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Welcome to Thailand

Thailand is the most-visited foreign destination for Indian travellers, and for good reason: a four-hour flight, no visa to arrange, and a beach, city or mountain trip for almost any budget. This page is the short version of everything you need before you book — where to go, how to fly there from India, and the paperwork and practicalities in between.

Part one

Where to go

Most first trips pair Bangkok with one beach. Add a third stop only if you have more than seven nights — internal transfers eat a day each time.

Bangkok

The arrival point for almost every Indian itinerary — temples, malls, riverside hotels and the country's deepest restaurant scene, including plenty of Indian and Jain kitchens around Sukhumvit and Pahurat (Little India).

First-timers, shoppers, families, 2–3 nights

Phuket

Thailand's largest island and the easiest beach add-on, with direct flights from several Indian metros, big resort inventory at every price point and day trips to Phi Phi and James Bond Island.

Honeymoons, families, groups, 3–4 nights

Krabi & Railay

Limestone cliffs, Ao Nang's beach strip and quieter Railay. Calmer and better value than Phuket, and reachable by a short ferry or road transfer from it.

Couples, island-hoppers, photographers

Koh Samui

Gulf-coast resorts and villas with a longer, drier season than the Andaman side — useful when you are travelling in the June–October monsoon months.

Honeymoons, longer beach stays

Chiang Mai

The northern capital: old-city temples, night markets, cooking classes and ethical elephant sanctuaries. Cool, walkable and inexpensive.

Culture, families with older children, digital nomads

Pattaya

Two hours from Bangkok by road, which makes it the standard short beach extension for group and MICE trips.

Short trips, groups, weddings and events

Hua Hin

A low-key royal-coast beach town three hours from Bangkok — golf, night market and family resorts without a second flight.

Families, slower trips

Koh Phangan & Koh Tao

Wellness retreats, yoga and some of Asia's cheapest diving certification, both a ferry ride from Samui.

Wellness, divers, solo travellers

All destinations

Part two

Getting there from India

Bangkok's two airports — Suvarnabhumi (BKK) for full-service carriers and Don Mueang (DMK) for most low-cost flights — take the bulk of Indian traffic, with Phuket the main direct beach gateway. Flying times run from about 2h30m out of Kolkata to 4h30m from the west coast. Thailand is 1h30m ahead of IST.

From	Direct to	Notes
Delhi	Bangkok, Phuket	The densest link — multiple daily wide-body and narrow-body departures; Phuket served seasonally and by low-cost carriers.
Mumbai	Bangkok, Phuket	Daily Bangkok services with morning and late-night banks; Phuket direct in the winter peak.
Bengaluru	Bangkok	Several daily services, popular for onward Krabi and Samui connections via Bangkok or Phuket.
Chennai	Bangkok, Phuket	Strong leisure and business demand; short 3.5-hour sector.
Kolkata	Bangkok	The shortest hop from India at roughly 2.5 hours — often the cheapest fares in the market.
Hyderabad	Bangkok	Direct services plus growing low-cost capacity.
Ahmedabad, Kochi, Guwahati, Gaya	Bangkok	Newer and seasonal direct routes, largely low-cost — check the day-of-week pattern before you book.

Routes and frequencies change every season. Check our Flights coverage for the latest additions and withdrawals before booking.

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Part three

Visas and the practical stuff

Visa: Indian passport holders can enter Thailand visa-free for tourism for stays of up to 60 days under the current exemption scheme. You still complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before you fly. Carry proof of onward travel and accommodation — immigration can ask for both. Always re-check the rule on the official Thai e-visa portal close to departure, as the exemption has been extended in stages.
Money: The baht is the only currency you should be spending. Carry some cash for exchange (SuperRich-style booths in Bangkok beat airport counters), use Indian debit/credit cards for hotels, and expect a flat ATM withdrawal fee of around ฿220 per transaction — so withdraw larger amounts less often. UPI acceptance is still limited.
Connectivity: An eSIM bought before departure or a tourist SIM at the airport (AIS, TrueMove, dtac) costs a few hundred baht for 8–15 days of data. It is far cheaper than an Indian international roaming pack.
Getting around: Bangkok's BTS and MRT beat traffic; use Grab or Bolt for cars rather than negotiating taxi fares. Between cities, domestic flights on Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion are usually cheaper than the overnight train, though the Bangkok–Chiang Mai sleeper is worth doing once.
Vegetarian, Jain and halal food: Ask for 'jay' (เจ) for strictly vegan-vegetarian food and look for the yellow-and-red jay sign. Even vegetable dishes often contain fish sauce or shrimp paste, so say 'mai sai nam pla' (no fish sauce). Bangkok's Pahurat and Sukhumvit Soi 11, plus Phuket Town and Patong, have reliable Indian, Jain and halal restaurants.
When to go: November to February is cool, dry and the most expensive. March to May is hot. June to October is the green season — much better value, with the Gulf islands (Samui, Phangan) staying drier than the Andaman coast. Avoid booking beach days around Songkran in mid-April unless you want to be soaked.
Practicalities: Type A, B and C sockets at 220V, so Indian chargers work with a cheap universal adapter. Tap water is not drinkable — bottled only. Tipping is not required. Travel insurance is strongly advised; hospital care is excellent but private.

Entry rules, fees and schemes change. Confirm anything visa-related with the Royal Thai Embassy or the official Thai e-visa portal before you travel.

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