Renowned for its people's friendly attitude and warm hospitality, Thailand – the Land of Smiles – welcomes visitors with open arms.

From the hotels to the food stalls, it’s hard not to fall in love with the Thai spirit. The cheerful smiles from the locals add a touch of charm to everything that is Thailand. Add the peaceful, spiritual life of the country and you’ll see why this much-loved part of Southeast Asia will leave a forever lasting impression.

Visit this country and captivate your senses in tropical landscapes. Hear the frenetic sounds of Bangkok, indulge in the country’s eclectic culinary scene, or find solitude on a scenic stretch of white sand in Hua Hin. Immerse yourself in Thai culture and watch Thai boxing and folk dancing. Plunge into the depths of local markets across the country to find Thailand’s pulse, visit the lively night bazaars or take pleasure in exploring the country’s many outstanding temples and hidden shrines. Journey through the country's religious traditions with a visit to the Wat Pho temple complex or take in the sights and sounds of the Damnoen Saduak floating markets. Journey to the famous River Kwai, spot elephants in Erawan National Park or explore Bangkok's waterways on a longtail boat tour. For all of this and much, much more, take a look at our carefully crafted escorted tours to Thailand.

It’s not just the sunshine, scenery and the ever-smiling locals that make Thailand holidays stand out. It’s also the abundance of cuisine. There are restaurants and stalls to suit every taste, serving a huge selection of Thai food, making it a dangerously easy cuisine to recommend. Focusing on texture, colour and taste, Thai cuisine has a plethora of mouth-watering culinary choices that guarantee to please your taste buds.

A cuisine built on four bold and intense pillars, sweet, sour, chilly and garlic, you’ll find this powerful combination matched with other flavours throughout the land.. In the north, influences from Laos, China and Myanmar all creep into dishes, while the east takes on the peppery tang that marks out Cambodia’s key dishes. There are restaurants and street food options to suit every taste. Let the world go by as you dine al fresco, in any of the dozens of world-class restaurants, or join the revellers at the area’s lively beach bars and street food stalls.

There are three main types of curry in Thailand. By now the UK is well versed in the ubiquitous, though fabulous green curry, which features a sauce made with spicy green chillies, shrimp paste, and coconut milk. Red curry is a milder, creamy option, while yellow curry is the least spicy option, with a slightly sweet sauce made with coconut milk. Pad Thai is the country's national dish and consists of noodles with either tofu or meat such as pork or chicken, eggs and bean sprouts. Other traditional favourites include tom yum, a spicy soup made with fish sauce, onion, shrimps and lemongrass, and tom kha gai, a northern dish formed of boiled chicken in a coconut milk-based soup.