No visa requirement for stay under 30 days when sailing Thailand. For longer stays, visitors can apply for a 2 x 2 month Visa in any Thai embassy in the world.
Banking:
Currency is the Thai Baht.
Credit Cards are accepted only in big resort, not on the small islands. ATMs can be found in all the towns but not in the islands.
Banking Hours are from Monday to Friday 9am till 4pm.
Internet:
Most restaurants, cafes, and bars have free WiFi, and their quality is usually quite good. If a continuous internet connection is very important to someone, bring a card-independent phone and you can buy mobile internet in any store with a passport.