Thailand Trip Cost from India (2026): New Visa Rules and the Real Budget

Before we discuss costs, an important correction to what you may have read elsewhere: Thailand's celebrated visa-free entry for Indians ended in 2026. In May, the Thai Cabinet approved a sweeping revision of its entry rules, and Indian passport holders were moved back to the Visa on Arrival category. A great many articles online still describe the old sixty-day exemption; they are out of date, and travelling on their advice will cost you an unpleasant surprise at the airport.

With the paperwork clarified below, the essential arithmetic remains attractive. A six-day Thailand trip from India now costs ₹48,000 to ₹65,000 per person at a mid-range standard, ₹35,000 to ₹42,000 on a disciplined budget, and upwards of ₹1 lakh for five-star beachfront living. We plan these itineraries for clients every week; these are the figures we work from.

The visa: what actually applies now

Indian travellers currently have two routes into Thailand.

Visa on Arrival (VoA) suits short trips. You complete formalities at a dedicated counter after landing, pay THB 2,000 (approximately ₹5,900) in Thai baht cash — cards and foreign currency are not accepted — and receive a stay of up to 15 days. Carry a passport photograph, your return ticket, hotel confirmation, and proof of funds, as officers may ask for any of them.

The Tourist e-Visa suits longer holidays. Applied for online before departure through Thailand's official e-visa portal, it grants 60 days per entry and spares you the airport queue entirely. For most family holidays of a week or less, the VoA is sufficient; for anything longer, or for travellers who prefer certainty before boarding, the e-visa is the sound choice.

One requirement applies regardless of route: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) must be completed online within 72 hours before arrival, at the official Thai Immigration website. It is free — any site charging for it is a fraud — and airlines are entitled to deny boarding without it. Complete it the day before you fly and keep the QR code on your phone.

A candid note: Thai entry rules have changed more than once in recent years, and may change again. Verify the current position with the Royal Thai Embassy before you book, or ask us — keeping abreast of these revisions is part of what we do for a living.

Flights: abundant and competitive

The Delhi–Bangkok and Mumbai–Bangkok corridors are among the busiest international routes out of India, and fares reflect that competition.

If your holiday is principally about the islands, examine direct Phuket fares before defaulting to Bangkok; the domestic connection you save (₹3,000–5,000 and half a day) often justifies a modestly dearer international ticket.

Check live fares: compare Delhi and Mumbai flights to Bangkok and Phuket on Aviasales.

Where to stay, and the honest nightly rates

Rates below are for two people sharing, in the October-to-March high season.

Our standing advice for a first six-day visit: two nights in Bangkok, four on one island or coast — not two. The Phuket–Krabi ferry crossing is pleasant but consumes the better part of a day each way, and a holiday of this length cannot afford to donate two days to logistics.

Check live rates: compare Bangkok riverside and Phuket beach hotels on Booking.com.

Daily costs on the ground

• Food: street food and food courts, ₹150–300 a meal, and among the best eating on earth at that price; mid-range restaurants, ₹500–900 per person. Budget ₹1,000–1,400 per day per person for a mixture.
• Getting around Bangkok: the BTS Skytrain and MRT are efficient and cost ₹40–120 per journey. Use Grab or Bolt rather than negotiating with taxis and tuk-tuks; the metered price is invariably fairer than the quoted one.
• Island transport: scooter rental runs ₹350–500 per day; songthaews (shared pickups) cost ₹80–150 per hop in Phuket.
• SIM/eSIM: ₹450–700 for generous data at the airport; marginally cheaper in town.
• Currency: one Thai baht is roughly ₹2.95, so a 300-baht meal is about ₹900. Exchange a modest sum at home for the VoA fee and first-day expenses; ATMs levy a fixed 220-baht fee, so withdraw larger amounts less often.

Activities worth paying for

Pay for: the Phi Phi or Similan Islands day cruise from Phuket (₹2,500–4,000, choose a smaller-boat operator over the cattle-ferry tier); a Krabi four-islands longtail tour (₹1,500–2,200); Bangkok's Grand Palace and Wat Pho done early in the morning (₹1,300 combined entry, and go at opening time or repent in the heat); a proper Thai cooking class (₹1,800–2,500); a certified elephant sanctuary in Phuket or Chiang Mai — the ethical ones cost ₹3,500–5,000 and are worth every rupee, while the riding camps deserve no one's money.

Reconsider: gem showrooms and tailor shops your driver "happens to know"; the commission structure explains the enthusiasm.

Book the boat day smartly: compare Phi Phi and Similan small-boat tours on GetYourGuide — read the group-size line before paying.

Travel insurance

A six-day policy costs ₹650–1,000. Private hospitals in Bangkok and Phuket are excellent and bill accordingly; scooter mishaps remain the commonest claim among Indian visitors. We treat insurance as a fixed line in every quotation we issue, and suggest you do the same.

The complete budget: six days, per person

Assuming Delhi departure, two nights Bangkok and four nights Phuket:

Note that the new visa fee adds nearly ₹6,000 per person that pre-2026 budgets did not carry — a meaningful sum for a family of four, and one reason the 60-day e-visa deserves consideration for longer trips despite its paperwork.

When to go

November to February is Thailand at its finest: dry, warm rather than punishing, and seas calm enough for every island crossing. March and April grow fiercely hot; May to October brings the monsoon, gentler on the Gulf side (Koh Samui) than the Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi), which is why seasoned planners send July travellers to Samui and December travellers to Phuket. Prices in the green season drop by a third or more, and for travellers who can tolerate an afternoon shower, it remains a perfectly defensible time to visit.