How to get to Thailand?

Thailand, a major destination in Southeast Asia, shares its borders with several countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia. Entry is facilitated by straightforward visa-on-arrival procedures, and it's easy to access the country through various land, air, or maritime routes. Below, you will find our information on how to go to Thailand.

Updated on 16-07-2024

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Table of contents

By Air
By Land
Maritime Route

By Air

Thailand currently boasts eight international airports. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, located approximately 30km from the center of Bangkok, is the country's busiest. It hosts direct flights to over 70 countries worldwide and serves as a hub for multiple international routes. Don Mueang Airport, one of the world's oldest airports, now primarily handles domestic flights and serves as a stopover for various regional routes, including those to Singapore, Colombo, and Kuala Lumpur.

The others include U-Tapao (providing access to the beaches of Pattaya), Phuket (the second busiest airport, offering flights from cities like Frankfurt, Singapore, and Moscow), Chiang Mai (the gateway to northern Thailand, with flights from Singapore, Seoul, and Hong Kong), as well as Samui, Surat Thani, and Krabi.

Traveling to Thailand by Air

From Australia

There are 32 airlines that fly from Australia to Thailand. The most popular route is from Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. On average this flight takes 10h 37m one way and costs $1,115 round-trip. Bangkok is the most popular city in Thailand for our customers to fly to.

From Europe

There are several direct flights connecting Bangkok to Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Munich, operated by airlines such as Air France, Etihad Airways, Jet Airways, Thai Airways International, and Swiss International Airlines. During the peak season from December to March, flights tend to fill up quickly, and ticket prices are usually higher. Therefore, it is advisable to book your tickets as early as possible.

From Canada

There are currently no direct flights between Canada and Thailand. Typically, you'll need to make one or two stopovers in major Asian cities such as Seoul, Tokyo, or Hong Kong.

Within Thailand

In Thailand, various airlines, including Thai Airways, Nok Air, Bangkok Airways, and Air Asia, offer different pricing and baggage policies. It's essential to review their policies before making your choice.

By Land

You can enter Thailand through the land border crossings with its neighboring countries, including Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Malaysia:

Thailand-Cambodia Border Crossings

There are five border crossings into Thailand from Cambodia:

Poipet & Aranyaprathet: This is the most frequently used border crossing, connecting Siem Reap and Bangkok. From Bangkok, you can find buses or trains to Aranyaprathet. Upon crossing the Poipet border, shared buses are available from Poipet to Siem Reap.
Krong Koh Kong & Hat Lek: These crossings provide access to Koh Trang or Ko Kut from Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville.
Phsa Prum & Ban Pakard and Kamrieng & Daun Lem: These borders link the Chanthaburi region of Thailand and Battambang in Cambodia but are seldom used by tourists.
Vang Tao & Chong Mek: Travelers often use this route to reach Paksé in Laos or Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand.
Savannakhet & Mukdahan: Easily accessible through an international bus from Savannakhet to the Mukdahan train station.
Muang Ngeun & Ban Huay Kon: This crossing connects the Nan province in Thailand with Paksé in northern Laos. Minivans are available from Ban Huay Kon to Nan or Phrae, or you can take a train to Den Chai in Phrae.

Border Crossings Between Thailand and Laos

Crossing the borders between Laos and Thailand is a straightforward process, and tourist visas are readily available upon arrival at the border checkpoints. Some of the most convenient entry points include:

Tha Na Leng & Nong Khai: This is one of the most frequently used and convenient entry points for travelers heading to Vientiane in Laos or the regions of Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Bangkok in Thailand.
Huay Xai & Chiang Khong: Connecting Chiang Rai in Thailand and Bokeo in Laos, it remains one of the primary gateways to access the highlands in the northwest of Laos or the northern regions of Thailand. Various transportation options are available, including buses from Vientiane, slow boats from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng, a shuttle to cross the Friendship Bridge between the two countries, and finally, a shared bus from Chiang Khong to Chiang Rai.

Huay Xai Border - Laos and Thailand

Vang Tao & Chong Mek: Travelers often use this route to reach Pakse in Laos or Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand.
Savannakhet & Mukdahan: Easily accessible by an international bus from Savannakhet to the Mukdahan train station.
Muang Ngeun & Ban Huay Kon: This connects the Nan province in Thailand with Pakse in the northern mountains of Laos. Minivans are available from Ban Huay Kon to Nan or Phrae, and there are also trains to Den Chai in Phrae.

Thailand-Myanmar Border Crossings

Here are some border crossings between Thailand and Myanmar:

Mae Sot & Myawaddy: Tourists most commonly use this entry point due to its location on the tourist route from Bangkok to Yangon. Passing through this border, you can reach Tak, Sukhothai, and Phitsanulok in Thailand. It's also easy to reach Bangkok directly by bus from Mae Sot.
Tachileik & Mae Sai: This crossing allows entry to Chiang Rai in northern Thailand or Keng Tung in Myanmar.
Kawthoung & Ranong: Located at the extreme south of both countries, this border can be crossed by local boats and ferries, connecting the beautiful beaches in the southern regions of both countries.

Mae Sai Border Market

Thailand-Malaysia Border Crossings

There are several border crossings between Thailand and Malaysia, stretching from the northwest to the northeast. Travelers often prefer those in the northwest for their convenience.

Koh Lipe and Pulau Langkawi: Ferries and boats connecting these two islands operate daily during the high season, which runs from mid-October to mid-April.
Satun and Pulau Langkawi: This is the second entry point to the border of Koh Lipe and Palau Langkawi. It can be crossed by ferry or boat in 1 hour and 15 minutes and is accessible year-round. During the peak season, more travelers opt for the Koh Lipe and Palau Langkawi crossing.
Padang Besar: Trains and buses depart from Hat Yai in southern Thailand to various cities in Malaysia, including Kangar, Butterworth, and Kuala Lumpur.