MY THAILAND TRAVEL GUIDE: WHAT TO SEE, DO & EAT
I was lucky to spend 1 month and 2 weeks in Thailand this past year and ended up falling completely in LOVE with the country (my diary post of my adventure here). The first time I went to Thailand was in January when I stayed for an entire month and only ended up spending a bit over $1,000 for the entire month traveling around! Talk about cheap! The second time I came for 2 weeks and stayed in Bangkok and the island of Koh Tao to visit my friend Alex from Alex in Wanderland.
I really love countries that are somewhat off the beaten path and less touristy. So I wasnāt sure Iād love Thailand the first time I came because of its hoards of tourists. Luckily it proved me wrong and I fell in love with the country, its people and its landscape. I cannot wait to return!
Many people have been asking for my full list of Thailand recommendations to help plan their trips, so I decided to compile them all up into one Thailand Travel Guide. By no means am I a Thailand expert (there are many people out there for that), but my reccs are things I personally did, loved, hated or had recommended to me by other friends. Hopefully, this helps many of you on your upcoming planning to Thailand!
My 1 Month Thailand Itinerary:
Bangkok – 4 days
Chiang Mai – 3 days
Krabi-Koh Lanta – 3 days
Railay Beach – 3 days
Koh Tao – 8 days
Koh Phangan – 3 days
Pai – 3 days
Chiang Mai – 2 days
Chiang Mai to Laos (took slow boat to Laos)
GETTING AROUND & FOOD TO TRY IN THAILAND
I have a lot of information in this post, so Iāve tried to organize it so itās easy for you! At the bottom of this post, I have tips about getting around Thailand and what foods you should try while youāre there. Each location section has info on what to do, where to eat/drink and where to stay in Thailand!
BANGKOK
If you like cities like I do, then most likely you will enjoy Bangkok. It is a crazy city that’s full of life and excitement. If cities arenāt for you then it might be a bit too chaotic. In fact, a lot of people told me they didn’t like Bangkok when they went or that they had heard from someone it was skippable so they didn’t go. But man, what a mistake because I LOVED it! I donāt recommend skipping it. You just have to go there with the mindset that you are going to a hot city with lots of traffic, but so much to see and plenty to do! I recommend flying into Bangkok to begin your trip to Thailand.
SEE & DO IN BANGKOK
Spend a day at the temples
These temples could take up an entire day and they should because they are gorgeous. My fave temple in Bangkok was the Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of Emerald Buddha. Other good ones are Wat Pho, Wat Arun, The Grand Palace.
Visit the Chatuchak Market
This market is only on Saturdays and Sundays, but so worth it! It’s a great market full of wonderful food stalls and a great spot for shopping. Make sure youāre hungry before going.
Floating Market of Dumnoen Saduak
This floating market is honestly super touristy now, but still a cool outing to do if you have time. A bus will take you there in the morning and youāll get to float down the river in a little boat to the different side shops. We paid a little extra to go on the boat tour to see the water canals outside of the market and that was one of my fave parts. You can also find some authentic food stalls still and ladies selling mango sticky rice on the sides of the water banks.
Thonglor & Sukhumvit Soi 11
These are both great neighborhoods to check out for food, nightlife, and shopping. While in Thonglor go check out The Commons, a hip food market with artisan cafes and cool shopping, and while in Sukhumvit try and visit the many cool rooftop bars and nightlife.
Siam Paragon, MBK Center and Siam Center
Go shopping or just wander through these massive malls. They are all next to each other and this is an area where youāll see a lot of young and hip Thai people. It’s so fun to people watch in this area. Plus, these malls are really nice and air-conditioned! I didnāt do a lot of shopping in Bangkok, but going through these malls was so fun for me! They have everything you could ever want.
Flower Market
This market is so cute! Go early to see all of the beautiful flowers of Thailand in a huge warehouse of stalls.
Visit Khao San Road
This street is where the grungy backpackers go out (like me). So, if youāre not into the hardcore party scene you might want to avoid this. However, it is a blast if you really embrace the culture of the street. Itās filled with 100/200 baht buckets of alcohol, scorpions on sticks and men peddling the infamous Ping Pong shows. I ate a scorpion here and went to a Ping Pong show (I donāt endorse this, but I did have fun because I had a few drinks). Going out on this street will be a night to remember…or forget š
Cooking Class
I did a cooking class in Chiang Mai (see below) which I would highly recommend if youāre going there, but my friends did one in Bangkok and loved it with Sompong Thai Cooking School.
Get a massage (or ten)
I think I spent about $300 on massages for a month in Thailand because they cost about $7-$10 and are pretty amazing. You can find them just about anywhere in Bangkok or all over Thailand.
FOOD & DRINK IN BANGKOK
Bangkok Street Food
The street food in Bangkok is out of this world. Especially at markets like Chatuchak Market or in Chinatown where you can get just about any kind of Thai/Chinese food. My favorite foods to get on the street are fresh juices, banana roti (banana pancakes), pad thai, mango sticky rice, and papaya salad.
Cabbages & Condoms
This place is soo good, but also has the funniest name. My bffās and I went here like 3x while in Bangkok because we loved the food. I loved getting the Pad Kee Mao. This place is a bit overpriced and has a bizarre name, but it seriously was some of the best food I had in Thailand. A percentage of the proceeds go to educating people about safe sexā¦at least I think? There are condoms everywhere in the restaurant.
Siam Paragon Food Hall
Malls are a big deal in SE Asia and there are a TON in the Siam area of Bangkok. Some of my favorite food experiences have been in the Food Hall at the Siam Paragon or the Food Republic in Siam Center. There are so many choices that itās almost overwhelming, but oh so good!
Mango Tango
If you havenāt tried mango sticky rice, this is a great place to try it!
The Deck by the River
Great restaurant to go to on the day of temple touring. The food was great! It’s a bit expensive for Thai standards, but still really good and has a view of the river and temple!
Sky Bar
This bar is from the movie Hangover 2 and is somewhat of a famous rooftop in Bangkok. Warning: you have to dress nicely to get in here. We were dressed like we had just come from a day of touring all over the temples (all hot and sweaty) and were denied entrance. Iāve heard itās pretty cool though.
Above 11
This place is amazing with incredible views and great food. I recommend it to anyone trying to be a bit fancier or romantic. You can sit at the bar without a reservation if you get there early enough.
The Nest
This is an awesome, sorta cozy rooftop bar. Great for a drink and apps!
Iron Fairies
This is a great cocktail bar located in Thonglor and perfect for a date night or pre-game before a night out. They also have live music!
Mandarin Oriental Riverside Terrace
This is a really nice terrace where you can get a drink overlooking the klongs (aka canals).
WHERE TO STAY IN BANGKOK
Warm White Hostel
This hostel is right next to Koh San Road so if youāre here to get your party on and want to be able to walk right home then this is an easy and cheap option. Itās also easy to meet people and is close to a lot of cheap food options. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
Airbnb
There are some sickkkk airbnbās in Bangkok. I recommend looking for something downtown or Sukhumvit area. Hereās a code for $40 off your first Airbnb booking.
LubD Siam Bangkok
This hostel is great because itās central and close to the BTS transport system and the mall etc. I loved it because it was clean and had female only dorms. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
U Sukumvit
This is my friend Alex from Alex in Wanderlandās go-to hotel for her friends to stay when they go to Bangkok. She loves it and I trust her opinion! (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
Picnic Hotel
This hotel was close to Khoasan road, but far enough away that it was pretty calm. I accidentally stayed here when I missed my bus, but it was a great and fairly cheap hotel! (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
CHIANG MAI
Chiang Mai is one of the coolest and most historical cities in Thailand. Itās only about the 7th largest city in the country, but there is just so much to do in and around this city! I wouldn’t miss it if I were you!
SEE & DO IN CHIANG MAI
Visit the Night Bazaar
This is a great spot to purchase elephant pants, Thai souvenirs or pretty much anything else you could ever want.
Doi Suthep Temple
Take a red truck taxi or Songthaews (here’s how to use them) to this temple in the mountains! The roads are super windy, but really amazing views up in the mountains.
Bua Thong Waterfalls aka Sticky Waterfalls
This waterfall was one of the coolest things Iāve ever done. Itās about 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai (I drove here by bike coming back from the town of Pai), but you can take the red trucks. You can literally climb up the waterfalls with a rope because of the type of stone under the falls. It was one of my highlights of my trip!
Visit an Ethical Elephant Park
There are a ton of elephant parks in Chiang Mai, but only a few are actually good to go to. I did the Baanchang Elephant Park, but since then Iāve heard that the Elephant Nature Park is the best one you can possibly do in Chiang Mai!
Thai Cooking class
I highly recommend doing a cooking class in Chiang Mai. The Chiang Mai markets are amazing and the food is super fresh. I loved the Thai Orchid Cookery cooking class we took. A and Kong are the cutest couple and we had the best time!
Wat Pha Lat Temple
I didnāt make it to this temple, but was highly recommended it by people who said they loved it so much they got goosebumps because it was so pretty!
Flight of the Gibbons
I heard so many positive reviews from people I met on my trip who RAVED about their experience here. Even though I didn’t have time to do it, I wish I had. I recommend booking ahead of time for this as it books up fast. I also donāt think itās a cheap experience, but everyone says itās well worth it!
FOOD & DRINK IN CHIANG MAI
Lemongrass
This is a great place for amazing traditional Thai food in a central location. I came here 3x!
Khao Soi Khun Yai
This restaurant is also called Grammaās Khao Soi and is essentially an outside restaurant. Khao Soi is a traditional noodle soup and is the most popular dish in Northern Thailand. Come here to try it. It’s delish!
Khao Kha Moo Chang Phueak (Night Market)
Thereās a lot of street food in Chiang Mai, but the North Gate street food is one of my faves. Here you should look out for a lady in a cowboy hat to try the pork legs she makes. They are amazing and sheās actually world famous!
Ginger and Kafe
This place is a bit more expensive but so worth it for the cuteness, kind staff, and amazing food. Worth the splurge.
Secret Learning
If youāre sick of Thai, go to Secret Learning for some amazing Italian food. The man who works here is actually Italian and his ingredients are extremely fresh and amazing!
Cat House
This place is known for it’s Thai Fusion. I didn’t eat here, but my friends who did say that everything is great. Plus the Tripadvisor ratings are awesome.
WHERE TO STAY IN CHIANG MAI
HOTEL:
De Lanna Hotel
My girlfriends and I stayed here for a few days and really liked it for the price. It was about $60 a night and was a pretty nice place. There was a pool and the decor was quintessentially Thai. The location was also amazing. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
HOSTELS:
I use Hostelworld to book my hostels most of the time. Chiang Mai has a ton of amazing hostels to choose from.
I, unfortunately, stayed where my friend wanted to stay and ended up hating the hostel (Thailand Wow2). Itās for people on a mega budget and I wish I would have paid a bit more to stay somewhere nicer. Many of the hostels in Chiang Mai are really cheap!
Stamps Backpackers
This was across the street from my hostel and I considered moving to because I had heard great things about it. If I were to do it over again I would have picked this one. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
PAI
Pai is a complete hippy town in the mountains about 3 hours away from Chiang Mai. The food is great, sites are amazing and itās the perfect place to chill out for a few days. People who come here usually end up extending their stay. I stayed about 2 days, but wish I could have stayed longer!
GETTING TO PAI
There are a few different ways to get to Pai. Many people book on the mini bus from Chiang Mai, but just be aware that a lot of people get sick on this bus because you will be going through windy mountains and over 900 turns! My friend and I rented motorbikes in Chiang Mai and drove them up to Pai. Yes, this is a bit adventurous, but very much worth it if you know how to ride a bike. You can stop at tons of cool waterfalls and lookouts along the way!
AYA services will allow you to rent bikes from them and then they will bring your luggage up for you. We got there and all the bikes were gone so we had to use someone else, so just make sure you get there early enough. We ended up paying for them to bring our bags up and rented from someone else.
SEE & DO IN PAI
Take a tour
There are a ton of half day and full day tours offered in Pai for a cheap rate. My friend and I ended up doing a half day since we were limited on time and while it was fun, the guide was pretty bad. I guess you get what you pay for (around 200 baht). Most hostels have this as an offering for a really cheap price.
Pai Canyon
Make sure to come here for sunset. The views are soooo amazing (there will be a lot of other people here) but its worth the view.
Lod Cave
This was one of the highlights of the tour. You get to go inside a massive cave and take a boat through it to the other side. It actually sticks with me as one of the coolest things I did while in Thailand so I highly recommend visiting.
Mok Fa Waterfall
This is a waterfall you can see if you bike from Pai to Chiang Mai or just want to do a day trip. The hike down is barely a hike, but once in, it’s a beautiful oasis. It’s a great spot to cool off after a hot bike ride.
Sai Ngam Hot Spring
This is an awesome natural hot spring in the middle of the Thai wilderness. Yes, there are other tourists there, but it was still really nice. Even though it was hot outside, I really enjoyed myself.
Pai Landsplit
I didnāt go here, but heard great things about it.
Mor Pang Waterfall
Our tour took us to this and it’s honestly probably something you could skip, but we also went after the sun had set so it was cooling off and swimming in the fall wasn’t that exciting š
Lookout points and quirky cafes
The road up to Pai is known for crazy cafes and lookout points. There’s one that’s decorated in all strawberries and another decorated in a full-on witch theme. Try to stop at some if you can!
FOOD & DRINK IN PAI
Street food
There are little street markets and vendors selling street food all over Pai. Definitely check out the options here.
FatCat
Organic Asian fusion with smoothie bowls.
Boomelicious
This place has a great western style breakfast/brunch so if you’re craving that then this is the perfect spot.
Grounds at Pankled Coffee and Sheep House
My friend and I found this little cafe on our way up from Chiang Mai to Pai and really liked it. It’s an organic restaurant on a sheep farm that serves all types of great baked goods and a good selection of lunch foods.
Om Garden CafƩ
This place serves Thai food, has amazing breakfast and is all served in a quiet garden setting. It’s phenom!
Curry Shack
This place may not look great from the outside, but it’s fabulous! It’s known for its curries and khao soi. I was obsessed with the khao soi from here and how cheap everything was.
Baan Pizza
Feeling sick of Thai food? This pizza place was surprisingly great for what we’ve tried in Thailand!
WHERE TO STAY IN PAI
Common Grounds
I love this hostel once we switched over from Circus hostel. Itās clean, great vibes and has aircon, plus itās actually walkable to all of the restaurants listed above, has a bar and runs really cheap tours. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
Circus Hostel
This was my nightmare of a hostel, but some people just LOVE it. If you’re into the super hippy dippy vibe then you might actually like it, but I was cold in the room (even in one of the hottest times of year) and felt like I couldn’t relax. Very weird vibes…although they do have a fire show that was cool. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
CHIANG RAI
I passed thru here on my way to Laos (3-day slow boat excursion) and saw the white temple. Not sure I would come here otherwise, but the white temple, while touristy, was really amazing to see!
MAIN THAI ISLANDS
There are soooo many islands in Thailand, but here are the main ones. Below I dive into the ones Iāve been to.
KOH LANTA
Known as the chill-out and relaxed island. Not much of a nightlife.
RAILAY BEACH, AO NANG & KRABI
Known as the quintessential Thailand island with amazing cliffs and scenery.
KOH TAO
Known as the diving and backpackers island.
KOH SAMUI
Known as the resort, honeymoon, spa destination.
KOH PHANGAN
Known as the full-moon party/half-moon party island.
KOH PHI PHI
Known as the crazy party island and views from the movie The Beach.
PHUKET
Most touristy location in the south ā Thailandās tourism powerhouse.
KOH LIPE, KOH CHANG, KOH ROK
All supposed to be awesome and off the beaten path
KOH LANTA
SEE & DO IN KOH LANTA
Rent a scooter and road trip around for the day. This island has great road conditions compared to the other islands.
Long Beach
This is a great beach to just hang out at and relax
Opal Tours 4 Island Day Snorkel Trip
This was an amazing snorkel tour off of Koh Lanta that I highly recommend. It was the cheapest one we could find that had everything we wanted included. It took us to an emerald cave, pristine beaches and great snorkel spots…plus the fish we saw were amazing!
Yoga @ Sanctuary
We did yoga one morning at Sanctuary Yoga on the beach and it was magical. I highly recommend if you want a recharge.
Beach Massages ā Massages on the islands are more than on the mainland, but this island just calls for relaxation and massages. They are all over the beach and you can get all types of options!
FOOD & DRINK IN KOH LANTA
Greek Taverna
Many people probably don’t come to Thailand to each Greek food, but this place was sooo good and seriously reminded me of when I was in Greece. Make sure to get the gyro or the moussaka.
Red Snapper
My girlfriends and I came here to celebrate one of our friends birthdays and we splurged, but it was so good! I recommend for a bit of a nicer dinner.
Kwanās Cookery
Kwan’s has a great view, awesome vibe and their seafood and Thai dishes are great.
Why Not Bar
We got buckets here for happy hour and had a great time sitting on the cushions meeting new people.
Freedom Bar
This is an awesome bar for a beach sunset
Moloko Bar
Come here for the great views and pretty atmosphere. It’s great during the day. You can probably get some cute Instagram shots here as well.
Sanctuary
This is actually a beach hut resort, but has little huts to sit in and order drinks to watch the sunset. We loved sitting there to watch the sun go down and drink cocktails.
Pangea Beach Bar
I didn’t go here, but was told it’s a fun bar with great music and a fun ambiance.
*Parties happen at a different spot each night. Ask what spot is popular each day.
WHERE TO STAY IN KOH LANTA
Soontreeya Lanta Resort
HOSTEL:
Loro Loco 2
This is probably the hostel I recommend most in Koh Lanta. There’s a pool and it has a fun party by night and chill by day vibe. They also have air conditioning which makes everything better. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
RAILAY/TONSAI BEACH & KRABI
Railay & Tonsai Beach are famous for the limestone cliffs and long tail boats skirting the shores. Most photos you see of Thailand are from these beaches as their photo ops are incredible. Krabi is more of a town and I personally would maybe treat it as a stopover if you donāt have as much time.
Railay and Tonsai are both small beaches and are just a boat ride away from the mainland of Krabi. I would maybe skip Krabi if you donāt have time so you can enjoy the beaches a bit more.
SEE & DO IN RAILAY/TONSAI & KRABI
Longtail boat ride
Along the shore of Railay beach you’ll see a ton of longtail boats that you can take out for a spin. Many of them are negotiable and you can shop around for the best rate. Some will take you to some hidden beaches and it’s a great idea if you want to see a few other islands in the area or want to see the beaches from the water.
Watch a Muay Thai Boxing Match
If you’ve never seen this before you might want to experience it. Here’s a youtube video. These are the famous Thai boxing matches and many places in Thailand you can actually learn how to do it yourself. Not my type of thing, but cool to experience
Day trip from Railay to Tonsai or vice versa
Both of these beaches are technically really close (45min walk) and you can get a water taxi from one to the other. I recommend checking out both if you have the time.
Rock climbing
This is one of the most popular sports to do off the limestone cliffs. There are many rock climbing day trips you can do or schools to join if you’re really into it.
Sunset on the beach
Railay gets a great sunset and I highly recommend watching it on the beach if you can!
Kayaking
There are a bunch of little caves/grottos that you can kayak through. You can either do a guided kayak or just rent one and take it out on your own.
Take a day trip to Koh Phi Phi
While I don’t 100% recommend doing this because your time in Koh Phi Phi will be limited, I did do this when I was staying on Railay and it was cool to pack in another island. The ferry is quite long and hot though and takes longer than expected. It is doable though if you want to go to Koh Phi Phi!
FOOD & DRINK
*Be careful with food and water here. There are high cases of food poisoning. Also, all 3 of my girlfriends and I got sick here. Try and stick to fried foods here.
Tew Lay Bar
Itās an amazing bar clear at the end of the beach path with amazing views of the island.
Fresh fish at Last Bar
They bring fresh fish from the ocean and you can buy it and theyāll cook it for you right there. We ate at Last Bar and it the fish was really good!
WHERE TO STAY
There are mostly resorts in Railay, and the prices are definitely marked up higher than other islands. If you want more of a backpacker vibe then I recommend staying on Tonsai beach.
Railay Princess Resort
We stayed at Railay Princess Resort and it was a bit overpriced for what we got, but it did the job and was a nice place. Beware of monkeys! (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
Pak-Up Hostel
I stayed here for one night while in Krabi and it was pretty nice and a great location from the pier where we got dropped off from Railay. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
KOH TAO
Koh Tao is my favorite island in Thailand! Itās small, but so much fun. Koh Tao is mainly known for itās backpacker life and diving. This is where I got my PADI Open Water Cert and Advanced Diving certifications and Iāve been back twice because I love it so much! Also, my friend Alex from Alex in Wanderland lives there so I got to visit her last time I went. Sheās got tons of info about the island here on her blog, but here are some of my faves.
SEE & DO
Rent a scooter
Everyone rents scooters on Koh Tao and this is actually the island where I learned to drive a Thai scooter. Beware of people trying to scam you and make sure you take photos of your bike before you take off with it as proof. We paid about $4 a day for rental.
Get your Open Water Diving Certification
This is, after all, why most people end up on Koh Tao. I got my Open Water and Advanced diving certifications at Ocean Sound Diving and Yoga and LOVED it cause I could also do yoga after diving. Other people I’ve met love Sairee Cottage or Roctopus.
Take a boat to Koh Nang Yuan
This is a great island to chill out for the day. You can hike up about 5mins to an amazing lookout and you can also swim and lay in the white sand. I spent about 4 hours here.
Go to the Lookout points
There are so many on the island, but just be careful if youāre biking because the roads are known to be really bad up to the points. I scootered to them the first time I visited and probably should have hiked. Mango Bay is probably my fave lookout point.
Go to the Beach
There are quite a few beaches on Koh Tao and most are best reached by scooter. The main one is Sairree Beach and some other good ones are Freedom Beach, Ao Mae Haad and Ao Chalok Ban Kao.
Massages
Of course this is another great beach for massages. I can’t recommend a specific one, but they are everywhere!
Yoga/Crossfit
The cool part about Koh Tao is that there are a lot of expats so there are cool workout classes. I did yoga at Ocean Sound Yoga studio and CrossFit at Koh Tao Crossfit and loved both.
Koh Tao Pub Crawl
I went on this and had a BLAST! I recommend if you want to meet a bunch of people and have a really fun night.
FOOD & DRINK
Su Chilli
If you want some amazing Thai food and aren’t burnt out by now, hit this place up. It’s soooo good.
Hippo Bar and Grill
This spot has great burgers, steak and just about any other kind of western grub you could want.
Living Juices
This place is amazing. You can get any type of healthy juice, smoothie or instagrammable smoothie bowl. I love it.
Barracuda
This spot is a bit more upscale, but has some of the best seafood dishes you can get.
Vegetabowl
Dying for a salad? This place has got you covered. They are a vegetarian restaurant and have the best salad.
La Pizzeria
Craving pizza or need a late night pick me up? This is the best pizza on the island.
Koppee
This is a great lunch spot with a pool you can swim in while enjoying your meal. Plus the view is killer!
Chez Albert
This is a French wine store turned restaurant and has the best cheeses and chicken and potatoes! Go here for a great meal and a bit of a splurge.
WHERE TO STAY
HOSTEL:
Taco Shack 2
I loved this hostel. It was definitely a party hostel, but it had a great vibe, air con and they served tacos! (Book a room here!)
HOTELS:
Thalassa Hotel
This is my friend Alex’s go-to mid-range hotel that she recommends her friends. I trust her opinion š (Read Reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a Room)
Aminjirah Hotel
Another go-to and a bit higher end hotel that is recommended by my friend Alex who lives on Koh Tao. (Read Reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a Room)
KOH SAMUI
I havenāt been here, but people seem to love it for relaxing at resorts and treating themselves to spas. Itās a great honeymoon spot as well.
KOH PHANGAN
This island is known for the full and half moon party and is the biggest out of Koh Samui and Koh Tao. I only went for a short weekend to the half moon party, but still would recommend this island!
SEE & DO
Rent a scooter/Beach hop
Again, this is the way to go in order to check out all of the beaches on the island. There are tons to check out! Some of the best are Haad Yuan, Haad Rin (where the full moon party is) and Ko Ma island which has beautiful snorkeling.
Go to the Full Moon or Half Moon Party
Full moon is on the beach and apparently it’s insanity. I personally did Half Moon and think it’s a little tamer and is set up more like a music festival in the jungle. I had a blast at Half Moon but didnāt make it too late. Iād say these parties are a bit overrated, but still a fun thing to check off the bucket list.
WHERE TO STAY
HOSTEL:
Phangan Arena hostel
I stayed here during the Half Moon party because it was literally $3 a night. It’s good if you are just going to one of the big parties and need a place to crash and chill with a hangover. Thereās a pool, bar, and food. I met a lot of people here, but itās not the nicest or cleanest place. For $3 a night you get what you pay for. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
MID-RANGE:
Rainbow Bungalows
I didnāt personally stay here, but was highly recommended them by another friend. (Read TripAdvisor Reviews | Book a Room)
KOH PHI PHI
This was probably my least favorite of the islands, but to be fair, I only went on a day trip from Railay Beach and many people LOVE it. Itās a super small island and is known for itās party atmosphere. When I was there it was super hot, smelled like garbage everywhere we went and the beach wasnāt very awesome compared to Railay. The good thing is that there arenāt any cars or bikes so itās very walkable, but beware because it is busy and is known as the party island.
SEE & DO
Phi Phi Viewpoint
Iād say itās worth the trek in the heat because the views are pretty amazing! Go in the morning if you can. You do have to pay a small amount to see the view, so remember cash.
Go on a snorkel tour to Maya Bay and Monkey Beach
I didnāt do this and sort of regret it because everyone seems to LOVE Maya Bay!
PARTY
I also didnāt party here, but itās the main reason to come to Koh Phi Phi so I guess I failed in this department.
FOOD & DRINK
Unniās
Great chicken tacos
Only Bar
This bar has a great view and it’s fun to get a drink and sit out on the deck if the weather is nice!
Banana Bar
Really cool bar and they have a 2-story roof bar. Buy 1 get 1 free buckets! Banana Daiquiri buckets are the best.
PHUKET
This is one of the most touristy locations in all of Thailand. Iāve only been here for a stop on the cruise, Itās the Ship where I mainly spent my time a beach club and on the main beach, Patong Beach, which I honestly thought was trashy compared to the other beaches in Thailand. I have heard mixed reviews of the area, but I do know there are nice spots where you can get away from the crowds.
GETTING AROUND THAILAND
There are many different ways to get around Thailand and I hopped around on many different types of transportation during my time here. Itās fairly cheap getting around Thailand and even cheaper if you have a bit of time on your hands!
Taxis
Taxis are most places in Thailandās main tourist locations. Some islands have different forms of taxis, but they are all pretty similar. If you fly into Bangkok itās extremely easy to take a taxi from the airport to wherever youāre going. The taxis are usually a reasonable rate, but just be sure they have the meter on. They must do this by law so just tell them to meter your taxi. Itās typically much cheaper than negotiating a rate. Note: each city/island has different types of taxis and they operate a bit differently. Just be sure to look up the different way they operate before leaving the airport.
BTS Sky Train
This is Bangkokās metro and is a super easy and cheap way to get around Bangkok. I recommend using this if youāre staying close to any of the main BTS stops. I used this constantly on my 2nd time to Bangkok and it was extremely simple!
Uber
Uber is big time in Bangkok and can be used all over the place and are typically cheaper than cabs. You can also get them in places like Chiang Mai and most other larger locations in Thailand. Just make sure you call them when you have wifi at the hotel or get a sim card.
Water taxi
You can use these taxis to get to and from the different temples or different sides of the river. The local water taxi is the orange color and is typically cheaper.
Tuk Tuk
I honestly avoid taking these in Bangkok because itās sometimes more expensive, but feel free to try them cause itās fun and they are all over Thailand. Just make sure to negotiate a rate ahead of time.
Rent a Motorbike
I did this in Chiang Mai to go up to Pai and rented one on all of the islands. Itās super easy to get a bike and such a fun way to explore the islands! Make sure you take photos of the entire bike with all of the flaws so you donāt get screwed. Make sure to wear a helmet and be careful! I saw tons of accidents while in Thailand and itās also really expensive if you crash or break the bike in any way!
Travel Agency Packages
There are many travel agency packages all over Thailand that will hook you up with a boat, bus transfer or train depending on where you are going. Itās usually smart to shop around at the different tour agencies once you arrive in Thailand because you can get better rates. I did a lot of transfer packages as a backpacker and it made getting to my next destination a lot easier. I used a company called Lomprayah a lot.
Local Airlines
Local airlines are AirAsia, ThaiLion, Thai Airlines and all are pretty decent.
FOODS TO TRY
Pad Thai
Mango Sticky Rice
Papaya Salad
Gai Med Ma Moung (Chicken Cashew Nuts)
Thai Spring Rolls
Green and Red Curry
Pad Kee Mao
Tom Yum Goong ā spicy shrimp soup
Banana Pancakes or Rotti
Street food
Kow Soi
Fruit lassiās (shakes), smoothies and juices – the fruit in Thailand is amazing and their shakes and juices are amazing!
Chang Beer – my friend Alex from Alex in Wonderland makes fun of me for liking this, but this is 100% a backpacker cheap beer and I LOVE āem. The Big CHANG all the way!
Buckets – youāll find buckets of booze all over Thailand. The alcohol in here is usually really cheap. But hey, if youāre having a wild night itās fun to experience!
SangSom ā this is the cheap rum distilled from sugar cane and is pretty cheap to drink.
I hope you have a great time in Thailand and I hope this Thailand Guide helps! Let me know if there’s anything you love that I should add to the list in the comments.
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Katie this is SUCH a great blog post! There’s so much great info here and even after living in Thailand for 9 years I’ve still learned a bunch and gotten some great tips for other parts of the country! It’s going to be so useful and I’ll be sure to save it to share with our travelers š Thanks for including Ocean Sound in your recommendations too of course! The photos are also gorgeous š
Thanks girl! Ocean Sound was one of the best parts of my trip š
Iām going in two weeks and canāt wait! Are any of the islands you visited off the coast of Phuket? And Iām going to Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Iām so excited!
Oh YAYY you’ll have a blast! I didn’t go to any islands off of Phuket, but I’ve heard they are gorgeous and you probably can’t go wrong š
Add us to the people who got the bug in Railay. We ate street food all over Thailand but it was the five star dinner at Railay that did us in. Jenn was so sick, she couldn’t even leave the hotel room. It was a beautiful town and I love the caves everywhere but don’t drink the water.
Jenn and Ed Coleman recently posted…Glamping the New Wave of Ecotourism
YES! Seriously it is the worst. I wonder why everyone gets so sick there?
I’ll have to revisit this post if I get the chance to go to Thailand again. It looks like you found all the good spots! I’d love to spend a month there, but that’s unlikely, so these insights will help me pick and choose.
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You have covered so many places in Thailand! The last time I was there all I did was shopping and massages in Bangkok. I spent as much as you did on massages lol!! Next time I’d love to go to some temples and visit the elephant park!
This is such a wonderful overview of your time in Thailand. For someone who has never been to the country, having a suggested itinerary as a starting point is so very valuable. I want to pack my bag and go now!
Sounds like a great itinerary, glad to see that you included some kayaking time. The water looks amazing.
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Yay! Yes, it was a must. I love Thailand and can’t wait to go back.
This is such jam-packed post, a great resource! Did you ever (here, or anywhere else) come across hostels that are pet-friendly? Or for traveling with pets do you think you would have to book pricier (a hotel instead maybe)? I’ve always been curious about hostel travel with pets and you seem to have a good hold on hostels and traveling so I thought I would ask!
I also have a friend who was in Thailand for 3 months and she did the same with the massages because they are so cheap and wonderful, she ended up getting about two a week for the entire time she was there! š
Thank you! No, I actually never saw any pet friendly hostels, but I’m sure there are! Especially in Bangkok!! There’s got to be some hotels for sure, but I bet there are hostels too
OMG yes massages are the way to go in Thailand!! š
Of course! I’m so glad you found it useful! Have so much fun in Thailand! š