Temples
Dip into local culture and witness the sights, smells and sounds of the region’s striking temples. Perched atop a mountain, Wat Bang Riang is a giant temple in Phang Nga Province, showcasing a large, golden buddha sitting beneath a seven-headed serpent, a statue of the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, and exquisite Thai temple architecture. Dragon Cave Temple sits in a limestone cavern, where local monks produce herbal remedies for commonplace illnesses. One of the area’s most historic shrines, Wat Suwanakhuha is hidden in a colossal cave; step inside to find a troop of impish macaque monkeys guarding a big, reclining buddha.
Adventure
Longtail boat, sea canoe or speedboat: three exhilarating ways to trace the steps of 007 and visit the famed ‘James Bond Island’ in Phang Nga Bay. Gaze in awe at the grand limestone pinnacle soaring out of the sea, featuring the original hideaway of evil Scaramanga in the 1974 blockbuster, ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’. Touring this astonishingly beautiful corner of Thailand is especially popular by sea canoe, incorporating fascinating guided tours of Phang Nga’s spectacular sea caves. These crumpled cave systems are open to the sky and surrounded by towering limestone walls, revealing interior lagoons rich with fauna and flora.
National Parks
Khao Sok National Park is cloaked with centuries-old jungle rainforest, an adventure playground for exhilarating treks amid ancient trees, tumbling waterfalls, huge limestone cliffs and breath-taking lakes. This stunning landscape is home to a huge variety of wildlife, from gibbons and pre-historic deer, to sun bears and tigers. Another striking reserve, Khao Lak Lam Ru offers forest walks among the home of various mammals, reptiles, birds and butterflies. Coral beaches and crystalline seas hug the shores of the Similan Islands National Park, comprising nine pristine isles famous for their snorkelling and diving (at selected times of year). Equally mesmerizing, Surin Islands National Park showcases sharks, turtles and mangrove monitor lizards basking in sublime surroundings.
Flight Information
British Airways and Thai Airways from London Heathrow to Bangkok. Etihad Airways from London Heathrow and Manchester (via Abu dhabi) to Bangkok. Emirates from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow (via Dubai) to Bangkok.
Onward connections available.
Flying Time
London Heathrow to Bangkok: 11 hours, 15 minutes.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance.
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations i.e, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.