Thailand Country

Introduction
Sun, tômyam and spiritual enlightenment. The Kingdom of Thailand draws more visitors than any other country in southeast Asia with its irresistible combination of breathtaking natural beauty, inspiring temples, renowned hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of fabulous ancient kingdoms. Few countries are so well endowed.

From the stupa-studded mountains of Mae Hong Son and the verdant limestone islands of the Andaman Sea, to the pulse-pounding dance clubs of Bangkok and the tranquil villages moored along the Mekong River, Thailand offers something for every type of traveller.

Rouse yourself from that sunbaking trance to check out the cultural wealth. Thailand's natural wonders are matched only by its cultural marvels. You could spend years just trekking its highlands, mooching through its national parks, browsing its islands, and checking out the temple architecture, traditional crafts and ancient cities in between.

Geography:
Thailand shares borders with Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Cambodia. The country's east coast borders the Gulf of Thailand and the west coast abuts the Andaman Sea. The country is divided into four main zones: the fertile, central plains of the Chao Phraya River; the poorer region of the 300m/985ft-high northeast plateau; the fertile valley and mountains of Northern Thailand; and the rainforested southern peninsula. The highest peak is the 2596m (8512ft) Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai province.

Destination Facts
Capital: Bangkok
King: Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
Prime Minister: Abhisit Vejjajiva
Government: constitutional monarchy
Time zone: GMT +7
Area: 514000
Population: 65000000
People: Thai (75%), Chinese (11%), Malay (3.5%); other - Mon, Khmer, Phuan and Karen minorities (10.5%)
Languages: Thai is a complicated language with its own unique alphabet, but it's fun to try at least a few words. The main complication with Thai is that it is tonal: the same word could be pronounced with a rising, falling, high, low or level tone and could theoretically have five meanings! Buddhist (95%), Muslim (4%)
Currency: Baht (Bht)
GDP: Approx. Bht197700000000
Major industries: tourism, computers, garments, integrated circuits, gems, jewellery, tungsten, tin, rice
Major Trading Partners: ASEAN and European Union countries, China, Japan, USA
Country Dialing Code: 66

Getting there and away
It may be a bit pricey to get to Thailand by air, but once you're there you can take advantage of bargain-basement flights - Bangkok is one of the cheapest cities in the world to fly out of. Just bear in mind that flights in and out of Thailand are often overbooked so confirm, confirm and reconfirm.Thailand shares land borders with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar. With improved highways, it is also becoming easier to travel from Thailand to China. Plans for land and rail links between China and member countries of ASEAN, including Thailand, have been increasing since the turn of the new millennium. Thai-Cambodian border crossings are typically straightforward. Most visitors cross at Poipet (Cambodia) to Aranya Prathet. This is the most direct land route between Bangkok and Angkor Wat.The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge spans a section of the Mekong River between Nong Khai, Thailand, and Tha Na Leng (near Vientiane, Laos) and is the main transport gateway between the two countries.Due to the unrest in the southern provinces of Thailand, many border crossers are opting for flights from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, Penang or Singapore instead of crossing by land.The land crossings into Myanmar have peculiar restrictions that often don't allow full land access to the country.

Getting around
The only fault of the trains that ply around Bangkok is slowness - otherwise, they're a delightful option: cheap, comfortable and efficient. Buses are a sterling way to get around. Motorbikes are popular, but if you want to take to the roads, even in a car, beware of the anarchic Thai traffic. A cruisier option is to take one of the many forms of taxis - there are cars, rickshaws (both the motorised and the people-powered varieties), and small pick-ups.

Weather
Climate-wise, the best time for visiting most of Thailand is between November and February when it is not too wet and not too hot. The south is best visited when the rest of Thailand is miserably hot (March to May). If you're spending time in Bangkok, be prepared to roast in April and do some wading in October - probably the most challenging two months, weather-wise, in the capital.

Warning
Travellers should be aware that the political situation in Thailand is potentially volatile. Go to Safe Travel for current government warnings, or check out what travellers are saying on the Thorn Tree forum.