Thailand is bringing back its quarantine-free travel scheme for tourists

Thailand travel rules are set to be eased next month with quarantine-free travel available once again meaning Brits can head on Thailand holidays once more

Quarantine-free Thailand holidays are set to be back on the cards for UK travellers, as the country looks to bring back its quarantine-free travel schemes next month.

Fully vaccinated travellers – including UK arrivals – will be able to apply through the ‘Test and Go’ scheme 60 days before their trip on the Thailand Pass website, which allows them to visit without having to undergo a lengthy quarantine.

The scheme is expected to reopen from February 1.

That means plenty of time to start planning which of Thailand’s best places you’ll visit, or thanks to the balmy winter sun, which of those beautiful beaches or incredible islands you’ll be hitting first! (Leonardo DiCaprio fans may also want to take note that the iconic bay from The Beach has reopened for the first time since 2018).

Thailand had temporarily suspended its quarantine-free scheme in December due to concerns over the spread of Omicron.

At the time, it kept the Phuket Sandbox open, which allows tourists to visit Phuket without quarantine, although under the scheme you must remain in the destination and can’t travel to other parts of Thailand.

According to the Thailand Tourism Authority, as part of the reopening in February the Sandbox programme will be extended so that visitors can travel between Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) within their first seven days in Thailand, with the option to stay in up to three different hotels if travellers wish.

Meanwhile, other locations are being added to Sandbox schemes such as Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray – in Chon Buri, and Ko Chang in Trat.

Thailand will join an existing line-up of countries open to UK holidaymakers, with the likes of Spain, Greece, Portugal and Turkey also open for holidays.

It’s not the only destination to be easing its rules after originally tightening up border requirements due to Omicron.

For example, France recently lifted a travel ban on UK arrivals, while Switzerland announced this week that it would be scrapping Covid test requirements for travellers who are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile the UK’s own rules changed earlier this year, with pre-departure tests and following PCR tests scrapper for double jabbed arrivals.

Fully vaccinated travellers arriving in the UK now simply need to fill out a passenger locator form in the 48 hours before you depart for the UK, and take a lateral flow test on day two with no need to self-isolate while awaiting the result.

Those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will need to fill out a passenger locator form in the 48 hours before departing for the UK and take a pre-departure Covid test in the two days before departure.

Once in England, they will be required to self-isolate at home for 10 days, taking PCR tests on days two and eight.

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