Thailand is located in Southeast Asia. It’s known for tropical beaches, lavish royal palaces, ancient ruins and beautiful temples displaying figures of Buddha. I’m here to tell you the ins and outs of the most stunning destinations in Thailand…
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and its biggest city by far. It’s a top tourist destination which is consistently ranked among the world’s most visited cities. In fact, Bangkok has been voted the Worlds Best City by Travel and Leisure magazine for four consecutive years. There is something for everyone here. If you love shopping, there are plenty of markets and shopping malls like Siam Square or Chatuchak Market. If you like visiting old cultural attractions, go to the Old City and see The Grand Royal Palace. If you love your food, CNN declared Bangkok as Worlds Best Street Food City.
Bangkok is serviced by 2 international airports, Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport (DMK). The majority of tourists will fly into BKK. From the airport, you can get easy access into the city. This can be done by bus, train and taxi.
Recommended areas to stay:
- Sukhumvit – Good nightlife, plenty of dining options, spaced out area so a lot of walking is required. Recommended hotel: Ambassador Hotel Bangkok.
- Siam – Limited nightlife, plenty of dining options, best area for shopping. Recommended hotel: Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square.
- Riverside – Beautiful scenery, relaxed atmosphere, more expensive, far from Downtown Bangkok. Recommended hotel: Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom.
- The Old City – Perfect area for backpackers. Close to Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Recommended hotel: BKK Home 24 Boutique Hotel.
Things to do:
Temple Hopping in The Old City –In Bangkok, you can visit dozens of temples each with a different architecture. Start your trip in Rattanakoskin which is the historic centre of Bangkok. Then head southwards to visit the Grand Royal Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. When visiting the Grand Royal Palace, a certain dress code is required. You’ll need to cover up before entering so be sure to cover your shoulders and ensure your shorts/skirt/dress goes below the knee. Men must wear long trousers. Heels and feet are also required to be covered.
You can continue to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha or take the ferry across the river to visit the Temple of Arun. There are plenty of attractions to see but you can get this done in half a day.
Floating Market –There are several floating markets in Bangkok, however if you’re looking for a local and more authentic feel, I would recommend Khlong Lat Mayom which is located just outside of Central Bangkok. One of the busiest markets is the Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa Floating Markets. The floating markets can get extremely crowded and have become quite touristy, but it still makes for a fun day trip.
Historic City of Ayutthaya – Recognised in 1350, Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once the capital of Siam. It thrived from the 14th to the 18th centuries and became one of the world’s largest urban areas and a center for global diplomacy and commerce, before being destroyed by the Burmese army in 1767. It was never rebuilt. Today, it’s ruins are among the most popular day trip destinations from Bangkok, with the Buddha head embedded in a banyan tree being one of its most recognisable attractions.
Phuket
Phuket, a rain forested, mountainous island in the Andaman Sea, features Thailand’s most popular beaches, mostly situated along the clear waters of the western shore. The island is home to many high-end seaside resorts, spas and restaurants.
Patong – Phuket has always been well known for its stunning beaches. For those into their nightlife, Patong beach is the perfect place to go. Bangla Road is the centre of nightlife in Patong. Here you will find clubs, bars with live music or you can just chill out with a beer. Transvestite and cabaret shows will also be found here. The nightlife is much more varied on the side street. You are central to plenty of Phuket’s attractions. Recommended hotel: Surf Hotel Patong.
Karon Beach – Karon Beach is known to be Patong’s little sister due to the amount of nightlife you get here. It is very similar however it’s very toned down so is more suitable for families. On Patak Road, you will find everything from reggae bars to Irish pubs, as well as live music lounges.
Karon is home to the second largest beach on Phuket which is just under 2 miles long. There are water sport shacks located on the beach, where you will be able to hire pedalos, surf boards and take part in paragliding. The Andaman coast is very well known to be the best place in Phuket for windsurfing. You’ll be able to visit the authentic and local street food markets which is where you will get to experience the local dishes. There’s a good range of places to eat in Karon Beach. You’ll find a collection of family-friendly Thai and seafood restaurants close to the north end of the beach.
Recommended hotel: Centara Grand Beach Resort.
Top excursions:
- James Bond island (Khao Phing Kan) is one of those bucket list items many people want to tick-off their list while in Phuket. The 1974 James Bond film, The Man with The Golden Gun, was filmed here. You will find some unique photos been taken at ‘Nail Island’ which is also known as Ko Kaho Tapoo.
- Elephant Jungle Sanctuary allows visitors to get close and playful with elephants in an ethical way. Riding elephants is not acceptable here however you get to feed, play with and bathe adult and baby elephants. After their food, elephants love to cool down in the mud bath where visitors can join in.
- If you’re a big fan of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, you will know that when they visited Thailand, they took part in a jungle adventure. Well you can too!! The flying Hanuman Phuket Jungle Adventure is an immense adventure park which is located just above Kathu Village between Phuket town and Patong. Trade in your lazy day on the beach for this unforgettable experience with your family and friends. The adventure consists of 28 wooden platforms covering 80,000 square meters. The platforms reach up to 40 meters high with ziplines up to 400 meters long. It’s the perfect way to create memorable stories.
Krabi
Krabi is located on Thailand’s southern west coast, and is surrounded by more than a hundred off shore islands. Some of the most popular islands include the Phi Phi islands which are identical to sea like rain forested boulders. You also have the chance to explore Railay Beach, which is only accessible by boat and is a perfect spot for rock climbers.
Phra Nang Beach has been voted as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world. Only 20 minutes by long boat from Ao Nang, it has amazing scenery and is a beautiful place to swim. The beach has perfect white sand and huge cliffs at each end of the beach. You will not find any jet skis or sellers at this beach, leaving you to enjoy the atmosphere and take in the spectacular views.
Like many towns in Thailand, Krabi Town owns a night market. It opens every Friday to Sunday in the evenings. Here, you will be spoilt for choice with over 70 food stalls to try from and local sellers selling their souvenirs. Occasionally, the local school provide entertainment to raise money for their school or other charities.
A new excursion in Krabi is now available which families and thrill seekers will love! White water rafting takes place on the Songprak River which is a 7-kilometer-long river. Full training is provided when you arrive as well as a full safety talk. The instructors stay in the boats with you making sure that you do not run into any difficulties along the way.
Wat Tham Sau (Tiger Cave Temple) is one of Thailand’s natural wonders and is certainly worth a visit. It features a maze of caves that sit within the jungle and house many monks that live and worship there. Legend has it that a tiger once lived in the cave which is where the name of the temple originated. While visiting the caves, be sure to visit the ‘footprint of the Buddha’ – a climb up 1,240 steps which is no minor task but when you get to the top you are rewarded with 360-degree views on the Andaman Sea and the beautiful islands that fall within it.
Recommended hotel: The Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort. You are also able to do a twin centre with Phuket via the ferry.
Ko Samui
Ko Samui is Thailand’s second largest island which lies in the Gulf of Thailand, just off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus. It’s known for its golden sands, mountainous rainforest, luxurious hotels and plush spas. No matter which hotel or resort you choose, you’re guaranteed amazing views. Koh Samui is where the world comes to relax and unwind, so our favourite resorts combine plenty of entertainment for families, and some all-important time for adults to unwind. A recommended hotel in this area is the Sheraton Samui Resort.
If you’re into your diving you can take part in a PADI course – nearby Ang Thong National Marine Park has a wonderful world of underwater adventure. Tropical fish, coral reefs and safe conditions, all-year-round, make Koh Samui an awesome area for first-timers.
A popular spot for many back packers is the Rock Bar next to Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks. Here you can chill out all day with nothing but reggae music blasting out the speakers. The bar itself is propped upon a rock and is a beautiful location to catch the sunset in the evening.
Thailand fact file
Dry Season – November to April
Wet Season – May to October
Hottest Season – March to May
Because of the dry and cooler climate, November to February is the best time to visit, however prices increase as it’s peak season.
Thai Baht
You can find more information on https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/entry-requirements
Thailand is 6 hours ahead of United Kingdom. When it is 12:00 GMT, it is 18:00 in Thailand
London to Bangkok takes 12 hours and 25 minutes.
