thailand IN A NUTSHELL

Thailand is known for stunning beaches, elephants, a quirky capital and mesmerizing  temples.  25 million foreigners fly into the country every year making it one of Asia’s top vacation destinations.

Bangkok is full of exotic amd erotic adventures to get into.  Head North to experience culture and to hang out with elephants.  Or if you would rather catch a tan and a buzz head South to the islands where you can party the night away.

Whatever type of vacation you are looking for, Thailand will provide.  Let’s dive deeper into this Thailand travel guide.

Destinations

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

VISA:  Most Western passport holders are allowed to enter the country for short stays (30 days or less) without having to apply for a visa.  You will get a stamp on arrival.  Your passport must have at least 6 months validity. If you plan on staying in Thailand longer than 30 days you can apply for a sixty day tourist visa here.

CURRENCY: The Thai Baht is the official currency of Thailand.  1 USD is about 32 Thai Baht.  Some places do accept USD, make sure the bills aren’t worn and are 2006 or newer.

LANGUAGE:  Thai is the official language of Thailand but English is widely spoken.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS:  One of the most renown festivals or events in Thailand is the infamous Full Moon Party which is held every full moon of the month.  The full moon party can be enjoyed throughout the country with the craziest on Koh Pha Ngan.  When exploring Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai holds several different lantern lighting festivals with Loi Krathong being the most popular and happens in February.

Thailand TRAVEL TIPS

HIGHLIGHTS

• Have drinks at a rooftop bar in Bangkok
• Visit an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai
• Party the night away at a full moon party in Koh Pha Ngan
• Floating markets in Bangkok
• Explore Pai by moped
• Chatuchak Weekend Market 
• Massages everyday all day
• The Phi Phi Islands

HOW LONG TO VISIT THAILAND?

This Thailand travel guide recommends touring around Thailand for at least a month!  There are countless things to do and islands to visit that a month will give you enough time to island hop, get weird in Bangkok and bath elephants in the North.  

If you’re short on time.

READ:

Thailand 10 Day Itinerary

🤳 useful apps

GOOGLE TRANSLATE: Translates characters to English by taking a picture with your phone.

GRAB: The Uber of  Southeast Asia.

GOOGLE MAPS: How did we ever survive without it.  Very helpful when you’re trying to navigate public transportation.

WHATSAPP:  Talk/text to friends and family anytime you are connected to the internet for free.

ROME2RIO: Calculates different routes from point A to point B, showing you the cheapest, quickest etc…

AVERAGE DAILY BUDGET

$50-60 a day, living comfortably and not denying yourself any comforts or pleasures.  It is possible to get by on $13 -20 a day but that means steet food, a bed at a hostel and no alcohol consumption (it’s much more expensive to drink in Thailand compared to its neighbors of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam).

For double the shoestring budget you can travel lavishly and not break the bank.  Spending time in the smaller towns like Pai will make up for the islands which are more expensive and splurges on high ticket activities like going to an elephant sanctuary.

activities

• Visiting an elephant sanctuary | $75

• Private longtail boat ride to the floating markets | $35

TRANSPORTATION

Transferring between towns is straight forward and easy to navigate.  Download the apps Bookaway and 12Go Website. They are very helpful to check bus, boat, and train schedules ahead of time.  Skyscanner is my go to site for flights and use it often.

GETTING AROUND

BY PLANE:  Airlines from all over the world fly into Bangkok.  Domestic flights are cheap.

BY BUS:  Buses are cheap and frequent.  If you’re traveling slow its an easy way to stay on budget.

TUK TUKS:  A common form of transportation within the cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

BY TRAIN:  There is a train that connects Bangkok and Chiang Mai via Ayutthaya.  The overnight train is comfortable and the way to go. 

Ferries:  Frequent and how you will get to the islands.

WHAT TO PACK FOR THAILAND

Packing is always the hardest part.  You don’t want to overpack but you also don’t want to be left wanting.  You’ll most definetly want a rain jacket  for wet season and comfortable clothing that are suitable for the warm, humid weather of the warm months.  A warm jacket and comfortable yoga pants are also essential for the winter months.

Thailand is a conservative country and you’ll need to be covered up when entering the temples.  I always bring a wrap skirt that I can throw on when I need to be covered up.

Don’t leave home without theses Thailand travel guide essentials.

Top things to do in Thaland

Get Lost in Bangkok

Bangkok is a chaotic city that you could spend weeks exploring and not even begin to scratch the surface.  A few highlights of Bangkok are to explore floating markets, the Chatuchak Weekend Market, drinks at a stylish rooftop bar, the Grand Palace or Thanon Khao San Road, a popular hangout for backpackers.

The list could go on and on.  You can get as weird as you want.  Here are a few tours that I recommend while exploring this vibrant city.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Train Market Tour

Ancient City Muang Boran Ticket with Private Transfer Option

Hands-On Thai Cooking Class and Si Lom Market Tour

experience the elephants

A must do on most every bodies bucket list when they visit Thailand is to be able to have a personal experience with elephants.  A common way to do this is by visiting an elephant sanctuary. 

Make sure that you visit a sanctuary that offers an ethical elephant experience.  No one wants any elephants harmed and ill cared for.  You can check out ethical sanctuaries here. 

Rage at a legendary full moon party 

I’m sure you’ve heard of the legendary full moon party that happens every month when it’s a full moon.  Full moon parties are held in various different islands in Thailand but the most iconic is held on Koh Pha Ngan.  Up to 30,000 people flock to this island every month just to party the night away. 

I recommend staying on a nearby island either Koh Samui of Koh Tao and ferry over for the party and when you’re ready catch the ferry back.  Most places on Koh Phi Ngan make you book a room minimum 3 nights to a week.  This  gives you more flexibility and a chance to escape the rave when you’re partied out.

MUST READ: Full Moon Party Survival Guide

Explore northern thailand 

Northern Thailand is a mountainous region covered with thick forests.  Visitors venture up to the North to experience culture, go trekking, whitewater rafting or exploring remote hill-tribe villages.

Much more calm and less chaotic than the city of Bangkok there are a handful of cities/towns that are worth a stop.

CHiaNG MAI

The culture capitol of Thailand and a popular city for digital nomads.  There are plenty of things to see, cafes to enjoy, outdoor activities to do and places to stay that you quickly understand the appeal.

MUST READ: The Perfect 3 Days in Chiang Mai 

chiang rai

A bit farther North is Chiang Rai.  Most visitors travel to Chiang Rai to see  is the iconic White Temple.  It really is one of the most beautiful temples I’ve ever seen.  This can be a great day trip from Chiang Mai or from Pai if you’re short on time.  I stopped here for the day on my way to the border town of Chiang Khong.

pai

Pai is a small hippy town northwest of Chiang Mai towards the Burmese border.  The best thing to do in Pai is explore the countryside by moped.  Swim under waterfalls and relax in the hot springs.  There’s also several up and coming resorts that stretch the dollar.  The definition of budget luxury.  

USEFUL GUIDES:  Where to Stay in Pai

find seclusion in the islands

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

take the 2 day slow boat journey into laos

If you’re panning on traveling from Northern Thailand to Laos, an adventurous way to get there is by taking a 2 day slow boat.  This journey takes you across the border and down the Mekong River for a scenic, often cramped boat ride.  

You’ll see parts of the country that you wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else.  This was a crazy adventure.  Make sure you get to the boat early on the second day or you’ll be stuck sitting in the engine room like us.  Definitely an experience I won’t forget but wouldn’t want to do again. 🙂

explore the old capital of ayutthaya

Only an hour train ride North of Bangkok is Ayutthaya.  Once the capitol of the Siam Kingdom, Ayutthaya has remains of its past.  Inside the Historical Park in the center of town are four, well known temples – Wat Phra Ram, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana. 

This is an easy day trip from Bangkok.  Check out some great tours below.

Ancient Ayutthaya Day Trip with Private Driver from Bangkok

From Bangkok: Ayutthaya & Ayothaya Floating Market Day Trip

WHERE TO STAY IN thailand

HOUSING GUIDES

Where to Stay in Pai

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

Where to Stay in the Phi Phi Islands

safety

thailand travel guide tips

Thailand travel guides