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From Johannesburg	From Cape Town
From Durban	Attractions
When	Visa

Flights to Thailand from South Africa

Looking for cheap flights from South Africa to Thailand? Find the cheapest flight on our flight booking engine to Phuket (HKT), Bangkok (BKK) or Chiang Mai (CNX). These are the biggest and busiest airports in Thailand.

Thai Air offers the only direct flights from Johannesburg to Bangkok, but generally the added convenience comes at a steep price. South Africans looking for affordable flights usually end up booking with Emirates, Etihad, Qatar or one of the other airlines offering a one-stop option. Air Mauritius are also introducing flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Bangkok, with a stop-over in Mauritius. This will mean you get to see two beach destinations in one trip! Who can say no to that?

To book a cheap flight to Thailand use the flight price comparison tool on the left to contrast airlines.

14 August 2018: From 31 October 2018 Air Mauritius will also offer direct flights from Mauritius to Bangkok on Saturdays and then flights to Bangkok via Singapore on Wednesdays.

Johannesburg to Thailand

Fly Johannesburg to Bangkok (BKK) with SAA/Jet (via Mumbai), Etihad (via Abu Dhabi), Emirates (via Dubai), Qatar Airways (via Doha), Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong), Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa), Thai Airways (direct), El Al (via Tel Aviv), Singapore Airlines (via SIN), EgyptAir (via Cairo), Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), Lufthansa (via Frankfurt), BA (via London), KLM (via Amsterdam) or Kenya Airways (via Nairobi).

Fly Johannesburg to Phuket (HKT) with Qatar Airways (via Doha), Cathay Pacific/Dragonair (via Hong Kong), Emirates (via Dubai), Etihad (via Abu Dhabi) or Singapore Airlines (via SIN).

Fly Johannesburg to Chiang Mai (CNX) with Singapore Airlines (via SIN).

Fly Johannesburg to Udon Thabi (UTH) with Thai Airways (via Bangkok).

Cape Town to Thailand

Fly Cape town to Bangkok (BKK) with Emirates (via Dubai), Etihad (via Johannesburg & Abu Dhabi), Qatar Airways (via Doha), Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), KLM (via Amsterdam) or British Airways (via London).

Fly Cape Town to Phuket (HKT) with Qatar Airways (via Doha) or Emirates (via Dubai).

Durban to Thailand

Fly Durban to Bangkok (BKK) with Emirates (via Dubai).

Fly Durban to Phuket (HKT) with Emirates (via Dubai)

Visa Requirements

South Africans can visit Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa. They can then apply for an extension period of 30 days which will give them 60 days of visa free entry into Thailand. They It's possible for requirements to change, so please check the latest up to date requirements by visiting the Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand or contacting them at 012-342-5470 or info@thaiembassy.co.za. Their physical address in South Africa is at 428 Hill Street (Cnr Hill & Pretorius Street), Arcadia, Pretoria. Note that the Embassy is closed during Thailand's public holidays.

South African High Commission in Thailand

Keep these contact details handy in case you lose your passport, or something happens in Thailand requiring embassy assistance.

• Physical address: Floor 12 A, M Thai Tower, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pratumwan, Bangkok

• Email : saembbkk@loxinfo.co.th

• Phone number : + 66-2-659-02900 

Attractions

Places of interest in Thailand include:

• Phuket is an island but it’s so big that you won’t notice it. Travelers flock here for its white beaches and natural beauty. No visit is complete without a stop at infamous Patong, the largest town and the site of the most popular beach. Phuket is also a hot-spot for jet-setters who come to enjoy the great night clubs and spas. For everyone else there’s deep sea diving and dining at the many top-notch restaurants.

• Chiang Mai is a charming city in northern Thailand that has managed to retain some of its laid-back authenticity—ancient architecture and modern buildings co-exist peacefully here. The city also offers excellent cuisine, shopping galore, and a variety of spas. Head into the countryside for two of Thailand’s highest peaks and acres of natural forest perfect for river rafting, elephant trekking, cycling, and bird watching.

• Khao Sok National Park, a quiet getaway full of trails, may be just what you need after days of sunning on the beach. Its jungle is rumoured to be over 160 million years old. Trek through the thick forest to view cascading waterfalls, impressive limestone formations, and all sorts of wildlife. From June to October (the rainy season) trails may be almost impassable.

• Ko Tao may be only 21sq km but there’s plenty to do. Hiking, diving, and hitting the bars are common pastimes as well as enjoying the pristine turquoise waters offshore. It’s an ideal place for those who want to skip the resort scene and stay in a rustic cottage close to beautiful beaches and lush jungles.

2013-06-12. Ark Bar Beach Resort is situated on Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand. This resort offers the most breathtaking views that will make you forget about the hustle and bustle of city life. Our modern room was air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, safety deposit box, TV, tea and coffee facilities and black out curtains for those mornings you want to sleep in. Not to mention our own private balcony. A 5 minute walk leads us to the main street, where various restaurants, shops, tour operators and The Samui Night Plaza is situated, boasting all kinds of things to see and taste. We took full advantage of the massages and treatments which we could book via the hotel. Breakfast was optional but you could book in advance and a scrumptious spread would be brought to your room. They have 24 hour room service as well, which suited us after a big night out. We spent lazy days alongside the pool area sipping on freshly made cocktails. At night the hotel prepares the most beautiful restaurant setting on the beach front for dinner, serving delicious Thai, Seafood and Western dishes. After dinner, the party kicks off until the early hours of the morning. The resort assisted us with our day outings, and the friendly staff were always available to assist us with anything we needed. Surprisingly, we found the ATM machine on site very convenient, including laundry and shuttle services to and from the airport. I would recommend anyone looking for an affordable vacation to visit Ark Bar Beach Resort where fun, sun & good people meet. Margot

Chiang Mai

My favorite holiday so far must be when I spent a month in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I’d been planning to take part in a massage course for a long time, and when I finally got the chance to do it, it was more wonderful than I ever could have imagined. I arrived in Chiang Mai not knowing any Thai and being only vaguely familiar with the customs. It was the first place I’d been where the language was completely foreign to me. After settling into my guest house I set out on foot, as I usually do my first day in a new place, and explored the neighborhood. I was surprised to come across at least 5 beautiful temples on my short walk, and returned to my room excited to see what the following day had to offer. The next day I had plans to meet with my best friend’s father, who had recently moved to Chiang Mai. I was grateful for his presence as he showed me how to get around using the buses and tuk-tuks, explained the currency to me and gave me insight into some common customs and words of greeting. He basically gave me a crash course on how to get by as a foreigner in Thailand while we had a few Chang beers in a dirty little pub. In this place I learned to appreciate the public restrooms we have even in South Africa. From there I became more and more at ease walking the streets and taking in what Chiang Mai had to offer. I made my first friend while taking a guided Segway tour through the old city. His name was Moo, and he was my guide. We explored wonderful temples and markets while he explained more about Thailand to me, offering to take me to the main temple, Doi Suthep, when he had a day off. Once I started my three-week course at TMC (Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai) I made even more friends. In my class were 6 others. Zarah, New Zealand born but living in Italy, Heather from New Zealand, Iryna from the Ukraine, Norbert from Germany, Luis from Brazil and Yura from Israel became my new family. Davide from Italy and Tipmonta, Thai but living in Germany, joined us in our last week. They were and still are some of the most fantastic people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Everyone with their own fascinating story, each one eager to learn Thai massage making the course that much more fun, and after school hours making my free time absolutely exhilarating. Our usual weekend fun was going to a reggae bar called Roots Rock Reggae where a few Thai bands would perform popular reggae songs and we had a blast just letting go. I made friends with a few students from other classes; Craig, South African but living in England and Kerry from New Orleans. The joys of Chiang Mai seemed unending. Iryna and I took a day trip to the mountains and rode elephants, hiked through the bushes and eventually rafted down the river. I went for dinners with Norbert and Davide. I saw my first Thai boxing match with Craig. Zarah and I became particularly close, going to yoga classes and hot steam baths after. There was never a dull moment while Luis was around, constantly making me laugh. Daily massages, Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium and the occasional “lady-boy” made things even more interesting. Moo held true to his word and took me to Doi Suthep on his scooter on his day off. It was like having my own personal tour guide and not paying for it as he showed me around the breathtaking temple and told me its history. Afterward we went for a long drive to the neighboring town and returned via the mountains. The views were stunning. As my time in Chiang Mai was coming to an end, I bought gifts at the night market and spent my last day having a long lunch with my best friend’s father. We both had become rather close and I was sad to leave. It felt like I had been living in Chiang Mai for years, now being accustomed to the back roads and shortcuts, and had grown close with my new friends. I decided that I would have to return someday soon to further explore Thailand’s beauties.

When to Travel to Thailand

November to March has less rainfall and more moderate temperatures, making it the most popular time for tourists to visit. July to October may be the rainy season but expect lower room rates, less tourists, and a lush landscape. October may be too wet for most. Don’t bother with central and northeastern Thailand from March to May—you’ll encounter 40°C temperatures. The islands and beaches of southern Thailand tend to be cooler and provide respite when the rest of the country is in a heat wave.

Thailand’s Public Holidays

You may either want to time your visit to Thailand to coincide with a public holiday and join in the fun, or avoid the date so as to reduce additional travel costs (and possible crowds):

• 1 January (New Year Day)

• 6 April (Chakri Memorial Day)

• 13-15 April (Songkran Festival)

• 1 May (National Labour Day)

• 5 May (Coronation Day)

• 12 August (HM the Queen’s Birthday)

• 23 October (Chulalongkorn Day)

• 5 December (HM the King’s Birthday)

• 10 December (Constitution Day)

• 31 December (New Year's Eve)

Floating Public Holidays:

• Makha Bucha Day

• Farmer’s Day

• Vesak

• Asalha Puja

• Vassa

• Eid ul-Fitr

• Eid al-Adha

Currency

The currency used in Thailand is the Thai Baht.

Languages

Thai is the national language. Thais generally have basic English.

Most content on this page was written by Bronwyn Kienapple

Category : International Flights