Backpacking Thailand: An Ultimate Travel Guide

Bangkok is Thailand's capital; make your way south to Phuket. If you go overland, make a side trip to Kanchanaburi, one of the gorgeous national parks, though it makes more sense to fly for not that much more cash. Inspect residential trips beforehand.

Phuket is the gateway to the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand. While touristy, Phuket has something for everyone: beautiful beaches, boozy nights, one of the best Crossfit boxes in Southeast Asia, and a plethora of Buddhist temples.

The next step is to travel from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, which is also a popular tourist destination but is known for its beautiful coastlines, legendary nightlife, and excellent places to stay.

Travel to Koh Lanta to unwind after all of the partying; book ahead of time to ensure a bed at one of the best Koh Lanta hostels. With 2 weeks committed to the Andaman Sea, you can make it to Koh Lipe. Finally, finish your journey by remaining in the Krabi location. You can also extend your stay in Raay if you allow yourself to get into rock climbing!

Following that, visit the well-known Gulf of Thailand, which includes Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. The notorious full-moon celebration arrives on Koh Phangan, but there are some chilled-out places to stay on the island, as well as a lot more to do on the island than simply attend an event! Koh Tao is well-known for its laid-back scuba diver vibe and extremely low-cost diving facilities. Koh Samui is the least popular of the three; you truly only come here to celebrate.

Chiang Mai is Thailand's second city, founded in 1296, and also rests against the backdrop of the excellent Doi Suthep mountain. In comparison to Bangkok, Chiang Mai is much less congested and manic, and many tourists prefer its more relaxed atmosphere.

One of the main attractions in Chiang Mai is the night bazaar, which is located in the center of the city and is also a wonderful location to do a spot of souvenir shopping or simply to exercise your haggling. The city is also a base for a variety of mountain trips, many of which give you the chance to check out the hill people to the north of the city. Probably the most prominent landmark in Chiang Mai is the "chedi" on top of Doi Suthep; the Wat Phra Borommathat holy place located there is renowned as one of the holiest in Thailand.

Travel north from Chiang Mai to Pai, a small hippie community with reggae bars, beautiful scenery, and a cool, laid-back vibe. Pai, hidden in Thailand's far northwestern corner, has only recently entered the backpacker scene.

If you're confident on a moped or motorcycle, you could rent one and ride the hill passes from Chiang Mai to Pai. The roadway is notorious for its harsh bends and isn't a flight for the faint-hearted. The option is to get on a four-hour bus trip.

The trip deserves it, though, as Pai is bordered by falls, hills, and jungles, making it the best place for lovers of the outdoors. The hostels and bars listed below are relaxed locations where you can expect to hear live music and also party entertainment. Make certain to spend an evening or more checking out Strolling Road, where you'll locate delay after delay of delicious road food. Oh, and also direct yourself to Pai Canyon at sundown to view the evening rays setting over the canyon.

After having spent time in the north, it's now time to head south for several of those beautiful beaches that Thailand is well-known for. From Pai, you'll need to head back to Chiang Mai to capture a trip to Krabi. Normally, we would certainly advise against flying, but the bus would certainly take a laborious 36 hours.

Thailand's Krabi Province has all the components needed for a postcard-perfect paradise. White sand coastlines, bright blue waters, and limestone karst-high cliffs covered in lush foliage can all be found here.

The towns of Krabi Town and Ao Nang are the two best launching pads to explore Krabi's beaches and islands, but we suggest Ao Nang by miles. Ao Nang is lively, with great nightlife, lots of bars and restaurants to enjoy, and a charming 1-kilometer-long beach.

We would certainly suggest spending your time in Ao Nang to discover the coastlines of Krabi District; the Railay Coastline, the Tonsai Coastline, and the Pra Nang Cavern Coastline are simply three examples of some of the most gorgeous coastlines in Thailand.

Throughout the Ao Nang community, you'll discover lots of reservation representatives waiting to whisk you away on a longtail watercraft to see these coastlines. It's all very easy to organize, making Ao Nang a very easy location from which to check out Krabi's best coastlines.

You can also get to a lot of different islands from Ao Nang, such as Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, and Koh Phi Phi. You might want to do your own research on which islands you intend to check out; there are great deals; however, we directly suggest Koh Lanta and Koh Tao.

Ah, what can we say concerning this ideal island? these pristine Thai coastlines, the images are rather similar to those of Koh Lanta. Coral-fringed coastlines, unwinding bars, and wildlife-rich jungles—Koh Lanta produces one heck of a location.

Koh Lanta is so incredibly cool in comparison to Koh Phi Phi. It's a sleepy island with comfy cushions to sit on and sip fruit juices on at beach dining establishments, lovely beaches, a variety of island trip options, and also unwinded nightlight alternatives. This is also a terrific area if you're searching for a co-working space as well.

Koh Tao, also called "Turtle Island," is sprayed with sandy coves and also lantern-lit dining establishments. The most significant draw, though, is the diving. Koh Tao is one of the best places in the world to learn how to dive, and the competition among the numerous dive shops has also made it one of the least expensive.

Koh Tao is a popular destination for visitors pursuing their PADI or SSI Open Water Certification. The program is usually four days long and includes four sea dives. However, if you don't want to commit to a full course, the majority of dive shops offer exploration dives, where you can spend a day diving down to 12 meters without needing a diving license.

It would be a shame not to go diving while in Koh Tao, yet if it really isn't your thing, the island also boasts great nightlife, enjoyable boat trips, excellent hiking to points of interest, and much more.