Before you travel to Thailand it is handy to know some of the basic things about the country, it's services and it's customs to help you plan your trip. On the following pages we have summarised some of the main things, which you might like to know. However, if you have any other questions or think of something which is missing which you would like to see added to the site, then please send us an email.

Climate
Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinctive seasons for the most part of the country. The period between November and February is the best season to visit. The weather is pleasant and dry, with daytime temperatures ranging around 30 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures around 20-25 degrees Celsius. In the northern part of Thailand , temperatures of around 15 degrees Celsius should be expected at nighttime during this period. A primarily hot and more humid climate follows from February to May with average temperatures rising to about 30- 35 C and humidity of approx 75%. April and May is generally the hottest period during which temperatures may rise to 40 C . The so-called “Green Season” starts from June until October with a mix of sunshine, rain and cloudy skies. Average temperatures drop back to an average of 30 C . and humidity approx 87%. Monsoon rains prevail during this period throughout most parts of the country, particularly in the South. On the islands of Phuket and Phi Phi as well as on the coastline from Krabi to Trang, most of the rain falls in May/June and September/October. In Koh Samui and the lower Golf of Thailand the seasonal rains should be expected between October and December.

Geography
Thailand is situated in the heart of South East Asia, bordered to the North by Myanmar ( Burma ) and Laos , to the East by Cambodia , to the South by Malaysia and to the West by Myanmar . It's largely flat terrain; tropical climate and abundant rivers make it one of the most fertile countries in the world. The Central Region is composed of a vast plain crisscrossed by rivers and canals. The mountainous North is a land of valleys, forests and hills, offering some of the most beautiful sceneries of the country. The country's highest peak is Doi Inthanon ( 2565 m ). The Northeast, an area called “Isan”, is dominated by a vast plateau and bordered to the East by the Mekong River . Shaped like an elephant trunk, the Southern Peninsula stretches all the way south to Malaysia . Its coastline is bounded by the Golf of Siam to the West (Islands of Koh Chang, Koh Samet, Koh Samui) and the Andaman Coast to the East (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi Islands , Similan Islands , Trang Islands ).

Language
Thai is tonal language and difficult to understand and speak for the casual visitor. However if you master a few basic words you will always gain compliments and an appreciative smile. English is widely spoken and understood by Thais who are used to dealing with foreigners as well as at major tourist sites such as hotels, restaurants and shops across the country. Most street signs are written in Thai and Roman letters.

History
Thailand has never been colonised by any foreign power, a fact of which the Thais are extremely proud. The Thais are thought to have been immigrating from Southern China about 1000 years ago into Central Plains, an area dominated at that time by Khmer and Mon cultures. The first independent Thai kingdom emerged in Sukhothai at around 1235 and during about 120 years contributed considerably to the development of the Thai nation. After the fall of Sukhothai, a new capital was established further south. Ayutthaya remained capital of ancient Siam from 1350 – 1767 and was one of the greatest and most influential trading posts of South East Asia . Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese army in 1767, the royal capital once more moved further south to Thonburi. In 1782 King Rama I founded the city of Bangkok and moved the capital across the Chao Phraya River . In 2004 Bangkok celebrated it's 222th anniversary.

Religion
Theravada Buddhism is the state religion of Thailand and practised by more than 93 % of its population. About 6% of the Thai population are Muslim, mainly in the South of the country and about 1 % are Christians. Buddhism is very much part of the lifestyle and actions of the Thai people and any visitor will observe its strong integration into the daily life. Temples are frequently visited by the Thais and open to all visitors. Many of them, particularly ancient ones, are a substantial part of any tour programme across the country. A Thai temple is more than just a place of worship. Every “Wat” is the centre of the community, serving as a prayer and meeting place, as a gathering place of village folk during fun fairs or cremations, sometimes as a school or orphanage. Monks are revered in Thailand and most men spend some time in monkhood. Women are not allowed to touch a monk or directly hand anything to one.

Monarchy
In Thailand there is a deep reverence for the Royal Family. As a visitor, you should show respect for the King, Queen and the Royal Family. Not only is criticism of the Royal Family not tolerated, it is against the law. In honour of the King and country, in towns and villages all over the country, and in some areas of Bangkok , loudspeakers play the national anthem at 8 am and 6 pm. Thai stop and stand still, and visitors are expected to do likewise. You will find many portraits of the Royal Family in prominent positions of shops and people's homes. You should never stand on a coin or banknote as it bears the portrait of the present King Bhumipol Adulyadej.

Thai Calendar
Although in the business and tourist environment the western calendar is widely used, the official Thai calendar is calculated from the beginning of the Buddhist Era in 543 BC. The year 2000 AD is therefore 2543 BE, 2006 is 2549 BE. The year is subdivided into 12 months, the same as the Roman calendar.

Time
The time in Thailand is 7 hours ahead of GMT. At midday in Bangkok, it is 05.00 in London, 06.00 in Frankfurt, midnight in New York or 21.00 the day before in Los Angeles (except during Daylight Savings Time), 15.00 in Sydney and 17.00 in Auckland. Thai people use a six-hour clock system for telling the time. Although the system is mainly used in conversation, it can still cause some confusion to visitors.

Weights and Measures
The metric system now dominates in Thailand and you are unlikely to come across anything else in distance, weight, measurements or monetary. The exceptions to this are the measurements used to describe land area and the weight of gold, which still use the old Thai system.