Best for gap years: Thailand
You've finished your exams and life is on hold for a bit while you soak up some new experiences. But where to head first? "Australia has a great backpacker scene, Mexico offers some really interesting gap year placements and there's wildlife galore in South Africa, but for an all-round trip, Thailand is a fantastic gap year destination," says gapyear.com founder Tom Griffiths.
One of Thailand's many Buddhas
"It's different enough from home to give you a healthy dose of culture shock, but it also has a good backpacker infrastructure (transport, hostels and plenty of other travellers) which makes it easy to travel around," continues Tom. "Areas of Thailand were tragically hit by the tsunami in December 2004 and damaged economically by the subsequent fall in tourist numbers. Just by visiting these beautiful places you can help them to heal."
Geography: Tropical Thailand is situated in South East Asia. Sandwiched between Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, it is around the same size as France. The country has a contrasting landscape that offers massive mountains that transform into flat plateaus.
The basics
Currency: The baht: 1 baht is divided into 100 satang.
Climate: There are three general seasons: rainy (June to October); cool (November to February); and hot (March to May). The rainy season can be unpredictable and last longer, and the best time to go is during the cool season - still unbelievably hot by our standards.
GMT: Thailand is seven hours ahead of GMT.
Visas: British passport holders can visit the country for up to 30 days without a visa, to stay any longer you can apply for a visa through the Royal Thai Embassy (29-30 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5JB, tel: 020 7589 2944).
Language: Most Thai people speak some English, especially in the main tourist areas, but make an effort and learn a few valuable phrases in Thai.
Religion: The vast majority of Thai people are Buddhist. Religion is an important part of their life, so if you want to truly experience the country, educate yourself by visiting wat (temples) and respect their beliefs.
Do's & don'ts
- Bartering is expected, so the original price is often higher than the seller expects you to pay.
- Do Cover up - Wear long skirts or trousers and take your shoes off in temples and religious buildings. Never go topless.
- Don't insult the King or any of the Royal family.
- Don't disrespect Buddhas - they are considered sacred objects.
For more advice, visit the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Embassy: Located in Bangkok, tel: (662) 305-8333
Getting there/getting around
Unless you are travelling around South East Asia (in which case you'll find the train and bus system useful), flying is going to be the best option. It will also be the biggest bit of your budget eaten up, with the average flight from the UK to Thailand setting you back upwards of £400. Most flights take you to Bangkok but smaller airports operate in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Ubon Ratchatani. Domestic flights are often operated by Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways, but many more international airlines fly in from around the world.
A traditional Thai house
Getting around is a combination of taxis (hurrah, you can afford them in Bangkok), tuk-tuks (reckless but fun), Bangkok's Skytrain system (easy, clean and reliable), trains (well organised but often uncomfortable) and buses (particularly useful for getting off the beaten track).
Accommodation
Bangkok offers palatial hotels (at a cost), cockroach-infested dives (best avoided) and everything in between. Most young travellers head to the Khao San Road area for its abundance of hostels and cheap guest houses - if this is part of your itinerary ask to view the room first and have a go at bartering; it's often possible to get a room cheaper than the asking price.
Unless you're staying in hotels, this rule goes anywhere. Most areas have enough accommodation to allow you to travel spontaneously, finding rooms when you arrive. Many are found in locals' homes, and on the islands' endless huts.
Sightseeing & activities
Although many lament the loss of Thailand's beauty, claiming that it has been overtaken by tourism, it's hard to deny that this is a country of contrasts. From the lush rainforests in the north to the idyllic white sand beaches in the south, with bustling Bangkok sandwiched in the middle, there are few that will truly find nothing of interest here.
It's this diversity that makes it the ideal gap year destination. Trek through the jungles, learn to scuba dive, take Thai cookery lessons, lap up the culture in museums and palaces, party all night - or just collapse on the beach and get a Thai massage.
Check out GapYear.com for information on placements, such as teaching English in Thai schools, ecosystem conservation and Tsunami Development Projects.
If you just want to travel, you'll find Thailand's tourist-friendly attitude a perfect starting point, with neighbouring Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos all offering a taste of the tracks-less-trodden when you are ready to move on.
Entertainment & nightlife
Thailand's popularity with young gappers and travellers fuels its nightlife. Many Thai islands (or Ko) could rival Europe's party scene if you rock up at the right time; notably full moon, when beach parties really kick off, especially on Ko Pha Ngan.
Drugs are easy to get hold of on many of the islands, particularly grass. It's also very cheap, making it an attractive proposition. Be careful - there are extremely heavy penalties for buying even the smallest amount, and believe us, no one wants to end up in a Thai prison - or worse, facing the death penalty.
Food & drink
You can eat like royalty in Thailand for next-to-nothing. Expect to pay a few pounds for a decent meal. Typical Thai cuisine is fragrant, often spicy, but not overpowering. You'll find Thai green and red curries everywhere, as well as Pad Thai, a delicious noodle dish with peanuts and vegetables.
Food venues vary widely. The cheapest is served by street vendors, whose food is often surprisingly well prepared. On the islands you'll find a plethora of beach huts serving a combination of traditional Thai, fresh fish dishes and European variations. If proper restaurants are more your thing, stick to the main tourist areas and you'll be fine.
You'll also find alcohol inexpensive but this is usually let down by a lack of variety. Thai bottled beer is usually a choice between Chang or Singha, and watch out for Mekong, a bourbon that's often served with their version of red bull (it comes in medicine bottles; say no more) - it's a deadly combination.
Kick back and relax
The final word
"Thailand's got it all: culture and nature; beaches and jungles; great food; and legendary full moon parties," says Tom Griffiths.
