Travel guide for Indian travellers

Thailand trip from India: cost, visa & best time

Thailand gives Indians the most holiday for the money: visa-free entry, cheap direct flights, golden temples in Bangkok and turquoise water in Phuket. Here is the real budget, the best months and how vegetarians eat well.

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Flight
3–4.5 hours direct
Budget
₹9,000 a day
Best time
Nov – Apr
Visa
Visa-free entry for Indians

Why Thailand

Why Indians love a Thailand trip

  • Visa-free for Indians

    No visa paperwork; just the online arrival card before you fly.

  • Great value

    Comfortable hotels, massages and island tours cost far less than Europe.

  • City and beach

    Pair Bangkok temples and markets with Phuket or Krabi islands.

  • Indian food on hand

    Pure-veg Indian restaurants in Bangkok and Phuket, plus vegan Thai.

Cost

How much does a Thailand trip cost from India?

Per person, per day, excluding flights; trip totals are for our 6-day itinerary. Prices are planning estimates for sharing a room.

  • Budget

    ₹4,500/ day

    About ₹27,000 for 6 days

    Guesthouses, metro, street food and ferries

  • ComfortMost popular

    ₹9,000/ day

    About ₹54,000 for 6 days

    4-star hotels, a speedboat island day, Grab taxis

  • Luxury

    ₹20,000/ day

    About ₹1.2L for 6 days

    Beach resorts, private boats, spa days

Flights: ₹18,000 – 35,000 returnPhuket rooms cost much less from May to October, but seas are rough and some island trips stop.

Best time to visit

When to go to Thailand, month by month

  1. JanBest

    Dry and sunny everywhere

  2. FebBest

    Calm seas in the Andaman

  3. MarBest

    Hot but dry

  4. AprGood

    Hottest month, Songkran water festival

  5. MayAvoid

    Rains begin on the islands

  6. JunAvoid

    Monsoon, rough seas in Phuket

  7. JulAvoid

    Wet and stormy on the west coast

  8. AugAvoid

    Monsoon continues

  9. SepAvoid

    Wettest month in Phuket

  10. OctGood

    Rains easing, low prices

  11. NovBest

    Cool season begins, Loy Krathong

  12. DecBest

    Peak season, book early

Our advice: November to April brings dry weather and calm seas for island-hopping. April is very hot but has the Songkran water festival; May to October is monsoon on the Andaman coast, with cheaper rooms but rough seas.

Before you fly

Visa, flights & money for Thailand from India

  • Visa for Indians

    Visa-free entry for Indian tourists under the current scheme. Complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arrival and carry a return ticket and hotel booking.

  • Flights from India

    Direct flights to Bangkok from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and more (about 4 hours). Phuket has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru; otherwise connect in Bangkok (1 hr 20 min).

  • Money & payments

    Currency is the baht (THB, about ₹2.4). Carry a forex card plus some cash for markets and tuk-tuks. Thai ATMs charge about 220 THB per foreign withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often.

  • SIM, eSIM & apps

    Tourist SIMs from AIS, TrueMove or DTAC are sold at the airport, or buy an eSIM before flying. Grab and Bolt work well in both cities.

  • Plugs & power

    Mixed sockets (Types A, B, C, O), 220V. Most Indian two-pin round plugs fit; a universal adapter covers everything else.

  • Time difference

    Thailand is 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of India.

Visa and entry rules change. Always confirm on the official embassy or government website before you book.

Vegetarian & Jain food

Where vegetarians eat well in Thailand

Bangkok has a large Gujarati and Marwari community, so Jain food is easy in Pratunam and Sukhumvit. In Phuket, Old Town and Patong have the most choice.

  • Pratunam, Bangkok (beside Indra Regent)

    Chotivala Pure Veg & JainJain food

    Huge pure-veg and Jain menu — Gujarati thali, dosas and Indo-Chinese, open till late.

  • Sukhumvit Soi 20, Bangkok

    Saras Pure VegetarianJain food

    Bangkok's best-known pure-veg Indian chain; never uses fish or oyster sauce.

  • Patong, Phuket

    Chotivala PhuketJain food

    The Phuket branch of the pure-veg and Jain chain — easy dinner after island days.

  • Ratsada Rd, Phuket Old Town

    The Vegan Table

    Fully plant-based Thai and international food in a café setting.

  • Chinatown, Bangkok

    Yaowarat "jay" stalls

    Stalls with yellow "jay" flags serve fully plant-based Thai food — perfect for curious vegetarians.

How to ask: At Thai places say "gin jay" (I eat vegan) and "mai sai nam pla" (no fish sauce). Indian restaurants understand "Jain".

Insider tips

Save money and skip the queues

  • Save money

    Use the BTS and river boats

    The Chao Phraya Express boat costs a few baht and links the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Asiatique — far cheaper and faster than taxis in traffic.

  • Save money

    Book island tours locally

    Phi Phi and Phang Nga tours booked through your Phuket hotel or a local desk are often cheaper than packages bought online from India.

  • Save money

    Get your VAT refund

    Malls with the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign give you a form for purchases over 2,000 THB; claim it at the airport before immigration.

  • Local secret

    Try the 7-Eleven toastie

    Every 7-Eleven sells cheese toasties, fresh juices and cut fruit — locals' favourite cheap breakfast, and vegetarian-friendly.

  • Local secret

    Respect the monarchy

    Never step on banknotes or speak disrespectfully about the royal family — it is a serious offence in Thailand.

  • Best timing

    Grand Palace at 8:30 AM sharp

    Tour buses arrive by 10 AM. Be at the gate at opening for the Emerald Buddha without the crush.

FAQs

Thailand trip questions, answered

What Indian travellers ask us most before booking.

Do Indians need a visa for Thailand?

Indian passport holders currently get visa-free entry for tourism. Fill in the online Thailand Digital Arrival Card before you fly, and check the permitted length of stay, as Thailand has changed it more than once.

How much does a 6-day Thailand trip cost from India?

Around ₹9,000 per person per day for a comfortable trip plus ₹18,000–35,000 for flights — roughly ₹70,000–95,000 per person in total.

Which is better for a first trip, Phuket or Krabi?

Phuket has more hotels, nightlife and direct flights; Krabi is calmer, with dramatic limestone cliffs. Our 6-day trip pairs Bangkok with Phuket.

What is the best time to visit Thailand?

November to April. December to February is the coolest and busiest; book Phuket early for those months.

Is Thailand good for vegetarians?

Yes. Look for the yellow "jay" flag for vegan Thai food, and there are many Indian pure-veg restaurants in Bangkok (Sukhumvit, Pahurat) and Phuket (Patong).

Curated by EZYaan

Thailand: Bangkok Temples & Phuket Islands

Golden temples and street food in Bangkok, then turquoise bays, Phi Phi and island sunsets in Phuket.

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Thailand Trip from India: Cost, Visa-Free Entry, Best Time (Guide)