Gear up for the upcoming festivals and events around Thailand

This annual event, Butterfly Watching will take place at Impact Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani from June 3 to 7 which will bring together wealth of sales and marketing. The showcase is divided into different zones, among them are Gourmet Tourism, Rustic Thailand, Health & Spa, Adventure and Eco Tourism.

The annual “Amari Watergate Hotel & BMW Thailand Charity Midnight Run” will kick off at midnight at Amari Watergate Hotel on Phetchaburi Road and continue through the city’s streets. Southeast Asia’s unofficial nightlife capital, will host the Charity Midnight Run on October 10, and the good news is that you don’t have to be the fastest to have fun.

The rainy season is here, and it’s about time to swap your summer sandals for hiking shoes. The butterfly watching season in Sa Kaew coincides with the fruit picking season in the eastern provinces, so don’t forget to stop off on your way back and stock up with your favorites. Pangsida National Park in Sa Kaew, beckons the butterfly-watchers to pitch up their tents in the park, more than 400 butterfly species can easily be captured for posterity even with the camera.

Thai spa is the latest craze in global spa trend

We all know that today’s consumers are savvy. They are well-educated, know the benefits of total-body wellness and are buying into the spa experience. The new trend touched on consumer behavior and found that people wanted “pampering” in order to stay healthy and look good, and that they generally were knowledgeable and demanding about spa services. “Thai spa” does not mean only traditional Thai massage to relieve symptoms or restore health; it means holistic health care too. The country prides itself in countless spas offering the highest world-class services. Herbs also play an important role in the Thai spa industry today and Thai massage, that helps relax tense muscles and stimulate blood circulation.

Thailand’s Department of Export Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce is organizing the Thailand health and beauty show 2009 at the Royal Paragon Hall Exhibition & Convention Centers, Siam Paragon shopping complex from June 5-7 and it will coincide with the launch of Thai Spa Day 2009 as a parallel main event. It will give rise to many related businesses such as spas, weight-reduction, Thai traditional massage, private hospitals, dentistry, herbal medicine, food supplements and cosmetics.

Thai spas are not only quantity, but also quality. The success of Thai spas lies in the beauty of Thai culture which cannot be copied anywhere else. Growth in the spa business also depends on the creative services, new opportunities in new markets, and the ability to create new trends to answer lifestyle needs with value-for-money services. The highlight of Thailand HBS 2009 will be Thai Spa Day 2009, will be a one-stop service center for sourcing, services, products, and franchises in the health and beauty business.

Despite the global economic downturn, there is a growth with the spa business outlook in Thailand. Apart from serving tourists and foreign visitors, it focuses more on Thai customers. That’s why the association has been organizing more spa promotion activities to create new markets, while at the same time working with travel agents to increase our customer base.

Best choice of self catering holiday villas – Thailand

Thailand’s climate is mostly tropical that is a mix of both temperature and humidity. Most people find this kind of climate pleasant and nice. So move on to Thailand to explore its beautiful villas and beaches at Koh Samui and the great option is Samui Luxury villas. It is the best idea if you are looking for luxury villa rentals where the price is charged in British Euros. They provide a stress-free booking experience and offer an easily navigable site for contacting them.

If you can afford the best, why not use it to the hilt. Choose from innumerable villas at Koh Samui. A holiday villa is preferable over a hotel or lodge, because staying at a villa, along with independence, you can have loads of privacy away from the hustle bustle of hotels. Meanwhile, you will gain a genuine incite to the Thai hospitality when you interact with the localities learning the local culture of there. They provide a stress-free booking experience and offer an easily navigable site for contacting them.

Similarly another such holiday villa in Thailand is Hua Hin villa. There are a number of activities offered by this holiday villa- some of them are golf at Lake View, Milford, Palm Hills, Banyan, and many other golf courses, Thai boxing lessons at Grand Sports Center, elephant camping at Elephant Garden, fishing, eco-cruising, kite-boarding, fitness, Thai rub, health spa, cookery courses, trekking, walking, cycling, plunging, imaginative arts, water games, pony-riding and many others. The list is indeed very long. So these luxury holiday villas are good as they provide a peaceful and calm environment away from the hustle bustle of the hotels.

Explore the island of Koh Lanta in Thailand

Koh Lanta consists of 52 islands including the largest, Koh Lanta Yai. It’s located approximately 70 kilometres from Krabi town. It is yet a comparatively unexplored island and offers complete peace and quiet away from the bustling tourist areas. Its unique scenic beauty which is mountainous and rugged in some areas, especially near the southern tip, its green forested hills, gravel and sand beaches, pretty coral reefs, clear emerald water and traditional lifestyle, provide a charming retreat from modern life.

Only 20,000 people live on Lanta including a clan of Chao Ley, or Sea Gypsies. This distinct ethnic group still follows its traditional customs and culture earning their living from rubber, prawn farming and fishing. Traditional houses and friendly faces still remain.

There is reasonably good snorkeling all along the west coast of Koh Lanta where coral and reef fish can be found, usually the best spots are around the rocks at either end of each beach.

Koh Lanta Dive operators have close access to the dive sites at Koh Phi Phi, Ko Ha, Ko Rok, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Dive sites tend to reflect the scenery and marine life of the area with names like Shark Point, Anemone Reef and the King Cruiser Wreck, all within easy reach of dive operators based in Ko Lanta. Pinnacles Hin Deang and Hin Muang often play host to manta rays and whale sharks and are considered to be two of the best dive sites in Thailand.

If you want to explore the island, hire a car, rent a bike, or better still go with a local guide. Tours are available giving you an insight into the local area, stopping at rubber plantations, taking a short kayaking tour through the mangroves and visiting local sea gypsy villages.

Tips for diving & snorkeling in Thailand

There is a great diversity of the coral reefs and outcrops of all shapes, sizes and colors extend over the large offshore areas in the seasonally calm and clear Thai seas. Some grow to very impressive sizes, such as the spectacular giant sea-fans.

However, for the maximum enjoyment, accessibility and travel time are also important for considerations. The dive sites around Thailand are within easy reach and are easily accessible by air, by sea or overland by road and rail in a matter of hours. The best time to dive in the Gulf of Thailand is between May and September while the Andaman is at its best between October and April. With access to one of the two locations at various times of the year, snorkeling and diving conditions are ideal all year round.

When diving, you should always keep in mind to exercise utmost precaution as the corals are highly vulnerable and can be damaged simply by a single touch. Here are some diving safety and environmental-friendly tips:

- Choose the diving operator who do mind on your safety and is environmentally aware by using safe mooring and anchoring procedures.
- Always plan your diving route before leaving the shoreline.
- Always observe: surf, current, wave sets, surge on reefs/ rocks.
- Be careful not to touch or step on coral reefs.
- Bring along the first-aid kit including peroxide, aspirin for sunburn and cigarettes. Tobacco can help soothing most stings.
- Enter and exit the sea from a sandy beach area.
- Do not swim against the current, swim diagonally across it.
- Snorkeling at dusk is not recommended.
- If drunken, better take a rest than swim, snorkel or any other activities.

Travel tips for a safe trip to Thailand

The most common way to Thailand is through Bangkok International Airport and as overbooking is common during season time, it is always safe and better to reconfirm your reservations. Before boarding a flight to depart through Bangkok International Airport, a departure tax of around $13, that is 500 Baht, has to be paid. Make sure you arrange for some cash for it before departure as the payment is only accepted in cash. However, transit passengers are exempt from the tax. Also ask your tour operator for guarantee and options available in case any untoward incident happens or if there is political unrest in the country.

Before you chain your bags, make sure to carry a copy of your medical history with you giving full details of any medical conditions, blood type, etc. If you are allergic to any medications, include this information too.

While traveling inside the country, use only authorized taxis. Some tourists who have used unauthorized taxis have reported that they have been robbed and assaulted.  Use the Service counters at Bangkok International Airport, which can provide information on transport to the city and hotels. Motor cycle accidents are very common in Thailand, particularly in resort areas. According to Thai law, motor cycle riders and pillion riders are required to wear helmets but motorcycle taxis do often not provide them. Therefore, make sure that helmets are provided, or otherwise avoid using the motorcycle taxi. While ferry travel in Thailand, make sure that passenger limits are adhered to and that sufficient life jackets are provided, otherwise avoid using a ferry.

While traveling by bus, if the luggage is stored out of sight, then locking bags is not enough, you need to either have a full cover over the bag, or at the very least check your bag when leaving the bus. There have been cases of the bags being opened expertly, and valuable items being stolen, without any outwardly sign of the bags having been opened.

Be on the guard against bag snatching especially around tourist attractions and markets.

Pack up tourists – This is the best time to visit Thailand

Looking for the best season to visit Thailand? This is just the right time for the climate is better, with a cooling breeze from the North East and there is a reduction in the humidity level.

Thailand has tropical monsoon climate which means that April and May are the hottest months of summer. The South West monsoon begins in June, and it continues intermittently until the end of October. Monsoon season especially near the coasts experience severe storms and widespread seasonal flooding without warning. However, it you want to avoide crowd and rush, this can be the right season for you since most tourists start arriving from November onwards. Also, you can take advantage of the discounted rooms and low-season rates for travel.

The main tourist season starts from November onwards to the end of February. The north and north-east are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter, and hotter in summer. This is also the prime time for diving in terms of visibility and accessibility. Northern Thailand and the Northeast have the same basic seasons as those in the central and eastern regions. However, in the mountains, it can get particularly cold, on some occasions down to 0 degrees centigrade. In these parts of Thailand winter starts in November and goes on till January. We would suggest you to avoid southern provinces of Thailand and concentrate on North and Northeast as the flowers are in bloom, it is dry and cool, and in the mountains, mist and fog often form making what is already wonderful scenery exquisite.

Phuket – The ultimate paradise for scuba diving

The largest and the most beautiful island in Thailand, Phuket is undoubtedly one of the top tourism destinations in the world. Southern Phuket has remarkable coral islands like Similan and Phi Phi which are suitable for scuba diving.

Scuba diving uses underwater apparatus for breathing and is used for viewing underwater spectacles like floras, faunas, beautiful fishes, coral reefs, especially in coral islands. ‘SCUBA’ is the short form of Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

Scuba diving is the main attraction of tourists in Phuket. There are many agencies which provide scuba diving gears and packages for tourists. Day trips as well as night trips to diving areas are also included in the packages. There are dive boats which will take you to the diving destinations.

Coral reefs in Phuket are some of the best spectacular reefs in the world. Over 200 species of hard corals in Phuket create an amazing underwater ecological kingdom. Some of the exotic fish varieties that are seen in Phuket are dolphins, whale shark, manta rays, pelagic and numerous reef fishes and some of the turtle varieties that enchant the Phuket are Olive Ridleys, Hawksbill, Green Turtles and Leather Back.

Scuba diving in Phuket can be done all the year round except during rainy season spanning from month of May to October. The best time though is December when the water temperature is normally of 26-29 degrees. In March- April it can plunge to 10 degrees temporarily due to thermo clines. Visibility in water of Phuket in dry season is around 40 metres. While the visibility range changes according to the rain during rainy season. Scuba diving in Phuket is an experience of a life time which you can cherish.

Phi Phi Don voted among Top 100 World Destinations?

Phi Phi Don in Krabi was voted as one of the Top 100 World Destinations on www.tripadvisor.com, a tourism website owing to its virgin natural beauty and tranquility winning the 82nd rank. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Krabi Director Pornprapa Lorsuwan is overwhelmed and said tourists voted through this website which has over 25 million visitors per month. Phi Phi Don ranked 5th in the top 25 for Asia Tourist Destinations. Other Thai destinations which were also rated in the top 25 included Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pha-Ngan Island, Koh Tao in Surat Thani and Krabi province itself, which ranked 25th.

Try the bird’s nest soup at the Viking caves!

One of the most famous places to do a little Phi Phi Island sightseeing is on the island of Phi Phi Lei. Here is the famous Viking Caves, a 3.2 square kilometers place where the extremely expensive swallow-nests were once collected. Contradictory to its name, there have never been Vikings, but the cave has numerous paintings of vessels, resembling Viking longboats and that’s where this attraction draws its name from.

The Viking Cave has tour boats queuing up through the height of the day to pay an entrance fee, though they have started to levy the entrance fee for the caves (much to the relief of the tourists). There are many interesting points inside the cave. Stay at the landing point where the clarity of the water in this area is very good. You could have clarity to great depths. At the entrance there is the precious swift’s nests, used to make Bird’s Nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy for which the Chinese aficionados will pay handsomely.

You may also notice ropes and bits of bamboo scaffolding on the cliffs outside. These are used by local villagers to climb metres up into the dark recesses of the cave to retrieve these nests, occasionally falling to their death in the process!

Viking cave may be temporarily closed at bird-nest harvesting season. In fact, the best season to visit the Vikings is from February to April. A bids’ nest company has the concession for the cave, and they must be asked if you want to visit the cave. You can rent a longtail-boat for a reasonable price or join a one-day or half-day tour to Phi Phi Lae island which stops at “Viking Cave”.

Phuket Fantasea is all about myths, mysteries & magic

It is named as the ‘Fantasea’ show and truly enough, inspired by Thailand’s rich and exotic heritage, Phuket FantaSea is a real fantansy depicting the charm and beauty of Thailand. Technology and special effects make the show extra-ordinary in a stunning 140-acre theme complex, packed with a multitude of activities and entertainment like games, handicrafts and shopping. The 4,000-seat restaurant offers a grand buffet of Thai and international cuisine. The breath-taking Las Vegas-style theatrical show unfolds Thailand’s Myths, Mysteries and Magic in a wondrous extravaganza certain to delight everyone.

The Palace of the Elephants is a grand 3000 seat state of-the-art theater that houses this show with the one in which illusion reaches its heights when an elephant flies and disappears before your eyes!

Fantasy of A Kingdom encompasses magical illusions, 4 dimensional effects, aerial ballet, exotic songs and dances, acrobatics pyrotechnics, special effects, elephant circus & stunts into one unforgettable show.

Now, I told you all about the show missing the vital information. Coming to it, the show is held at Phuket in Thailand everyday (excluding Thursday) from 17:30 pm to 23:30 pm.

Experience the ultimate beach fun at Krabi

There is a place called Tambon Pak Nam in Thailand where the Krabi river opens to the great Andaman Sea. Quite a few other rivulets originating from the mountain ranges in the province , Kao Panom Benja ; the Klong Pakasai, Klong Krabi Yai and Klong Krabi Noy, also joins the sea at this area. Divided into eight districts : Amphoe Muang (Krabi Town), Khao Panom, Khlong Thom, Plai Phraya, Ko Lanta, Ao Luk, and Lam Thap and, Nhua Khlong, this is a paradise for tourists and nature lovers.

There are so many things you can do at this destination that it would be difficult for you to fit all of them in your schedule. Some places and activities which are a must in your schedule include:

HONG ISLAND This limestone island has a beach and is surrounded by coral reef. To get to the islands takes about one hour by boat from Ao Nang beach.

AO NANG BEACH Off this Beach, there are around 83 small islands of various size and shapes and a boat trip or a sightseeing tour can be arranged either through long-tail’ boat skippers or through an organised tour one of the hotels or tour agencies offer.

BEACH FUN Frisbee throwing (either on sand or in the water) or a game of football with the locals at the low tide beach area of Railey beach would not be a bad idea. There’s a permanent volleyball net too, where you can play for hours with other enthusiastic players.

CANOEING There are various establishments particularly on Ao Phra Nang and Railey beaches where you can hire canoes, either by hour or by day. A few charter companies in the area also offer canoeing expeditions along the coast or around the islands in the area.

SNORKELING, SCUBA DIVING and FISHING TRIPS are organized from most beaches, some offering canoeing in two-person kayaks, sailing and windsurfing. If some sport is not offered at your beach, you can easily take one of the regular long-tail boats to the next beach and probably find it there.

ROCK CLIMBING is a must at Krabi for the limestone cliffs in the area seem to have been created by nature for this very purpose. Where the palce sees avid climbers annually, there is also scope for inexperienced climbers who can opt for the climb to see the Princess Lagoon and the scintillating views across the karst landscape both inland and out to sea that lies next to Railey Beach. There are fixed ropes for assistance at the steeper points, but most of it is a forest hike. Access is at the south end of either Railey East or Phra Nang beach.

PHI PHI ISLANDS The superb scenery of these islands include beaches of silvery sand, emerald green sea, coral reefs and an abundance of colourful marine life.

Krabi province has a great public transport system with buses departing from Krabi Town to Aonang Beach, Noppharatara Beach and Aonammao Beach which is one route. Along the coast and to islands, ferries and water taxis operate. On land, open air buses, converted pick up trucks, motorcycle taxis, all relatively cheap (average 20 Baht for local trips in Ao Nang Beach) run very efficiently and regularly around Krabi town and the beach areas.

Koh yao noi – A hidden treasure of Thailand

In this world so full of stress and disagreements, there are not many options available for us to relax our senses. Amidst the ever-growing over-populated cities is the idyllic Koh Yao Noi island, situated in southern Thailand, where a small, award-winning home stay project has fast developed into a top tourist destination.

In 2002, Koh Yao Noi gained worldwide attention after receiving the World Legacy Award for Destination Stewardship from Conservation International and National Geographic Traveler magazine for the eco-friendly home stay programs offered by its local residents.

Actually the Yao Noi is a community-based tourism village offering plenty of fun filled activities and opportunities for discussion and cultural exchange using translators of English and Thai. The in house guests get involved in fishing and make fishing equipment or batik cloth. Some of them work in the rice fields, or visit the housewife working group and also learn how to make the local Muslim Traditional dress!

Everything is pretty cheap on the island. Highly recommend seeing the island is either on a pushbike (mountain bike) or via moped. It’s only 11-12 miles all the way around…so it’s pretty easy.

So how would you reach the island? Long-tail boat ferries make daily trips to Yao Noi from Bang Rong Pier on the east coast of Phuket. The fare is 50 Baht for the one-hour journey, with daily departures from Phuket at 9.30 am, 12 noon and 5 pm. A taxi route will take approximately 25 minutes from the airport.

With no stunning views or fast paced activities like scuba diving or parasailing, the Koh Yao Noi with its quiet roads reveals a place of true harmony and simplicity for the traveler. Come here only to experience leisure time and complete peace of mind coz Koh Yao is all about rice patties, livestock, beaches, water, rainforest and nature at its best!

Tiffany Pattaya – An unbelievable show

You haven’t been to Pattaya if you miss the world-famous Cabaret Shows here. Undeniably one of the most recommended tourist destinations in Thailand is the well known “Tiffany Show”. With over 28 years of stage experience, it is the First ever truly transvestite cabaret show in South East Asia. Millions of international visitors from every part of the world flock to Thailand’s popular resort city, Pattaya to witness the spectacular performances by the marvelous, talented and beautiful Tiffany’s performers.

With around 300 VIP seats, 200 deluxe seats and 400 mezzanine seats which are house full for almost all the shows, goes on to state the popularity and the decadence of this unique show. The beautiful looking dancers and the extremely well co ordinated sound, lights and dance moves make it difficult to believe that they are any less than a bunch of gorgeous looking young girls. But in reality they are only a group of transvestite humans.

The show timings for the one hour Tiffany show are 6pm, 7:30 pm and 9pm. While the VIP seats will cost you roughly 600 Bahts, the deluxe and Mezzanine seats will cost 500 Bahts and 400 Bahts respectively.

Price Includes:
- Air conditioned vehicle with English-speaking guide.
- Admission fee as mentioned on this program.
- Transfer from/to hotel in Pattaya.

Price Excludes:
- Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, insurance etc.
- Other service not mentioned on this program.
Being one of its kind, the show definitely should find a place in your visit to Pattaya.

Phuket Calling – How and when to get there!

Though Phuket seems like a heaven on earth, getting to this island is not as difficult as the way to heaven. You can get there by air, road, rail (in a roundabout way), and of course by sea if you have your own boat.

Perhaps, the easiest and the most preferred choice is by flying to Phuket. The island has an international airport with an increasing number of scheduled and charter flights arriving from Europe and Asia, as well as a dozen daily flights from Bangkok.

By road, you can opt for a bus or car. Buses from Bangkok take approximately 14 hours. Government buses can be boarded at the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) in Thonburi. Private tour companies also operate coaches and minibuses. By Car the 867km journey from Bangkok to Phuket will take 10 hours or more also giving you the opportunity to explore the beauty on the way.

There is no rail link between Bangkok and Phuket but you can get to Surat Thani and take a bus to Phuket. Trains in Thailand are slow, but cheap and very comfortable.

As for deciding the best time to visit Phuket, it would be helpful to know a bit about Phuket’s climate. Phuket has tropical monsoon climate with warmth all year round and temperatures ranging between 25 – 34°C (77 – 93°F).

The dry season in Phuket is also the cooler season. It begins in December and usually lasts until March. With the climate is at its best, characterized by gentle breezes, calm seas and clear blue skies, this season is the peak for the tourists.

The rainy season begins in June and lasts until October. This is not exactly the best time to visit Phuket as it is hot, humid and wet now with the strong winds bringing warm moist air from the Indian Ocean and plenty of rain. This also affects boat tours and ferries, often prohibiting boat trips to other islands. Stirred silt reduces visibility for divers.

But there is a brighter side to this period. Lower volume of tourists during this period means that prices plummet and hotel rates are often half that of the high season. So, this period can be ideal if you are the one on a budget or if you simply wish to avoid the crowds during the high season.
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