We spent two months in Thailand and loved every minute of it. Thailand is the land of the smile and people are friendly wherever you go. Most people pick Thailand because it’s a cheap destination and that is a big plus. But what we loved most was the versatility of Thailand. That’s why we wrote this Travel Guide for Thailand.
One minute you’re looking at old temples and the next you are ziplining in the jungle. Everywhere you go the food is amazing and fresh fruit is available everywhere. The street markets are a lot of fun to explore at night.
In this travel guide for Thailand, we will highlight everything you need to know to be prepared for your trip to Thailand. If you feel like something is missing, please let us know!
Things to know before you go
People appreciate it if you speak their language. Learn at least the basics for saying hello (Sawadee krap/ka) and goodbye, thank you (Kap khun krap/ka), and a few other phrases. The way you pronounce them relies on your gender. So it’s krab if you are male and ka if you are female at the end of your sentence.
Dress modestly, especially when you’re visiting temples. If you’re not wearing the right clothes you won’t be allowed to enter or they will give you something to cover up. Shoulders and knees should be covered in most temples. Be prepared to take off your hat, sunglasses, and shoes. We brought thick socks with us just in case the floor was too hot to walk on barefoot.
Most Thai people practice Buddhism. This means you need to take this into consideration and you should never point the soles of your feet toward any Buddhist image (or monk). Don’t touch Buddha statues on the head. Give way to monks when walking on footpaths, and don’t sit next to them on public transport. Women can’t touch a monk or their belongings.
A lot of people rent scooters in Thailand, but be aware that they are actual motorcycles. If you don’t have a motorcycle license you take a big risk. If you get in an accident your insurance won’t cover your (medical) costs. We’ve heard stories where locals take advantage of this and cause accidents to earn money. Just because everybody is doing it doesn’t mean it’s safe or you should do it.
Places to visit
We spent two months in Thailand because we extended our visa, which only allows you to stay for 30 days. The first part of our trip started in Bangkok and we visited Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, and Erawan. We followed our way up north to Chiang Mai. This is where we drove the Mae Hong Son Loop, a 10-day big bike adventure.
From Chiang Mai, we traveled back to Bangkok and this time we headed down south. We took a bus to Trat and from here we jumped on a boat to Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Kood. We ended our trip by going back to Bangkok where we left Thailand.
Visa
Many nationalities can visit Thailand without a visa under the Visa on Arrival rule or Visa Exemption scheme. This will allow you to stay up to 30-45 days in Thailand. If you want to stay longer there is an option to extend your visa at certain places in Thailand.
You might be asked to show proof of departure when entering Thailand, either by your airline or at immigration. Keep this in mind when traveling to Thailand. Have some proof or be prepared to get some proof last minute.
When to visit
The best time to visit Thailand weather-wise is between November- March. But this means it’s also the busiest season, especially in December-January when people come here to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s.
If you’re looking to visit the coast try the shoulder season: April to June and September and October. The climate differs between the eastern and western coasts, where the west coast is more suitable for September and October.
If you don’t mind a little bit of rain and prefer to spend as little money as possible, visit Thailand in July-October. This is the low season, so you’ll get better prices for everything.
Things to do
1. Mae Hong Son Loop
The Mae Hong Son Loop was definitely the highlight of our trip through Thailand. The Northern part of Thailand is beautiful and to discover this on a big bike and have the freedom to stop wherever we wanted was just perfect. You could drive this loop in either way.
2. Co van Kessel Bike Tour
When we arrived in Bangkok, one of the first things we did is participate in a bike tour by Co van Kessel. Not only because he is originally from the Netherlands, just like us, but also to get a better understanding of the city and what we needed to do in the days after this tour.
3. Cooking Class
Thai food is amazing and in Chiang Mai, we had the chance to cook some ourselves. First, we went to the market and the garden to learn about Thai ingredients and then we cooked several dishes that we got to eat as well. Especially the curry-making part was a lot of fun, a group of people banging on peppers and other ingredients.
4. Ziplining
What is more fun than flying through the jungle? We did a zipline course near Chiang Mai and it was one of the most adventurous things we’ve done. It was a couple of hours of climbing, flying, and rolling through the jungle and we finished with a nice meal.
5. Snorkeling
The water around some of the islands in Thailand is so clear that you could go snorkeling anywhere. The best spot we found was on Koh Mak. We did a tour that got us out into the ocean a bit more and that was amazing. Beautiful coral fish swimming around you, beautiful weather… A perfect day out if you ask us.
6. Watch the sunset at Koh Chang
There are a lot of places to watch a sunset in Thailand, but if you are looking for the best spot check out Koh Chang. It’s one of the islands in the Gulf of Thailand close to the border with Cambodia. There are a lot of beautiful beaches with their own vibes. We just loved spending our days at the beach and enjoying the sun going down and turning the sky pink.
7. The Old Trees at Koh Kood
When thinking about Thai islands 200-500-year-old Makka trees are probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But it’s one of the best reasons to visit Koh Kood. The jungle vibe in combination with pristine beaches and crystal clear water makes this island a must-visit. The vibe is relaxed and it’s less crowded than Koh Chang while still offering some amenities.
8. Ayutthaya
If you want to see a lot of temples in one day you have to visit Ayutthaya. This used to be the capital of Thailand when it was still called Siam. You still see some of its former glory in all the temples and ruins that are left. Hire a bike or a scooter for a day and explore the different temples to get a sense of what Thailand used to be.
9. Death Railway
If you’re interested in history you have to visit Death Railway in Kanchanaburi. The railway itself is in a different spot than the museum with background information, but both are worth a visit. You learn a lot about what happened here during World War II and how this bridge was built. You could even take a train ride to cross the river.
10. Erawan Waterfalls
Near Kanchanaburi, you’ll find the Erawan Waterfalls. This is a very popular spot, especially on hot days, so make sure to go early. The waterfalls are beautiful, but once it gets crowded it’s less fun. You follow a trail throughout the park. You will see different waterfalls and you can swim in some.
Budget
Thailand is known for being a backpacker’s haven because of the cheap prices for basically anything. During our last trip in 2016-2018, we spent about € 40,00 per day as a couple. Prices have gone up everywhere so this might not be enough anymore.
We mostly stayed in hostels and hotels during our trip which you can find on Booking.com. There are 7Elevens on every corner for simple groceries. If you eat at local restaurants you pay less than in Western restaurants. Don’t forget to visit the food markets for a good deal.
Getting around
Public transport is available and prices are reasonable. We took the first-class bus which merely meant we had air conditioning. The train has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class and tickets depend on what’s still available. The monorail is budget-friendly as well.
A lot of cities have airports and the short flights are usually pretty cheap. Or take a night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai if you want to be budget-savvy. Of course, you could rent a scooter or a big bike as well if you have a license.
We had no trouble getting from one point to the next, the information is pretty easy to access and there are always people around to point you in the right direction. It does help to shop around a bit.
Add Thailand to your travel itinerary
As you can read Thailand has a lot to offer, so if you’re traveling through Asia don’t forget to include Thailand as well. This travel guide for Thailand is not all there is to do, but if we would write everything done this blog would never end!
Don’t be afraid to explore and get off the beaten track. Renting a bike and exploring Thailand while stopping wherever and not knowing what you’ll find is one of the best things we did. Chiang Mai is more laid back than Bangkok and all islands have a different vibe, so there’s something for everyone.
Have you been to Thailand or is it on your list of places to go to? If so, what did you think? If not, what is keeping you from visiting Thailand? Let us know in the comments!
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