Passport holders from more than 40 countries are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period not exceeding 30 days per visit. The list of these countries along with other useful information about the various formalities to be filled for the other situations are available in English on the website of the Kingdom of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for instance).

Applicants who have travelled from or through the countries which have been declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas (see the list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) must provide an International Health Certificate proving that they have received a Yellow Fever vaccination.

Vaccinations against tetanus, poliomyelitis and hepatitis B are recommended. Those against hepatitis A and typhoid are advised, as is the antimalarial treatment (depending on the areas to be visited). Consult your personal physician. There is no risk of yellow fever in Thailand.

Plan your vaccinations sufficiently in advance (at least 6 weeks before the departure), because some require a booster dose or are incompatible between each other.

Ensure that you are in good health before travelling. If you undergo a medical treatment requiring a renewal, do not forget your prescription (with the name of the active ingredient rather than the brand of the drug, in order to be able to find a local equivalent if necessary).

Health during a journey depends on the care with which one prepares the travel and on how a minimum set of essential rules is respected. The medical risks are relatively low in this region though.

In Thailand, physicians are generally qualified and efficient. Surin (the capital of the province where East Asian Road established its accommodation structure) has a public hospital and two private clinics where high quality health care is provided to the patients.

Do not forget an anti-mosquito lotion and good solar protection.

The climate in Thailand is tropical. The temperature is hot there almost all the year practically on the whole territory. The annual average temperature is 28°C, with relatively low variations (in Bangkok for instance, it averages 30°C in April and 25°C in December).

There are three seasons in North-Eastern Thailand. This zone is subjected to a dry and wet climate of monsoon. The rain season extends from June till the end of September (approximately). The weather is often sunny with strong unforeseeable but short daily storms. It is not uncommon then to undergo cloudburst over several days in a row. From October till the end of January, it is the fresh season. Then, the weather is soft and dry (no or few rains and temperatures fall). And from February till the end of May, it is the hot season with the highest temperatures of the year around mid-April, during the festivities of Songkran (which is the lunar New Year's day in Thailand).

Monarchy and religion are sacred in Thailand. Do not commit a blunder! Thai people, however famous for their great tolerance, are not very soft on those who lack respect towards the royal family or Lord Buddha.

While complying with some basic rules of elementary courtesy, you will pass a formidable stay in this country. The East Asian Road guides will be pleased to answer all your questions about cultural, historical or religious matters. They will explain you the local habits of this amazing region and will inform you about the right behaviour to be chosen according to the various situations.

It is essential to have decent and clean clothes. The inhabitants of Thailand do not appreciate that one visits their country dressed in an inappropriated or neglected attire. In the whole country, you will receive a much better reception if your presentation is neat.

Thailand is a destination where one can buy clothes at a very affordable price. You will certainly be able to make good bargains here, then, do not carry too many clothes in your luggage if you want to benefit from your stay also for renewing your wardrobe.