The short answer
Yes, 30 days is plenty. Since 15 September 2026, Indians get free visa-exempt entry to Thailand for up to 30 days, down from 60. A typical island-hopping group trip through Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Krabi is 6 nights and 7 days, so it uses 7 of those 30 days. You don't need a visa, an extension or any paperwork beyond the free online TDAC.
The shorter limit only matters if you're planning to spend a month or more in Thailand. For a holiday, the change is mostly a headline.
How much of the 30 days each trip uses
| Trip | Dates | Days used | Days spare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand 2027 (Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Krabi) | 20–26 Jan, 20–26 Feb or 20–26 Mar 2027 | 7 days | 23 days |
| Thailand New Year (Koh Phangan NYE) | 28 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 | 8 days | 22 days |
| Tomorrowland Thailand | 10–14 Dec 2026 | 5 days | 25 days |
Counted with your landing day as day 1, assuming you land on the trip's start date.
What a 7-day island-hopping trip looks like
Here's how the Thailand 2027 group trip spends its week, so you can see where the days actually go:
Days 1–2: Phuket
Land in Phuket, group airport transfer, ice-breaker and Bangla Street on the first night. Day 2 is a half-day city tour (Old Town, Karon Viewpoint) and a beach club afternoon.
Days 3–4: Koh Samui and Koh Phangan
Road and ferry to Koh Samui, then across to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party (ticket included). Day 4 is a slow beach day and Fisherman's Village in Bophut at sunset.
Days 5–7: Krabi and Phi Phi
Road and ferry to Krabi, sunset and a fire show on Ao Nang Beach, a speedboat day to the Phi Phi Islands with snorkelling, and a farewell dinner. On day 7 the group transfer leaves for Krabi Airport at 12 PM.
Because the trip starts in Phuket and ends in Krabi, book your flights into Phuket (HKT) and out of Krabi (KBV), not a return to the same airport.
Staying on after the group leaves
The 23-odd spare days are yours to use. Your visa-exempt entry is personal, so you can fly home later than the group as long as you leave Thailand within 30 days of landing. A few days in Bangkok, more time on the islands, or a second trip into the north all fit easily.
If you're on the January departure, Zamna's first Thailand edition is at Yeden Gardens, north of Phuket, on 29–30 January 2027, three days after the trip ends. That's well inside your 30 days, though it isn't part of our package. Details are in our Zamna Phuket 2027 guide.
Your last permitted day, if you land on the trip's start date:
| You land on | Last day you can stay |
|---|---|
| 10 Dec 2026 (Tomorrowland) | 8 Jan 2027 |
| 28 Dec 2026 (New Year) | 26 Jan 2027 |
| 20 Jan 2027 | 18 Feb 2027 |
| 20 Feb 2027 | 21 Mar 2027 |
| 20 Mar 2027 | 18 Apr 2027 |
The date recorded at immigration when you land is the one that counts. Check it before you leave the airport.
When 30 days genuinely isn't enough
31 to 60 days: extend once in Thailand
You can apply once, in person, at a Thai immigration office for up to 30 more days. Do it before your permitted stay runs out. The fee is widely reported as 1,900 THB, but confirm it at the office, and bring your passport, a photo and your onward ticket.
More than 60 days: get a visa first
If you already know you'll stay longer, apply for a Thai tourist visa from India before you fly, rather than relying on visa-exempt entry plus an extension.
Don't overstay
The fine is 500 THB per day, and long overstays can mean detention and a re-entry ban. If you're staying on after the trip, book your flight home a day or two before day 30, not on it.
The paperwork you do need
A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, and a TDAC, the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card, filed online at tdac.immigration.go.th in the 3 days before you land. Immigration can also ask to see your return or onward ticket and where you're staying, so keep your flight and trip booking confirmations on your phone.
The full walkthrough is in our step-by-step TDAC guide, and the background on the rule change is in Thailand visa for Indians: the September 2026 update.
FAQ
Is 30 days enough for a Thailand trip from India?
Yes, for almost everyone. Party Passport's island-hopping trip is 6 nights and 7 days across Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Krabi, which uses 7 of your 30 days. Even the 8-day New Year trip leaves you 22 days spare. The 30-day cap only matters if you want to spend a month or more in Thailand.
Do Indians still get free visa-exempt entry to Thailand?
Yes. From 15 September 2026, Indian passport holders get free visa-exempt entry for up to 30 days, down from 60. There's no visa fee and no visa on arrival to queue for. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months and a TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card), filed online in the 3 days before you land. Some blogs still say Thailand moved India to visa on arrival; that's out of date.
How are the 30 days counted?
The day you land counts as day 1. Land on 20 January and your last permitted day is 18 February. Check the date the officer stamps or records on arrival, because that's the date that counts, not your own maths.
Can I stay on in Thailand after the group trip ends?
Yes. Your entry is personal, not tied to the group, so you can book your own return flight a few days or weeks later as long as you leave within 30 days of landing. The group trip ends in Krabi with a group transfer to Krabi Airport at 12 PM on the last day. If you're staying on, skip the transfer and tell your Trip Leader. Accommodation after the trip ends is on you.
What if I want to stay longer than 30 days?
You can apply once, in person, at a Thai immigration office for an extension of up to 30 more days, before your permitted stay runs out. There's a fee, widely reported as 1,900 THB, but confirm it at the office. If you already know you want more than 60 days, apply for a proper tourist visa from India before you travel instead.
What happens if I overstay?
Thailand fines overstayers 500 THB per day, and longer overstays can lead to detention and a ban from re-entering. A missed flight is the usual cause, so if you stay on after the trip, leave yourself a day or two of buffer before day 30.
I entered Thailand before 15 September 2026. Does the new limit apply to me?
Reports of the Royal Gazette notice say travellers who entered before 15 September keep the 60 days they were given. Anyone entering on or after 15 September gets 30 days.
Last checked 25 October 2026. Thai immigration rules can change at short notice, so check with the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi before you book anything longer than 30 days.
Book the 7 days, keep the other 23
Thailand 2027 departures in January, February and March from ₹52,000 (plus 5% GST and 2% TCS), or New Year on Koh Phangan from 28 December at ₹68,000 if you book by 28 October (₹70,000 after).