THAILAND - TRAVEL GUIDES

"Thailand assaults the senses with an overload of activity - an explosion of colors, sounds, sights, smells and tastes.  It possesses a seductive spirituality born not only from Buddhist values but from an ancient animist approach that has its origins in the country's folklores and forests."
- Jody Houton, from A Geek in Thailand

TRAVELING TO THAILAND

Thailand is one of the world’s most popular destinations for travelers, and people visit for many reasons: tropical beaches with blue waters, the hedonistic pleasures of Bangkok, sacred Buddhist temples, the chance to play with elephants, and delicious food.  Here are our recommendations on the best travel books for visitors to Thailand.

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS

Lonely Planet: Thailand

Thailand is one of the world’s top destination for travelers, with wonderful cities, a rich Buddhist culture, amazing beaches, great food, and simply a lot to see and do.  Our favorite travel guide for Thailand is Lonely Planet.  Known for the depth of their coverage and for the strength of their local knowledge, they provide comprehensive information on how to get around, where to stay, and how best to really experience this wonderful place.  Good for those who want to experience more than Bankgok and some of the most popular islands.

DK Eyewitness Travel: Thailand's Beaches and Islands

We love the DK Eyewitness Travel series but typically recommend these books for travel to bigger cities, primarily because of their strength in the coverage of museums and tourist attractions.  We do however really like their guide for Thailand’s many islands.  Their guides are always known for beautiful photos and custom maps, and their local insights on each island is impressive.  ​

A Geek in Thailand: Discovering the Land of Golden Buddhas, Pad Thai and Kickboxing

One of the more in-depth travel guides for those wanting to better understand Thailand as a culture comes from a young British journalist named Jody Houlton.  The book is packed with short articles covering a variety of topics like politics, the Buddhist religion, kickboxing, food, architecture, festivals,, and cultural norms.  It is a casually written book and so easily read,.

The Beach (fiction), by Alex Garland

The Beach is a popular fictional novel about a young backpacker in Thailand drawn to a mysterious secret beach, a paradise untouched by civilization and only known to a small group of backpackers.  While Richard’s experience at first is idyllic, he soon is faced with the challenges that can arise in a social order without restraints.  The book was made into a decent movie in 2002 starring Leonardo DiCaprio.  Click here for our review of The Beach.