Sitting on the sea, Thailand has the scenery of beautiful islands and beaches. It is also a country of Buddhism, where you can see a lot of temples and pagodas. To have a top experience, there are places and activities you shall never miss.

Top destinations:
1. Bangkok: Grand Palace, Four-Faced Buddha, Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, Ayutthaya, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market...
2. Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai Old City, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, Night Bazaar...
3. Phuket: A globally well-known island and a super place for diving.
4. Pattaya: "The Oriental Hawaii". Wonderful lady-boy shows and Thai boxing performances gather here.

Top activities: Enjoy Thai massage & spa, watch a lady-boy and Thai boxing show, play with elephant, jungle flight...

Mid November to next March is the best time to go, when the average temperature is about 65℉~80℉ (18℃~27℃), not too hot. Also it does not rain too much in this period. In addition, lots of small islands in the south open to tourists from November to next March. National festivals including Loi Krathong Festival and Songkran Festival also fall in this time, when you can enjoy the festive atmosphere with local people. About dressing, T-shirts, shorts, dresses and slippers are the best choices for a Thailand travel. A pair of slippers is useful because in temples and some official places, you are required to take off your shoes.

April to May is the hottest time in a year with the average temperature at 90℉~100℉ (32℃~38℃). Sun-blocking protections like sunglasses are needed to avoid sunburn. June to October is the rainy season, so take rain gears and clothes easy to dry. In northern places, it is colder than other places in the country, so remember to take jackets and long-sleeved shirts to avoid getting ill. During the trip, check the weather forecast timely to make preparation for weather changing in advance.

To get into Thailand, you can take flights arriving at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok or directly in your destination like Phuket or Chiang Mai, which also have international airports in service. If you come from neighboring countries like Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Cambodia, you can also take international trains and buses to cross the border.

To travel around inside the country, flights are also available. Trains, long-distance buses and ships are convenient as well; the fares of these means are not expensive as that of flights, so if you are not urgent, you can take these transports to enjoy the scenery along the route.

It should be noted that as Buddhism is the major religion in the country, you should pay attention to the manners of Buddhism and respect the religion during Thailand travel. For example, remember to wear pants and dresses covering your knees and take off shoes when entering a temple or pagoda. Do not touch Thai people's head because their head is regarded as the holy part of their body. In addition, respect Thai royal family and mind your words and behaviors, or you may break local laws.

Thailand is a civilized ancient country with the history of over 700 years, called Siam in ancient times. In the year of 1238, the first kingdom Sukhothai Kingdom was established on the land and the country got unified for the first time. Since then, the country has totally gone through four ages: Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1350), Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767), Thonburi Kingdom (1768-1782) and Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782-current). The ancient capitals Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai are the three top places recommended to go to learn about Thai history.

According to geographical position, the whole country can be divided into four main parts: north, northeast, central and south. Thai people like to describe their country as the head of an elephant. The north is like a hat on elephant's head, the northeast is like the ear, Gulf of Siam is like the mouth and the south is like the nose.

1. North
This part mainly consists of jungles. The weather is colder than other areas especially in winter. Some forest operations are still done by elephants. Chiang Mai is located in this area.

2. Northeast
This part belongs to Mekong Basin. Along the river are countless small beaches. This place is where ancient bronze civilization developed.

3. Central
It is the famous Chao Phraya river floodplain. Because of the fertile soil and tropical monsoon climate, this area has the ideal conditions to cultivate wet-rice and fruits. The world-famous Thai rice mainly grows here. Capital city Bangkok lies here.

4. South
It is the north part of Malay Peninsula, rich of rubber, tin ore and seafood. Along the coast, the beaches are of beautiful views. Famous Phuket Island, Krabi and Koh Phi Phi are here. The major cities are Hat Yai and Songkhla.

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