Area: 513,115 sq km
Population: 63,038,247
Population density: 122 per sq km
Capital: Bangkok
Visa Required? | |
---|---|
British | No |
Australian | No |
Canadian | No |
USA | No |
Other EU | 1 |
Passports
To enter Thailand, a passport valid for six months on date of application is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Passport note
Travellers coming from or have recently travelled through yellow fever-infected areas may be required to show an International Health Certificate proving they have been vaccinated, before being allowed to enter Thailand.
Visas
Visas for Thailand are not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for touristic stays of up to 30 days (if entering via an international airport) or 15 days (if entering by land from a neighbouring country), provided they hold valid passports, sufficient funds (10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family) and confirmed airline tickets to leave Thailand within the time allowed by their visa, except:
1) Nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Malta who may apply for visas on arrival for stays of up to 15 days.
Visa note
(a) The total duration of stay in Thailand for persons who enter Thailand without a visa cannot exceed 90 days during any six month period, counting from the date of first entry.
(b) If you intend on staying for longer than 30 days you must obtain a Tourist visa for stays of up to 60 days or a Non-immigrant visa for stays of up to 90 days.
(c) Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
Types and cost
Transit: £17. Tourist: £28 (per entry). Non-immigrant: £45 (single-entry/3 month); £100 (multiple-entry/1 year); £300 (multiple entry/3 year). There is also a £15 administration fee.
Validity
Tourist: three months, six months for more than one entry.
Non-immigrant single-entry: three months.
Non-immigrant multiple-entry: one year; three years.
Application to
Nearest consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission).
Temporary residence
Visitors to Thailand who wish to conduct business, work or study in the country can apply for a non-immigrant visa. This allows holders a stay period up to 90 days. In addition, to be able to work, visitors must hold a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour.
Working days
Applications must be made in person and take two working days to process.
Sufficient funds
Proof of adequate finances for the duration of your stay in Thailand is required at the point of entry into the country (i.e. traveller’s cheque and/or cash equivalent to 10,000 Baht (£200) per person and 20,000 Baht (£400) per family).
Extension of stay
Tourist visas can be extended at any immigration office in Thailand to extend validity for another period. Be wary of visa-run or visa extension services offering to renew your visa - these are illegal and each year a number of tourists are jailed, having turned up to border crossings with a fake Thailand visa or entry stamp in their passport.
Thailand visa extensions must be made before the current visa runs out, otherwise you will be charged a fine of 500 baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. A lengthy overstay can incur a maximum penalty of time in jail before being deported and banned from returning to the country.
By Air
The national airline is Thai Airways
Approximate flight times to Bangkok:
Istanbul: 9 hours and 20 minutes
London: 11 hours and 50 minutes
New York: 17 hours and 20 minutes
Dubai: 6 hours
Singapore: 1 hours and 50 minutes
Sydney: 9 hours and 20 minutes
Buenos Aires: 21 hours
Main (international) airports
For a list of all airports in Thailand, check Wikipedia here.
By Water
By Rail
By Road
Thailand has border crossings with its neighbours Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Malaysia.
Thailand Rip & Waterproof |
Thailand Map Nelles Maps scale 1:1 500 000 |
drinks and snacks | food: local markets; restaurants; and stores | ||||
water (thai)
|
950ml
1.5 litre 250ml 1 litre 250ml 330ml |
6-9
12-15 13 55 10 13 |
bread loaf-white
bagels |
450g
each |
30-60
15 |
roti telur / pisang
vege fried rice / noodles thai red / green curry coconut soup steamed rice pizza -takeaway salad bar- foodland |
per piece
|
10-15
25-35 50-80 40-70 10-20 250 7-12 |
|||
beer-Chang: 7-eleven
beer-Chang: bar wine |
640ml
640ml 750ml |
35
60-120 350+ |
|||
tea
coffee coffee - iced Nescafe Instant coffee- ground |
cup
cup bag 125g jar 500g |
10-15
20-30 15-20 80 100 |
|||
rice
instant noodles pasta eggs tinned tomatoes |
kg
85g 500g per dozen 250g |
10
5 25 40 30 |
|||
milk
yoghurt cheese Magnum icecream |
800ml
200g kg each |
35-42
12 400+ 40 |
potatoes
|
kg
kg kg bag |
50
30 30 15-25 |
cornflakes
chips / crisps banana chips roasted cashew nuts peanuts |
375g pack
56-65g pack 100g 500g 200g |
90
20 20 130 25 |
apples
oranges bananas mango fresh fruit-street vendor |
kg
kg kg each per portion |
70
50 30 15+ 10-12 |
pineapple (can)
oil (corn) peanut paste jam |
500g
500ml 500g 360g |
40
20 60 35 |
|||
chocolate
biscuits (simple) biscuits (cream) |
100g
90g packet 90g packet |
20
6 18 |
|||
accommodation | personal | ||||
budget city hostel
budget city hotel |
per dorm bed
double with bath 200-400 |
deodorant
soap shampoo toothbrush toothpaste disposable razor toilet paper |
(small roll-on)
90g 200ml each 100ml 2 pack 6 rolls |
50
5-10 35 40 30 20 20 |
|
camping | only really official in National Parks and if entry's paid then camping is free, but wild camping outside of the parks is possible |
||||
internet | 20-25 per hour |
*
tba = price to be announced * January 2009: at time of writing 1.00 USD = 35.72 THB all prices have been taken from internet resources such as wikitravel, hostel world, leading supermarket chains, travel blogs, forums and of course our own travel experiences and purchases of everyday products in food markets, bazaars and local shopping facilities. They are only an indication and designed to give you a general impression of the cost of living in Thailand. Items are geared towards the budget conscious traveller with an occasional craving for a bit of luxury. |
Source:www.exchange-rates.org |
TIP: If you are not sure if there will be any accommodation in the town you are going to visit next, try and find out if they have a hospital (maybe it shows on your map?). If so, there is bound to be a hotel. Worked 99% of the times for us.
|
in alphabetical order | ProBike has a list with dealers throughout the country Besides the shops mentioned below,
Bangkok also has Luang Road, a street
filled with small bike shops (with varying quality).
Most shops can be found near the intersection
with Worachek. GPS: N13 44.8508 E100 30.50746 |
Bangkok | Bike Station 2456 Soi 58, Phathanakan Rd., Suanluang, Bangkok 10250 Tel: 02 722 9999 E-mail: bikes_station@yahoo.com brands: Ortlieb, Tubus |
Bike Zone In the Outdoor Unlimited zone on the 2nd Floor of Amarin Plaza Tel: 08 9201 8308 website: www.bikezone.co.th Brands: Giant, Santa Cruz, Shimano, Ergon, Tubus |
|
Cannondale Centre 45/39 Soi Atthakrawee 1 Sukhumvit 26 Road (Soi Aree) Klong Toey, Klong Ton, Bangkok 10110 Tel : 081 5678886 e-mail: thaicann@cannasia.com website: www.thaicannasia.com GPS: N 13 43.282 E 100 34.199 Brands: Cannondale, Magura, Giro, Mavic, Bell, Tubus, Ortlieb |
|
Cycle Sport 167 Luang Rd, Worachak Bangkok, Thailand 10100 Tel: 662-6217223-5 GPS: N13 44.8508 E100 30.50746 |
|
InterBike 16/212 Samakee Road, Nonthaburi 11000, THAILAND Tel: 02-952-4242 Mob: 081-842-0944 e-mail: jumphotk@hotmail.com website: www.interbike.in.th Brands: Giant, Trek, Shimano, Mavic |
|
ProBike ***
|
|
Our experience:
ProBike is expensive! They have a tiny workshop,
which probably says enough about the repairs they
do. I think they prefer the sales. Screwed up
my spokes, had to fix them myself afterwards.
They didn't know what they were doing. Not recommended. |
|
Saengthong Bicycles |
|
Siam Bike 245/6 Pattanakarn Rd., Suanluang, Bangkok Tel: 02-722-9999, 02-733-9704, 02-722-9004 Brands: Trek, Specialized, Merida |
|
Sport Bicycles 968 U-Chu-Liang Building, Rama 4 Rd., Silom, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02 637 5487, 081 8308828 Fax: 02 721 4169 E-mail: narongrit@sportbicycle.co.th website: www.sportbicycle.co.th brands: Ortlieb, Specialized, Colnago |
|
Velo Thailand 29 Samsen4 SamSen rd. BangPhanThom, Pharnakorn Bangkok 10200 Tel: 02 628 8628 Mob: 089 201 7782 website: www.velothailand.com |
|
Viwat Bike |
|
World Bike Chokepanya Ltd., Part. 119/10-13 Moo 9 Ramintra Rd. Kannayao , Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel: (662) 946 4117 upto 9, (662) 510 1041, (662) 510 9892 Shop Gallery Fax: (662) 943 2385 GPS: N 13 50.317 E 100 39.885 E-mail: worldbike@hotmail.com website: www.worldbike.info Brands: Giant, Topeak, Sram, RockShox, Mavic, Tubus, Ortlieb |
|
XP-bikes 2 Nawasin Ville. Soi.Pho-kaew 3, Cross10, Pho-kaew Rd. Bangkok 10240 Tel: 081 711 9771 E-mail: blmate@hotmail.com Internet: www.letstouring.com brands: Ortlieb, Tubus |
|
Chiang Mai | Arm Bikes Huay Kaew 203/17, Kona, Jamis GPS: N18 48.255 E98 57.738 |
Chaitawat 75/4Rajchapakinai Rd. CM Tel. 053 279890 GPS: N18 47.069 E98 59.425 |
|
Chiang Mai Bike shop 107 Mahidol Rd. T. Haiya A. Muang Chiang Mai 50100 Tel: 05 320 0190 E-mail: cmbshop@hotmail.com brands: Ortlieb |
|
Cherry Bike Tel: 053 380229 Mo. 081 9525173 main road to Chiang Rai, on the left side 700m after Intersection Super Highway – Kaeo Nawarat road GPS: N18 48.515 E99 01.487 |
|
Jacky Bike 49/5 Chang Puak road, 50200 CM Tel. 053 225278 Mo. 089 7557910 On the main road to Mae Rim, 200m on the left side from the Chang Puak Gate GPS: N18 47.803 E98 59.185 Brands: Trek, Gary Fisher, Klein, Ortlieb, Tubus |
|
Klang Bike Tel. 053 520285 Mo. 081 9926959 N18 31.978 E98 56.415 |
|
Song Bicycle Sri Phum Road GPS: N18 47.713 E98 59.566 |
|
Top Gear 173 Chiang Moi Road Tel. 053233450 GPS: N18 47.380 E98 59.790 |
|
Velocity Mani Noparat Road GPS: N18 47.734 E98 59.290 |
|
(thanks to Jürg for the Chiang Mai section) | |
Chiang Rai | Fat Free 136 Thnalai road 57000 Chiang Rai Tel. 053 744447 near Teepee Bar GPS: N19 54.420 E99 49.980 brands: Ortlieb, Tubus |
Northern Bike 114/1 Mu 5 T. Rimkok 57100 Chiang Rai Tel. 053 702564 Mo. 081 4736923 On the mainroad to Mae Chan, left side GPS: N19 56.160 E99 50.692 brands: Ortlieb |
|
(thanks to Jürg for the Chiang Rai section) | |
Chonburi | World Bike Chonburi 194/7-8 Moo 5, Sadtakit Rd Beansaun, Muang, Chonburi 20000, Thailand |
Hua Hin | Hua Hin Bike Shop 11/37-38 Petchkasem Rd. Tel: 032-530292 Fax: 032-530292 Brands: Trek, Merida, Gary Fisher |
Nonthaburi | Sahapat Bicycles 105 Soi. Bangkruai-Sainoi 6 Bangkruai-Sainoi Rd., Nonthaburi, 11130 Tel: 02 8794259, 02 4470169 E-mail: info@spbikes.com Internet: www.spbikes.com brands: Tubus, Ortlieb |
Phuket | Thalang Bike 59/1 Moo.1, Thepkasattri Rd., Thalang, Phuket 83110 Tel: 076-274352, 081-8919795 Fax: 076-274352 E-mail: talangbike_phuket@hotmail.com brands: Ortlieb |
Rayong | Bicycles Land 379/2 Sukhumvit Road Noenpra 21000 Muang Rayong Tel: 6638 808373 |
Udon Thani | LA Bike Shop Mak Khaeng Muang Udon Thani, Udon Thani 41000 |
Or check out the Bike Shop Index on BicycleThailand. |
Detailed distance chart from our trip through Thailand March/April 2008 (km/alti) | |||
Tak Bai (Malay border, west coast) - Songkhla - Songkhla - Don Sak (ferry to Ko Samui) - Chumpon - Prachuap Khiri Khan - Prachuap Khiri Khan - Bangkok |
km |
total
km |
|
Tak Bai (Thai-Malaysian border) | Narathiwat | 41 |
|
Narathiwat | Mai Kaen | 30 |
71 |
Mai Kaen | Yaring turn-off | 47 |
118 |
Yaring turn-off | Pattani | 16 |
134 |
Pattani | Chana turn-off | 71 |
205 |
Chana turn-off | Hat Yai turn-off | 11 |
216 |
Hat Yai turn-off | Songkhla | 28 |
244 |
Songkhla | Sating Phra | 37 |
|
Sating Phra | Ranot turn-off | 37 |
74 |
Ranot turn-off | Hua Sai | 31 |
105 |
Hua Sai | Bo Lo | 25 |
130 |
Bo Lo | Sala Mi Chai | 35 |
165 |
Sala Mi Chai | Nakhon Si Thammarat | 7 |
172 |
Nakkhon Si Thammarat | Tha Sala | 28 |
200 |
Tha Sala | Sichon | 39 |
239 |
Sichon | Don Sak ferry pier | 50 |
289 |
Chumpon ferry pier | Chumpon | 16 |
|
Chumpon | Pathomphon intersection | 8 |
24 |
Pathomphon intersection | Kra Buri | 55 |
79 |
Kra Buri | Ratchakut | 25 |
104 |
Ratchakut | Laem Son turn-off | 19 |
123 |
Laem Son turn-off | Ban Baeng beach | 10 |
133 |
Ban Baeng beach | Ratchakut | 29 |
162 |
Ratchakut | Phato | 27 |
189 |
Phato | Lang Suan | 48 |
237 |
Lang Suan | Sawi tun-off | 32 |
269 |
Sawi t.o. | Chumpon | 42 |
311 |
Chumpon | Pathiu | 35 |
|
Pathiu | Bang Saphan Noi | 57 |
92 |
Bang Saphan Noi | Bang Saphan | 14 |
106 |
Bang Saphan | Ban Krut | 19 |
125 |
Ban Krut | Tap Sakae | 25 |
150 |
Tap Sakae | Huai Yang | 16 |
166 |
Huai Yang | Prachuap Khiri Khan | 32 |
198 |
Prachuap Khiri Khan | Kui Buri | 32 |
|
Kui Buri | Pran Buri | 38 |
70 |
Pran Buri | Hua Hin | 27 |
97 |
Hua Hin | Cha Am | 27 |
124 |
Cha Am | Hat Chao Samran | 27 |
151 |
Hat Chao Samran | Petchaburi | 19 |
170 |
Petchaburi | Rama II road (via Ban Laem) | 34 |
204 |
Rama II road entry | Samut Songkhram | 14 |
218 |
Samut Songkhram | Rama II exit (Ekkachai Rd. 3242) | 45 |
263 |
Rama II exit | Bangkok (Ratchadamnoen Klang) | 32 |
295 |