Thailand is known as one of the most popular destinations among backpackers. The country offers rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, a favourable climate and much more. Moreover, Thailand's budget-friendly nature makes it a laid-back destination that is easy to explore. With English as the common language and an efficient transport system, Thailand is a true backpacker's paradise.
In 2018, I explored Thailand and I am happy to share my experiences in this blog post. For an even deeper dive into my adventures, also check out my two vlogs on YouTube via the link below:
1. Bangkok
For those who have already read my Bangkok blog post know that Bangkok, the start of many backpacker adventures, is a city that evokes mixed feelings. Some are enchanted by the vibrant energy, while others find the crowds overwhelming. Our experience was positive, but after three days we were also happy to leave the urban bustle behind. We highlighted the highlights in our Bangkok blog post, but here we give a brief summary. For more details, I invite you to read my full blog post!
Streetfood -
In Bangkok, the food is truly delicious, especially the street food found in the markets! No matter where you decide to eat, you will always be pleasantly surprised. Bangkok is known for its lively markets, so while walking or driving through the streets, keep an eye on all the little side streets, as you might just discover a bustling market. The atmosphere there is fantastic!
Skybars -
A perfect end to a long day in Bangkok is a visit to one of the many sky bars. Whether you want to enjoy good food, have a drink, or just relax with the breathtaking view of the Bangkok skyline, it's always a great choice!
TIP:The first time in Bangkok can be overwhelming, with chaos, hustlers and crowds of tourists. However, it is advisable to see through these initial impressions. Stay alert and maintain your focus amid the hustle and bustle. Bangkok has much to offer, so try to explore its diverse experiences and culinary delights without being intimidated.
2. Ayutthaya
After Bangkok, we continued our journey to historic Ayutthaya for a day trip.
Ayutthaya was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1991 and rightly so as the historic park is full of beautiful reunions of palaces and temples.
Wat Ratchaburana - Temple of magnificent Prang
Wat Ratchaburana, a Buddhist temple, welcomes visitors with a majestic prang, one of the most impressive towers in the city. This prang, enriched with fine details, symbolises the temple's splendour. Inside the spacious temple, you will discover more treasures, including magnificent bronze Buddha statues and gold artefacts that belonged to two princes who died young. It is a place steeped in history and spiritual beauty.
Steeped in history, Ayutthaya is home to dozens of temples that enchant you with their spiritual splendour. An absolute must-see is Wat Mahathat, famous for the Buddha head rising from the roots of a majestic tree, an enchanting sight that seems to defy time.
Further on, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a grand temple complex along the Chao Phraya River, stands out. The magnificent temples in this complex add to Ayutthaya's enchanting landscape. A day here is a journey through history and spirituality.
3. Khao Yai National Park
After our day trip in Ayutthaya, we left the next morning for Khao Yai National Park. Located in the densely forested Phanom Dangkrek Mountains, this park is known as Thailand's first National Park. It is also one of the most popular parks. Within the boundaries of the park, you can enjoy an abundance of waterfalls, diverse wildlife and enchanting natural surroundings.
Rent a scooter and go on safari! -
The most convenient way to explore the park is to hire a scooter. This way, you can quickly and easily reach different spots in the park, such as waterfalls and viewpoints. Although the park is known for its diverse wildlife, including monkeys, elephants and even tigers, they don't often show themselves.
During our exploration, however, we mainly spotted monkeys, tropical birds and giant butterflies. In retrospect, we were perhaps relieved not to encounter elephants or tigers, given the excitement we experienced seeing fresh elephant dung on the road.
Visit Waterfalls - Khao Yai is home to several waterfalls, but the two most famous are probably Haew Narok and Haew Suwat. At 150 metres, Haew Narok is the highest waterfall in the park. The waterfall is easily accessible and clearly signposted.
When renting the scooter, we were told that this is the ideal place to spot elephants, but unfortunately we had no luck.
Haew Suwat is not a very big waterfall, but probably the most famous one because of a scene from the film 'The Beach' with Leonardo DiCaprio.
TIP: Don't forget to bring extra clothing, as you can sometimes be surprised by monsoon showers in the jungle!
4. Chumphon
Chumphon is a destination that does not attract many tourists, but is ideal for those looking for relaxation in a natural and peaceful environment. Although Chumphon was not on our planning, it pleasantly surprised us!
Khao Chao Mueang beach -
If you are looking for a relaxing day, this beach is the perfect place. Since there are hardly any tourists here, we had the whole beach to ourselves. The water was crystal clear and the sand super soft!
Shopping malls -
One of the fun aspects of Chumphon were the shopping malls. In fact, in Thai malls you will find countless unusual shops selling products you would not normally come across in Europe. Definitely worth a visit!
5. Koh Samui
If you have already read my blog post on Koh Samui, you are aware that this destination is one of our favourites. Samui is a tropical island located in the Gulf of Thailand, with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for tourists. Read another 10 things to do on Koh Samui in the link below:
Hin Ta & Hin Yai -
Hin Ta and Hin Yai are intriguing rock formations on the south side of Lamai Beach. These rocks were discovered by locals many years ago and remain a source of giggles and wonder to this day. The rocks, known as grandpa (Ta) and grandma (Yai), bear striking resemblances to male and female genitalia.
TIP: Here you can enjoy delicious homemade coconut ice cream!
Zonsondergang Nathon Beach -
On the return journey after a long day on the scooter, we ended up at Nathon Beach, where we were treated to a magical sunset. The special thing was that it was low tide at that time, which meant we could also walk on mudflats. One of the advantages of spending the night on islands is that you can (almost) always experience the sunrise and sunset. It forms a wonderful end to a wonderful day, waiting to see what the next day has to offer.
TIP: Another popular spot to watch the sun set is at the Hin Ta and Hin Yai viewpoint.
6. Phuket
Phuket is one of Thailand's best-known destinations and, like Bangkok, has a love-hate relationship with many travellers. While we liked Phuket, we do not feel the need to return here anytime soon because of its overwhelming crowds and commercialisation. Our visit was also somewhat limited because Marc contracted stomach flu. Nevertheless, there are plenty of fun things to do in Phuket!
Island hopping -
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Phuket, island hopping is a perfect activity. Indeed, there are a number of beautiful islands around Phuket. From our experience, booking a day tour is the best option. This way, they arrange everything for you, such as pick-up from your hotel, food and all the organisation.
The boat makes stops at different islets where you can walk around, swim or kayak. During our visit, we explored several islands, including Panak Island. Here, we took a kayak into the Bad Cave and saw bats. The tour operators did the canoeing, allowing us to just relax and enjoy the ride. It was a great opportunity to take breathtaking photos. We then continued to Khao Phing Kan and Khao Tapu, also known as James Bond Island, because of the James Bond film 'The Man with the Golden Gun'.
TIP: Make sure you apply sunscreen regularly, as spending all day on the water and in the sun can quickly lead to sunburn!
Nai Harn Beach -
This beach is considered one of the best beaches in Phuket, thanks to its white sand and clear waters of the Andaman Sea. Moreover, this beach is much quieter than other popular beaches in the area, providing a relaxing atmosphere.
Fun Fact: Many tourists, including ourselves, experienced 'stinging' seawater. At first, we thought of jellyfish, but we saw nothing. Apparently, there are sea lice or a certain coral in this area that sometimes causes this stinging feeling.
7. Krabi
Open a travel guide and you will probably find pictures of Krabi. Krabi is known for its clear sea water, beautiful beaches and scenic longtail boat rides. Although we didn't take many photos in Krabi and don't remember much of it, we certainly enjoyed our time here!
Railay Beach & Phra Nang Beach
Railay is a remote peninsula and a real draw for tourists. The island, which is small and takes only about 10 minutes to cross to Phra Nang Beach, is only accessible by boat due to its popularity in Krabi.
TIP: Because of its popularity, it is often very crowded, so it is better to visit the peninsula early in the morning.
8. Phi Phi Island
To round off our trip, we headed towards the Phi Phi Islands, one of our favourites for its tranquillity and relaxation. Koh Phi Phi consists of several islands in the beautiful blue-green Andaman Sea, surrounded by stunning white beaches. The largest island is Phi Phi Don, where you will find most of the hotels, bars and restaurants.
Rent a longtailboot - One of the best things we did was to take a trip in a longtail boat. We hired such a boat for 2 days with a local guide, and it was fantastic. Our tour made stops at Bamboo Island, Monkey Bay, Loh Dalum Beach and Tonsai Village for some snorkelling adventures and simply relaxation. You can often discover a beautiful underwater world while snorkelling!
TIP: Rent a snorkelling kit from your accommodation!
Bamboo Island -
Bamboo Island (Koh Phai in Thai) is one of six islands in the Phi Phi archipelago. The water here is so clear that you can already see the coral from the boat, making it perfect for snorkelling. You'll find Bamboo Island about five kilometres from Koh Phi Phi. It is a true tropical paradise with beautiful beaches and a lovely forested interior where you can relax under the trees!
TIP: Bring cash as you have to pay an entrance fee to get on the island.
Koh Phi Phi Leh -
This island is the second largest island in the Phi Phi archipelago. It is uninhabited and belongs to the Hat Nopharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park. On your first visit, you immediately understand why it is a national park, because of the beautiful nature that makes it feel like you are in a movie. We loved snorkelling here because of the colourful fish, and our local guide knew exactly where to find special fish like 'Nemo'.
Viking Cave -
While you are on Koh Phi Phi Leh, make a trip to the 'Viking Cave', also known as Tham Phaya Nak. Located at the foot of a high limestone rock, the cave gets its name from the paintings on the walls, including a Scandinavian Viking ship.
Relax on the beach -
We spent the last few days of our trip in Thailand chilling out on the beach, because of course you don't always have to do something. Especially on an island like Koh Phi Phi, it's nice to do nothing at all.
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