Most Thailand trips do not go wrong in dramatic ways. They go wrong at the Grand Palace gate, when someone in shorts is turned away. They go wrong at Damnoen Saduak at 10:30am, when every coach from Bangkok pulls in at once. And this year they can go wrong at immigration, because the 60-day visa-free stay many Singaporeans remember was cut to 30 days in September 2026. Each slip costs a morning, and on a five-day break a morning is a big slice of the holiday.
This planner covers what actually matters for 2026: which Thailand tours are worth booking before you fly, which tickets are cheaper and easier at the gate with cash, how the new entry rules work, and how to fit Bangkok's temples and river, the classic day trips, Phang Nga Bay and Pattaya into one sensible plan. Gate prices are quoted in baht from published 2026 rates. They move, so treat them as a guide and carry a little extra.
Thailand entry rules for 2026: what changed before you fly
From 15 September 2026, Thailand's visa exemption for Singapore passport holders is 30 days, not the 60 days introduced in 2024. The shorter allowance covers tourism only, so a trip that mixes a holiday with client meetings now needs the right visa. If you entered before the change, you keep the stay you were stamped for. Singaporeans, along with Malaysians, Bruneians and Indonesians, are also exempt from the new cap of two visa-free land-border entries a year, which matters if you like taking the train up through Malaysia to Hat Yai.
For most holidays 30 days is plenty. Where it bites is the long stay: the month in Chiang Mai, the slow island hop down the Andaman coast. If you plan to stay longer, sort out a proper visa before you leave rather than hoping for an extension on arrival. Travellers on other passports should check their own rules; our walkthrough of the Thailand e-Visa application process explains who needs one and how the online form works.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card
The paper arrival card is gone. Since May 2025 every foreign visitor, including children and babies, must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within the 72 hours before arrival. It costs nothing. You enter passport details, your flight number, where you are staying, the countries you visited in the previous 14 days and a short health declaration, and you receive a QR code to show at immigration. A screenshot on your phone is enough; a printout is an optional backup. You need a new card for every entry, so a trip that pops over to Malaysia and back needs two.
Use only the Thai Immigration Bureau's official TDAC website or its official app. Copycat sites rank well in searches and charge a "processing fee" for a form that is free. If a page asks for your card details, close it and start again from the official site.
The tourist entry fee that keeps being postponed
Thailand approved a 300 baht fee for foreign air arrivals (150 baht by land or sea) in 2023 and has postponed it repeatedly since. At the time of writing in October 2026 it was still not being collected. Check the news a week before you fly.
Which Bangkok airport?
Flights from Changi take roughly two and a half hours to Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) handles most full-service flights and links to the BTS Skytrain at Phaya Thai by the Airport Rail Link in around half an hour. Don Mueang (DMK), used by several low-cost carriers, has a station on the SRT Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat, the same terminal most faster Ayutthaya trains leave from.
Which Thailand tours to book ahead, and which to buy at the gate
A useful rule: book ahead when a tour includes transport, runs to a fixed departure, has limited seats, or needs a guide to make sense. Pay on the spot when the ticket is cheap, sold only in cash at the gate, and never sells out. Thailand has plenty of both, and mixing them up either wastes money or leaves you standing on a pavement at 6am with no pickup.
| Experience | Book ahead? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Palace entry | Optional | Gate tickets are 500 baht; a guided tour mainly buys context and an orderly morning |
| Wat Pho and Wat Arun | No | 300 and 200 baht in cash at the door; queues move quickly |
| Chao Phraya dinner cruise | Yes, a few days out | Evening boats fill with groups and window tables go first |
| Floating market or Kanchanaburi day trip | Yes | Pickups start around 6 to 7am and need your hotel details the day before |
| Ayutthaya temple tickets | No | Cash only at each gate, 20 to 50 baht, or a 220 baht combined pass |
| Phang Nga Bay boat tour | Yes, December to March | Speedboat seats run short in high season; the park fee may be extra |
| Michelin-listed restaurant | Yes, weeks ahead | Small dining rooms, popular sittings, smart dress codes |
| Simon Cabaret, Phuket | Ideally | You choose a show time and seat zone when booking |
| Public river boats | No | Pay a few dozen baht at the pier or on board |
What to check before you pay for any tour
Three details are worth reading in every listing. First, what "city centre pickup" means: many Bangkok operators cover the main hotel districts and charge extra, or ask you to meet nearby, if you are staying out in Thonburi or near the airports. Second, what is excluded. National park fees are the usual surprise in the south, and some Phang Nga Bay tours leave the fee for you to pay in cash at the pier. Third, how much of the day you spend at the sights. A full-day trip to Hellfire Pass can mean five or six hours in a vehicle, which is fine if you expect it.
Join-in tours cost far less than private guides and suit most first-timers. Private tours make sense for families with small children, travellers with mobility needs, or groups of four or more. Muslim travellers will find several tours that build a halal lunch into the day.
A five-day plan that works for first-timers
Day one: land, check in, and head to Chinatown for dinner, unless it is a Monday (more on that below). Day two: the Grand Palace at 8:30am, Wat Pho before lunch, Wat Arun by ferry, a long rest in the heat of the afternoon, then a dinner cruise. Day three: Ayutthaya or the floating market, but not both. Day four: Kanchanaburi if history moves you, or a beach day in Pattaya if everyone needs a break. Day five: a massage, some shopping, and the airport. The pattern that keeps people happy is one early, ambitious morning followed by an easy afternoon, rather than back-to-back 6am starts.
Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun without the stress
These three temples sit within walking distance of each other on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya, with Wat Arun just across the water. Done in the right order, they fill a comfortable morning. Done in the wrong order, they become a hot, queue-heavy slog.
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew
Entry is 500 baht for foreigners and includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. Children under 120cm go in free. The gates open at 8:30am and ticket sales stop at 3:30pm. Go at opening time: by 10am the courtyards fill with tour groups and the pale paving throws the heat back at you like an oven tray. Allow two hours, more if you want to study the long gallery of Ramakien murals that wraps around Wat Phra Kaew.
The dress code is enforced at the gate, not merely suggested. Shoulders and upper arms covered, legs covered below the knee, nothing sheer, tight or ripped, and shoes with a back strap rather than flip-flops. A loose linen shirt with long trousers or a midi skirt is ideal in the heat. If you get caught out, clothing can be rented near the entrance, but you will queue for it.
Two more warnings. The palace closes on some royal and religious days, sometimes at short notice; in 2026 these have included dates around Coronation Day in early May and the King's birthday in late July, with shortened hours on others. Check the official announcements the day before. And ignore anyone outside the walls who says the palace is "closed today for a ceremony" and offers a cheap tuk-tuk tour instead. It is a long-running trick that ends at a gem shop.
Wat Pho and the reclining Buddha
A ten-minute walk south, Wat Pho charges 300 baht, opens from 8am to 6:30pm, and includes a small bottle of water you collect inside. The gilded reclining Buddha is 46 metres long, and the mother-of-pearl inlay on the soles of its feet deserves a slow look. The rest of the complex is calmer than people expect: courtyards of tiled chedis, long rows of seated Buddhas, and the traditional massage school that has made Wat Pho the reference point for Thai massage. Pay in cash. If a massage there tempts you, our guide to Thai massage styles explains what to ask for and what each style feels like.
Wat Arun across the river
From Tha Tien pier, beside Wat Pho, a small cross-river ferry runs to Wat Arun for a few baht. Entry is 200 baht, cash, from 8am to 6pm. The central prang rises to roughly 70 metres and is studded with pieces of Chinese porcelain that glint in the morning sun; the steps are steep and the upper terraces are not always open, so do not build your visit around the climb. Because Wat Arun stands on the west bank, the famous sunset silhouette is seen from the east bank, where riverside bars near Tha Tien are built for exactly that view.
Guided tour or do-it-yourself?
You can see all three alone for 1,000 baht in tickets plus a few baht for the ferry. What you lose is context: what the Ramakien murals are telling you, why the Emerald Buddha's robes are changed with the seasons, which way to walk around a chedi. A guide also deals with the gate logistics, which matters more than you would think on a crowded morning. A small-group guided tour of the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun starts from S$22.00 and keeps the whole morning on schedule. For Muslim travellers, the half-day temples and Grand Palace tour with a halal buffet lunch answers the lunch question in the same outing, from S$49.57.
Riding the Chao Phraya: river boats and dinner cruises
The river is Bangkok's most useful road and its best free view. Most travellers use it twice: by day to hop between the sights, and on one evening for a dinner cruise past the floodlit temples.
Public boats: orange flag or tourist boat?
The orange-flag Chao Phraya Express boat is the workhorse, stopping at most piers for a flat fare of around 16 baht, paid at the pier booth or to the conductor. The blue-flag tourist boat calls only at the main sightseeing piers and tends to be less crowded with commuters. It sells single tickets for a few dozen baht as well as a hop-on, hop-off day pass whose price has shifted through 2026, so confirm it at the pier. For most people the orange boat is enough; the blue boat is handier if you want a seat and fewer stops.
The key piers are easy to remember. Sathorn, the central pier, sits under Saphan Taksin BTS station, so you can ride the Skytrain to the water. Tha Tien (N8) is the stop for Wat Pho and the Wat Arun ferry. Tha Chang (N9) is closest to the Grand Palace. Phra Arthit (N13) drops you near Khao San Road. Boats run from early morning to early evening, more often at commuter times. Combine them with the Skytrain and underground, covered in our guide to using the BTS and MRT, and you can avoid most of Bangkok's traffic for the whole trip.
Picking a dinner cruise
Dinner cruises leave mainly from the piers at ICONSIAM and Asiatique the Riverfront. A typical evening runs like this: check in from around 6pm, board around 7:15pm, sail for about two hours, and be back on the pier by 9:30 or 10pm. The route usually runs upriver past Wat Arun and the Grand Palace towards the Rama VIII Bridge, all lit up, and back.
The big boats serve buffets of Thai and international dishes with a live band and a short classical Thai dance. They are lively, family-friendly and good value; the trade-off is noise and a party feel by the second hour. Smaller boats run quieter, set-menu dinners. Ask for a window or open-deck table when booking, because those go first, and allow for traffic: reaching ICONSIAM at 6pm on a weekday can take far longer than the map suggests, so take the river boat or the BTS Gold Line instead.
The premium end: Saffron Cruise by Banyan Tree
If the cruise is a special night out, an anniversary or a treat for parents, the Saffron Cruise by Banyan Tree is the calmer choice: a smaller boat and a set Thai menu instead of a buffet scramble, from S$109.15. It suits couples and adult groups better than families with restless children. Dress smart-casual and bring a light layer for the air-conditioning. Book early for weekends and especially for Loy Krathong night in November, when every boat sells out.
Day trips from Bangkok worth the early alarm
Bangkok's best day trips all start early. Leave at 7am and you see Ayutthaya's temples in soft light or the floating market before the crowds; leave at 9am and you meet everyone else. Pick one or two, not four, and put an easy day between them.
Ayutthaya, the old capital
Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam for more than four centuries until a Burmese army sacked it in 1767, and its ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 80km north of Bangkok. The historical park itself is free to enter; you pay at each major temple instead. Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Chaiwatthanaram charge 50 baht each, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon 20 baht, and the reclining Buddha at Wat Lokaya Sutha is free. A 220 baht combined ticket covers six temples and stays valid for 30 days, which pays off if you visit four or more. Gates take cash only and generally open from 8:30am to between 5pm and 6pm.
The image everyone comes for is the sandstone Buddha head cradled in tree roots at Wat Mahathat. Crouch to photograph it so that your head stays lower than the Buddha's; guards do remind people. Wat Chaiwatthanaram, on the river to the south-west, is the place for late-afternoon light.
Going independently is easy: trains take about one to one and a half hours, and tuk-tuks and bicycles wait near Ayutthaya station. A tour earns its place when you want to add Bang Pa-In, the royal summer palace on the way, and a river cruise. The Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-In Palace and river cruise day trip includes return transfers from central Bangkok and starts from S$78.67. Bang Pa-In is a royal site, so pack the same covered-up outfit you would wear to the Grand Palace.
Damnoen Saduak floating market
About 100km south-west of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province, Damnoen Saduak is the floating market of the postcards: wooden boats piled with fruit, boat noodles cooked on board, vendors in wide straw hats. Timing makes or breaks it. The market runs from about 7am to early afternoon, and the sweet spot is 7am to 9am, before the coaches, which means leaving Bangkok at around 6am.
Entry is free. Boats are charged per boat, not per person: on published 2026 rates a paddle boat costs around 400 baht for 30 minutes and a motorboat around 850 baht for an hour. Use the main market pier rather than the private roadside piers where some drivers stop, as those often charge considerably more. Many tours pair the market with the Maeklong railway market, where vendors pull back their awnings and baskets as the train squeezes through, so check the train times for your date.
The Damnoen Saduak floating market tour with return transfers starts from S$51.94 and handles the early start for you. If you are torn between Damnoen Saduak, Amphawa and the smaller markets closer to Bangkok, our comparison of Bangkok's floating markets weighs up crowds, travel time and what each does best.
Kanchanaburi, the River Kwai and Hellfire Pass
This is the day trip with the most weight to it. Kanchanaburi town sits roughly 130km west of Bangkok, and Hellfire Pass about 80km further up the valley. During the Second World War, Allied prisoners and Asian labourers were forced to build the Thailand-Burma Railway through this country; around 12,000 Allied prisoners of war died, and the toll among Asian labourers was far higher. The cutting at Hellfire Pass got its name from the sight of starving men working through the night by torchlight.
The Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre, run by the Australian government, is free to enter and open from 9am to 4pm. It closes for about three weeks of maintenance each May and on certain holidays, including Songkran (13 to 15 April), 5 December, and the Christmas and New Year period. The short walk to the cutting is about 500 metres and takes 45 minutes to an hour; the longer trail runs 2.6km each way. Borrow the free audio guide (an ID deposit is needed), which includes recorded memories of former prisoners. Wear proper shoes and bring water.
Back in town, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery holds 6,982 graves of British, Australian and Dutch prisoners, cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the bridge over the River Kwai is a short ride away. Doing all of this independently is tight, because trains on the Nam Tok line are infrequent. The Kanchanaburi River Kwai and Hellfire Pass tour covers both with transfers from central Bangkok, from S$78.65.
Closer to town: Ancient City and Erawan Museum
Not every day out needs a 6am alarm. In Samut Prakan, on Bangkok's south-eastern edge, the Ancient City (Muang Boran) is a huge open-air park of full-size and scaled-down replicas of Thai temples, palaces and village scenes. Foreign adults pay 800 baht at the gate and children aged 6 to 14 pay 400 baht; it opens 9am to 7pm with last tickets at 6pm. The grounds are too big to walk in the heat, so hire a bicycle or an electric cart. Nearby, the Erawan Museum, with its giant three-headed elephant, charges 500 baht and opens 9am to 6pm. Combined tickets bought in advance usually cost much less than both gates.
Phuket and Phang Nga Bay tours
Phuket is the easiest beach escape from Singapore, and it offers far more than Patong's beachfront. The tour most visitors remember is a day in Phang Nga Bay, about 25km north-east of the island, where limestone towers rise straight out of jade-green water.
James Bond Island and Koh Panyee
Speedboats from the marinas on Phuket's east coast reach the bay in about 45 minutes; traditional longtail boats take closer to an hour and a half. Most trips include Koh Tapu, the needle of rock made famous by The Man with the Golden Gun in 1974, plus Koh Panyee, a Muslim fishing village built on stilts where many tours stop for a seafood lunch. The best tours add sea canoeing: guides paddle you through low cave tunnels into hidden lagoons called hongs, which motorboats cannot enter. Those passages depend on the tide, so the order of stops is often decided on the day.
Every foreign visitor pays the Ao Phang Nga National Park fee, currently 300 baht per adult and 150 baht per child. Some tours include it; the James Bond Island join-in day trip does not, so keep 300 baht in cash per adult for the pier. The tour itself starts from S$33.87. James Bond Island is crowded at midday whatever you do, so an early departure helps.
November to February brings the clearest skies and calmest seas. The sheltered bay can be visited in the wet season too, but rough weather can cancel sailings, so keep a back-up day.
Evenings in Patong
Simon Cabaret on Sirirat Road in Patong is Phuket's best-known evening show: a glossy, funny, high-production revue by transgender performers in a theatre seating more than 600. Shows run at 6pm, 7:30pm and 9pm. Book a slot in advance in peak season, arrive 15 minutes early, and if you pose for photos with the performers outside afterwards, a small tip is expected. The 6pm show suits families and leaves time for a seafood dinner after.
Pattaya as an easy beach add-on
Pattaya sits around 150km south-east of Bangkok, roughly two hours by road, which makes it a straightforward add-on rather than a separate holiday. The city beach is busy and the water is so-so; Jomtien, just south, is calmer and more family-oriented. The better swimming is on Koh Larn, a small island about 45 minutes away by public ferry from Bali Hai pier. The ferry fare rose to 40 baht in April 2026, although some sailings are still quoted at 30, and the last public boat back leaves around 6pm. Speedboats cost 150 to 300 baht per person each way and run on a more flexible timetable.
For a day without logistics, the full-day Pattaya beach tour with halal set lunch and a rooftop sunset bundles the beach, lunch and an evening viewpoint into one outing, from S$92.43, and comes with a free eSIM, which is handy if you have not sorted data yet. On land, the Sanctuary of Truth, an enormous carved wooden temple-like structure by the sea, is the most striking sight in town, and families with younger children often enjoy the sheep farms and themed parks on Pattaya's outskirts for a low-effort afternoon after an early beach session.
Eating your way through Bangkok, from street stalls to Michelin stars
Thai food is a big reason Singaporeans keep coming back, and Bangkok covers every budget, from a plate of pad kra pao for around 60 to 80 baht to a multi-course tasting menu. Plan your eating around a few simple rules and you will eat better for less.
Yaowarat after dark
Bangkok's Chinatown is at its best after sunset, when the stalls along Yaowarat Road light up under the neon signs. One rule saves a lot of disappointment: avoid Mondays. Monday is the city's street-cleaning day and many vendors take it off, so a Chinatown food night planned for a Monday can be half empty. Tuesday to Sunday evenings are at full strength. Arrive by 7pm, share plates so you can try more, and carry small notes. If you would rather someone else handled the navigation, a street-food tour by tuk-tuk covers Chinatown and a couple of other neighbourhoods in one evening and is one of the more enjoyable ways to see the city lit up.
Fine dining worth planning around
Bangkok's fine-dining scene has grown quickly, and a Michelin-recognised meal here often costs less than its Singapore equivalent. Saneh Jaan holds one Michelin star for its refined take on traditional Thai recipes, and RIB Room & Bar at The Landmark Bangkok is a classic steakhouse listed in the Michelin Guide. Book these when you book your flights; tables at the popular places go weeks ahead, and dress codes are smart. If a full tasting menu feels like too much, a lunch sitting is often the gentler way in.
Halal-friendly eating
Thailand has a large Muslim community, and halal food is easy to find in parts of Bangkok and across the south. Look for the Thai halal certification logo on menus and shopfronts. On sightseeing days, the simplest approach is a tour with a halal lunch built in, as several Bangkok temple, canal and floating-market tours offer.
Best time to visit Thailand for tours, season by season
Thailand's weather runs on two coasts and three broad seasons, and the calendar changes which tours make sense. The short version: November to February is the sweet spot almost everywhere, but there is good weather somewhere in the country in most months if you pick the right coast.
| Season | Bangkok and day trips | Andaman coast (Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi) | Gulf islands (Koh Samui) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool and dry, November to February | Days around 25 to 30°C with lower humidity; the best time for temples and walking | Calm seas and clear water; peak demand for boat tours, so book ahead | Often wet in November and December, improving from January |
| Hot, March to May | The hottest stretch, April especially; sightsee early and rest at midday | Still good until the south-west monsoon arrives around May | Dry and sunny; one of the best times to go |
| Rainy, June to October | Heavy afternoon downpours; mornings are often fine, so tour early | Rougher seas on some days; island trips can be cancelled at short notice | Usually drier than the Andaman side through mid-year |
Compared with Singapore, Bangkok in December and January feels drier, with noticeably cooler evenings. April is hotter than anything Singapore produces, often pushing into the high 30s, so plan temple mornings, mall or spa afternoons and river evenings.
Festivals change the picture too. Songkran, the Thai New Year from 13 to 15 April, turns the country into a giant water fight; it is great fun, but some attractions close or shorten their hours and you will get soaked whether or not you planned to. Loy Krathong, on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month (usually November), fills rivers and lakes with candlelit floats and is the most romantic night of the year for a river cruise. Our Thailand festivals guide for 2026 lists the dates and how each festival affects travel.
Practical tips: cash, dress, apps and temple manners
Small habits make tour days much easier.
Cash and cards
Cards work in malls, hotels and most restaurants, but temples, ferries, market boats and national park counters run on cash. For the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun alone, budget about 1,000 baht per adult plus small change for the ferry and drinks. Thai ATMs typically charge foreign cards a flat fee of a couple of hundred baht per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often. Break big notes at a convenience store early in the day; vendors and boatmen rarely have change for a 1,000 baht note at 7am.
Getting around
Ride-hailing apps work well in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya and remove the haggling. Insist on the meter in taxis and agree the fare before any tuk-tuk ride. Keep your hotel address in Thai on your phone for drivers and tour pickups.
Dress and temple manners
Pack one temple outfit and wear it on palace and temple days: covered shoulders, covered knees, shoes you can slip off quickly. Remove your shoes before entering a temple building, do not point your feet towards a Buddha image when seated, and do not climb on statues for photos. Women should not touch monks or hand things directly to them. The monarchy is deeply respected, and insulting it is a serious crime; banknotes carry the King's image, so never step on a dropped note.
Staying connected and staying cool
Sort your mobile data before you land: the TDAC QR code, ride-hailing, maps and tour pickup messages all depend on it. An eSIM installed in Singapore is the easiest route, and some tours include one. In the heat, drink more water than you think you need and plan an air-conditioned break around 1pm.
Frequently asked questions
Do Singaporeans need a visa for Thailand in 2026?
No visa is needed for a holiday. From 15 September 2026, Singapore passport holders can stay up to 30 days visa-free for tourism, down from 60 days. Business trips need a proper visa under the new rules. Everyone must also complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival and show the QR code at immigration. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, arrange the right visa before you travel.
Should I book Thailand tours in advance or after I arrive?
Book ahead for anything with transport, a fixed departure or limited seats: dinner cruises, floating-market and Kanchanaburi day trips, Phang Nga Bay boats in high season, cabaret seats and fine-dining tables. Simple entry tickets such as Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the Ayutthaya temples are cash at the gate and never sell out, so there is no need to buy them early.
How much cash should I carry for Bangkok temple fees?
For the classic morning of the Grand Palace (500 baht), Wat Pho (300 baht) and Wat Arun (200 baht), allow about 1,000 baht per adult, plus a little for the cross-river ferry, water and snacks. Children under 120cm enter the Grand Palace and Wat Pho free. Smaller temples and ferries rarely accept cards, so carry small notes rather than 1,000 baht bills.
What should I wear to the Grand Palace?
Cover your shoulders and upper arms, and wear trousers or a skirt that falls below the knee. Avoid sheer, tight or ripped clothing, and wear shoes with a back strap or closed shoes rather than flip-flops. Staff check at the gate and will turn you away if you are not dressed properly. Light linen in loose cuts is the most comfortable choice in Bangkok's heat.
Which day trip from Bangkok is best for first-time visitors?
Ayutthaya is the best all-rounder: it is close, the ruins are spectacular and it works for every age. The Damnoen Saduak floating market suits travellers who love food and photos and do not mind a 6am start. Kanchanaburi and Hellfire Pass make a longer, more moving day, best for older children and adults with an interest in Second World War history.
Is the Phang Nga Bay national park fee included in James Bond Island tours?
It depends on the tour, so always check the inclusions. The Ao Phang Nga National Park fee is 300 baht per foreign adult and 150 baht per child, paid in cash at the pier when it is not included. Our James Bond Island join-in tour excludes it, so bring the exact amount in baht to avoid delays at boarding.
When is the best time to visit Thailand for island and boat tours?
For Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga Bay, November to April brings the calmest seas, with December to February the most reliable. From May to October the Andaman side is wetter and some boat trips are cancelled in rough weather. Koh Samui and the Gulf islands follow a different pattern and are usually at their best from January to August.