When we’re looking through our catalog, it’s easy to think of Thailand as nothing more than the place where some of our most popular strains of Kratom originated. Of course, Thailand is much more than that, but not everyone has had the opportunity to learn more about this rich and varied country.
Today, come on a tiny tour of Thailand with Left Coast Kratom! While we can’t all fly there together, we can learn more about what the island is like and what are the most popular things to do when people visit. After all, Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Whether you want to learn more about Thailand’s beaches or their culture, we’ll get you started on discovering those areas today.
The Basics of Thailand
Thailand is the 50th largest country in the world. For comparison, it is just a little bit larger than Spain. The island itself spans a wide range of area, so there are differing climates and zones depending on where in the country you are. The northern regions are very different from the tropical regions of the south.
Thailand is home to more than 68 million people and counting! The country is still growing, and big cities are getting even bigger. Thailand is divided into 76 different regions. From tiny villages all the way up to huge cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, there are towns of every type and size. Depending on which of these places you visit, you will get a very different experience.
Currency in Thailand is known as the Thai Baht. One USD equals 33 Thai Baht; having a conversion calculator handle when traveling around will be very useful unless you are great at doing math in your head.
Thailand’s Climate & Geography
To understand what a place is really like, we first need to be able to imagine what it would like to be there ourselves! In Thailand’s case, the climate and geography play a big role in that.
Weather Throughout The Year
The specifics of the weather, of course, will differ depending on the exact region that you visit, but the following information about how the change in seasons affects the weather throughout the year should help you to narrow down when you would want to visit the country.
Most people visit Thailand between November and February. This is because the coolest and driest weather of the year (with an average temperature of 29ºC/85°F) happens at this time. In the north of Thailand during this time, the weather at night can get pretty chilly.
April to June is very hot in Thailand, especially if you are not used to the heat. By the end of May, monsoon season will begin and most days will see weather that is wet, wet, wet! The heaviest rains happen in June and August. October is a borderline month; it can be dry or it can be wet depending on the year.
Thailand’s Geographic Features
Thailand has high mountains in the north, and these mountains go down towards the south along the country’s border with Burma. The highest peak is Doi Inthanon, an 8,451-foot mountain. The lowest power is the Gulf of Thailand, which is located at sea level.
The central area of Thailand is a fertile plain that is fed by the 231-mile long Chao Phraya River. Most major cities, historically significant locations, and densely populated areas are located along this river. In a way, it brings life to Thailand. Eventually, the river drains into the area south of Bangkok.
Thailand also has a plateau region known as the Khorat Plateau. Here you can find low, rolling hills as well as shallow lakes. This region drains into the Mekong River system. The end of the land in the southern peninsula becomes overtaken by mangrove swamps. Off the coasts of Thailand, many islands can be found, such as the famous Phuket.
Popular Destinations in Thailand
So, where do people visit when they go to Thailand? Where do Thai people go when they vacation within their own country? There are a lot of wonderful places to see in Thailand, so listing them all would be impossible. We’ll just be mentioning some of the most popular and well-known tourist destinations.
Big City Life
Many tourists, Thai or otherwise, visit the big cities of Bangkok, and Chiang Mai! While the image of Thailand that comes to mind for most when thinking of Thailand is of a beach, much of the excitement and culture of Thailand exists in the cities!
Beaches & The Islands
What’s more wonderful than the opportunity to visit some tropical islands? Not much! In Thailand, you can do just that. From five-star coastal resorts to small, barely populated island beaches, there is a huge range of beach and island activity that you can join.
For the best experience, try to do a little of both. Visit a popular beach near Phuket, and then plan an excursion to a pristine beach in one of Thailand’s many nature reserve areas to see what that is like as well. You’ll probably love them both!
The Mountains & Mountain Towns
As mentioned, the northern regions of Thailand are very mountainous. Visiting the Thai Highlands is an interesting way to see a different side of Thailand. The way of life in mountain villages is quite different. You can hike, explore, and destress.
Other Popular Locations
These three main types of things to do are, of course, not the only things that you can do in Thailand! Here’s a quick run-through of some of the other most popular things to do when visiting this enticing nation:
- • Phi Phi Islands
- • Krabi
- • Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
- • Khao Yai National Park
- • Khao Sok National Park
- • Ko Chang District
- • Thani
- • Hat Yai
These are just a few of the many, many places that we could recommend. Searching through images of Thailand can help you imagine what other areas of this type of tour could include! Ultimately, your own trip to Thailand would be able to include anything that you wanted; you just need to choose!
