Thailand A to Z: The TDAC, Temples, Beaches & Everything Between

Why Thailand, and how this guide works

Few countries pack so much into one trip. In a fortnight you can move from a megacity of golden temples and rooftop bars, to misty northern mountains and ethical elephant sanctuaries, to two entirely different tropical coastlines, all on cheap domestic flights and famously good food. It is friendly to first-timers, gentle on the wallet and endlessly rewarding to those who stay curious.

We will start with the practical essentials, the TDAC arrival card and a quick word on visas, because sorting those early removes all the airport stress. Then we will travel the country region by region, from Bangkok to the north, the islands and the ancient cities, finishing with where to stay and a sample two-week route.

First things first: the TDAC explained

Since 1 May 2025, every foreign visitor arriving in Thailand, by air, land or sea, must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before they arrive. It replaced the old paper TM6 card you used to scribble on the plane, and the whole thing takes about five minutes.

It is 100% free. Use only the official government portal, tdac.immigration.go.th. Any website that charges a “service fee” to file it for you is unofficial, skip them.

Here is exactly how to do it, start to finish:

1. Wait until you are within 3 days of arrival. The system only accepts submissions in the 72 hours before your arrival date, so you cannot file it weeks ahead.
2. Open the official site and start a new arrival card. You can do one person at a time or add a family or group in a single session.
3. Enter your personal and passport details exactly as they appear in your passport.
4. Add your travel information, flight or transport number, date of arrival and your port of entry.
5. Give your accommodation address in Thailand (your first hotel is fine) and answer the short health declaration.
6. Submit, then save the QR code. Screenshot it and keep it offline, you will show it to the immigration officer on arrival.

A few things that save headaches: complete it before you head to the airport while you still have reliable Wi-Fi; have your hotel name and address ready; and remember every traveller needs their own card, children included. Immigration rules do change, so always re-check the current requirements on the official site close to your departure.

Visas vs the TDAC, don't confuse them

One common mix-up: the TDAC is not a visa, and filling it in does not by itself grant you entry, it simply registers your arrival. Your right to enter depends on your nationality.

Many passports (including most of Europe, the UK, the US, Australia and others) qualify for visa exemption, currently allowing stays of up to 60 days, extendable once by a further 30 days at a local immigration office. Others must apply for a visa or e-Visa in advance. These rules shift periodically, so confirm your nationality's status on a Thai embassy or official immigration website before you book, and make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.

Bangkok: dive into the deep end

Most trips begin in Bangkok, and you should give it at least two or three days before fleeing for the beaches. Start with the holy trinity of temples: the dazzling Grand Palace and its Emerald Buddha, the giant reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, and Wat Arun across the river, at its best when the sunset lights up its spires.

Then let the city take over. Ride a longtail boat through the canals of Thonburi, haggle your way through the vast Chatuchak Weekend Market, eat down a street-food lane in Chinatown, and finish on a rooftop bar watching the skyline shimmer. Bangkok is hot, loud and gloriously overwhelming, lean into it rather than fighting it.

The North: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Pai

An hour's flight north, Chiang Mai is Bangkok's laid-back counterpoint, a moated old city studded with temples, ringed by green mountains and famous for its night markets and cooking schools. Climb (or drive) to Doi Suthep for the golden hilltop temple and its valley view, and spend a morning at a genuine ethical elephant sanctuary, choose one that lets the animals roam and never offers rides.

Further north, Chiang Rai rewards the journey with two surreal modern temples: the mirror-white Wat Rong Khun and the cobalt Blue Temple. And to truly slow down, the hairpin road up to Pai leads to a mellow mountain town of hot springs, waterfalls and very little to do, which is the point. Do not leave the north without a bowl of khao soi, its rich coconut-curry noodles.

Sun and sea: choosing your islands

Thailand has two coasts, and the trick is knowing which one is in season. The Andaman coast in the west, Phuket, Krabi, Ko Phi Phi and the Railay peninsula, has the iconic limestone karsts and the clearest water, and is best from November to April. The Gulf coast in the east , Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan (home of the Full Moon Party) and the diving mecca of Ko Tao, runs on a different calendar, often sunniest from January to August.

For a first trip, base yourself in Krabi or Ao Nang and island-hop by longtail boat to Railay's climbing cliffs and the Phi Phi islands. Divers should make for Ko Tao, one of the cheapest places on earth to get certified. And if you crave quiet, skip the party islands for laid-back Ko Lanta or the jungle-and-lake wilderness of Khao Sok National Park inland.

Ancient cities & wild parks

Between the cities and the sea, Thailand keeps its history. A short trip north of Bangkok, the ruined temples and toppled Buddhas of Ayutthaya, the kingdom's former capital, make a perfect day trip by train or boat. Further on, Sukhothai preserves the elegant remains of Thailand's first capital in a peaceful park best explored by bicycle at dawn.

West of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi pairs the sobering WWII history of the Bridge over the River Kwai with the tiered turquoise pools of Erawan Falls. These places rarely top a first-timer's list, but they add real depth to a trip that could otherwise be all temples and beaches.

Where to stay & a sample two weeks

Thailand's accommodation is a traveller's dream: spotless hostels for a few dollars, design guesthouses for the price of a city coffee back home, and beach villas that feel impossibly indulgent. In Bangkok, stay near a BTS Skytrain station to beat the traffic; in Chiang Mai, inside or just outside the old city; on the islands, choose your beach carefully, as each has its own personality.

A classic two-week first trip: three days in Bangkok; an optional night in Ayutthaya, then up to Chiang Mai for three or four days in the north; then fly south for a week split between a lively Andaman island and a quieter beach to wind down. Put the TDAC at the top of your pre-trip checklist, keep the rest of your plans loose, and let Thailand do the rest, it almost always over-delivers.

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