Tourist SIM Card in Thailand: How to Choose and Buy — Comparing dtac, AIS, TrueMove

If you absolutely need connectivity in Thailand during your holiday or travels, you can choose one of these options:

1. Buy a local Prepaid SIM card and set up/activate the plan yourself. This is cheaper but more complicated (more details in this separate guide).
2. Buy a ready-made tourist SIM card package. This is more expensive, but everything is much simpler.

If you're on a standard 7-14 day tour and aren't great with English, option #2 with a ready-made tourist SIM card package is your best bet. The package is a ready-made tourist product consisting of a SIM card + prepaid plan. All you have to do is insert it into your phone and activate it according to the instructions, though in most cases, the seller can do this for you. But honestly, tourist packages have pros and cons:

• ✔ Easy to buy and understand the plans and activation (sellers will help you).
• ❌ Limited plan selection, and you'll pay a fair bit extra for the fancy packaging and ready-made kit.

Where to Buy

You can buy ready-made tourist SIM card or eSIM packages in Thailand at the airport, from greeters or hotel guides, at 7/11 or Lotus's stores at your destination. You can pay with cash in baht or a UnionPay bank card; foreign cards are accepted, but Russian MIR cards are not.

Buying such a kit at the airport is especially convenient, because you can walk out of the terminal with working internet and some balance for cheap calls to Russia. The only issue is you need to do it quickly so your greeter guide and other tourists don't have to wait too long, so try to decide on the operator and plan beforehand, and pick the counter with the shortest queue.

Which Operator and Plan to Choose

Which specific tourist SIM operator you choose doesn't make a huge difference, but 'dtac HAPPY TOURIST SIM' is particularly popular and has worked well for us. So you could skip the hassle of other options and go with this operator right away. You just need to pick the right option for you, as it's a whole series of plans. When choosing, pay attention to the data volume in the package and its validity period.

Here's a comparison of current plans (2026) in one table. But we also suggest checking their current status on the operators' websites via the links in the table, just in case, as they can change.

Plans for eSIM and physical SIM cards are the same, prices too.

To choose the right plan for you, first look at its duration in days so it matches your trip length. As for choosing the operator, follow this recommendation:

• AIS: The best choice if you're going to the islands or remote areas. They have the most stable coverage away from cities.
• TrueMove/Dtac: Good for big cities (Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai) and often offer better rates for social media.

eSIM in Thailand: An Alternative to a Physical Tourist SIM Card

eSIM (embedded SIM) is an excellent option for tourists, especially if your smartphone supports it. No need to hunt for a counter at the airport or explain things to a shop assistant – you buy the eSIM online in advance, and once you land, you already have internet.

You can buy an eSIM in two ways: before your flight (more convenient, often cheaper) or once you're in Thailand.

Where to Buy an eSIM Online in Advance (payment with Russian cards)

• Trip.com — Accepts Russian cards, Russian interface, price from 60 ₽, often 'eSIM for 1 ruble' deals.
• Airalo / Yesim — Popular services, but don't accept Russian cards (need a non-Russian bank card).

Where to Buy an eSIM Once in Thailand

• At the airport — AIS, Dtac, TrueMove counters in the arrival zone. Fast, but pricier (from 299 baht). Passport and cash are mandatory.
• At official mobile operator shops — in large malls (e.g., Central, Terminal 21). Wider plan selection, lower prices.

How much does it cost? Prices start from $6–8 (200–300 baht) for 7–10 days with 3–5 GB of data. Unlimited options start from $15. On Trip.com, during promotions, you can get an eSIM for 1 ruble or even free when booking a hotel.

What you need to use it. A smartphone that supports eSIM (iPhone XR/XS and newer, most Androids from 2020+ like Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel, Huawei). If your phone doesn't support eSIM, you can buy a physical adapter (e.g., 5ber or eSIM.me), but check compatibility first.

How to activate. After payment, you'll receive a QR code by email. Scan it in your phone's cellular settings – the eSIM will be saved, but will only activate when you turn it on. It's best to set it up at home, then simply turn on the eSIM once in Thailand and turn off your main Russian SIM (to avoid roaming charges).

Handy Tips: How to Extend Your Plan and Check Balance

A tourist SIM card (or rather, the chosen initial plan) is valid for a strictly defined number of days (8, 10, 15, 30). Here's how to check your balance, remaining data, and extend the validity.

USSD codes for checking your balance and more

USSD codes can vary by operator. Here are the most universal ones that work for most:

• *101*1# or *101# – remaining data, minutes, validity period, account balance
• *102# or *103*8# – my phone number
• *107*9# – change message language to English
• *100*CARD NUMBER,TOP-UP CODE# – top up your account balance using a scratch card

All these codes are on the card's packaging when you buy it. But it's way more convenient to install the operator's app – there you'll see everything clearly and can manage your plans and balance yourself.

How to Extend the Validity of a Tourist SIM Card

After the plan (data package) expires, the SIM card itself and the number remain active for a certain 'grace period'. This varies by operator: dtac – about 120 days, TrueMove H – about 90 days, AIS – up to 180 days. If you don't extend the SIM's validity during this time, the number will be permanently blocked and deleted. You can extend it in two ways:

• Option 1 — you are still in Thailand or will return soon: Just top up your balance (even by 10 baht). The validity will automatically extend by 30 days.
• Option 2 — you want to 'freeze' the number until your next trip from Russia: Use the codes below. They will deduct 2–12 baht from your balance. If the code doesn't work from Russia – try via the operator's app (works over Wi-Fi).

Codes for different operators:

• Dtac: *113*30# — 30 days (2 baht), *113*90# — 90 days (6 baht), *113*180# — 180 days (12 baht).
• TrueMove H: *934*30# — 30 days (2 baht), *934*90# — 90 days (6 baht), *934*180# — 180 days (12 baht).
• AIS: No direct codes – just top up your balance (every 10 baht = +30 days) or use the myAIS app.

Extension does not happen automatically even if you have money on your account — you need to do it manually.

Where to Top Up Your Balance

• With cash — at 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lotus's, and mobile operator shops. Give them your phone number and the amount.
• With a bank card — in the operator's app (AIS, Dtac, TrueMove) or on their website via the 'top-up' section. Cards from Russian banks usually don't work; you need a non-Russian card.
• Online via aggregator services — for example, Trip.com allows you to top up a Thai SIM card with a Russian card.

How to Call Russia from a Tourist SIM Card

The cost of a call to Russia from a tourist SIM card varies by operator. To get the minimum rate, always use the operator's special code before the number. Here are the current rates: dtac — 8 baht/min. (code 00400), AIS — 4 baht/min. (code 003), TrueMove — 7 baht/min. (code 006). Just dial the code, then 7, the city or operator code, and the subscriber's number. For example, a call with AIS would look like this: 003 7 901 123456.

However, there is a way to call home completely free or at the cost of a local call – VoWiFi technology (Voice over Wi-Fi).

Alternative ways to call Russia:

• Messengers — free if you have internet, there are no blocks like in Russia.
• Calls via apps like Zangi, TalkU — low rates for international calls, can be topped up with a card.