Travels of Bulgarians to exotic islands in Thailand are peaking during the winter season 2025–2026, and for the first time tour operators and airlines are offering special programs with direct charter and regular flights to Phuket, Bangkok and Krabi. The most popular offers include winter programs departing from Sofia, combining a vacation on the beaches of Phuket with excursions to Bangkok or the ancient capitals of Chiang Mai and Sukhothai.
Flights to Thailand are mainly operated by Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Emirates through Istanbul and Doha. The Bulgarian airline Gullivair is starting direct flights from Sofia to Phuket Island, Thailand. The line will be opened on December 18, 2025. Flights will be operated every Sunday until the end of February 2026.
Data from travel agencies indicate that Thailand, and especially islands like Phuket and Koh Samui, remain a top choice for winter recreation in 2026.
Besides Thailand, in the new year 2026 a number of leading tour operators are already planning direct or charter flights to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Bali, Cuba, Mexico and the Arab countries. "Thailand and the exotic islands are a symbol of affordable luxury and experience, which more and more Bulgarians are allowing themselves – the trend is clear for the coming years," say industry representatives.
The new routes and expanded possibilities place Bulgaria among the increasingly preferred starting points for long-distance trips during the winter – a trend that attracts not only individual travelers, but also families and tourist groups.