Thailand covers an area of 517,000 sq km, making it just a little bit smaller than the US state of Texas. Thailand borders Laos and Cambodia to the East, Burma to the North and West and Malaysia to the south. Thailand also has perhaps the most diverse climate in Southeast Asia due to the fact that its north-south reach covers nearly 16 latitudinal degrees.

Northern Thailand, such as Chiang Rai province, features high mountain ranges and fertile valleys. Southern Thailand, such as Phuket and Krabi feature limestone outcroppings and dense rainforest. The capital Bangkok is located in the center of the nation in a region known as the Central Plains.