Many people travel to Thailand while pregnant, but it needs more planning than an ordinary trip. Thailand has a risk of Zika, which can harm an unborn baby, so the US CDC and the UK health agency ask pregnant travelers to weigh the trip with their doctor. Airlines also set week limits, and your insurance must cover pregnancy care abroad. Talk to your midwife or doctor before you book.
This page brings together what official sources say as of October 2026: the Zika advice, vaccines and malaria tablets in pregnancy, airline rules, the heat and food, hospitals and insurance. It is general information, not medical advice. Your own pregnancy, your history and the stage you will have reached when you travel decide what is sensible, and only your own health professional can judge that.
Pregnancy and Thailand (checked October 2026)
- Zika (CDC)
- Thailand listed as "current or past transmission"; no Zika travel notice for Thailand
- Zika (UKHSA)
- Risk present; discuss travel with your health professional
- Avoid conceiving
- During travel and 2 months after (3 months if the male partner traveled), per UKHSA
- AirAsia
- Doctor's letter from week 29; no flying from week 37 (33 for twins or more)
- Bangkok Airways
- Certificate after 28 weeks; no flying after 36 weeks (32 for multiples)
- Live vaccines
- Most are not given in pregnancy
Zika: what the CDC and the UK say now
Zika is a virus spread by the same mosquitoes that carry dengue. Infection during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby, which is why the advice for pregnant travelers is stricter than for anyone else.
The two main official sources put it slightly differently:
- US CDC: classifies Thailand as an area with "current or past Zika transmission" (classification as of May 2026). It has no Zika travel health notice for Thailand; the only active Zika notice in October 2026 is for Bali in Indonesia. CDC's general advice is that pregnant women should reconsider travel to areas with a Zika outbreak.
- UK Health Security Agency (TravelHealthPro): says there is a risk of Zika in Thailand and that pregnant women should discuss whether to travel with their health care provider.
The virus is circulating. TravelHealthPro reported 433 Zika cases in 46 Thai provinces between January 2024 and February 2025, and two UK cases linked to travel to Thailand in 2026 as of July. Neither agency tells pregnant women they must not go, but both put the decision with you and your doctor, and that conversation should happen before you book.
Zika can also pass between partners. CDC advises pregnant women to avoid sex, or use condoms, for the rest of the pregnancy with anyone who has traveled to a Zika-risk area. UKHSA advises avoiding conception during travel and for two months afterward, or three months if the male partner traveled.
If you are trying to get pregnant rather than already pregnant, the same UK advice on timing applies. The NHS does not test returning travelers without symptoms, so plan the timing in advance with your doctor.
Mosquitoes: dengue and chikungunya too
The mosquitoes that spread Zika also spread dengue and chikungunya, and CDC's advice for pregnant travelers is to reconsider travel to areas with outbreaks of either. TravelHealthPro reported 51,795 dengue cases in Thailand in 2025 (to the end of October) and 1,379 chikungunya cases in 2025, about double the 2024 figure, with the highest numbers in the north and Chiang Mai.
Bite avoidance is the main protection, day and night: repellent, long sleeves, air-conditioned or screened rooms. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which repellent is suitable in pregnancy. Our guides to dengue fever in Thailand and avoiding mosquito bites cover symptoms and practical habits, and the warning signs that mean you need a hospital at once.
Vaccines and malaria tablets in pregnancy
Some routine travel vaccines are not suitable in pregnancy. According to the CDC's Yellow Book chapter for pregnant travelers:
- most live vaccines are not given in pregnancy, including MMR, chickenpox (varicella), the nasal flu vaccine and the oral typhoid vaccine;
- Japanese encephalitis vaccination is usually postponed, as pregnancy is a precaution;
- the injected (inactivated) typhoid vaccine may be given if clearly needed;
- hepatitis A and B vaccines can be given if you are at risk;
- the injected flu vaccine can be given in any trimester, and the whooping-cough (Tdap) vaccine is recommended in every pregnancy.
Ideally, get travel vaccines before you become pregnant. Our page on vaccinations for Thailand explains which vaccines travelers usually need; your clinic will adjust that list for pregnancy.
Malaria is a smaller issue for most itineraries. CDC says malaria in Thailand is found mainly in rural and forest areas of provinces bordering Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia, is rare in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan, and absent from the Krabi islands and Pattaya. CDC advises pregnant women to avoid or delay travel to malaria areas if they can, because several antimalarial tablets are not suitable in pregnancy. If your plans include border forests, discuss it with your doctor.
Flying: airline week limits
CDC notes that most airlines allow pregnant travelers to fly until about 36 weeks, but some set earlier limits for international flights, and the rules differ in detail. The two Thai airlines we checked, as of October 2026:
| Airline | Single pregnancy | Twins or more | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirAsia | Up to 28 weeks: allowed. 29–36 weeks: allowed with doctor's letter. 37 weeks and over: not allowed | 29–32 weeks with letter; 33 weeks and over not allowed | Release and indemnity form at check-in; letter issued within 30 days of travel; return before the due date |
| Bangkok Airways | Up to 28 weeks: no certificate. Over 28 to 36 weeks: medical certificate. Over 36 weeks: not allowed | Over 28 to 32 weeks with certificate; over 32 weeks not allowed | Certificate in English, valid 3 weeks from issue, covering the whole journey; complicated pregnancy needs a MEDIF form at any stage |
Two points catch people out. The limit applies on the day of each flight, so check the week you will have reached on your return, not just on the way out. And the letter or certificate usually has to be recent, so get it close to departure. We could not check Thai Airways' rules, because its website was under maintenance when we checked; read its pregnancy page before you book, and check your long-haul airline's own rules too. Our guide to domestic flights in Thailand covers the routes these airlines fly.
Heat, food and everyday comfort
Thailand is hot and humid most of the year, and heat and dehydration are harder to cope with in pregnancy. Plan outdoor sightseeing for the early morning and late afternoon, drink regularly, and build in air-conditioned rest in the middle of the day. Our page on heat and sun explains the warning signs of heat illness.
Food needs the usual care, with a little more caution. Be careful with raw and undercooked dishes; our guides to food poisoning and diarrhea and raw fish dishes explain the risks and what to eat instead. Diarrhea can dehydrate you quickly, so ask a doctor early rather than waiting, and do not take medicines from a pharmacy without saying you are pregnant.
Long road journeys on winding roads, speedboat crossings in rough seas and scooter riding all carry a risk of falls or jolts. Choose flights, trains and larger ferries where you can, and wear a seat belt in cars and minivans.
Hospitals: choosing a base near good care
Thailand's large private hospitals in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and other big cities treat many foreign patients. Small islands and rural areas have only clinics or small hospitals, and a serious problem means a transfer by boat or road.
Before you go, find out which hospital near each place you stay has a 24-hour emergency department and an obstetrics department, and save its number. Your insurer's assistance company can usually recommend one. If you are Rh-negative, there is one extra step, which our page on Rh-negative blood in Thailand explains. In an emergency, call 1669 for an ambulance, and see our guide to hospitals in Thailand for how payment guarantees work; private hospitals ask for a guarantee or deposit before treatment.
Carry your pregnancy notes, scan results and blood group in English, and the name and contact of your own midwife or doctor at home.
Insurance: check the pregnancy clauses
The UK Foreign Office advises checking that your travel insurance covers local treatment and medical evacuation, and says this is particularly important if you are pregnant. Policies differ widely on pregnancy, so read the wording and ask the insurer in writing:
- Is pregnancy covered at the week you will reach by the end of the trip?
- Are complications, early labor and premature birth covered?
- Is the newborn covered if the baby is born while you are away?
- Is medical evacuation or repatriation included, and up to what amount?
- Do you need to declare the pregnancy, and does it affect the price?
Our guide to travel insurance for Thailand explains what a good policy must cover in general.
Traveling later with a baby
If you are planning a family trip after the birth, much of the preparation changes: car seats, vaccines for children and choosing child-friendly destinations. Our guide to Thailand with kids covers it.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to travel to Thailand while pregnant?
Official advice does not forbid it, but Thailand has a Zika risk, which can harm an unborn baby. The CDC and the UK health agency ask pregnant women to weigh the trip with their health professional. Discuss it with your midwife or doctor before you book.
Does Thailand have Zika in 2026?
Yes. The CDC lists Thailand as an area with current or past Zika transmission, and the UK's TravelHealthPro says there is a risk of Zika in Thailand. It reported two UK Zika cases linked to travel to Thailand in 2026 as of July.
Until how many weeks can I fly with AirAsia when pregnant?
For a single pregnancy, AirAsia allows flying up to 36 weeks, with a doctor's letter needed from week 29 and a release form at check-in. From 37 weeks you cannot fly; for twins or more, the limit is 32 weeks.
Which vaccines should I avoid during pregnancy?
According to the CDC, most live vaccines are not given in pregnancy, including MMR, chickenpox, the nasal flu vaccine and oral typhoid. Japanese encephalitis vaccination is usually postponed. Your travel clinic will advise on your own case.
Will my travel insurance cover giving birth in Thailand?
It depends entirely on the policy, and pregnancy terms differ widely between insurers, including whether a newborn is covered. Ask the insurer in writing before you book, and check the cover for medical evacuation.
Sources
- CDC – Zika travel information by country (checked October 2026)
- CDC Yellow Book – Pregnant travelers (checked October 2026)
- CDC – Thailand: traveler view (malaria) (checked October 2026)
- TravelHealthPro (UKHSA/NaTHNaC) – Thailand (checked October 2026)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Thailand: health (checked October 2026)
- AirAsia – I am pregnant (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Airways – Traveling while pregnant (checked October 2026)