Hat Yai, a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border, is a must-visit city for culture enthusiasts and shopping addicts because of its cultural abundance represented in its local markets and shopping centers, as well as historical landmarks. From the most popular flea market ASEAN Trade Bazaar up to the modern one Central Hat Yai, you will find a wide range of clothing styles, knick knacks, and local cuisines. After exploring the markets and filling your tummy with those foods, you can continue your journey to Wat Hat Yai Nai, one of the world’s largest reclining Buddha statues. In order to realize that itinerary, take a look at several flight-related info below:

Hat Yai Terminal

Hat Yai is only served by one main airport, that is Hat Yai International Airport (HDY). Located in Songkhla Province, this vast airport can serve 1.5 millions passengers/year with more than 9000 flights. Besides, it also provides f&b facilities, duty-free shops, and spa and salon services for travelers. Car rentals and shuttle service, like taxis, are available there.

Popular Routes to Hat Yai

There must be lots of famous routes departing from many different places in the world to Hat Yai because of the cultural assets it displays for travelers. The routes mentioned are:

From Bangkok

There are 2 busy routes from Bangkok to Hat Yai: from Don Mueang International airport (DMK) and Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). The journey from DMK to HDY takes 1 hour 25 minutes, while BKK to HDY lasts 5 minutes later. Several budget airlines, like Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air are available from DMK, but if you wish for the premium flights, take the flights from BKK with Thai Airways.

From Chiang Mai

The second busy route to Hat Yai is from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). With economy class of Thai AirAsia, this direct flight will take a 2 hours 10 minutes journey to HDY.

From Kuala Lumpur

From Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to HDY is the third famous route. Compared to the other route, this is the shortest trip, since it only takes an hour to Hat Yai. Thai AirAsia is the most notable airline for this tour.

Reputable Airways from Hat Yai

As you finished your trip in Hat Yai and want to come back home, consider these reputable airlines below for your travel companion:

Thai AirAsia

It’s a joint venture of Malaysian AirAsia and Thailand’s Asia Aviation, serving scheduled domestic and international flights from Bangkok and other cities in Thailand. What makes it the most popular flight to Hat Yai is because it offers low-cost services.

Thai Lion Air

An association with Indonesia’s Lion Air, Thai Lion Air also provides economical flights for the passengers, serving domestic and international destinations from cities in Thailand. You can pre-book in-flight meals on this airline.

Bangkok Airways

As a domestic and international airline based in Bangkok, Bangkok Airways operates services to Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Laos, etc. It prioritizes operational safety, best and full services for passengers.

Scoot

Scoot is another affordable airline wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. Despite its reasonable fares, it provides a safe and reliable travel experience with unique attitudes–they call Scootitude. It flies predominantly to various airports throughout Asia-Pacific.

Hat Yai’s Weather Outlook

Being located in southern Thailand, Hat Yai undergoes 2 major seasons throughout the year, as of any tropical destinations; they are dry and wet seasons. Happening from January to April, the dry season is characterized by sunny and hot temperatures. Meanwhile, higher humidity and rainfall are brought by the wet season during May to December.

Ideal Timing for Flights to Hat Yai

If you’re seeking for pleasant bright weather, you’d better go during the dry season–January, February, and March. You can execute outdoor activities during your trip to Hat Yai, considering that this city has diverse attractions to visit. Nonetheless, the transitional season in June, July, and December can also be a considered time to travel to this city because of its occasional rainfall which may not affect your outdoor explorations.

Highlighted Activities in Hat Yai

While you’re in Hat Yai, you will get shopping, historical, and culinary experience simultaneously. Hence, these activities are what you have to include in your itinerary:

Go Shopping at ASEAN Night Bazaar

The first most popular tourist attraction of Hat Yai for spendthrifts is ASEAN Night Bazaar. It is a covered market where you can find good bargains of clothes, souvenirs, and many vendors hawking local Thai dishes and beverages. It is open on Wednesday to Sunday at 5-10 pm, yet the later the nights get, the more visitors come.

Exploring Wat Hat Yai Nai

Wat Hat Yai Nai, located in the city center, is an open-air temple renowned for its massive statue of the reclining Buddha. On arriving in this area, you’ll find a few people are doing prayers, so it’s important for you to respect local customs, including to take photos, during your visit to this temple.

Savoring Local Delicacies in the Nearest Restaurants

This third activity is highly advisable to gastronomes; tasting local cuisines in one of the rich cultural cities will give you an extraordinary appetizing experience. Chokdee Dimsum, Sujinda Seafood, and Dham-má-da are several famous restaurants in Hat Yai serving an assortment of diverse local dishes. You just have to explore a bit more to find many of them!

Finding Affordable Flights to Hat Yai

Firstly, before you make any plans to search for affordable flight tickets to Hat Yai, be sure you’ve already opened your Traveloka app, specifically on the ‘flights’ tab. Then, here are some strategies for you to follow:

• Book tickets in advance; reserving earlier weeks/months before your departure would be better
• Flexible dates; spare lots of times to get the cheapest tickets
• Set price alerts; in order to be notified as the prices drop
• Check budget airlines
• Keep an eye on promotions and sales

Don’t delay any longer–book your flights now and pack your things to get yourself immersed in the cultural depths of Hat Yai!