thailand trip reports

Two Weeks in Thailand: A Complete 14-Day Thailand Itinerary

Are you planning a trip to Thailand and wondering how to make the most of your time? Look no further! In this Thailand Itinerary, we’ll share two-weeks worth of adventure, showcasing what Thailand offers best.

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A Complete 14-Day Thailand Itinerary

From bustling cities to idyllic beaches and lush forests, Thailand is a country that has something for everyone. That’s why our itinerary includes stops in Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan, allowing you to see a wide range of landscapes and cultures.

So make sure to pack your bags and bring your favorite travel camera , ready to experience this incredible destination’s beauty and diversity. Follow along as we take you on a journey through some of Thailand’s top sights and attractions. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, you’re sure to find hidden gems or something new and exciting to discover in this fantastic country.

If you’re planning a two-week trip to Thailand, you may wonder whether it’s worth bringing a travel camera . While smartphones like the Huawei P30 Pro have come a long way in terms of camera quality, a dedicated camera like the Sony A7IV camera or a Fujifilm x100f can still offer a number of advantages.

4 days in Phuket itinerary

Phuket is a beautiful island destination in Thailand that is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, cultural attractions, and kickbox sports gyms. As a result, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Phuket.

Here’s a four-day itinerary that will help you make the most of your time in this amazing destination:

Phuket, Thailand itinerary, Day 1:

Start your day with a visit to Cafe del Mar , a stylish beach club that’s known for its amazing views and laid-back atmosphere. Enjoy a delicious breakfast or brunch while soaking up the sun and listening to the soothing sounds of the waves.
After breakfast, head to Monkey Hill , a popular spot for seeing the island’s famous macaque monkeys up close. Be sure to bring some snacks to feed the monkeys, but be careful not to get too close, as they can be aggressive.
In the evening, head to Bangla Road , the heart of Phuket’s vibrant nightlife scene. Here you’ll find a wide range of bars, clubs, and restaurants, as well as street performers and vendors.

Phuket, Thailand itinerary, Day 2:

On your second day, head to Freedom Beach , one of Phuket’s most beautiful and secluded beaches. The beach is only accessible by boat, so be sure to book a tour or hire a longtail boat to take you there. Spend the day relaxing on the beach and swimming in crystal-clear waters. Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, as the sun can be extreme in Phuket.
Head to Kata Rocks Beach Club for a stylish and sophisticated dining experience in the evening. The club offers stunning views of the Andaman Sea , and the menu features a mix of international and local cuisine.

Phuket, Thailand itinerary, Day 3:

Today, visit the Big Buddha Temple , one of Phuket’s most famous and iconic landmarks. The temple is home to a giant statue of the Buddha, which stands 45 meters tall and is visible from many parts of the island.
After exploring the temple, head to the Green Elephant Sanctuary park , where you can learn about and interact with rescued elephants. The park offers a range of educational programs and activities, and it’s a great way to support conservation efforts in Thailand.
In the evening, head back to Bangla Road for another round of nightlife and entertainment. Be sure to try some of the local Thai cuisines , including dishes like pad Thai and green curry.

Phuket, Thailand itinerary, Day 4:

On your final day in Phuket, take some time to relax and unwind. Head to a local spa for a traditional Thai massage, or spend the day lounging on the beach and soaking up the sun.
In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at one of Phuket’s many restaurants. The island has a wide range of culinary options, from street food stalls to high-end restaurants, so you’re sure to find something to suit your taste and budget.

Big Buddha Phuket Thailand Itinerary - Two Weeks in Thailand: A Complete 14-Day Thailand Itinerary

3 days in Phi Pho itinerary

Phi Phi is a small island located in the Andaman Sea, off the coast of Thailand. It is known for its stunning white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, which are popular for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Phi Phi is also known for its beautiful rock formations, which can be seen from the water or explored by boat.

The island is home to several small villages and resorts, as well as many restaurants and bars. In addition to its natural beauty, Phi Phi is also known for its vibrant nightlife, with several lively bars and clubs located along the beach. The island is a popular destination for travelers looking for a relaxing beach vacation, as well as those who enjoy outdoor activities and nightlife.

Here’s a three-day itinerary to help you make the most of your time on the island:

Phi Pho, Thailand itinerary, Day 1:

Start your day by renting a kayak and exploring the island’s many hidden coves and beaches. One of the most popular spots to visit is Monkey Beach , where you can see the island’s famous macaque monkeys up close.
In the evening, head to the fire shows at Loh Dalum Beach . Here you’ll find a wide range of street performers and vendors and amazing fire shows that are sure to impress.
After the fire shows, head to one of Phi Phi’s many beach clubs for a night of music and dancing. The island is known for its vibrant nightlife scene, and there are plenty of options to choose from, whether you’re into EDM, hip-hop, or live bands.

Phi Pho, Thailand itinerary, Day 2:

Today, head out for a scuba dive to explore the underwater world of Phi Phi. The island is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and a wide variety of marine life, and it’s a popular spot for scuba diving and snorkeling.
After diving, head back to the beach for some relaxation and sunbathing. Phi Phi has some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, and there are plenty of options to choose from, whether you’re looking for a secluded spot or a lively party scene.
In the evening, head to one of the many beach parties on the island. Phi Phi is known for its lively nightlife, and there are always plenty of parties and events to choose from, whether you’re into live music, DJ sets, or fire shows.

Phi Pho, Thailand itinerary, Day 3:

On your final day in Phi Phi, Start your day with a visit to Maya Ba y, the iconic location featured in the movie The Beach (Staring Leonardo DiCaprio) . The bay is known for its crystal-clear waters and beautiful white sandy beaches, and it’s a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling.
After your snorkeling adventure, head to the secret beach at pp Princess . This hidden gem is only accessible by boat and offers a secluded and peaceful atmosphere with beautiful white sand and crystal-clear waters.
In the evening, head to the Phi Phi Viewpoint for sunset. The viewpoint offers stunning panoramic views of the island and the surrounding sea, and it’s a popular spot for photography and watching the sunset.

Overall, this three-day itinerary will help you make the most of your time in Phi Phi. From exploring the island’s stunning natural beauty to enjoying its vibrant nightlife, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in this amazing destination. So pack your bags and get ready to experience the beauty and diversity of Phi Phi.

3 days in Koh Samui itinerary

Koh Samui is a popular island destination in Thailand known for its beautiful beaches, clear blue waters, and coconut groves. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand and is known for its laid-back atmosphere and relaxed pace of life. The island is also home to several luxurious resorts, as well as a variety of water sports activities, including snorkeling, diving, and kiteboarding.

Here’s a three-day itinerary that will help you make the most of your time on the island:

Koh Samui, Thailand itinerary, Day 1:

Start your day with a visit to Vikasa Yoga , a popular yoga studio that offers classes for all levels. The studio is located in a beautiful and peaceful setting, and it’s a great way to start your day with some mindfulness and relaxation.
After your yoga class, head to the Lama Viewpoint , which offers stunning panoramic views of the island and the surrounding sea. The viewpoint is a popular spot for photography, and it’s a great place to enjoy the beauty of Koh Samui.
In the afternoon, visit the Wat Phra Vai Temple , a beautiful and historic Buddhist temple located in the island’s capital city of Nathon . The temple is known for its beautiful architecture and intricate details, and it’s a great place to learn about Buddhist culture and history.

Koh Samui, Thailand itinerary, Day 2:

Today, explore Bophut Fishing Village , a charming and picturesque village located on the island’s north coast. The village is known for its laid-back atmosphere and traditional way of life, and it’s a great place to experience local culture and history.
After exploring the village, head to the Namuang Waterfall , one of the island’s most beautiful and popular natural attractions. The waterfall is located in the Namuang Safari Park , and it’s a great spot for swimming and enjoying the natural beauty of Koh Samui.
In the evening, head to the Samui Elephant Sanctuary , a unique and ethical sanctuary for rescued elephants. The sanctuary offers a range of educational programs and activities, and it’s a great way to support conservation efforts and learn about these amazing animals.

Koh Samui, Thailand itinerary, Day 3:

On your final day in Koh Samui, head to Sunset Lipa Noi Beach for some relaxation and sunbathing. The beach is known for its beautiful white sand and crystal-clear waters, and it’s a great spot for swimming and enjoying the sunset.
In the afternoon, visit some of the island’s other popular attractions, such as the Big Buddha Temple, the Na Muang Safari Park , or the Secret Buddha Garden .
In the evening, head to Chaweng Beach , the island’s busiest and most vibrant beach area. Here you’ll find a wide range of restaurants, bars, and clubs, as well as street performers and vendors.

Koh Samui Thailand Itinerary - Two Weeks in Thailand: A Complete 14-Day Thailand Itinerary

2 days in Koh Tao itinerary

Koh Tao, known as “Turtle Island”, is a popular island for divers. It is home to several world-class diving sites that offer the opportunity to see a wide range of marine life, including manta rays, whale sharks, and a variety of colorful fish. In addition to diving, Koh Tao is also known for its beautiful beaches and water sports activities, including snorkeling, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding.

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in the beauty of Koh Tao, then this 2-day itinerary is for you.

Koh Tao, Thailand itinerary, Day 1:

After arriving on Koh Tao, start your day with a scuba diving adventure. The island is known for its crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life, making it a top destination for divers of all skill levels. If you’re a beginner, consider taking a “Discover Scuba Diving”-course to learn the basics. If you’re more experienced, sign up for a guided dive to explore the underwater world.
After diving, take a boat to Koh Nang Yuan , a small island just a short distance from Koh Tao. Here, you can hike to the top of the island for panoramic views of the surrounding area or lounge on the white sandy beaches.
In the evening, go to Fishbowls Beach Bar for some live music and a laid-back atmosphere. This popular spot is known for its lively atmosphere and a great selection of drinks. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the music as you take in the beauty of Koh Tao.

Koh Tao, Thailand itinerary, Day 2:

Start your second day on Koh Tao with a Thai cooking class. This is a great way to learn about the local cuisine and pick up some new cooking skills. You’ll learn how to prepare traditional dishes like pad Thai and green curry, and have the opportunity to sample your creations at the end of the class.
After the cooking class, spend the afternoon exploring the island. Rent a motorbike or a bicycle and make your way around the island, stopping to take in the breathtaking views and visit the local shops and restaurants. You can also visit Mae Haad Pier , the island’s main hub, to see the local fishing boats and learn about the island’s history.
In the evening, take a sunset cruise around the island. You’ll have the opportunity to see the beautiful sunset colors as you sail around Koh Tao. After the cruise, head back to your hotel and get a good night’s sleep, ready for your next adventure on this beautiful island.

Koh Tao beach Thailand Itinerary.jpg - Two Weeks in Thailand: A Complete 14-Day Thailand Itinerary

2 days in Koh Phangan itinerary

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of Koh Phangan, then this 2-day itinerary is for you.

Koh Phangan, Thailand itinerary, Day 1:

After arriving at Koh Phangan, start your day by exploring the island’s natural beauty. Head to Apichada Viewpoint , located on the island’s north side, for panoramic views of the surrounding area. From here, you can see the lush forests, crystal-clear waters, and beautiful beaches that make Koh Phangan a top destination for nature lovers.
Next, make your way to Paradise Waterfall , located in the island’s heart. Here, you can take a refreshing dip in the cool waters, surrounded by the beautiful jungle scenery.
After exploring the waterfall, head to the night market to sample some of the local cuisines and browse the many stalls selling handicrafts, clothing, and other souvenirs.

Koh Phangan, Thailand itinerary, Day 2:

Start your second day on Koh Phangan with a jungle safari. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the island’s lush forests and learn about the local flora and fauna. Your guide will take you to some of the island’s most beautiful spots, including Phasing Waterfall , where you can take a dip in the cool waters and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
After the jungle safari, spend the afternoon relaxing on the beautiful Koh Graham Beach . Located on the island’s east side, this secluded spot is known for its clear waters and laid-back atmosphere. You can lounge on the white sandy beaches, take a dip in the sea, or visit the Koh Graham Beach Bar for a refreshing drink.
In the evening, make your way to the famous Full Moon Party , held on the beach in Haad Rin . This legendary event attracts thousands of people from around the world, and is known for its vibrant atmosphere and incredible music. Dance the night away and experience the unique culture of Koh Phangan.

Koh Phangan Thailand Itinerary - Two Weeks in Thailand: A Complete 14-Day Thailand Itinerary

After two weeks in Thailand, you’ll have experienced the best this beautiful country offers. From the bustling streets of Phuket to the stunning beaches of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, you’ll have had the opportunity to explore the vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and breathtaking natural beauty of Thailand.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, Thailand is a destination that will leave a lasting impression. We hope that this itinerary has provided you with some inspiration and ideas for your own trip to Thailand. Safe travels!

Safe for Later …

Two Weeks in Thailand: A Complete 14-Day Thailand Itinerary

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The Perfect 1, 2 and 3 Week Thailand Itinerary

Last Updated: January 20, 2024

How to make the most of your Thailand itinerary, whether you have 1 week, 2 weeks or 3 weeks, written by an expert!

Thailand is an incredibly diverse country in Southeast Asia that can be explored in any sort of time frame.

But of course, the longer you have to visit Thailand, the better.

From cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai in the north to stunning islands like Koh Phi Phi in the south, any trip to Thailand could be jam-packed.

But having more time to explore means you aren’t rushing around, constantly hopping on flights and buses, and you have more time to stay in one spot and soak it all in before moving on.

Thankfully, Thailand is pretty small, very affordable, and easy to get around.

So if you have one week, two weeks, three weeks, or more, you can easily see different parts of the country without sacrificing too much time and money on travelling around.

You can explore both northern Thailand and the islands of the south easily in just one week, though of course, you can see more exciting things in two or three weeks.

Budget airlines make it very cheap and easy to fly around Thailand, and flights are often only an hour or two.

So even in just one week, you can explore the culture and cuisine of the mainland before jumping on a quick flight down to the islands for some swimming, snorkelling, and kayaking.

In this article, you’ll find three samples for a possible Thailand itinerary.

Of course, these can be modified depending on what you want to see and how much time you actually have.

For example, you could spend all of your time hopping around the islands if you want, or you could spend all of your time up in the mountains and cities of the mainland if you’re not much of a beach person.

You could even spend your entire Thailand trip in one place, or you might feel intrigued to visit places not mentioned in these itineraries.

This article serves more as a guide for those who are visiting Thailand for the first time and are unsure of what they want.

These itineraries will combine a bit of culture in the mainland with a bit of beach time in the islands, so travellers can get a taste of the different parts of Thailand.

Make sure you get your travel insurance before you embark on your Thailand trip. It is pretty much essential.

Table of Contents

2 Days in Chiang Mai

2 days in phuket, 1 day in koh phi phi, 2 days in bangkok, 3 days in chiang mai, the white temple (wat rong khun), the blue temple (wat rong suea ten), 2 days in koh lanta, 2 days in ao nang, octave rooftop bar, scarlett rooftop bar, red sky rooftop bar, 4 days in chiang mai, 2 days in pai, 2 days in chiang rai, 2 days in khao sok national park, 1 day spent travelling from khao sok national park to koh samui., 3 days in koh samui, 7-day thailand itinerary.

This Thailand itinerary is for those who have one week in this beautiful corner of Southeast Asia.

Though a week goes by quickly, it is definitely enough time to dabble in the culture and natural beauty of Thailand.

You’ll most likely fly in and out of Bangkok for any Thailand trip, as this is where most international flights go.

READ MORE: Here’s our guide to the best places to visit in Thailand . You’ll find all these destinations in our Thailand itinerary in there.

As the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok is crazy and crowded but absolutely packed with culture and things to do.

No Thailand itinerary would be complete without at least 2 days in Bangkok .

Some fun activities you can fill your days with include tasting street food on Khao San Road , checking out the massive government buildings in the Dusit District , taking a riverboat tour along the Chao Phraya River , and exploring the local temples.

Here are some notable temples to visit in Bangkok during your Thailand trip.

Wat Pho temple is famous for its giant reclining Buddha.

Location: 2 Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
Hours: 8 am to 6 pm
Cost: 200 Baht

Located in a scenic spot right on the river bank, this temple has a mix of Buddhist and Hindu influences.

Location: 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Bangkok Yai
Cost: 100 Baht

This temple has a massive golden pagoda and is located on top of a man-made hill known as the Golden Mountain

Location: 344 Boriphat Rd, off Ratchadamnoen Klang
Hours: 9 am to 7 pm
Cost: 50 Baht

Probably the most beautiful landmark in Bangkok is the Grand Palace, a huge property filled with glittering temples, incredible statues, towering pagodas, and overall fascinating architecture.

Located inside the Grand Palace is Wat Phra Kaew , one of the most sacred temples in Thailand and home to the Emerald Buddha.

Built in only 1782, the Grand Palace is a true work of art, so travellers should brave the crowds to check out this famous attraction.

Grand Palace Location: Na Phra Lan Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
Hours: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Cost: 500 Baht

After two days of exploring the highlights of Bangkok like Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, fly north to Chiang Mai.

READ MORE: 10 awesome things to do while travelling in Bangkok

Chiang Mai is a bit more relaxed than Bangkok, but there are still plenty of things to do.

This city in northern Thailand has over 300 Buddhist temples and is surrounded by lush jungles.

You can take a Thai cooking class, get a Thai massage, or watch a Muay Thai Boxing match to immerse yourself in the culture of Chiang Mai.

Make sure you taste a traditional Khao Soi, which is a creamy curry and egg noodle dish famous in northern Thailand.

Khao Soi Khun Yai in a cheap and authentic local restaurant in Chiang Mai where you can try a delicious Khao Soi.

If you’re looking for a nice place to stay in Chiang Mai, check out the Floral Hotel at Thapae Gate .

Located right in the Old City and close to all Chiang Mai’s attractions this gorgeous hotel has comfortable rooms, a nice swimming pool, and only costs between 50 and 70 USD per night.

For exactly what there is to see and do there, check out our list of what to do in Chiang Mai .

Once you’re finished with your time in the city, fly from Chiang Mai to Phuket.

After arriving at the Phuket airport on the north of the island, catch a taxi down to the beautiful white sands of Karon Beach.

All-Star Guesthouse is a great place to stay near Karon Beach, as it is a small, cozy, family-run place that is centrally located and very affordable.

For more accommodation options in Phuket, check out this article on all the best places to stay in Phuket for every budget.

Here’s a more detailed article we wrote on how to make the most of your Phuket itinerary .

During your two days in Phuket, you can visit the Big Buddha, go sightseeing in Phuket Old Town, go parasailing at Patong Beach, and watch the sunset from one of the island’s many viewpoints.

Head over to Rassada Pier to take the ferry to Koh Phi Phi, a gem of any Thailand trip.

READ MORE: Add these to your list of things to do in Phuket .

For the last day in your 7 day Thailand itinerary, soak in the picturesque views at Koh Phi Phi.

Koh Phi Phi is actually a chain of three tiny islands, though only one of them, Phi Phi Don , is inhabited.

On Phi Phi Don you can find lots of cheap backpacker hostels, bars, clubs, clothing stores, and souvenir shops.

Make sure you save time for sunbathing next to the turquoise waters of Loh Dalam Bay, and for hiking up to the viewpoint that looks over the whole island.

Koh Phi Phi doesn’t have an airport, so you can either take the ferry back to Phuket and fly out of there, or take the ferry to Krabi on the mainland and fly out of there.

2 Week Thailand Itinerary

This 2 weeks in Thailand itinerary is great for those who can’t take loads of time off work but still want to get a good feel for the country.

Start your 2 weeks in Thailand in Bangkok. If you’ve seen enough during your first day in Bangkok, you can switch things up by taking a day trip out of the city.

The best day trip from Bangkok is visiting Ayutthaya , the former capital of the Siamese Empire.

This ancient city is about 85 km north of Bangkok and was founded in the 14th century.

Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of old but well-preserved temples, monuments, and national parks.

Next on the agenda for 2 weeks in Thailand, fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

READ MORE: 12 awesome things to do while travelling in Bangkok

No 2 weeks in Thailand itinerary is complete without stopping in Chiang Mai.

If you’d like to make a day trip for one of your 3 days in Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park is a great place to go nearby.

Located about 70 km away from Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park is a massive green space filled with temples, local villages, gardens, hiking trails, waterfalls, and lots of peaceful forests.

You can take a songtaew to reach the park from Chiang Mai, which is a red pick-up truck that serves as a collective taxi.

Try and find other travellers to share the ride with you so the overall price becomes cheaper!

Another option is visiting Elephant Nature Park , an elephant rescue sanctuary near Chiang Mai. If you are tempted to see elephants on your Thailand trip, just remember to visit somewhere ethical that protects the animals and forbids riding. Elephant Nature Park is a great place to visit elephants ethically!

Check out this Chiang Mai 3 Day Itinerary for more inspiration on things to do in this charming northern Thai city.

Chiang Rai is next on your 2 weeks in Thailand trip. Take a minibus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. We recommend booking this on the 12go.asia website .

Chiang Rai is a quiet and beautiful city in the north of Thailand. If you have time to visit it on your Thailand trip, definitely do so!

Stroll through the small town centre and chat with friendly locals, or drive up to the northernmost tip of Thailand which is connected to Myanmar by a bridge.

The breathtaking temples are definitely the highlights of Chiang Rai. Make sure you check them out during your 2 weeks in Thailand.

Probably the most visited temple in Chiang Rai, the unique decoration and detail of this whitewashed temple will blow your mind.

Location: 1 Phahonyothin Rd

Slathered in deep blue colours and adorned with Buddhist relics, the Blue Temple is a feast for the eyes.

Location: 306 Maekok Rd
Hours: 7 am to 8 pm

If you’re travelling on a budget, Chiang Rai has lots of really nice and affordable accommodation options.

Connect Hostel has high ratings from travellers and costs only 8-9 USD per night for a dorm room or 37 USD per night for a private room.

Fly from Chiang Rai to Phuket so you can enjoy some of the island destinations during 2 weeks in Thailand!

READ MORE: Learn all about these incredible things to do in Chiang Rai .

Because Phuket is such a mountainous island, there are lots of hilltop restaurants with open views where you can look over the beautiful scenery while you dine.

Head to Heaven Restaurant & Bar for a view over Kata Noi Beach, the Palace Restaurant and Sky Lounge for a view over Patong Beach, or Tung Ka Café for a view over Phuket Town.

Or take a day trip to the James Bond Island, located in Phanga Nga Bay.

Next on your 2 weeks in Thailand itinerary, take the ferry from Phuket’s Rassada Pier down to Koh Lanta.

Koh Lanta is an island in the Andaman Sea that is far less touristy than some of Thailand’s other islands.

Snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, diving and sunbathing are all incredible here as there are few crowds to distract from the tropical scenery.

Explore the natural phenomenon of the Emerald Cave, stroll through the tiny and rustic Old Town, or go hiking in the Mu Ko Lanta National Park.

A gorgeous place to stay in Koh Lanta during 2 weeks in Thailand is the Crown Lanta Resort and Spa (has recently been renamed to Avani Plus Koh Lanta Krabi Resort).

Read the full, NOMADasaurus detailed review of this luxury hotel here .

Take the ferry from Koh Lanta to Ao Nang to finish off 2 weeks in Thailand.

Ao Nang is relaxing and quaint, but still leaves travellers awestruck with its towering limestone cliffs and postcard-worthy beaches.

Railay Beach is the most popular attraction here, and you can hop on a cheap long tail boat from Ao Nang Beach to reach this little cove of cliffs and turquoise water.

Ao Nang is ideal for rock climbing enthusiasts, as the abundance of massive, jagged rocks makes for challenging but rewarding climbing spots.

You can also hike Hang Mak Mountain or go zip lining over the jungle for a bit of excitement.

Any 2 week Thailand itinerary must include a day of snorkelling or diving.

Ao Nang is an amazing place for snorkelling or diving as the water is warm and clean and there is lots of wildlife thriving in the area.

After an action-packed 2 days in Ao Nang and 2 weeks in Thailand fly from Krabi back to Bangkok to catch your departing international flight.

READ MORE: Add these to your list of things to do in Ao Nang .

3 Week Thailand Itinerary

A 3 week Thailand itinerary is great for those who really want to explore the stunning country Thailand.

Aside from the big cities, you’ll get to visit small towns, national parks, and islands in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. A 3 week itinerary is ideal!

3 Days in Bangkok

Between checking out the tourist attractions and taking a day trip to Ayutthaya, you’ll have an incredible 3 days in Thailand’s capital city.

An awesome activity in Bangkok is visiting a rooftop bar in a giant skyscraper, with a panoramic view of the city.

Outside of the Old Town, Bangkok is super modern and cosmopolitan, so it can be fun to treat yourself to a nice cocktail or meal overlooking the metropolis.

Keep in mind that most rooftop bars are classy and have a dress code, so try to dress fancier than usual.

Here are some of the best rooftop bars in Bangkok, all of which sell high-quality food and beverages and have a crazy view of the city sprawled below.

Location: 45th floor, Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, 2 Ban Kluai Nuea Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Hours: 5 pm to 1:30 am
Location: 37th floor, Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, 188 Silom Rd, Khwaeng Suriya Wong, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500
Hours: 5 pm to 12 am
Location: 55th floor, Centara Grand at CentralWorld, 999/99 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Hours: 5 pm to 1 am

For additional things to do in Bangkok, consider checking out the Airplane Graveyard or celebrating Songkran , the Buddhist New Year, in the city.

Next on your 3 week itinerary, fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

With an extra day in Chiang Mai, you have time to take another day trip out of the city to explore the surrounding nature.

One of the coolest places to visit near Chiang Mai is the Sticky Waterfall, or “Bua Tong Waterfall” located in the Jedsee Fountain Forest Park.

Here you can climb the vertical waterfall using just your hands and feet because the rocks are coated with rough mineral deposits so they aren’t slippery. It’s one of the most amazing day trips from Chiang Mai.

Spend a few hours here swimming, splashing, climbing, and having a picnic (there aren’t any shops in this remote area near Chiang Mai so bring your own food and drinks!).

After your 4 days in Chiang Mai, take a minibus to Pai.

Pai is a relaxing jungle paradise where backpackers love to chill out and spend quality time with nature.

There are so many natural wonders to explore near Pai, such as the Pambok Waterfall, the Tham Lod Caves full of stalactites and stalagmites, the soothing Tha Pai Hot Springs, and the massive Pai Canyon.

Rent a scooter for a couple of days and enjoy the freedom of zooming through the jungle, and stroll through the local walking street market at night for some cheap local street food.

Spend your two nights in Pai at one of the local backpacker hostels.

Tribal Pai Backpackers is a great choice for accommodation because it is social and fun, but a bit less crazy than a party hostel.

A dorm here costs as little as 4 USD per night, and private rooms are about 33 USD per night. Accommodation can be super cheap when you visit Thailand!

Catch a minibus from Pai to Chiang Rai .

READ MORE: Add these to your list of things to do in Pai .

If you haven’t yet taken a cooking class in Thailand, Chiang Rai is a great place to do it.

You can book a full-day cooking class that starts with a tour of the local market to pick up fresh ingredients.

Then you can learn all about the rich flavours and simple techniques of Thai cuisine and eat all the delicious food you cook.

This is a great insight into the culture of Thailand, so you should definitely try and squeeze a cooking class into a 3 week Thailand itinerary.

Fly from Chiang Rai to Phuket.

After spending a decent amount of time soaking in the sun on Phuket’s pristine beaches, entertain yourself by watching a famous ladyboy cabaret show.

A ladyboy performance is a must-see when you visit Thailand.

Phuket’s Simon Cabaret was established in 1991, and now hosts some of the best cabarets in the country.

Ladyboy cabarets consist of drag queens wearing fantastic costumes and putting on a show full of dancing, acting, lip-syncing, sometimes real singing, and a whole lot of energy and pizazz.

Take the ferry from Phuket to Ao Nang .

In addition to the outdoor activities mentioned in the 2 week Thailand itinerary, you can try to explore a little more of the islands surrounding Ao Nang by doing an island hopping tour.

A 3 week Thailand itinerary still can’t cover all of the country’s stunning islands, so a guided day tour by speedboat is a great way to pack lots of cool places into a short time.

On a day tour, you’ll see gorgeous beaches, huge cliffs, snorkelling sights, and just a lot of mind-blowing natural beauty.

Then, add another epic place to your 3 week itinerary and take a shuttle from Ao Nang to Khao Sok National Park .

Khao Sok National Park is an oasis of serenity and scenery that looks like it came out of a fairy tale. It’s often a highlight for those who visit Thailand.

Dense jungle, hanging vines, limestone cliffs, caves, rivers, lakes, animals and insects are just a few of the things you’ll find here.

You can go hiking and kayaking, or take a boat tour through the park, or just relax and soak in the serenity from your lakeside wooden bungalow.

Cheow Lan Lake is the most beautiful area to stay in, but you can also stay in the Khao Son Riverside if you don’t want to be so deep in the jungle.

Travelling from Khao Sok National Park over to Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand can be done by some combination of shuttle and minibus, but you’ll have to dedicate one full day to the trip.

The transport prices are usually very cheap, but it will take quite a while since you have to cross the Malay Peninsula.

After reaching the ferry port on the eastern side of the peninsula, just hop on a ferry and make your way to Koh Samui!

Check out this website for planning your trip.

Spend the last 3 days of your 3 week Thailand itinerary relaxing on the white sands of Koh Samui .

Chaweng Beach, Lamai Beach, and Choeng Mon Beach are the three most popular beaches on Koh Samui and they all offer beautiful scenery and turquoise water for swimming.

Koh Samui is the second-largest island in Thailand, so there is plenty to do here in addition to just being a beach bum.

Head to the north of the island to check out the Big Buddha and the night markets, including Fisherman’s Village Street Market, held every Friday from 5 pm to 11 pm.

Take a fruit carving class or visit the Secret Buddha Garden, full of mysterious statues and peaceful forest.

Definitely spend one of your days in Koh Samui taking a day trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park.

This protected area consists of 42 little islands, and you can only visit by government approved tour boat.

There are lots of affordable day tours that can bring you into the park and take you hiking, snorkelling, kayaking, and exploring throughout the diverse and impressive national marine park.

Other things to do in Koh Samui include visiting Koh Tao for snorkeling or Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party. Both Koh Tao and Koh Phangan can be visited as day trips via local boat.

If you have even more than 3 weeks in Thailand, you can continue exploring Koh Tao and Koh Phangan for even longer, as there are plenty of fun things to do here.

If your Thailand trip is coming to a close after Koh Samui, fly back to Bangkok to catch your departing international flight.

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Gabby Boucher

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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Thailand Travel Guide

From tropical islands and flavourful cuisine to stunning temples and famed martial arts — Thailand is a traveler's paradise!

Best time to visit Thailand

Best places to visit in thailand, 8 best things to do in krabi, thailand, phu langka: thailand’s best sunrise viewpoint in phayao national park, 10 best things to do in pai (2024 travel guide), 13 best things to do in bangkok, map of thailand, weather in thailand.

Thailand has warm, tropical weather for most of the year but is generally split into three main seasons: hot, cool, and wet. The cool season, running from November to February, is the best time to visit Thailand, when temperatures drop to a nice 25 - 28 °C.

North Thailand

13 best things to do in chiang mai, thailand, 10 best things to do in chiang rai, thailand, doi inthanon national park: best things to do on your visit, visiting the elephant nature park in chiang mai, northern thailand: the ultimate 2-week itinerary, south thailand, 17 best things to do in phuket, thailand, koh lipe: a guide to thailand’s paradise island, tour to khao sok national park: thailand’s ultimate hidden gem, khao sok national park and the floating bungalows, 7 best things to do on koh lanta, thailand, great experiences, co van kessel: the best tour of bangkok by bike, how to plan a trip, best travel insurances.

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How to plan your trip our tips

Why is Thailand worth visiting?

Thailand, nicknamed ‘the land of smiles’, is a tropical nation home to friendly locals, powdery-white sand beaches, lush jungles, serene temples, and sprawling cities. Home to diverse landscapes that span from north to south, travelers can do everything from rafting among deep canyons to diving among colorful marine life on paradise islands.

Is Thailand cheap to visit?

Thailand remains one of the most affordable destinations in Asia, offering visitors the chance to stay in fantastic accommodations for a fraction of the price you’d find in Europe. It’s also a country famous for street food, meaning you can find cheap and delicious eats for $2-3!

Can I drink tap water in Thailand?

Although drinking tap water in Bangkok is considered safe, it is not recommended for other destinations in Thailand. However, there are plenty of other great options to stay hydrated! Choose an eco-friendly option, using a reusable water bottle with an in-built filter system or refilling at restaurants with filtered water.

Do I need a visa for traveling in Thailand?

Great news! Most travelers can explore Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days — for free! If your stay is more than 30 days, you’ll need to apply for a Tourist Visa online.

Tip: Check your country’s entry requirements well in advance, as some places are subject to stricter visa rules.

What language do they speak in Thailand?

In Thailand, people speak Thai, a tonal language with a distinct alphabet. Because it is very different from most Western languages, it can be hard to pronounce, but it’s worth learning a few phrases to connect with the warm local people as you travel.

Do I need travel insurance for Thailand?

Travel insurance is an absolute must in Thailand! It protects you against unexpected events, whether that’s a flight cancellation, lost luggage, or medical care. Jump on that scooter, cliff-jump at the beach, or white water raft without care!

Is Thailand safe?

While Thailand is generally very safe, some petty crime does occur, especially in bigger cities like Bangkok. It’s always good to exercise caution by leaving any valuables at home and keeping an eye on your belongings. However, in general, Thailand’s warm hospitality means you can explore worry-free!

What power plug type does Thailand have?

Thailand uses plug types A and B (also used in the USA) and C (standard for Europe), which means there’s a high chance you won’t need an adaptor. If you need an adaptor, you can easily buy one at the airport or stores throughout Thailand.

Why do people love Thailand?

Thailand is loved worldwide for its diverse landscapes, fantastic island-hopping, friendly locals, and excellent food. Whether you’re looking for buzzing night markets in Chiang Mai, motorbike mountain adventures in Pai, or marine adventures off the coast of Krabi, Thailand will delight every traveler.

Travel to Thailand

Thailand is world-famous for its warm culture, delicious food, nightlife, and scenic landscapes. Travelers who choose to vacation in Thailand have a world of choice at their feet, from world-famous temples and island retreats to impressive waterfalls and dramatic gorges.

How to Plan Your Trip to Thailand

Follow our Thailand travel guides to plan the trip of a lifetime! The country is great for backpacking because of its affordable and lively destinations, but it’s also perfect for those looking for island resorts and luxury vacations. Whatever you’re after, we’ve got you covered, whether you’re looking to discover the best places in Thailand or want to follow a 7-day Thailand itinerary in the south of the country.

Staying for longer? 2 Weeks in Thailand (from Bangkok to the north) provides the ultimate mix of culture, adventure, and stunning nature.

Best Time to Visit Thailand

Planning the perfect vacation in Thailand? Find out about the climate in Thailand to choose the best time to explore the Land of Smiles!

Hot Season (April-October): Instead of dry, Thailand sees a hot season when temperatures surge to over 30 degrees. April is known as the hottest month in Thailand, and these temperatures are most noticeable in the north, with locations such as Chiang Mai being the hottest (up to 37 °C).

Wet Season (November-March) : Thailand thanks its lush tropical scenery to the rainy (monsoon) season, with the heaviest rainfall in September/October. For most of these months, it doesn’t rain the entire day (just a few hours in the afternoon). The rest of the day is sunny, leaving plenty of room to relax on the beautiful beaches. It’s also a good time for backpacking in Thailand as it’s more affordable with fewer crowds.

Cool Season: The temperatures in Thailand drop to a nice 25 – 28 °C across the country from November to February, with fresh air and less humidity. This period is the best time to visit Thailand. However, this is also the high season, bringing more crowds and slightly higher prices.

Tip: Avoid visiting Chiang Mai and Pai between January – March, as they experience the so-called ‘burning season’. During this time, there’s a lot of pollution in the air from fires burned on neighboring farmland.

Coastlines and Beaches in Thailand

Thailand is rightly famous for its fantastic beaches, most of which are located on the southern tip of the country. These are some of the best places to visit in Thailand, home to golden sand beaches bordered by cliffs in buzzing towns like Krabi and Phuket . Whether you want to enjoy the coastal nightlife, go rock climbing, or simply relax, there’s a beach for every type of traveler.

For true paradise, head to the hundreds of stunning islands off the mainland, where you’ll find white sand, coconut palms, and turquoise water. Choose places like Koh Lipe , which is almost car-free, and spend your days walking around the island or snorkeling off the shore. A truly memorable spot on your vacation in Thailand is the iconic Koh Phi Phi, used as the setting for the Hollywood film ‘The Beach’.

Food, Culture, and Religion in Thailand

Nicknamed the ‘Land of Smiles’ because of its warm and friendly locals, Thailand travel is simply bliss.

Religion: Part of its friendly nature is down to the religion practiced in Thailand; the country has a predominantly Buddhist population. The philosophy of Buddhism is centered on enlightenment and morality, a good explanation for the kind and courteous manner of Thai people. Not only this, but you’ll find tens of thousands of intricately decorated Buddhist temples and shrines around the country, from the exquisite white temples of Chiang Rai to the giant Big Buddha statue that towers over Phuket.

Food: Thai cuisine is one of the most loved in the world, offering delicious noodle dishes such as the famous Pad Thai and spicy red and green curry delights. The street food scene is huge in Thailand, and wandering the night markets sampling barbecued pork skewers, coconut curry soups, and papaya salads is one of the best things to do in Thailand .

Culture: The culture in Thailand is expressed in a myriad of ways — through dance, colorful clothing, flowers, festivals, and even tattoos. The Buddhist culture means that friendly locals conduct themselves in a respectful manner at all times, so you’ll never see them expressing extreme emotions. Senior people and elders are highly respected, and you’ll often see people with palms together and bowed heads as a sign of admiration.

Why You Should Travel to Thailand

With such beautiful culture, people, and landscapes, a vacation in Thailand is hard to beat. The nation and its people’s smiles are infectious, and with so much to explore, it’s easy to return again and again.

Thailand’s coastline and paradise islands are the real drawcard for travelers, with people whiling away weeks on end lounging under the palms, drinking coconuts, and drifting on traditional Thai longtail boats between picture-perfect islands. These southern islands are some of the best places to visit in Thailand . However, if you prefer luscious nature and cultural delights, head for the verdant rice paddies, powerful waterfalls, and golden temple complexes of northern Thailand.

Whatever you’re looking for on your Thailand holiday, you’ll find it among the diverse regions, whether that’s enjoying a relaxing Thai massage, canyoning among deep gorges, or hiking to epic viewpoints for sunset.

Safety and Travel Advice in Thailand

Travelers who want to vacation in Thailand, the Land of Smiles in Southeast Asia, should take the necessary precautions to enjoy a safe trip. The following information helps visitors get the most out of their journey.

*Please note that certain provinces are not recommended to travel because of terrorist risk. Please check your government website before travel for up-to-date information.

Natural Disasters: Although natural disasters happen infrequently in Thailand, the country is prone to earthquakes and heavy flooding. Especially in the wet season, stay informed by registering with your embassy to receive emergency updates on your trip.

Crime and safety in Thailand: While Thailand is generally safe, petty theft can happen. Exercise caution by keeping valuables secure and leaving any important belongings at home. Like any destination, we recommend avoiding isolated areas at night and sticking to well-lit spots with more people.

Learn more about travel safety

Traffic in Thailand: Traffic in Thailand can be chaotic, and the country does have a high rate of motorbike and scooter accidents. Although it’s very normal to rent transport like this for your trip, always wear a helmet and protective clothing, and ensure you have travel insurance. During the rainy season, be aware of road conditions, as the tarmac can be slippery.

Cultural Sensitivity: Thailand has a very respectful and polite culture, so please always follow local customs, be that wearing appropriate clothing or asking permission to take photos of locals.

Drugs and Drinking: Thailand has very strict drug laws, some of which can see you imprisoned for possession of small amounts of substances. Even more severe, possession of Class A drugs can lead to a punishment of the death penalty.

Spiking of drinks is known to occur in party towns and very touristy places. Always be aware of your glass and consider purchasing a drink cover to protect yourself at larger parties like the Full Moon in Koh Pha Ngan.

Travel Insurance: One of the most important things you need to do before your Thailand holiday is purchase travel insurance. Although Thailand is generally safe, there is potential for accidents – for example, an injury, canceled flight, or lost baggage. Check out these best travel insurances .

10 Days in Chiang Mai, Thailand – Trip Report

Chiang Mai has become one of my favourite cities to visit in Southeast Asia…but I didn’t always feel that way.

The last time I was in Chiang Mai was November of 2015. I was at the end of a long trip, wasn’t feeling well, and my time in CM was rushed. So I wasn’t in the best space to fall in love with the city that so many seem to adore. I liked it, but decided to reserve my judgment on this northern capital until I could return with the right mindset and plenty of time to explore.

Fast forward three years. I returned to Chiang Mai a few months ago, this time for ten days. I had nothing in particular on my schedule, nothing I had to do; I could sink my teeth into Chiang Mai and truly immerse myself in all of CM’s northern Thai goodness.

Another difference? This time I was visiting with Angela, who was exploring Asia for the first time, so I was thrilled to show her around. I love Southeast Asia as if it’s my home away from home. Every time my plane touches down at Suvarnabhumi I feel comfortable. Happy . Like eating a really good home-cooked meal. I wanted to share this incredible place with her, and we had a whole month to do it, starting with Chiang Mai, then moving on to Koh Samui, Bangkok, and Siem Reap.

Sadly, she had to work for most our time in Chiang Mai, leaving me to explore the city mostly on my own. But I’m good on my own, I’m used to it, and we would get to catch up every night.

So here it is – the full 2018 CM trip report. It’s longer than my other posts (much longer, so grab a Singha and settle in), but I’ve always enjoyed the epic, detailed TRs that so many others have shared through the years, so I am happy to provide one as well. Enjoy!

We started the trip off with one of the few activities we could do together – a trip up to Doi Suthep. We woke up just after 5 am in the hopes we would catch the sunrise at the top (we didn’t – it turns out you need to be about a half hour earlier than we were). Despite that, we had a fantastic time exploring one of Chiang Mai’s best known attractions. It was a perfect way to set the tone for our time in CM.

I won’t hit you with all the details, as I covered this journey in this post . Having said that, we really enjoyed the tranquility of being there early in the morning, and I loved all of the golden Buddhas, shrines, and monks chanting. I am not religious, but I do enjoy learning about other cultures and I find Thai culture and Buddhism in general fascinating.

If you’re on the fence about visiting Doi Suthep, just go. It’s a gorgeous spot, and a unique experience, even for seasoned temple-goers. One piece of advice – go early so you can avoid the crowds and enjoy the serenity of the mountain-top temple before it becomes overrun. Doi Suthep is known for having horrendous crowds, especially during the middle of the day during peak season. Like so many attractions in Thailand, your enjoyment may come down to your timing.

We returned to our hotel in late morning, which was perfect timing as it was starting to heat up outside. Some aircon and a good Thai meal couldn’t have come sooner. We were staying at the Duangtuwan, a centrally located hotel on Loi Kroh Road near the Night Bazaar.

The Duangtuwan is a bit dated, but it’s a reasonably nice spot to spend a week and a half, and the pool is absolutely fantastic. There’s a laundry place across the street, plenty of restaurants, bars, and massage places nearby, and no shortage of things to do. You can walk to the Night Bazaar in five minutes, and the Old City in about twenty-five, so it’s a nice spot to be. If it’s too hot to walk there are always a heap of songthaews (red trucks) and tuk tuks around to give you a ride.

Just be sure to negotiate clearly and firmly with drivers – I found their rates to be cheaper than Bangkok or on the islands, but they’re also prone to “misunderstandings”. On two different occasions I had drivers pretend like we negotiated something different than we did – be sure to be very clear from the beginning so there’s little room for misinterpretation.

That night we went wandering around the neighbourhood and checked out the Night Bazaar, a spot we would return to a few times as it was just a few minutes from the Duangtuwan. Here you’ll find loads of good food, as well as miles of touristy trinkets, loud music, and cheap beer. It’s a fun, active spot to kill a bit of time.

We ate, people watched, explored. One thing I’ve always loved about night markets in Thailand is the activity, the smell of the food, the colour of the lights. It’s an assault on the senses.

We didn’t stay out too late, as this was our first day in Asia and we were feeling a bit of jet lag, so we took it relatively easy and zipped back to the hotel before midnight. We hit the bed only to find it hard as steel. I’m not kidding – Thais appreciate a hard bed, but this thing was the hardest I’d ever slept on. I didn’t even know you could make a mattress that hard. Regardless, we were exhausted, so sleep came relatively easy…so did back pain the next morning.

I love to walk and explore when I’m on the road. I can walk for hours just checking out neighbourhoods, taking pictures, getting the lay of the land. I like to do this early in my stay so it gives me context for what’s in the area around where I’m staying. So day two was really an exploratory day.

Around the Duangtuwan there are a ton of services, and we had already taken a walk down Loi Kroh Road towards the old city, so we knew what was available to us down that way (restaurants, laundries, bars, massage places, and of course, a 7-Eleven).

I decided to head in the opposite direction, east towards Charoen Prathet Road and the Ping River. I was actually doing double duty, as there’s a Super Rich money exchange place on Charoen Prathet, and I needed to trade some Canadian cash for some baht. Super Rich is the place to go if you want to change money in Chiang Mai – they usually have the best rates, and they have locations sprinkled throughout the city.

I got my money changed and headed back towards the river. The Ping is not the nicest river you’ll come across, but it’s a tranquil, quiet spot to wander a bit. Loi Kroh and the area around the Night Bazaar can be busy, whereas the Ping River, just a few minutes away, is relatively deserted.

I wandered north (left) on Lamphun Road, staying on the riverside. The breeze made the heat bearable, but I could feel the humidity building. A quick glance to the sky told me that rain was definitely on the way.

I took another left, turning west onto Charoen Muang, crossing the river again.

As you come back into the heart of the city there’s a great arch / gate that greets you. The hills in the background and dark skies made for a dramatic setting.

I must have looked hot and sweaty at this point because every few minutes a tuk tuk driver or songthaew pulled over to ask if I needed a ride. One guy in particular was absolutely convinced that I wasn’t going to make it without the sudden and immediate intervention of a songthaew lift. He cut in front of me and proceeded to argue at length about why I needed his assistance.

“So hot,” he said. “You need ride. You not make it.”

“I’ll make it.”

“You hot and sweaty. Look at you.”

“Thanks for your concern, but I’m a Canadian in Thailand, I’m always hot and sweaty.”

I kept walking. He followed me for a half a block and then finally gave up, but not before yelling back at me:

“You not make it!”

I wandered into the courtyard at the Tha Pae gate and watched as tourists fed pigeons. It was pretty quiet, but I’ve always liked this little corner of the city.

On this trip I wanted to explore beyond just the basics when it came to Chiang Mai, so on day three I decided to take a run out to Huay Tueng Thao, a lake and recreation area about thirty-five minutes outside the city.

I had heard Huay Tueng Thao was a busy spot on the weekends, with scores of Chiang Mai residents making the trek in order to beat the heat. I made a deal with a songthaew driver, and got out there early on a weekday, which turned out to be perfect as there was no one around. In comparison to busy CM, it was peaceful, relaxing, and I loved every minute of it – there’s never anything wrong with having a gorgeous lake, trees, and miles of nature all to yourself.

The lake boasts dozens of lakeside cabana style spots where you can base yourself for the day. Vendors come down to your dock and serve you food and drink – it’s all very laid back. I spent about an hour sitting at the end of one of the docks, feeling the heat wash over me as a light breeze made its way across the lake. Birds sang, fish jumped…it was absolutely idyllic.

Pulling myself off the dock, I explored the outside of the lake. It’s a perfect area to go for a walk / run / cycle, as there’s a good ring road that loops around the lake. Along the way you can check out an impressive golden Buddha, rice paddies, and of course, a gigantic hay gorilla (because why wouldn’t you have a gigantic hay gorilla?).

This thing was impressive, and my penchant for sci-fi nerdiness had me well trained not to look away from this seemingly ill-tempered gorilla. The whole situation felt way too much like a Kong: Skull Island situation for me to allow my guard down.

I extricated myself from the area unscathed just as a large cycling group whipped past on the ring road. If I lived in CM, this place would definitely make its way into my regular routine.

The songthaew driver took me back to the city, where I was happy to find some aircon. The heat was rising, so a break from the heat was welcome. I took a shower, processed a few pics from the morning, and then went out to meet Angela once she was set free from her work.

We went out for dinner at Lemongrass, a restaurant that became one of our favourites in CM. It’s less than a ten minute walk from the Duangtuwan, just up the road from the Hard Rock Hotel by the Night Bazaar.

Lemongrass has an avid following with both locals and tourists. I noticed many times during our visit that the restaurant next door was almost always empty but Lemongrass was always packed.

Out front they have a great sign:

They have delicious Thai food for excellent prices. The service is fast – those servers really move. It’s a no frills kind of place, with a funky vibe. Graffiti on the walls adds a bit of colour, and it’s always a good spot to people watch. There’s no aircon, so be prepared if you’re visiting on a really hot day.

I had a bowl of khao soi (tasty, but not the best in CM – more on this later) and Angela went for the chicken pad thai. Happy and fed, we wandered around the Night Market a bit and then called it a day.

The next day I had the opportunity to join Angela on an excursion up to Mae Sa Mai in the Mae Rim District north of the city. I’m planning a full post on that visit, so watch for an expanded post on this topic – that’s how much of an impression the village made on me.

Mae Sa Mai is reached via a steep, winding, and sometimes very tricky road. Navigating our way upwards into the hills, I was in awe of the landscape, the lush green trees interspersed with terraced rice paddies and gardens creating rich visuals that felt quintessentially Southeast Asian.

Mae Sa Mai was unlike any hill tribe village I’ve ever visited. It’s not built for tourists – it’s a real local village, and it was a privilege to have the opportunity to visit. We met some fantastic people – here are a few portraits from the day:

People were amazingly welcoming. This girl was the first face we saw as we entered the village:

The kids were having a good time…

And my favourite – this firecracker of a woman who had to be a hundred years old if she was a day.

Even in a small village like this one you could find someone cooking up some tasty chicken and noodle dishes.

We walked through the village, taking the afternoon to explore and interact with the locals. It’s the most authentic experience I’ve had in one of these settings.

Although the trip was a fantastic way to learn about Thai hill tribe culture – and explore some of the gorgeous Mae Rim area – it was a stupid kind of hot and we were exhausted after a seriously long day. This was part of an excursion through Angela’s work, so when they announced we were heading back to the bus, I was happy to get a break from the sun. It turned out it wouldn’t have mattered – just as we got on the bus the skies opened and a heavy, tropical rain battered us the whole way back down.

We stopped at an orchid farm where they had a set dinner put out for us. I didn’t have high expectations – after all, how many orchid farms are known for their cuisine – but the meal was delicious! I think I was over-tired or over-hungry, or both. Regardless, these orchid farmers knew how to cook. I had a huge bottle of Singha and a mix of stir fry, chicken with black bean sauce, some kind of fish, and some rice. Delish.

After dinner the bus headed back to the city, where we dragged ourselves into the Duangtuwan and crashed.

When I travel I often give myself a quest. In Las Vegas it was to find the best hot dog in the city ; in Paris I hunted for the crepe of champions; and here my goal was to find the ultimate bowl of khao soi. For the uninitiated, khao soi is a northern Thai dish that features a mix of deep fried and boiled egg noodles in a curry-like soup made with coconut milk. There are usually mustard greens, chilies, shallots, and lime included, as well as chicken. To me, khao soi is perfection in a bowl – it’s rich, spicy, and filling, usually for a few dollars or less.

On this day, my fourth in the city, I found the winner. I didn’t have much on the agenda, so I decided to go find a place I had heard about called Khao Soi Islam.

Khao Soi Islam is in a small muslim area where few tourists venture. It’s located on Charoen Prathet Alley 1, off Changklan Road (about a 15 minute walk from the Duangtuwan). Wandering around, I was glad I could find it on the GPS on my phone, otherwise I would have missed it completely.

I entered the restaurant. Busy servers zipped past me, people came and went, and I wasn’t sure what to do! No one offered to seat me, so I figured I should seat myself. I sat at the front, where I could watch the road. A server came over quickly and I asked her a question – no response. In this restaurant – and this part of town – don’t expect western comforts or people to be greeting you in English. I found what I thought was probably khao soi on the menu and pointed to it. I held my finger up – one. “Chicken,” I added, hoping to be understood. She nodded and headed off to put in my order.

While waiting I saw a couple of plates of tasty satay with peanut sauce go by. My mouth was watering.

A few minutes later, this is what arrived:

The ingredients were fresh, the curry / coconut soup was delicious, and the noodles and chicken were perfect. The kicker? This tasty concotion cost a grand total of 60 baht, or just less than $2 USD!

I am willing to bet I had half a dozen different bowls of khao soi while in town. While Khao Soi Islam took the top spot, there were many others worth mentioning – Lemongrass makes a mean khao soi, as does the Teak Baan Sathong on Loi Kroh Road. I had a pretty good bowl at Krua Dabb Lob in the old city in the middle of a rainstorm, so it was definitely comfort food as I sat and watched people running around getting drenched. There’s something sadistic about enjoying a hot meal and a cold beer while others are dodging raindrops the size of cataloupes, but that’s life. I had a great time.

As for the khao soi quest? There was one place that came highly recommended to me, but I never got to – Khao Soi Khun Yai. I’ve heard their khao soi is ridiculously good. I’ll save that for next time.

Day six was a Sunday, which meant the famous Sunday Night Market was on tap. I didn’t do much in the morning – had my buffet breakfast at the Duangtuwan, went for a swim, got a massage (I know, tough life, right?), and then did a bit of writing before making my way down to the Old City.

I walked down to the Tha Pae Gate, a good starting point for the market. As light gave way to darkness the square in front of the gate was getting busier and busier. A group of demonstrators was creating quite a fuss in front of the gate, making their case for everyone to stop eating meat.

Leaving the articulate vegans in my wake, I passed through the Tha Pae Gate and jumped into the market.

Ten feet down the main strip, I could feel my personal space evaporate. Shoulder to shoulder, I floated along with the crowd, taking in the myriad stalls selling trinkets, clothes, food, and just about anything you can imagine. Musicians entertained, glassblowers blew, and hawkers hawked. The atmosphere was electric; I found I had to keep my head on a swivel in order to take it all in.

There was no shortage of craftsmen and artists, their wares on display for the world to see.

I was texting Angela, hoping she might get sprung from her work commitment so she could join me, when the skies opened up.

I was lucky – when the storm hit I happened to standing right in front of a bar. I quickly grabbed a stool near the front, ordered a large Singha, and kicked back. The rain that came was heavy, bouncing up a foot or more after hitting the pavement. Watching everyone scurry away and race to cover their stalls was entertaining; it was also amazing – these people were not rookies when it came to dodging precipitation. In no time plastic sheets and makeshift roofs covered the entire market.

I thought the rain would die off after a bit, but it was stubborn. One beer turned into three, and when there was no sign that things would improve, I dug into my backpack, found a rain poncho I had packed for just such an occasion, and geared up. I walked through the downpour back to the hotel, about a half hour walk. I could have taken a songthaew or tuk tuk but instead decided to enjoy the rain – there’s just something about sloshing around in a rain storm when you have nowhere particular to be and you’re well past that point of worrying about getting wet.

I laughed as I was almost back to the hotel – some of the massage girls along Loi Kroh hadn’t given up, despite the rain. Soaked to the skin, blue poncho covering me, they called out, “hey, you handsome man!”. I was chuffed to know that despite looking like a drowned sheep dog, I was still a handsome man. Now, I know they would call me a “handsome man” if my hair were on fire and my face covered in bees, but I took it, the ego boost a good way to end my night.

The next day was a temple day. It’s easy to hit your threshold when it comes to temples in Chiang Mai – there are literally dozens worth a visit, and it’s not unusual to stroll down the street and happen upon one that hadn’t been on your radar.

I woke up early, went for a swim, and packed up my camera gear. It was a crazy hot day, so I hit the road early, walking down to the old city. I was going to spend a bit of time at Wat Chedi Luang in the hopes of taking part in their “Talk With a Monk” program, but along the way I got sidetracked, as I often do.

First up was Wat Pan On, an easy stop along the way, as it’s just a few minutes down Ratchadamnoen Road from the Tha Pae Gate. It was early, so when I arrived a small row of vendors were just setting up their stalls, mostly crafts and a few carved items. I bought some coconut wood ladles and spoons as gifts because I thought they looked unique.

Wat Pan On is a cool little temple in the middle of the old city. I had walked through the grounds while the Night Market was on, but it had been packed; on this morning it was quiet, and there were only a handful of others exploring and paying their respects.

There were workers busily erecting something next to the large gold chedi that dominates the square there, so I couldn’t find an angle to photograph it, but there’s plenty to see if you take a few minutes to walk around at Wat Pan On.

Making my way down the street, I wandered into a temple which I later learned was Wat Sumpow. There was no one around – this one obviously wasn’t on the tour bus route. I love the Thai style of architecture found throughout the city (and the country, for that matter).

I was testing out a new wide lens on this little excursion and I was happy with how it performed. Sometimes it’s tough to get the width of these temples because they’re confined in tight spaces – hence the wider lens, which I came to love on this trip.

Walking down the street and taking a left on Prapokkloa Road, I stopped for a short visit at Wat Phantao, a beautiful teak wood temple. It stands in the shadow of Wat Chedi Luang, so many tourists skip it, but it’s worth a few minutes.

Constructed between 1385 and 1402, this massive ancient temple is one of Chiang Mai’s most well-known attractions. This means, like with Doi Suthep, it’s best to get there early. Despite all my stops along the way, I was hitting the temple by about eleven o’clock, which was early enough to dodge most of the crowds.

The grounds are huge, and there’s a large, new temple at the entrance, which is certainly worth a visit, but most travelers (I am guessing), are here to see the main temple in the courtyard. As the skies were dark, it was the perfect time to capture that powerful “end of the world” type visual that I love to take advantage of when the conditions are right…

After about ten minutes of the senior monk’s lecture, a small group of junior monks emerged from the school. They each found someone listening to the lecture to partner with, and the conversations were on.

I was coupled with a young guy who I learned was seventeen.

He also became my new best friend. Here’s how our conversation went:

“How are you?” he asked, consulting a sheet he had prepared for our encounter. “Good. How are you?” He looked a bit confused. “How are you?” he repeated, reading from the sheet. “Still fantastic. How are you?” He looked at his sheet. “How are you?” “As awesome as I’ve ever been. I can see we’re stuck in an infinite loop, though, destined to verbally spar on the status of how each of us are. So why don’t I help you pick another question.” I point at his sheet to another question. “How old are you?” he asked. I told him. His eyes went big, his jaw dropped. “How old did you think I was?” I asked. “I think you much, much younger,” he replied. “I not believe it! You much younger!”

And that’s why he’s my new best friend.

We tried to talk a bit about Buddhism, and about his experience at the school in Chiang Mai, but the language barrier was a bit much to overcome. Still, I enjoyed the experience of connecting with him, and would recommend the experience to anyone who visits Wat Chedi Luang.

The sun was high in the sky and the temperature – and humidity – was climbing quickly. I made my way back to the hotel to cool off.

Not much happened that night – dinner at Lemongrass, a bit of a wander through the city, and then I called it a day.

This was the day I was determined to get a massage from a female inmate.

In the heart of the old city there is a small spa where female prisoners learn new skills as a part of their vocational training, providing massages for customers as a part of the program. Much has been written about this, and the spa has excellent reviews, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to support the program and give it a try.

I had heard you have to get there early, otherwise all of the spots book up for the day. “Definitely get there before noon,” someone at the Duangtuwan had told me. It was off-season, so I think they opened a bit later than usual – 10:00 am. I got there around 10:45, thinking I was there in plenty of time.

I was wrong. The woman in beige (a guard?) at the receptionist desk very politely informed me they were booked for the entire day. I asked her if she knew if it would be the same the next day and she just shrugged. Apparently it’s different every day, and the best thing to do is get there early and hope you can get in.

I walked around the small grounds. They’ve done a nice job making it look and feel like other Thai spas, putting out small waiting tables, a few food options, and a nice little garden with a fountain.

Lila Thai is run by ex -prisoners, women who have been rehabilitated and are now working in a thriving business not far from the original Women’s Correctional Institution Training Center.

I opted for a one-hour foot and leg massage, a new experience for me as I’d never had just a foot and leg massage before. They ushered me into a small hallway where a staff member came out and asked me to remove my sandals. She then washed my feet and walked me into a room with a number of reclining chairs. It was cool and mostly dark, which I appreciated. Soft music played in the background. She seated me in one of the chairs and gave me a cold towel, which is one of my favourite things in the world when I’m in Southeast Asia. If I could pay someone just to follow me around with an endless supply of cold towels when I’m in that part of the world, I would happily do it.

A few minutes later the masseuse came in, a very nice woman in her late thirties. She began to work on my feet and I started to relax immediately. I usually don’t love it when people massage my feet during a full massage, but this woman was a foot expert , and boy howdy did she know how to do it right.

An hour passed in no time, and I enjoyed the foot and leg massage more than expected. When the masseuse has that much time to work a small area of the body, they can really focus and do great things. In addition to the feet, they also work the calves, the knees, and the thighs a bit. She also did a bit around my hands and forearms, which was nice. Overall, it was time and money well spent. The whole thing cost 250 baht ($8 USD), plus tip, so it was an amazing value and a great overall experience.

Legs and feet feeling all gooey, mind calmed, I walked back out into the hot sun. It was seriously cooking out, so I opted to take a tuk tuk back to the Duangtuwan. I met up with Angela, who had managed to free herself for a late lunch, so we had a good meal of pineapple rice and satay at the Fueng Fah Thai Restaurant across the street from the hotel. It was a solid choice, the satay delicious, and the service good.

We had been there on one other occasion for dinner, but had to leave because there was a band on the stage that had a singer with an extremely shrill voice and her mic was way too loud. The kicker is we love live music, but this was something else entirely, an assault on the senses that made me want to take a long walk off a short pier. It was totally unbearable, so we had to relocate to Lemongrass up the road. For lunch, though: no band – so it made for a much better experience.

Sadly we only had a day and a half remaining in Chiang Mai, so I had some housekeeping to do. I spent the rest of the day dropping off laundry across the street, packing up, processing photos (my memory cards were already filling up, so I had to keep processing pics), and dashing off a few notes to friends and family back home.

Elephant day! Angela was free this day, so together we (along with one of her co-workers) took an excursion out to Blue Daily Elephant Sanctuary. I had scoured the interwebs to find the right service provider when it came to elephant sanctuaries, and Blue Daily had some of the best reviews out there. They were known for their ethical treatment of animals, their commitment to the local economy, and their promise to offer quality small-group excursions.

I wrote a post about our experience here , so if you are interested in reading about this trip in detail, please do so. For the purposes of this post, I’ll hit you with a few of the highlights.

Our group was a small one, as promised. It was our little triad as well as a very nice family of four from Switzerland. They spoke French, a beautiful, clean, accent-free French that even I could follow. Angela, who is almost bilingual, was thrilled to speak French with them all day.

Our guide, Lida, was happy, intelligent, and obviously loved her job.

The elephants were the stars of the show, and it was a thrill to feed them, bathe them, and walk with them through the jungle.

We had opted for the half day excursion, which was a pretty full day in the end. The sun was already starting to set when we waved goodbye to our massive trunk-wielding friends and they lumbered off to do whatever it is that elephants do at night.

Nightfall was upon us as we dragged ourselves back into the Duangtuwan. We packed up a few things, watched a movie on TV and hit our bed of steel hard.

This was our final day in Chiang Mai. Not even a full day, as we were leaving in the early afternoon for the airport, and our Air Asia flight to Surat Thani in Southern Thailand.

We got up, had a good breakfast at the buffet restaurant in the hotel and went for a final walk around the neighbourhood. I picked up our laundry, happy to be starting the next chapter of our trip with some clean clothes. We packed up our last few items and checked out of the Duangtuwan.

We jumped on a shuttle that was running between the hotel and the airport. Joining us was a girl in her late teens from the UK. She was heading onward to Bali where she would be spending a month on her own. We swapped travel stories and enjoyed the ride. I love meeting fellow travelers.

Before we knew it we were boarding the plane and our time in Chiang Mai was done. It had been a fantastic ten days, but it was just the beginning of our journey – Samui, Bangkok, and Siem Reap were still to come.

How about you? Have you been to Chiang Mai, and if so, what were your impressions? Comment below – cheers!

But i was wondering if it is worth taking a trip to Chiang Rai for maybe 2-3 days, to visit Golden Triangle, white temple, Mae Khong River, etc. If we do that will we still have time to visit all the places in CM, or maybe we just spend the 10 days in CM You could spend two nights in Chiang Rai, take the bus up from Chiang Mai, that would give you enough time to see the White Temple, have a look around CR and go to the Night Markets on the first day.

Thanks for the question, matveyban. I would say yes, you can easily see the best of CM in less than ten days (we were there for ten days as my wife had a work commitment there, but you can do it in far less time) and spend a bit of time exploring Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle. I did that on my first trip to CM, and really enjoyed the White Palace as well as the Golden Triangle. Looking out over the meeting point of Thailand, Malaysia, and Laos is quite a cool experience. I would also like to do the CM – Pai – Mae Hong Son loop at some point. So many great opportunities to explore in northern Thailand!

1. Choose Where to Go

2. decide how many days to stay.

3. Consider When to Travel
4. Consider Your Budget
5. Taking A Guided or Independent Tour?
6. Check Out Visa Policy

7. Getting to and Around Thailand

Thailand can be divided into three main regions for travelers:

Northern Thailand for nature, elephants, and local villages;
the Central Plains for Bangkok and city getaways, and
Southern Thailand for great beaches.

With our knowledge of Thailand and feedback from our customers, we suggest you visit Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and one or two southern beaches for your first trip , extending it to Chiang Rai and/or a national park if you have the time.

1) Bangkok — A Blend of Modernity and Tradition

Bangkok is Thailand's capital and top gateway city. It is a city that offers a unique blend of modernity and tradition, making it a perfect destination for a family or couple's trip.

For those interested in learning more about Thailand's splendid architecture and temples , the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho are must-see attractions.

Whether traveling as a family or a couple, a foodie tour to discover the sophisticated flavors of Bangkok's old district in Chinatown among other local cuisine will create a deliciously memorable experience.

Your trip would not be complete without a cruise along Bangkok's ancient canals and a visit to a floating market , which would give you an insight into a bygone way of life.

For a special experience and some private time, you could spend a night in a floating house at Kanchanaburi.

Get more ideas on planning a family trip to Thailand .

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family 's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

2) Chiang Mai — Have a Close Encounter with Elephants

Chiang Mai, known as the 'Rose of the North', is a wonderful destination for a family or couple's trip, offering culture, history, relaxation, and excitement as well.

You could start your trip with a visit to the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple , which offers breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings. Then explore the Old City and its many street markets, such as the Night Bazaar.

Seeing elephants usually tops the list of things to do in Chiang Mai, whether with kids or your partner. Our half-day elephant tou r allows you to feed the elephants, walk with them, and play with them in the mud of a bathing pool.

If you visit in November, don't miss Chiang Mai's Yi Peng Lantern Festival , which is a romantic event that many couples dream of.

3) The Thai Islands: Phuket or Samui?

Your Thailand trip would not be complete without visiting at least one or two of its beautiful islands. The only question is which island should you choose from so many islands on both the west and east coasts of Thailand.

Phuket , along with Krabi and Koh Phi Phi, on the Andaman Sea (west coast) is loved by families for its various exciting activities and family-friendly hotel options .

While Ko Samui , along with Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao, on the east coast is very popular with couples, due to their being home to luxury resorts and a quieter vibe .

If you are traveling in your summer vacation , Ko Samui is recommended for its sunny and dry weather, while Phuket is in its rainy season.

Can't make a decision yet? Suggested read: Phuket vs Koh Samui .

4) A National Park: Enjoy Jungle Hikes and Encounter Wildlife

To enrich your stay in Thailand, you should consider including a national park in your trip, such as Kao Yai or Khao Sok.

Located north of Phuket, Khao Sok National Park is home to some of the planet's oldest rainforests, with guided activities including jungle hikes and boat tours on scenic Cheow Lan Lake. Spending a night in a "tree house" (treetop lodge) could be an experience full of lifetime memories for your kids. For couples, there's the special and romantic experience of staying in a luxury tent surrounded by rainforest.

North of Bangkok, Khao Yai National Park makes an amazing day out.

If you're planning a trip to Southeast Asia, get some inspiration from our article: 2-Week Southeast Asia Itineraries for Couples, Families, and More .

We suggest you take at least a week for your first trip to see a spectrum of the highlights in the top three cities.

7–10 days: Bangkok (2–3 days), Chiang Mai (2–3 days), and a southern island like Phuket or Koh Samui (3–4 days). See the 9-day Thailand Family Tour for inspiration. Or get more sample itineraries: Top 5 Thailand Itineraries for 10 Days .
10-15 days: For a few more days, you can discover more of Thailand, like charming Chiang Rai and a national park, you will need a few more days. See our sample itineraries for inspiration: 12-Day Thailand Family Holiday , 12-Day Thailand Wonders Tour , and Best 3 Thailand Itineraries for 12 Days .

If you are lucky enough to have more time to tour Thailand, say 3, 4, or even 8 weeks then you have a lot more options! See our page the Ultimate Thailand Travel Itinerary Guide From 5 Days to 1 Month for more inspiration.

For 2–3 weeks , you can consider visiting Thailand with one or two other countries. Vietnam and Cambodia are 2 of the most popular choices. See the sample itineraries for inspiration:

11-Day Best of Thailand and Cambodia Tour
19-Day Highlights of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
21-Day Thailand and Vietnam Adventure Tour

Or you can check the sample itineraries of Thailand for 21 days >>>

You might want to contact a travel specialist to have your requirements, including the length of your holiday, designed into a fulfilling tour uniquely planned for you.

Extended reading: How Long to Spend in Southeast Asia (for First Timers)

3. Consider When to Travel to Thailand

In general, the best time to visit most of Thailand is during the dry season between November and March , when the temperatures are pleasant and there is very little rainfall.

According to our experience, if your travel dates are totally flexible, the ideal times are late October and early April , when the weather is still good and the crowds are fewer.

Christmas and New Year holidays are the busiest times . Hotels in popular cities/islands such as Bangkok and Phuket, and flights between popular destinations such as Chiang Mai - Phuket are likely to be sold out in advance. Be sure to plan ahead and make reservations at least 6 months in advance for better deals. Let us know your interests and requirements , and we'll take care of everything.

If you travel between August and September for the Phuket area or between October and December for the Koh Samui area, be prepared for showers. Fewer crowds and cheaper prices are its benefits. You can get more detailed tips on Best Times to Travel to Thailand .

Vietnam and Cambodia have similar climates to Thailand's . You may want to visit these three destinations in one trip. Check How to Plan a 3-Week Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour

4. Consider Your Budget for a Thailand Trip

In general, Thailand is surprisingly affordable, and therefore it is particularly popular to visit. Airfares for your international flights are the largest upfront cost. On arrival in Thailand, your costs will vary greatly depending on the kind of traveler you want to be.

Thailand is a country that covers all budgets! From economy-class hotels to top-class resorts, street food to gourmet dinners for hundreds, and free beaches to expensive tours, Thailand has it all!

A private tour is an affordable luxury in Thailand! Private service is value for money there. Here are the prices for a private tour based on a group of 2 people during the peak season, for your reference:

On a medium budget, touring Thailand typically costs around US$150–200 per day per person (including 4-star hotels, airfares within Thailand, attractions, guides, and transfers).
For a higher budget of US$200–250 per day per person, more comfort can be enjoyed (including 5-star hotels, airfares within Thailand, attractions, guides, and transfers).
For a family trip (2 adults plus 2–3 children) for 2 weeks in Thailand or in Southeast Asia, it normally costs US$10,000–15,000 per family excluding international flights from/to America or Europe.

Learn more about how much money you need when visiting Thailand. Check out some private Thailand tours and private Southeast tours to get a general idea of the cost.

5. Consider Traveling Independently or Taking a Guided Tour

While Thailand is easy enough to travel to independently for backpackers, it is at the same time very time-consuming (if not troublesome) to choose the most suitable hotels and arrange all the best activities for you, while seeking value for money and great service.

A private guided tour is a great way to maximize your time , eliminating any frustrating time spent on planning and traveling and ensuring a smoother, stress-free, and more enjoyable journey.

Work with our travel consultant to create an itinerary that fits your schedule and focuses on the places and experiences that matter most to you. Our consultants can not only help you sift through thousands of hotel and restaurant options to find the right one for you, whether it's for couples or families but also quickly provide alternative solutions in case of any changes .

6. Check Out Thailand's Visa Policy

Nationals of many countries are exempt from needing a tourist visa to enter the Kingdom of Thailand, including the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Most travelers can stay in Thailand without a visa for 30 days. We have more information on Thailand visas and visa requirements for other Asian countries .

Getting to Thailand

Flying from North America to Thailand usually involves a connecting flight. Popular transfer cities include Seoul (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Hong Kong, Taipei, and Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

Direct flights operate between Bangkok and the main cities in Europe and Oceania.

We are confident that our private tours are the most convenient option for your trip to Thailand. We can make an itinerary according to your flight times and arrange trouble-free private transport.

Connecting to Other SE Asian Countries

Bangkok is the top gateway city for travel to Southeast Asian countries. From there you will find frequent flights to other major cities in Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. This makes Thailand not only a popular destination stop but also a gateway to its neighboring SE Asian countries.

Booking a private tour with us, we will arrange your transportation within Southeast Asia. Our travel consultant will search the flight schedules, arrange the best connections, and book the air tickets.

You're in Good Hands with Asia Highlights

At Asia Highlights, we have created over 10,000+ big trips for insightful travelers, mostly for families and couples. We truly understand that every single big trip planned for our clients is not just for good holiday memories but also for joyful celebrations of life's milestones.

Read comments from our clients on TrustPilot , for example:

Daniel Ponce:

"Everything went better that we'd expected! Our guides were local people who knew about the city, the people, and how to solve problems. They were really punctual and had the best attitude!

Rosangela Campos:

"Traveling with Asia Highlights is a guaranteed wonderful experience in Asia! I highly recommend them!"

Get a wonderful Thailand vacation by sending us a message . Or check out our sample itineraries for inspiration:

12-Day Thailand Family Holiday
14-Day Classic Vietnam and Thailand Tour
14-day Thailand and Vietnam Family Tour
3-Week Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour for Couples

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19-Day Highlights Tour of Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
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Jessie was amazing ! Everything from her level of English to her understanding of what we valued .

We had a good time exploring the city with Selinda!

Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.

Our guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!

Our China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.

She was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,

Our tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.

He picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.

Tom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.

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20 Best Places to Visit in Thailand — From the Country's Oldest National Park With Secret Waterfalls to Stunning Islands With Excellent Diving

There's no shortage of beautiful places to visit in Thailand.

EPasqualli/Getty Images

Thailand is so much more than a travel destination — visiting is a bona fide rite of passage. From hostel-hopping backpackers to well-heeled five-star hotel aficionados, there’s something for everyone in “The Land of Smiles.”

My most recent trip to Thailand was in early 2022, when the country implemented strict entry requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I was one of a few hundred thousand tourists who were allowed into the country, and it felt like I had many of the typically crowded attractions all to myself.

The beauty of Thailand is that it will show you different sides of itself no matter how many times you visit. From the idyllic white-sand beaches and palm-fringed islands in the south to the misty hillsides and temple-peppered mountains of the north, the rattle and hum under neon lights of nonstop Bangkok, and the ruins of ancient cities surrounded by jungle, Thailand never disappoints.

So, what are the best places to visit in Thailand? I reached out to a Thailand travel expert and threw in a bit of my own first-person experience to help you narrow down this ever-growing list.

Tessa Desjardins/Travel + Leisure

For most travelers, an adventure in Thailand will likely kick off in the nonstop, energetic capital city, Bangkok. A dizzying destination and one of my favorite international cities, Bangkok is full-on sensory overload — but in the best way. Dig into sizzling street food; meander back alleys and bustling thoroughfares in search of small markets, shops, and hidden temples; cruise along the Chao Phraya River, and grab a cocktail at the dozens of sky-high rooftop bars.

Tip: Book a room at the Capella Bangkok or Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok — two iconic luxury hotels with stunning locations perched on the Chao Phraya River.

IronHeart/Getty Images

Second to Bangkok on most visitors’ lists is the northern city of Chiang Mai. Many travelers even prefer Chiang Mai to Bangkok for its relatively slower pace of life. The spectacular city is bursting with temples (Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a must) and humming with restaurants and bars.

"I would say for anybody, whether it's their first time or a repeat trip to Thailand, if you have been there or you haven't, [you have to visit] Chiang Mai," said Grant Ekelund , Travel + Leisure A-List advisor and senior travel consultant and Asia specialist at InsideAsia. "It's such a neat city. It’s one of those destinations that has something for everyone … Are you a foodie? Do you want to hike? See cool temples? Have amazing trekking opportunities? It can all be done [here], and it slots into any itinerary perfectly."

Koh Phi Phi

Thailand has more than 1,400 islands scattered around its coastline, but few are as famous or iconic as the Phi Phi Islands in the Andaman Sea. Comprising two islands — Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh — Koh Phi Phi is known for its natural beauty, excellent diving, and raucous party scene. For the latter, Phi Phi Don is the most famous. Phi Phi Leh, meanwhile, is uninhabited and beloved by those looking to disappear into nature. It was blasted into the public eye about two decades ago, when Leonardo DiCaprio's character went in search of an island paradise in the film "The Beach," which is set in real-life Maya Bay.

Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

While we’re on the topic of Koh Phi Phi, we’d be remiss not to mention Krabi province as a whole. Located in southern Thailand, bordering the Andaman Sea, Krabi is home to many of the beautiful beaches and islands that make Thailand famous.

"I've been booking many [trips to] Krabi lately," said Ekelund. "It ticks a lot of boxes for people. You've got the beauty, cool cliffs, and interesting geology. It has a beach, but it's for people who don't want to simply park it on the sand for 10 days. Krabi offers activities and more." Some highlights include the beach town of Ao Nang, as well as islands like Phuket, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Yai, Koh Lipe, Railay Beach, and several national parks.

Koh Yao Noi

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My first trip to Thailand was to the small island of Koh Yao Noi back in 2013. One of the most beautiful islands in Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yao Noi is flecked off the coast of its sibling island, Koh Yao Yai. Sandy beaches and small fishing villages comprise most of the land here, along with the luxe Six Senses Yao Noi resort tucked along the eastern coast. The property’s infinity pool is legendary for its explosive sunrise views that blur the distinction between the sky and sea.

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Many Thai cities have the ability to make visitors feel like they’re stepping back in time. But few create the illusion as vividly as Ayutthaya. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Siam, the ruins of Ayutthaya are breathtaking and hauntingly beautiful. It’s only an hour from Bangkok, making it an easy day trip or a great overnight excursion.

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Sukhothai is another beautiful ancient city. "Sukhothai is for people who like history. I was taken by how beautiful the area is and how extensive the ruins are," said Ekelund. "We cycled around the ruins with a guide and got a great sense of the history. Sukhothai is much more rural and harder to reach, meaning it has fewer tourists. You also don't have a city built up around it."

Mae Hong Son Loop

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Of all the places I've visited in Thailand, none stick with me as much as the Mae Hong Son Loop. This 300-mile route is most often tackled by travelers on the back of motorbikes looking to brave the mountain switchbacks that descend into the thick jungle and pass from small village to small village. It's not a journey to be taken lightly — motorbike experience is strongly recommended — but those who make the trip are rewarded with spectacular scenery and access to remote communities.

Khao Yai National Park

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Thailand has more than 100 national parks. The oldest is Khao Yai National Park, which also happens to be the country's third-largest. Within the park lies a web of hiking trails, secret waterfalls, and herds of elephants.

"Khao Yai has a lot of bat caves, too, which is one of the coolest things I've ever experienced," said Ekelund. "I stood there for 30 minutes while an unending stream of bats flew over my head. It was all so beautiful. It's a beautiful park with waterfalls, trekking, and hiking. Plus, it's just a couple of hours [by car] from Bangkok."

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Approximately two hours southeast of Chiang Mai is the city of Lampang. Much like many large cities in Thailand, Lampang has its fair share of temples, street food, and markets. But unlike the others, it feels like a place where time has stood still. Just listen for the sound of clip-clopping horse carts, still used for transportation, and you'll understand what I mean. Because of Lampang's integral role in the teak trade, many migrants from Myanmar made this northern city home, and you'll find teak mansions and Burmese-style temples everywhere.

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Chiang Rai, a northern Thai city, is often glossed over as most visitors opt to stop in Chiang Mai instead. "I am always struck by how chill Chiang Rai is," said Ekelund. "It's a relaxing place to be and has cool stuff to do. It's a great city to walk through the neighborhoods and see people living their daily lives. I enjoyed the mountains, nearby villages, and opportunities for cultural exchange."

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No list of best places to visit in Thailand would be complete without Phuket. While Phuket has a reputation for being crowded with resort after resort, the truth is it’s for a reason — the island is a beautiful place to be. Thailand's largest and most easily accessible island brings visitors in by the millions each year for its wide array of hotels, white-sand beaches, parties in Patong, colorful snorkeling, and eclectic culinary scene.

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Thailand’s second most popular island sits off the country’s eastern coast in the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Samui is wreathed in bone-white sandy beaches, peppered with temples, veined with hiking trails, and splashed with fabulous resorts and energetic beach towns and villages.

"It's hard to beat Koh Samui. It's just beautiful," said Ekelund. "If you want easy access without a full resort stay, I recommend Anantara Bophut . You can walk to Fisherman's Village, and you won’t feel like you're 'stuck' at a resort. If you want a full resort experience, I like Banyan Tree Samui for its private beach and spectacular rooms."

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The tiny island of Koh Tao, located in the Gulf of Thailand and not too far from Koh Samui, is one of the country’s best locations for diving and snorkeling. In fact, most avid divers will tell you that Koh Tao is their destination of choice in Thailand. The palm-fringed island is best known for its abundance of sea turtles.

Kanchanaburi

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Shrouded in thick jungle and sliced by miles of track belonging to what was once known as the “Death Railway,” Kanchanaburi has a dark and tragic history. The infamous train route, which crosses the River Kwai, was built from 1940 to 1943 by prisoners of war taken by the Japanese in World War II. Today, only a small section of the rail route is open and takes travelers on a journey through the mountain cliffs and bamboo forests of Kanchanaburi. "If you're into history, beautiful vistas, trains, and wildlife, you can get all of that in Kanchanaburi. It's a place not many tourists go, either, so it has a lot to offer," said Ekelund.

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Trang is the province directly south of Krabi, which means it has the same beautiful stretch of Andaman Sea coastline, except with a fraction of the crowds. There’s no shortage of islands to explore around Trang, like Koh Kradan and Koh Muk. Koh Muk's crown jewel is the secret Emerald Cave, which can be entered via a dark tunnel that leads to a protected beach surrounded by towering limestone cliffs.

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Located in the province of Phang Nga, Khao Lak can be thought of as Phuket’s much quieter cousin. Less than two hours from Phuket International Airport, Khao Lak is home to miles of sprawling, empty beaches, plus it offers easy access to beautiful national parks.

"I've been hyping Khao Lak quite a bit for people who want something quieter," said Ekelund. "You have easy access to the Phuket International Airport, but it's much more chill than the other Andaman Islands. It has beautiful beaches, good infrastructure, a great spot for dining, and it’s not hard to get to."

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Whether or not you drive the Mae Hong Son Loop, you’ll want to stop in Pai when visiting northern Thailand. Once a sleepy community of expats, Pai has morphed into a must-visit backpacker destination. Visitors will find funky cafes and coffee shops, endless bars, guest houses, hostels, and a dispensary or two, particularly now that cannabis is no longer considered a narcotic in the country.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

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South of Bangkok, the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan is best known for the glamorous, frenetic beach town of Hua Hin. The province runs down the skinny arm of the country, bordering the Gulf of Thailand on one side and Myanmar on the other. Here’s where you'll find Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Thailand's first marine national park. The park's top attractions include a series of spectacular caves and a sprawling freshwater marsh. Visitors can enjoy the park’s beaches, islands, walking trails, and thick mangrove forests. It’s just an hour from Hua Hin and about 3.5 hours from Bangkok.

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This long, skinny island, also in the province of Krabi, flies under the radar, but it’s one of my favorite places in the country. Koh Lanta is home to beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and the Mu Ko Lanta National Park, an amazing spot for diving and seeing undeveloped beaches.

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Thailand Trip Report 2023

Day 1 – jan 9, 2023, aranta airport hotel.

While the official start to our tour wasn’t until the evening dinner, many of us found each other earlier – binoculars being the giveaway, and birded the grounds of the hotel, mainly the adjacent klong (canal). Throughout the day, some relaxed birdwatching yielded over 30 species, and provided a nice introduction for the birders new to Asia.

Highlights: Pink-necked Green-Pigeon, Plaintive Cuckoo, House Swift, Asian Palm Swift, Common Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, and Common Iora.

Day 2 – Jan 10, 2023

Lad krabang agriculture lands .

Following breakfast, we met our guide, Nang, loaded up the vans, and headed out. Our first stop was a short detour east of Bangkok to a patchwork of rice paddies, wetlands and scrub near Lat Krabang. Our main targets were Red Avadavat and White-browed Crake which we found relatively quickly, giving us extra time to look for other open country birds.

Highlights: White-browed Crake, Bronze-winged Jacana, various Reed Warblers, Red Avadavat, several Munias and Weavers, Plain-backed Sparrow, and Richard’s Pipit.

Wat Chalerm Phrakiet and Wat Saun Yai Temples

Our second stop for birding is Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan, and barely out of the vans, we found our two main targets: Red-breasted Parakeets and Spotted Owlet. Historically, these owls were much more common and widespread around Bangkok, but as development has intensified, they have become increasingly rare and very local. A bonus bird at this site was an Oriental Scops-Owl.

Highlights: Red-breasted Parakeet, Spotted Owlet, and Oriental Scops-Owl.

Next, we visit the nearby Wat Suan Yai Temple where the community is actively protecting the nesting cavities of Alexandrine Parakeets, a rare and local species in Thailand. We quickly found about a half-dozen parakeets and get spectacular views of a Spotted Owlet sitting calmly on the temple’s gilded decorations.

Highlights: Alexandrine Parakeet and Spotted Owlet.

Temples in Bangkok © Chris Burney

Khok Kham Bird Center

Following a lead from a local shorebird manager, we switched our route a bit to get another shot at Spoon-billed Sandpiper. When we got there, it was late afternoon, the conditions were perfect and the manager had his scope set up already on the bird! The salt pans are covered with hundreds of shorebirds, almost an overwhelming number. We stayed until it got dark and eventually had amazing views comparing the differences between terns, plovers, stints, knots and much more.

Highlights: Pacific Golden-Plover, Lesser Sand-Plover, Greater Sand-Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Knot, Red Knot, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Little Tern, and Brahminy Kite.

Day 3 – Jan 11, 2023

Laem phak bia and pak thale.

Thousands of shorebirds winter on the salt pans and beaches of this part of Thailand, and we birded several well-known sites throughout the day. Since we had amazing looks at Spoon-billed Sandpipers the previous day, we did not need to look for this “needle in a haystack” today, giving us more opportunity for our other shorebird targets, namely Asian Dowitcher and Nordmann’s Greenshank which we found these two at our first stop!

We spent the rest of the morning getting better views and appreciating the clouds of shorebirds whirling around us. In the afternoon, we took the boat trip out to the sandspit to find Chinese Egret, Malaysian Plover and White-faced Plover – we missed the egret, but had excellent views of the plovers.

Highlights: Garganey, Pied Avocet, Kentish Plover, Malaysian Plover, White-faced Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, Asian Dowitcher, Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Pacific Reef-Heron, Striated Heron, Black-capped Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Yellow Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, and Pied Harrier.

Boat trip to the sandspit at Laem Phak Bia. © Chris Burney

Boat trip to the sandspit at Laem Phak Bia, Thailand

Boat trip to the sandspit at Laem Phak Bia © Chris Burney

Outside Kaeng Krachan

Before it got dark, we did a little birding near our lodging for the next few days, Samarn Bird Camp.

Highlights: Shikra, Large-tailed Nightjar, Oriental Pied-Hornbill, White-throated Kingfisher, Lineated Barbet, Racket-tailed Treepie, and Black-collared Starling.

Day 4 – Jan 12, 2023

Kaeng krachan national park (lower section).

Kaeng Krachan National Park is Thailand’s largest national park, occupying 2915 square kilometres (1125 sq. miles). This park is part of a larger complex of protected areas that encompass 4822 square kilometres (1862 sq. miles) in the Tenasserim Range on the boundary between Thailand and Myanmar. For our first day, we explored the lower half of the main road through the park to the middle campground – a mixture of dry deciduous forest that transitions to evergreen as you climb higher in elevation. After lunch, we found a fruiting fig loaded with pigeons, Asian Fairy-bluebirds, barbets, and the bird of the morning – a female Green Broadbill.

Highlights: Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Vernal Hanging-Parrot, various Minivets, Black Baza, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Great Hornbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Greater and Common Flameback, Gray-headed Woodpecker, Black-and-red Broadbill, Green Broadbill, Sultan Tit, various Bulbuls, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Asian Fairy-bluebird, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Forest Wagtail, and Eurasian Hoopoe.

Black-and-red Broadbill, along the main road in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand

Black-and-red Broadbill, along the main road in Kaeng Krachan National Park © Chris Burney

Bird Hide near Kaeng Krachan National Park

Historically, the blinds in and around Kaeng Krachan National Park were used by poachers for subsistence hunting and sale in local markets. Species particularly hard hit were gamebirds, Lesser Mouse Deer, and Barking Deer. In addition, various passerines such as White-rumped Shama were captured for the caged-bird trade.

Beginning in 2008, nearby lodges convinced the poachers to use the blinds strictly for ecotourism – birdwatchers would pay an entry fee that would go directly to the local community. The peak of activity is between 3:30pm to 6:30pm, and we settled into our plastic chairs a little ahead of schedule with our cameras ready. Birds passed through in waves, some visiting repeatedly and giving us amazing views.

Highlights: Bar-backed Partridge, Kalij Pheasant, Red Junglefowl, Asian Emerald Dove, Blue Pitta, Puff-throated Babbler, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Lesser and Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, and Indochinese Blue Flycatcher.

Blue Pitta, Kaeng Krachan National Park © Chris Burney

Day 5 – Jan 13, 2023

Kaeng krachan national park (upper section).

On our second day in the park, we explored the upper parts of the main road starting from the fig tree near the middle campground, and we climbed into a pair of 4×4 pickups to access it. The forest in this section of the park is taller and thicker, making the birding a little more challenging – we end up hearing more of our targets than seeing them, however, we did have some special moments such as the Gray Peacock-Pheasants crossing the road, and a few sizable mixed-species flocks.

Highlights: Gray Peacock-Pheasant, Red-billed Malkoha, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Himalayan Swiftlet, Crested Goshawk, Rusty-cheeked Hornbill, Bamboo Woodpecker, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Broadbill, Common Green-Magpie, Indochinese Roller, Ochraceous Bulbul, Olive Bulbul (Baker’s), Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Yellow-bellied Warbler, Golden Babbler, Rufous-fronted Babbler, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Collared Babbler, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Common Hill Myna, Orange-bellied Leafbird, and much more.

Day 6 – Jan 14, 2023

Samarn bird camp.

Before packing up the vans, and making our way to Khao Yai National Park, we spent an hour or so birding the grounds of the lodge.

Highlights: Oriental Honey-buzzard, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, and White-shouldered Starling.

Phraek Nam Daeng (Rice Paddies)

Another stop in the vast network of rice paddies, aquaculture ponds and scrublands yielded most of the same species. Unfortunately, many of the fallow wetlands which had been prime sites for several birds have recently been converted due to new tax policies regarding agricultural lands.

Highlights: Little Grebe, Gray-headed Lapwing, Oriental Darter, and Pied Harrier.

Mahachai Mangrove Forest

A quick stop for two mangrove specialists: Golden-bellied Gerygone and Mangrove Whistler. While the Gerygone is fairly common, the Whistler is a little trickier to find, but we got lucky and ended up getting amazing views of this species.

Highlights: Black Baza, Brahminy Kite, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Mangrove Whistler, and Brown-throated Sunbird.

Wat Phra Phuttabat Noi

Rufous Limestone Babbler is restricted to a small region of limestone outcrops in central Thailand, and we made a quick stop at a temple that is a well-known location for this species. Eventually, we found a pair making their way down an escarpment, and as we were leaving, they gave us great views at close range.

Highlights: Black-naped Monarch, Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Rufous Limestone Babbler, and Blue Rock-Thrush.

Day 7 – Jan 15, 2023

Khao yai national park.

We had one full day to explore Thailand’s first national park. Established in 1962, Khao Yai is the third largest national park covering an area of 2,168 square kilometres (837 sq. miles). It is part of a larger network of protected areas called Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO that includes five other conservation areas that extend to the Cambodian border.

We first birded the higher reaches of the park slowing down to hopefully find Silver Pheasants and Siamese Firebacks crossing and/or displaying along the road – no luck.

Near the top of the mountain at the Khao Khiao viewpoint, we found a nice mix of birds: Mountain Imperial-Pigeon, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Cambodian), various Minivets and Bulbuls, and White-browed Scimitar-Babbler.

Lunch was at the visitor center where we had nice views of various barbets and Buffy Fish-Owl. After lunch, we tried a few different areas of the park, namely the Haew Suwat Waterfalls and the main campgrounds. The waterfall area has Slaty-backed Forktail, and a few of us got views of a Mugimaki Flycatcher.

We then headed to another section of the park – Haew Narok Waterfall Trail, and see a large bull elephant on the way. At the trailhead parking lot, we found a nice mixed flock with a nice mix of sunbirds. Towards the end of the day, we watched Brown-backed Needletails divebombing a pond to drink, and a bonus was Besra flying directly over us. Back at dinner, we had a Great Eared-Nightjar foraging near our rooms.

Highlights: Mountain Imperial-Pigeon, Brown-backed Needletail, Buffy Fish-Owl, Great Hornbill, Besra, Blue-eared Barbet, Green-eared Barbet, Moustached Barbet, Ashy Minivet, White-bellied Erpornis, Gray-backed Shrike, Blue Whistling-Thrush, Slaty-backed Forktail, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Cambodian), Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Van Hasselt’s Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Little Spiderhunter, and Blue-winged Leafbird. Mammals include Asian Elephant, Sambar, and Red Muntjac.

Mountain Imperial-Pigeon at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Mountain Imperial-Pigeon at Khao Yai National Park © Chris Burney

Buffy Fish-Owl at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Buffy Fish-Owl at Khao Yai National Park © Chris Burney

Red Muntjac at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Red Muntjac at Khao Yai National Park © Chris Burney

Northern Pig-tailed Macaque at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Northern Pig-tailed Macaque at Khao Yai National Park © Chris Burney

Day 8 – Jan 16, 2023

The jungle house (lodge).

Before heading to the airport for our flight to Chiang Rai, we birded the lush grounds of the Jungle House. We saw a lot of the same species, and got our first looks at an Asian Barred Owlet.

Highlights: Greater Coucal, Green-billed Malkoha, Asian Barred Owlet, Lineated Barbet, Red-breasted Parakeet, and Chestnut-flanked White-eye.

Rice Paddy near Airport

With a little extra time before our flight, we made a quick stop to get better views of Gray-headed Lapwings in a rice paddy, and ended up getting our first Little Ringed Plovers for the trip.

Highlights: Gray-headed Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover and Oriental Reed Warbler.

On our way to the hotel, we made a quick stop at an agricultural area that is a well-known roost for various buntings, including Yellow-breasted Bunting. While we ended up only hearing a large flock of buntings gathering in the distance, we saw several new birds for the trip.

Highlights: White-breasted Waterhen, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Small Pratincole, Black-winged Kite, Asian Green Bee-eater, Long-tailed Shrike, Pied Bushchat, Purple Sunbird, and Yellow-breasted Bunting.

Day 9 – Jan 17, 2023

Doi pha hom pok national park – doi san ju.

We started early today to get our blinds in position for a stakeout for Hume’s Pheasant, and we eventually had great views of a male and female. After the show, we spent the remainder of the day travelling along the border with Myanmar looking for mixed flocks.

Highlights: Hume’s Pheasant, Oriental Turtle-Dove, Cook’s Swift, Black Eagle, White-browed Shrike-Babbler (Blyth’s), Maroon Oriole, Gray-backed Shrike, Japanese Tit, Black Bulbul, Mountain Tailorbird, Gray-headed Parrotbill, Buff-chested Warbler, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, Himalayan Cutia, Blue-winged Minla, Spectacled Barwing, White-browed Laughingthrush, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Ultramarine Flycatcher, and Common Rosefinch.

Spectacled Barwing near the border with Myanmar in Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, Thailand

Spectacled Barwing near the border with Myanmar in Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park © Chris Burney

Ultramarine Flycatcher along the border with Myanmar, Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park © Chris Burney

Day 10 – Jan 18, 2023

Doi ang khang.

We visited a number of sites around Doi Ang Khang starting at the campground where we found our first Giant Nuthatch, flocks of Brown-breasted Bulbul and Crested Finchbill. Next, we travelled a short way down the road to the Chinese Cemetery, and the mix of agricultural lands and secondary forest is full of birds – news ones include Daurian Redstart, Silver-eared Mesia, and Chestnut Bunting. We then visited a temple, Wat Phra That Doi Ang Khang, to look for thrushes.

After lunch, we visited the beautiful grounds of the Royal Agricultural Station and scored Streaked Wren-Babbler and White-tailed Robin. Our last planned stop was a border checkpoint where we found a very cooperative Burmese Shrike.

Highlights: Burmese Shrike, Gray-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Crested Finchbill, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Rufous-fronted Babbler, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Giant Nuthatch, Gray Treepie, White-headed Bulbul, Silver-eared Mesia, Streaked Wren-Babbler, Black-breasted Thrush, Eyebrowed Thrush, White-tailed Robin, Daurian Redstart, Streaked Spiderhunter, Orange-bellied Leafbird, and Chestnut Bunting.

Day 11 – Jan 19, 2023

Huai bong reservoir.

We started our birding today in the dry Dipterocarp forests near Huai Bong Reservoir, and quickly found our two main targets: Red-billed Blue-Magpie and Lesser Whistling-Duck.

Highlights: Lesser Whistling-Duck, Garganey, Rosy Minivet, Red-billed Blue-Magpie, and Rufous Treepie.

Rice Paddies near Ping River

We made an impromptu stop along the Ping River and found a nice mix of wetland birds including a lone Greater Painted-Snipe.

Highlights: Greater Painted-Snipe, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, and Citrine Wagtail.

Mae Taeng Irrigation Project

Our main target for this site was Wire-tailed Swallow, and we had wonderful comparison views of several birds perched with Barn Swallows.

Highlights: Green Sandpiper, Small Pratincole, Shikra, and Wire-tailed Swallow.

Ban Hong Wildlife Reserve

As it started to get late, we made our last stop of the day for Green Peafowls at Ban Hong Wildlife Reserve. We immediately saw a large group assembled near the entrance, and observed a spectacular show – males displaying for the females and battling for dominance.

Highlights: Green Peafowl and Asian Green Bee-eater.

Green Peafowl © Chris Burney

Green Peafowl at Ban Hong Non-hunting Area, near Chiang Mai © Chris Burney

Day 12 – Jan 20, 2023

Doi inthanon national park – summit.

Highlights: Rufous-throated Partridge, Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail, Pygmy Cupwing, Ashy-throated Warbler, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Dark-sided Thrush, Gray-sided Thrush, Himalayan Shortwing, and Green-tailed Sunbird (Doi Inthanon).

Doi Inthanon National Park – Lower Sections

We spent the rest of the day slowly descending through the park and exploring the different forest types along the way. In the humid mid-elevation forests, we ran into a nice mixed flock as we were watching Slaty-bellied Tesia. Unfortunately, the flock stayed high in the canopy and we only had brief views of stunners such as Clicking Shrike-Babbler and Yellow-cheeked Tit.

Next, we visited a riparian area, mainly for Plumbeous and White-capped Redstart. Lastly, we explored the dry forests at the base of the park and soon found our main target, Collared Falconet.

Highlights: Rufous-winged Buzzard, Collared Falconet, Red-headed Trogon, Clicking Shrike-Babbler, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Plumbeous Redstart, White-capped Redstart, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Golden Babbler, Gray-throated Babbler and Scaly Thrush.

Day 13 – Jan 21, 2023

Blossom-headed parakeet conservation area.

We got to the observation tower early to observe the parakeets leaving their roosts. While we waited for the parakeets, we saw a nice mix of birds including a few new ones for the trip.

Highlights: Eurasian Hoopoe, Blossom-headed Parakeet, and Black-hooded Oriole.

Touch Star Resort

Before we headed back to Bangkok, we birded the grounds around the lodge seeing many of the same open country species we’ve seen throughout the trip.

Highlights: Gray-breasted Prinia and Thick-billed Warbler.

Ob Khan National Park

Enroute to the airport, we made one last stop along the way.

Highlights: Violet Cuckoo, White-crested Laughingthrush, and Black-backed Forktail.

Eagle-Eye Tours group in Thailand 2023

Chris Burney

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Thailand Travel Guide

Thailand is the most well-known and popular travel destination in Southeast Asia, and millions of tourists feel the destination's allure each year. The capital, Bangkok, is a thrilling first stop and is a favourite among budget travellers, who can spend their baht its many street markets and affordable electronics shops, and infamous bars. However, once travellers venture away from the bustling city, the natural splendour of Thailand really shines. The limestone karst rock formations and lush rainforests of Khao Sok National Park and other nature reserves are popular spots for jungle trekking, and the crystal-clear waters around the southern beach playgrounds such as Phuket, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Phi Phi are a paradise for scuba diving and watersports. Many holidaymakers go north to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to see the beautiful temples and the famous Hill-Tribes, while the even more adventurous stray off the beaten path to Isaan.

Thailand's unique culture is just as big an attraction however; hundreds of visually stunning Buddhist temples and shrines are scattered across cities and villages, and visitors can tour the ruins of ancient cities such as Ayutthaya to get a sense of the country's long history. No matter what part of the country travellers visit, a holiday in Thailand is an experience to be remembered for a lifetime.

Best time to visit Thailand

The weather in Thailand is divided into three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (March to May) and the rainy season (June to October). The cool season is usually considered the best time to visit Thailand, as it has the most sunshine and least rain, though the December holidays tend to be busy and the prices inflated, so the overall best months to visit in are November, January and February.

What to see in Thailand

-See the enormous golden statues at the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

-Take in a Muay Thai match in Bangkok.

-Visit the many Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai.

-Tour the remains of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, ancient seats of Siamese culture.

What to do in Thailand

-Ride a boat through the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

-Laze on the sunny beaches of Phuket.

-Indulge in the infamous nightlife of Bangkok.

-Take a hike to the Lisu Hill-Tribe.

Holiday resorts in Thailand

Thailand has many popular resorts for sun-seekers looking for the perfect beach holiday. Each resort has its own character, varying from lively nightlife to laidback seclusion, and from single's heaven to family-friendly perfection.

Getting to Thailand

Getting to Thailand is fairly easy. There are many cheap direct flights from the UK and even more cheap indirect flights from the UK. There are no direct flights to Thailand from the US, but there are many indirect flights to Thailand from major aiports in the US. Nearly all flights to Thailand arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

Four Reigns by Kukrit Pramoj and Private Dancer by Steven Leather.

Pumpuang Duangjan and Khruang Sai Orchestra.

The Beach (2000), Brokedown Palace (1999), The Hangover 2 (2011), and Anna and the King (1999).

Satho (traditional rice wine).

Khao phat (Thai-style fried rice), and Pad Thai (traditional fried noodles).

What to buy

Thai silk, precious stones, affordable local clothing, and cheap electronics.

What to pack

A padlock for bags: leaving backpacks in hotel rooms and outside temples gives pickpockets a good opportunity to help themselves.

What's on in Thailand

The colourful Bor Sang Umbrella Festival celebrates traditional craftsmanship every January. Thailand celebrates New Year in April at Songkran. Floating candles and hot air balloons make Loy Krathong the most romantic day in November.

Did you know?

-Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that wasn't colonised by a Western power.

-The official ceremonial name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit .

-Popular energy drink Red Bull originated in Thailand and was originally called Krating Daeng ( Red Gaur).

A final word

Exotic and enticing, a holiday in Thailand is an unforgettable experience that promises both stunning cultural sights and a bit of fun and relaxation.

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Thailand: Jewels of the South Trip Report, March 2023

Go to Southern Thailand bird tour page | Thailand bird tours | Asian trip reports | All our birding tours

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28 FEBRUARY – 13 MARCH 2023

By andy walker.

This spectacular Mangrove Pitta gave amazing views sat out in full view at eye-level not 12 feet (4 meters) away, for ten minutes. A bird of the trip contender very early in the tour!

This exciting Thailand birding tour covered a circuit of the south of this bird-rich country, starting in Phuket on the 28 th of February 2023 and ending back there on the 13 th of March 2023. We visited numerous top Thai birding sites during the tour, see the detailed itinerary and map here . We recorded 273 species (seven heard only) as well as numerous interesting reptiles, mammals, and amphibians during the tour, trip lists for all species identified follow the report.

Some of the non-passerine highlights included top-quality birds like Helmeted Hornbill , Bushy-crested Hornbill , Great Hornbill , White-crowned Hornbill , Brown-winged Kingfisher , Stork-billed Kingfisher , Banded Kingfisher , Red-bearded Bee-eater , Orange-breasted Trogon , Scarlet-rumped Trogon , Little Bronze Cuckoo , Red-billed Malkoha , Back-bellied Malkoha , Raffles’s Malkoha , Knob-billed Duck , Oriental Plover , Oriental Pratincole , River Lapwing , Pheasant-tailed Jacana , Lesser Fish Eagle , Black Baza , Bat Hawk , Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle , Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle , Pied Harrier , Oriental Bay Owl , Buffy Fish Owl , Brown Wood Owl , Red-breasted Parakeet , Black-thighed Falconet , Oriental Hobby , Red-throated Barbet , Golden-whiskered Barbet , Sooty Barbet , White-browed Piculet , Rufous Piculet , Streak-breasted Woodpecker , Banded Woodpecker , and Buff-necked Woodpecker .

We were treated to multiple sightings of the Critically Endangered ( BirdLife International ) Helmeted Hornbill during the tour, with five magnificent birds seen from three locations.

Some of the many passerine highlights included Green Broadbill , Black-and-yellow Broadbill , Banded Broadbill , Mangrove Pitta , Malayan Banded Pitta , Scaly-breasted Bulbul , Grey-bellied Bulbul , Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher , Orange-headed Thrush , Amur Stonechat , Malayan Black-capped Babbler , Ferruginous Babbler , Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler , Sakhalin Leaf Warbler , Rufous-chested Flycatcher , Green-backed Flycatcher , Large Blue Flycatcher , Blue-and-white Flycatcher , Pale Blue Flycatcher , Yellow-eared Spiderhunter , Greater Green Leafbird , Asian Golden Weaver , Red-throated Pipit , and Forest Wagtail .

We enjoyed close views of the rare Large Blue Flycatcher during the early part of the tour.

One of the best-looking bulbuls on the planet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul , gave great looks.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 28 th february 2023. arrival in phuket.

The group assembled at Nai Yang Beach in Phuket. We met for a welcome dinner in the evening and discussed the plans for our upcoming birding in southern Thailand.

Day 2, 1 st March 2023. Birding Khao Phra Thaeo and Phang Nga

We met up with our excellent local guide (David) and driver (Don), and left Nai Yang Beach after breakfast and drove the short distance to Khao Phra Thaeo. Some relaxed birding here gave us good views of our main target, two Forest Wagtails . We came across a fruiting fig tree near some pretty waterfalls and while we watched the tree, we noted Black-headed Bulbul , Asian Red-eyed Bulbul , Spectacled Bulbul , Olive (Baker’s) Bulbul , Thick-billed Green Pigeon , and (female) Asian Fairy-bluebird all coming in for a snack. A few raptors were present too, and we saw Black Baza , Grey-faced Buzzard , Rufous-bellied Eagle , and Crested Serpent Eagle overhead.

Our next stop was the Phang Nga area, where we enjoyed some great birds throughout the afternoon. Top birds seen (and seen exceptionally well) included Mangrove Pitta (see trip report cover image), Brown-winged Kingfisher , and Streak-breasted Woodpecker . A large supporting cast included Oriental Pied Hornbill , Ruby-cheeked Sunbird , Brown-throated Sunbird , Arctic Warbler , Eastern Crowned Warbler , Dark-backed Tailorbird , and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker . It was a great introductory day of relaxed birding and set the tone for the tour well!

We enjoyed excellent and prolonged views of a close Brown-winged Kingfisher out in the open while we were birding in the mangroves.

Day 3, 2 nd March 2023. Phang Nga birding

We spent the first part of the morning birding in some open city parkland, where we notched up around 50 species in no time at all. It was a great location to get to grips with lots of common birds, and several special species provided fantastic highlights, with the excellent views we had of them. Probably the most interesting sighting involved two pairs of Banded Woodpeckers in a territorial dispute and, oblivious to our presence, showed down to a mere few feet at times! Other rather colorful birds enjoyed included Blue-tailed Bee-eater , Pink-necked Green Pigeon , Blue-eared Barbet , Coppersmith Barbet , Lineated Barbet , Vernal Hanging Parrot , and Rufous-bellied Swallow . Further highlights here included Black-thighed Falconet , Yellow Bittern , Blue Rock Thrush , and Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker .

We watched in amazement as two pairs of Banded Woodpeckers had a territorial dispute right in front of us for a good five minutes!

Moving into an area of mangroves for the remainder of the morning we found Mangrove Whistler , Collared Kingfisher , Sakhalin Leaf Warbler , Eastern Crowned Warbler , Arctic Warbler , Brown-throated Sunbird , Ruby-cheeked Sunbird , and White-chested Babbler . One of the highlights involved a huge Buffy Fish Owl , seen perched briefly. In nearby farmland we got our first Oriental Dollarbird , Indochinese Roller , Jungle Myna , Great Myna , and Greater Coucal of the trip.

The afternoon was spent driving along the west coast to our next destination, but a couple of stops along the way gave us Chestnut-headed Bee-eater , Black-naped Oriole , White-bellied Sea Eagle , Pacific Reef Heron , Terek Sandpiper , Grey-tailed Tattler , Greater Sand Plover , Lesser (Tibetan) Sand Plover , Red-necked Stint , Bar-tailed Godwit , and several other shorebird species.

Day 4, 3 rd March 2023. Si Phang Nga National Park and Khao Sok National Park

We spent a wonderful morning birding in Si Phang Nga National Park where we saw a scout jamboree and a whole host of great birds on a gentle walk through the forest. Wallace’s Hawk Eagle was one of the first top birds seen, and was soon followed by some stunning hornbills, including a pair of Bushy-crested Hornbills . Working the forest, we found one of our main targets, the rare Large Blue Flycatcher , and after a bit of effort eventually got to grips with seeing Malayan Banded Pitta , the view of the male was fleeting but a female gave much appreciated prolonged views. Other species recorded during the morning included Orange-headed Thrush , White-rumped Shama , Chinese Blue Flycatcher , Raffles’s Malkoha , Chestnut-breasted Malkoha , Red-billed Malkoha , Silver-rumped Spinetail , Buff-rumped Woodpecker , Grey-bellied Bulbul , Streaked Bulbul , Black-headed Bulbul , Velvet-fronted Nuthatch , Crow-billed Drongo , Lesser Green Leafbird , Blue-winged Leafbird , and many more!

In the afternoon we took a drive through some meadowland, and in addition to finding our target River Lapwings , we also found a real nice surprise in the form of three Oriental Plovers , two were in near full summer plumage and looked spectacular. More highlights here included Oriental Pratincole , Pacific Golden Plover , Chestnut-headed Bee-eater , Black Drongo , Amur Stonechat , Richard’s Pipit , and Red-throated Pipit .

Excitement levels were high when we discovered a small flock of Oriental Plovers . Two of the birds were in stunning breeding plumage. This species is a rare passage migrant to Thailand.

Day 5, 4 th March 2023. Khao Sok National Park (including Lake Ratchaprapha)

During the morning we took a walk along the river trail at Khao Sok National Park, where we found some great birds. One of the first species seen was a pair of gorgeous Banded Kingfishers that gave prolonged views. Some of the other highlights from the morning walk included Bamboo Woodpecker , White-browed Piculet , Black-crested Bulbul , Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher , Black-naped Monarch , Raffles’s Malkoha , Siberian Blue Robin , and Crimson Sunbird . The final stunning species of the morning was a Red-bearded Bee-eater , that eventually showed brilliantly. Several interesting animals were seen during the morning, including a couple of attractive Wagler’s Keeled Green Pit Vipers .

Red-bearded Bee-eater was another gorgeous bird we enjoyed seeing during the tour.

After lunch we caught our longboat and made our way across Lake Ratchaprapha to our excellent floating resort. After quickly checking in we jumped back in the boat for what turned out to be an incredible boat-based birding trip. A pair of Lesser Fish Eagles gave some close perched views and then the fun really got going, when we had a flock of 24 Great Hornbills fly over us and drop into some fruiting trees, what a magnificent sight! As the excitement of this hornbill encounter subsided, we heard a White-crowned Hornbill calling from the next bay. A quick repositioning of our boat got us into position. We waited patiently and were rewarded when a bird hopped out on the top of a tree, allowing prolonged perched views. Next up, we found ourselves watching a pair of Bat Hawks foraging as the near-full moon rose, and then it got even crazier with the hawks attacking some very special hornbills! It was all rather chaotic in the airspace above us, but it was amazing to witness. Just as we were about to leave to get back to the resort for dinner, we picked up a pair of huge Stork-billed Kingfishers and a single Black-capped Kingfisher . The latter showed briefly, but the former put on a brilliant close showing. As we made our way back to the resort with the sun setting, we had a few final surprises with White-bellied Sea Eagle , Osprey , Crested Honey Buzzard , and best of all, a perched up Oriental Hobby ! As far as boat trips go on Lake Ratchaprapha, this was seriously spectacular and the whole experience was one of the best on the entire tour.

We enjoyed the magical sight of 24 magnificent Great Hornbills flying over us to a fruiting tree.

The huge Stork-billed Kingfisher put on a great show for us just as the sun was setting.

Day 6, 5 th March 2023. Khao Sok National Park (including Lake Ratchaprapha) to Tha Sala

We took another enjoyable boat ride on Lake Ratchaprapha before breakfast and had further views (our best yet) of some seriously stunning and rare hornbills. A Great Hornbill gave a fly-over view before perching out in the open, as did the much smaller Oriental Pied Hornbill . We had prolonged views of a stunning Blue-eared Kingfisher that allowed a close approach and similar views of the equally attractive Black-capped Kingfisher as well.

Point blank views of Blue-eared Kingfisher provided an early morning highlight.

This male Oriental Hobby was displaying to a nearby female, and the pair gave excellent views.

A couple of Ospreys looking for their breakfast were noted, with Crested Honey Buzzard also seen again. After breakfast it was time to leave our resort. The boat ride back to meet our vehicle yielded a pair of Oriental Hobbies , these birds showed well as they sat on a bare tree snag in the impressive tall cliffs.

During the afternoon we drove to Tha Sala, our base for the next three nights. We spent the late afternoon birding near the local university, where we enjoyed watching a colony of breeding Red-breasted Parakeets and also picked up Common Flameback , Red Collared Dove , Blue-tailed Bee-eater , Brown Shrike , Greater Racket-tailed Drongo , Black-naped Oriole , and numerous common open-country birds.

Day 7, 6 th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park

Another enjoyable day birding in southern Thailand. We spent the day birding at the Krung Ching section of Khao Luang National Park. Most of the morning was spent mesmerized by a fruiting fig tree right in the car park. Somewhere in the region of 40 species visited the tree while we watched it, including a range of bulbuls, barbets, and pigeons, such as Red-throated Barbet , Golden-whiskered Barbet , Blue-eared Barbet , Sooty Barbet , Scaly-breasted Bulbul , Black-crested Bulbul , and Thick-billed Green Pigeon . Other stunning species noted here included Black-and-yellow Broadbill , Sultan Tit , Asian Fairy-bluebird (male!), Dark-throated Oriole , Blue-and-white Flycatcher , Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker , Lesser Green Leafbird , Greater Green Leafbird , Green Iora , Grey-breasted Spiderhunter , and Yellow-eared Spiderhunter .

As we walked into the forest, we picked up Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle , Crested Serpent Eagle , Orange-breasted Trogon (a very showy male), Crimson Sunbird , Yellow-bellied Bulbul , Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo , White-bellied Erpornis , and Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike .

The attractive Orange-breasted Trogon showed well for us at close range.

In the afternoon we had an enjoyable session in a bird blind (bird hide) at a nearby waterhole. Birds came through frequently and we got great close views of many species, including Rufous-chested Flycatcher , Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher , Black-naped Monarch , Common Emerald Dove , Olive (Baker’s) Bulbul , Spectacled Bulbul , Stripe-throated Bulbul , Ochraceous Bulbul , Asian Red-eyed Bulbul , White-rumped Shama , Chestnut-winged Babbler , and Malayan Black-capped Babbler . Some of the group also saw Rufous Piculet and Rufous-tailed Tailorbird . Our time in the blind/hide rounded off a long but fun day of Thai birding.

The bird blind (bird hide) we visited for an afternoon was a great spot for watching secretive species of bulbuls and babblers, including this Malayan Black-capped Babbler .

Day 8, 7 th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park

We spent the morning back at the Krung Ching section of Khao Luang National Park. Here we enjoyed more views of some of the birds we’d seen the previous morning that were attracted to a few fruiting trees, such as Golden-whiskered Barbet , Red-throated Barbet , Blue-eared Barbet , Sooty Barbet , Scaly-breasted Bulbul , Black-crested Bulbul , Greater Green Leafbird , Lesser Green Leafbird , Thick-billed Green Pigeon , Vernal Hanging Parrot , and Asian Fairy-bluebird (including more close views of a stunning male bird). We also picked up quite a few new birds and improved our looks at several other species, such as White-crowned Hornbill , Scarlet-rumped Trogon , Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo , Plaintive Cuckoo , Red-billed Malkoha , Swinhoe’s Minivet , Dark-throated Oriole , Moustached Babbler , Taiga Flycatcher , Pale Blue Flycatcher , and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker .

In the afternoon we visited a wetland site near our accommodation in Tha Sala and found plenty of species, some of the highlights included Little Bronze Cuckoo , Siamese Pied Myna , Daurian Starling , Golden-bellied Gerygone , Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler , Oriental Reed Warbler , Black-browed Reed Warbler , Yellow-bellied Prinia , Brown Shrike , Yellow Bittern , Purple Heron , Intermediate Egret , Asian Openbill , Oriental Pratincole , and Whiskered Tern .

The spectacular Scarlet-rumped Trogon gave some incredible low-level views.

A group of four White-crowned Hornbills were feeding in a fruiting tree and we were lucky to get some good views of this Endangered ( BirdLife International ) species (photo Tim Marshall).

Day 9, 8 th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park and Thale Noi

We had our final morning birding in the Krung Ching area and scored several new birds for our trip, such as Banded Broadbill , Violet Cuckoo , Black-bellied Malkoha , Buff-necked Woodpecker , Rufous Woodpecker , Large Woodshrike , Spectacled Spiderhunter , Bronzed Drongo , and White-rumped Munia . We also had further looks at Red-billed Malkoha (a prolonged sighting of a sunbathing bird), Chestnut-breasted Malkoha , Raffles’s Malkoha , Black-and-yellow Broadbill , Buff-rumped Woodpecker , Streak-breasted Woodpecker , nesting Red-throated Barbet , Dark-throated Oriole , Black-crested Bulbul , Purple-naped Spiderhunter , Crimson Sunbird , and Blue-winged Leafbird . A great selection of birds.

In the afternoon we drove south to Thale Noi, our base for the next two nights. The afternoon was spent at leisure and relaxing around our pretty lakeside resort.

Day 10, 9 th March 2023. Thale Noi area

We had a pre-breakfast birding session at a site near our accommodation and it was great to see a huge expanse of excellent wetland habitat. Grey-headed Swamphens , Lesser Whistling Ducks , Whiskered Terns , and Asian Openbills were the most abundant species, and by scanning through them we also picked up Pheasant-tailed Jacana , Bronze-winged Jacana , Purple Heron , Yellow Bittern , Great Egret , Intermediate Egret , Little Egret , Eastern Cattle Egret , Cotton Pygmy Goose , Common Moorhen , and Little Grebe . The above species were occasionally spooked by raptors flying overhead, and these included Pied Harrier , Eastern Marsh Harrier , and Brahminy Kite .

We saw a few Pheasant-tailed Jacanas in various plumage stages during our wetland birding sessions. This individual gave a close flyby after spending some time feeding near our viewpoint.

Several small birds were noted in the emergent vegetation around the wetland, such as Yellow-bellied Prinia , Black-browed Reed Warbler , Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler , Oriental Reed Warbler , Jungle Myna , Crested Myna , Common Myna , Paddyfield Pipit , Brown Shrike , Chestnut Munia , and Amur Stonechat .

After breakfast we called in at a forested area near the lake and found a nesting pair of Buffy Fish Owls , a spectacular sight! We also got some good views of Ashy Minivet , Golden-bellied Gerygone , and Brown-throated Sunbird here, though the two Black Bitterns we saw were flighty and only gave brief views. After that we birded at some rice paddies, finding our first Zitting Cisticolas , Scaly-breasted Munias , and Plain-backed Sparrows of the trip.

Late in the afternoon we visited an interesting rice field nature reserve where we found our main target with ease and in good numbers, Knob-billed Duck . Here we also improved our views of many of the birds seen in the morning (such as close Cotton Pygmy Geese and Indochinese Roller ) and added a few new ones for everyone, such as Oriental Darter , Black-winged Stilt , Baya Weaver , and the very localized (in southern Thailand) Asian Golden Weaver . We also had a soaring pair of locally uncommon Painted Storks and several Grey Herons during our journey.

An extremely confiding Indochinese Roller provided one of the highlights of the afternoon.

Day 11, 10 th March 2023. Trang Peninsular Botanic Garden and Khao Nor Chu Chi

After a relaxed breakfast, featuring Indochinese Roller , Blue-tailed Bee-eater , and Blue-eared Kingfisher , we left our resort and made our way to Trang Peninsular Botanic Garden. Unfortunately, the wind was strong which made for very tough birding conditions and as a result we didn’t see too much, though we did have our best views of the tour of Red-billed Malkoha , along with Banded Woodpecker , Spectacled Spiderhunter , Great Iora , Black-headed Bulbul , Blue-eared Barbet , Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (a calling bird), Eastern Crowned Warbler , and several other species.

After lunch we visited a different section of the botanic garden and found a sheltered spot out of the wind that was quite productive. Here we enjoyed seeing a few new species and also improved views of some others we’d seen earlier in the day/tour, such as Green-backed Flycatcher , Indian Cuckoo , Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo , Rufous Piculet , Van Hasselt’s Sunbird , Great Iora , Green Iora , and Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike .

In the middle of the afternoon, we continued our journey to the Khao Nor Chu Chi area, ready for tomorrow morning’s birding.

Day 12, 11 th March 2023. Birding Khao Nor Chu Chi

We had an early start to our birding today and were richly rewarded, with a prolonged sighting of a pair of stunning Green Broadbills . We spent a while watching them foraging and soaked in the fantastic views that they were giving us, definitely a trip highlight bird.

As we walked a forest road we found Ferruginous Babbler , Moustached Babbler , Cream-vented Bulbul , Puff-backed Bulbul , Olive-winged Bulbul , Ochraceous Bulbul , Spectacled Bulbul , Crow-billed Drongo , Vernal Hanging Parrot , Crested Goshawk , Crested Honey Buzzard , Common Hill Myna , Sooty Barbet , Blue-eared Barbet , and Black-and-yellow Broadbill . Some alarm calling attracted a range of species, including Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker , Yellow-vented Flowerpecker , Van Hasselt’s Sunbird , Red-throated Sunbird , Grey-breasted Spiderhunter , Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher , Black-naped Monarch , and Chinese Blue Flycatcher .

This male Green Broadbill put on quite the show for us during our early morning birding.

We spent some time relaxing around our accommodation during the heat of the day and then in the late afternoon visited a couple of different spots, where we found more good birds. Some of the top birds included Brown-backed Needletail , Grey-rumped Treeswift , Raffles’s Malkoha , Red-billed Malkoha , Banded Bay Cuckoo , Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher , Cream-vented Bulbul , Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker , Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker , Yellow-vented Flowerpecker , Plain Sunbird , and Van Hasselt’s Sunbird .

In the evening some of the group went owling and were handsomely rewarded with incredible, close views of an Oriental Bay Owl . The owl showed extremely well and proved yet another tour highlight, what a bird!

The exquisite Oriental Bay Owl is an attractive yet strange looking owl. It is an uncommon and rarely seen species in Thailand and so it was a real treat to see one during our tour.

Day 13, 12 th March 2023. Khao Nor Chu Chi to Phuket

Our last full day in southern Thailand started with some final birding at Khao Nor Chu Chi. We covered a similar area to the previous morning, finding Abbott’s Babbler , Cream-vented Bulbul , Hairy-backed Bulbul , Spectacled Bulbul , Grey-cheeked Bulbul , Streaked Bulbul , Puff-backed Bulbul , Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher , Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker , and Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker . Two Oriental Pratincoles flying over the forest was a bit of a surprise, however the displaying Crested Goshawk was a little more expected!

After a late breakfast we drove back to Phuket, where we arrived in the middle of the afternoon, here we said goodbye and a massive thank you to David and Don. We had our final evening dinner of the tour, which was great fun as usual, and discussed our “birds of the trip”. Top votes went to Great Hornbill , Helmeted Hornbill , Oriental Bay Owl , Black-and-yellow Broadbill , Mangrove Pitta , and Van Hasselt’s Sunbird .

Day 14, 13 th March 2023. Tour concludes with departure from Phuket

We had a brief pre-breakfast birding session near our accommodation at Nai Yang Beach, where we found Peregrine Falcon , Eurasian Hoopoe , and Indochinese Roller to provide a final splash of color and excitement for the trip.

After breakfast everyone said their goodbyes and departed Phuket for their international flights home or to join our Vietnam birding tour . Huge thanks to everyone for making this such a fun trip, full of amazing birds and great memories. I look forward to traveling with you all again soon.

Bird List – Following IOC (13.1)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International : CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, and VU = Vulnerable.

Mammal List

Reptile list.

Introduced reptiles are marked with (I) after the common name and deceased reptiles are marked with (D) after the common name.

Amphibian List

This is a sample trip report. Please email us ( [email protected] ) for more trip reports from this destination.

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Travel reports – all reports and travel articles at a glance

by Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel writing is my way of sharing my experiences with the world. When I visit a new travel destination, I can't help but write a detailed report about it. With my travel reports I would like to inspire you to experience a place from home before you decide whether you might want to travel there. Information, inspiration and ideas – that’s what I want to convey to you with my travel stories.

My travel reports at a glance

Below I have listed my travel reports from around the world for you. Europe, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean in particular occur naturally. My hotel experience reports are also included in the list.

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Marsa Alam ist meine Lieblingsregion in Ägypten – und hier befindet sich die malerische und zugleich sehr lebhafte Bucht von Abu Dabbab. Der wahre Schatz befindet sich unter Wasser: ein herrliches Saumriff, das am nördlichen und südlichen Rand des Strandes beginnt. Aber auch an Land finden Sonnenanbeter und aktive Urlauber voll auf ihre Kosten. Zugleich gilt die Bucht auch als sehr touristisch. Was gibt’s vor Ort zu entdecken? Was solltest du bei deinem Besuch berücksichtigen? Ich habe für dich in meinem Reisebericht über Abu Dabbab hilfreiche Tipps und meine persönlichen Erfahrungen zusammengestellt. Abu Dabbab Reisebericht Erfahrungen Tipps

Travel report Abu Dabbab – tips & experiences for the famous bay

Mehr als 2500 Sonnenstunden im Jahr, mediterrane Olivenhaine und Pinienwälder, entspannte Urlaubsorte voller Schätze an herrlich luxuriösen Ferienunterkünften, die herzhafte kroatische Küche und die zuvorkommende Gastfreundlichkeit der Einheimischen – ich bin mir sicher: Über die Krk Brücke führt ein Weg ins Urlaubsglück. Ich war zwei Wochen auf der größten kroatischen Insel unterwegs und habe mir das Reiseziel ganz ausführlich angeschaut. Was kann man unternehmen? Was gibt es zu entdecken? Und wo findest du noch echte Geheimtipps? In meinem Reisebericht Krk habe ich nützliche Tipps und Geheimtipps, meine persönlichen Erfahrungen und die wichtigsten Highlights rund um die Insel zusammengestellt. Reisebericht Krk Tipps Erfahrungen Erfahrungsbericht

Travel report Krk – tips, experiences & highlights

Unser Reisebericht aus Scharbeutz mit wertvollen Insider-Tipps für den perfekten Sommerurlaub an der Ostseeküste. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Scharbeutz – tips & experiences for a holiday by the sea

Reisebericht Lüneburger Heide: Ich bin immer mal wieder in der malerischen Region südlich von Hamburg unterwegs. Foto: Michael B.

Travel report Lüneburg Heath - tips & recommendations for your vacation

Reisebericht Fieberbrunn Pillerseetal Erfahrungen Tipps Sehenswürdigkeiten Aktivitäten

Travel Report Fieberbrunn & PillerseeTal – Alpine idyll for the adventurous?

Travel report Miami – tips & experiences of the metropolis for adventurers?

Ostsee-Urlaub im Frühling: Tipps und Ideen für Euren Kurzurlaub im Februar, März, April und Mai. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Baltic Sea vacation in spring tips & experiences – short vacation by the sea in March and April?

Reisebericht Malediven: Tipps – das Inselparadies sollte unbedingt auf deine Bucket Liste. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer Reisebericht Malediven Tipps

Travel report Maldives - tips & experiences for the island paradise

Am Promthep Kap findet Ihr einen Tempel mit zahlreichen Elefanten-Statuen. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Phuket - Tips & experiences from the adventure island

ie kleine Trauminsel Koh Lipe liegt ganz im Süden Thailands im Tarutao Nationalpark. Das atemberaubend schöne Schutzgebiet wird völlig zurecht als "die Malediven von Thailand" bezeichnet. Palmen, Traumstrände, glasklares Wasser, tolle Resorts, urige Bars, Restaurants und vor allem unheimlich freundliche Einheimische erwarten Dich auf der winzigen Insel.

Travel report Koh Lipe – tips & experiences in paradise

Travel report Soma Bay - tips for the lifestyle holiday resort on the Red Sea

Glasklares Wasser auf Koh Kradan: Die Insel hat viele Tagesbesucher und relativ wenig Dauergäste, da es dort nur sehr wenig Hotels gibt. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Thailand – tips, experiences & highlights in the land of smiles

Das Paradies hat einen Namen: Coco Bodu Hithi – alle Infos zur Insel in unserem Reisebericht! Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Coco Bodu Hithi – tips & experiences for the dream island

Begleite mich auf einer Reise durch eine der schönsten und lebendigsten Metropolen Europas – Lissabon. In dieser malerischen, südeuropäischen Metropole ist das Leben ein Fest. Eine bunte Mischung aus pulsierendem Stadtzentrum, traditionellen Altstadtvierteln und einer malerischen Küste, die zum Träumen einlädt. Ich hatte das Vergnügen, diese atemberaubende Stadt zu besuchen und möchte meine persönlichen Tipps und Erfahrungen in diesem Reisebericht Lissabon mit dir teilen, damit du das Beste aus deiner Reise machen kannst. Was gibt es zu entdecken? Und was kannst du unternehmen? Lass uns gemeinsam durch die Straßen Lissabons schlendern und die verborgenen Schätze dieser wunderschönen Stadt entdecken. Reisebericht Lissabon Erfahrungen Tipps Erfahrungsbericht Portugal

Travel report Lisbon – tips & experiences for the fun-loving metropolis

Segelurlaub in Thailand: beim Mitsegeln ab Phuket könnt Ihr die Trauminseln der Andamanensee entdecken – Just Wanderlust hat das einmal für Euch ausprobiert. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Sailing holiday in Thailand experience report – enjoy the island world while sailing

Für mich die Nummer 1 in Thailand: Koh Phangan ist für mich die schönste Insel in Thailand – objektiv betrachtet sich Koh Lipe und Koh Mook aber noch schöner. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Koh Phangan – tips & experiences for paradise in the Gulf of Thailand

Reisebericht Makadi Bay Tipps Erfahrungen

Travel report Makadi Bay – tips & experiences for beach holidays, snorkeling & soaking up the sun

Ostsee-Urlaub im Herbst: So schön kann ein Novembermorgen in Scharbeutz sein! Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Baltic Sea vacation in autumn – 10 tips for your stay

Mein Reisebericht Mallorca: Tipps und Ideen für einen neuen Blickwinkel auf die Insel. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Mallorca – tips & experiences from an island full of joy

Pizza, Gastfreundlichkeit und Traumstrände: In unserem Reisebericht aus Sardinien stellen wir Euch die drittgrößte Insel im Mittelmeer näher vor. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Sardinia – tips & experiences on the diverse island

In meinem Reisebericht Marsa Alam mit Tipps und Urlaubstipps gebe ich dir viele wertvolle Inspirationen für deine Reise in den tiefen Süden von Ägypten. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer Reisebericht Marsa Alam Tipps Erfahrungen Aktivitaeten

Travel report Marsa Alam – tips & experiences for the south of Egypt

Ostsee-Urlaub im Winter: Wir haben wertvolle Tipps und Inspirationen für die Reise ans Meer in der kalten Jahreszeit zusammengestellt. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Baltic Sea vacation in winter – 10 tips & ideas for a trip to the sea

Die Hotels in Ägypten öffnen bereits wieder – der Flaschenhals dürften für den Urlaub am Roten Meer die Flüge sein. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Egypt - tips & experiences for a vacation in the land of the pharaohs

Was gibt es zu entdecken auf der großen, wilden Schönheit der Kanaren? Wir haben uns vor Ort umgesehen und stellen Euch in unserem Reisebericht aus Teneriffa Tipps zu Sehenswürdigkeiten und Aktivitäten vor. Im Bild: Playa de las Teresitas.

Travel report Tenerife – tips & experiences for the most beautiful of the Canary Islands?

Sharm El Sheikh Reisebericht Tipps Unser Reisebericht aus Sharm El Sheikh mit Urlaubs-Tipps, Sehenswürdigkeiten und Freizeitaktivitäten. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Sharm El Sheikh – tips & experiences for the luxury resort

Madeira ist eine der schönsten Inseln der Welt – optisch eine Mischung aus Hawaii, Irland und den Kanaren. Das grüne Reiseziel im Atlantik zeichnet sich durch eine wilde Felskulisse, unberührte Natur, malerische und einsame Bergdörfer und die lebhafte Inselhauptstadt Funchal aus, in der du ganz ausgezeichnet essen und shoppen kannst. Was gibt es auf Madeira zu entdecken? Ich habe mich auf der Urlaubsinsel umgesehen und möchte einige hilfreiche Tipps und Empfehlungen mit dir teilen. In meinem Reisebericht über Madeira stelle ich dir die traumhaft schöne Insel vor. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Madeira – tips & experiences for the green island paradise

Reisebericht aus Hamburg: Insider-Tipps für Euren nächsten Städtetrip. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travelogue Hamburg - insider tips for the multifaceted Hanseatic city

Reisebericht Cochem: Mit wertvollen Tipps zu Sehenswürdigkeiten und Aktivitäten den perfekten Urlaub an der Mosel genießen. Foto: Sascha Tegtmeyer

Travel report Cochem – tips & experiences for your Moselle holiday

Traveling the world for my travel reports.

I like to travel around the world and write for you about my experiences, which may inspire you and give you useful tips on how you can make your vacation even more beautiful and unforgettable. I have already visited many countries and holiday destinations in Europe, such as Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife and the Spanish mainland, Portugal with Lisbon and Madeira, Germany with the Baltic Sea coast, Egypt as a popular sun destination in North Africa, the USA on the American one continent and many other beautiful places in the world.

Ich bin weltweit unterwegs für meine Reiseberichte.

But there are also many dream travel destinations that I haven't seen yet but would definitely like to get to know! South Africa, Australia, Costa Rica, Cuba and the fascinating destinations in South America such as Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Chile are just a few of them. I'm sure you know the feeling: when you discover an amazing new place, you want to share it with others and tell them about it. That's how I feel when I write my travel reports from all over the world.

Travel reports Thailand

Thailand is a dream country for everyone who loves sun, sand, sea and adventure. We explored this wonderful country for four weeks in November 2015 and would like to tell you about our experiences and tips in this blog post. Our itinerary took us from Khao Lak via Phuket to Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Lipe. We not only enjoyed the beautiful beaches and islands, but also got to know the fascinating culture, the delicious cuisine and the friendly people.

We also visited some of the best diving spots in the world and marveled at the colorful underwater world of Thailand. We can only recommend you, Thailand Discover for yourself – there is so much to see and experience! In our travel reports you will find out everything you need to know to make your own Thailand dream come true!

Canary Islands travel reports

The Canary Islands are a popular travel destination for us at Just Wanderlust. We have experienced many exciting adventures on these beautiful islands. On Lanzarote (travel reports) we explored the fascinating volcanic landscape Gran Canaria (travel reports) we enjoyed the diverse nature and culture and on Tenerife we marveled at the majestic Teide. The Canary Islands are an ideal place, especially in winter, for everyone who is looking for sun, beach and sea and doesn't want to fly for a long time. In our travel reports you will find out everything you need to know about the Canary Islands: tips, sights, activities and much more. Join us on our journey through the Canary Islands and let yourself be inspired!

Travel reports Mallorca

Mallorca is more than just a popular travel destination for Germans - it is an island full of beauty, culture and adventure! We have Majorca have visited many times and are always amazed by the diversity and charm of this Balearic island. In this blog post we would like to share with you our personal experiences and recommendations for Mallorca.

You will find out which places you should definitely see, which activities you can try out and which culinary highlights await you. Mallorca has something to offer for every taste - whether you prefer to relax on the beach, hike through the mountains or explore the historic cities. Let Mallorca enchant you and follow us on our journey!

Travelogues Portugal

Portugal (travelogues) is one of our favorite destinations in Europe. We have traveled there several times and have discovered something new each time. Whether it's the charming city of Lisbon with its historic districts, colorful trams and lively nightlife, or the beautiful island of Madeira with its lush nature, spectacular views and delicious cuisine - Portugal has something to suit every taste.

In our travel reports we would like to share with you our experiences and tips for an unforgettable trip to Portugal. We'll tell you what to see, do and eat in Lisbon and Madeira, how to get around and where to stay. We'll also give you an outlook on our next trip to Portugal, which is already in the pipeline. Are you ready to be enchanted by this fascinating country?

Travel reports Indonesia

Indonesia is a fascinating travel destination that has a lot to offer. Whether you want to discover the cultural treasures of Bali, explore the untouched nature of Lombok or enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Gili Islands, you will find something for every taste here. We at Just Wanderlust went on an exciting tour through this diverse country and also explored the underwater world. In the articles we tell you about our experiences and give you tips on how you can plan your own trip to Indonesia.

Travel Report Egypt

If you like diving, Egypt is a dream destination for you. The country on the Red Sea not only offers fantastic beaches and plenty of sun, but also a fascinating underwater world with colorful corals, exotic fish and exciting wrecks. We are passionate divers and have traveled to Egypt six times. In our article from the land of the pharaohs we would like to share our experiences and tips for a successful diving holiday Egypt split. You will find out which diving areas there are, what you should pay attention to and how to find the best offers. We will also show you some photos and videos from our dives that are guaranteed to inspire you. Get inspired by our Egypt travel report!

Travel Reports USA

We are very passionate about the United States of America and want to see and experience as much of this diverse country as possible. So far we have only made one trip to Florida, the Sunshine State in the south. It was a great experience, but it only made us more curious about the other regions. That's why we're already planning our next trip to America and look forward to hearing more from you soon US trip reports showcase. We want to take you on our adventures and give you tips and inspiration for your own travels. Whether you prefer to explore the vibrant metropolises, the breathtaking national parks or the picturesque coasts, you will find everything you need to know here.

Travel reports Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is not only a popular travel destination, but also our home. We at Just Wanderlust live right on the beach and sea and know the most beautiful corners and insider tips in the region. In our Baltic Sea travel reports Find out everything you need to know for an unforgettable holiday on the German coast. We'll tell you the best beaches, sights, activities and accommodations for every taste and budget. We also give you practical tips on getting there, the weather, safety and sustainability. Whether you are planning a relaxing beach holiday, an active sports holiday or a cultural city trip – with our Baltic Sea travel reports you are well prepared!

Moin, ich bin Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer aus Hamburg – und mit Herz und Seele ein echtes Strandkind! Meer-Fan, Reise-Liebhaber und immer für ein Abenteuer zu haben. Auf meinem Reiseblog Just-Wanderlust.com und den Social-Media-Kanälen von Strandkind Travels verbinde ich die Liebe zum Reisen und zur Natur mit einem Faible für Wassersport wie Stand Up Paddling, Tauchen und Surfen. Ich bin Journalist, Autor und Blogger – und von Natur aus Neugierig, wenn ich neue Reiseziele kennen lerne und anschließend ausführlich darüber schreibe. Wenn ich mit meiner Familie oder allein unterwegs bin, dürfen bei mir als Technik-Fan auch immer gern ein paar Reise-Gadgets zu Testzwecken mit dabei sein. Meine bevorzugten Reiseländer, über die ich auch bevorzugt in meinem Reiseblog schreibe: USA, Thailand und Malediven.

About the author

I'm just a curious beach kid in the world.

Hello, I am Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer from Hamburg – and a real beach child with heart and soul! Sea fan, travel lover and always up for an adventure. On my travel blog Just-Wanderlust.com and the social media channels of Strandkind Travels, I combine my love of traveling and nature with a passion for water sports such as stand-up paddling, diving and surfing. I am a journalist, author and blogger - and I am naturally curious when I get to know new travel destinations and then write about them in detail. As a technology fan, when I'm traveling with my family or alone, I'm always happy to bring a few travel gadgets with me for testing purposes. My favorite travel countries, which I also prefer to write about in my travel blog: USA, Thailand and Maldives.

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stick with Travel Blog Just-Wanderlust.com and @strandkind_co always up to date and just follow me on Instagram!

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Bucket list ideas, tips & experiences - to-do list for the rest of your life?

Snorkeling in Abu Dabbab – my experience report

Die Bucht von Abu Dabbab zwischen Port Ghalib und Marsa Alam ist eine der schönsten Buchten im südlichen Ägypten. Du kannst dort im Naturschutzgebiet wunderschöne Korallenriffe, bunte Fische und viele Meereslebewesen wie Schildkröten, Rochen, Delfine und sogar Seekühe beobachten. Wie ist das Schnorcheln in Abu Dabbab? Was gibt es zu entdecken? Und lohnt sich ein Ausflug von Hurghada aus? In meinem Erfahrungsbericht habe ich hilfreiche Tipps, meine Empfehlungen und alles Wissenswerte über die Bucht zusammengestellt.

Travel reports help readers get an impression of the travel destination before their vacation

My conclusion.

Travel reports from people who have already traveled all over the world are often very exciting and provide valuable information about the potential travel destination before a vacation. It is interesting to read which countries you have visited, in which environment you may live there permanently or which experiences you have brought with you from your trip. In addition, there are of course some travel reports that are only exciting because the author managed to get himself into trouble - as long as nothing bad has happened to the author, these posts should be particularly entertaining. I've also gotten myself into trouble on a regular basis while traveling.

Do you read travel reports regularly before your vacation - or maybe even write some yourself? Share your experiences in the comments.

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Thailand Trip Reports

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Firstly flights , we booked eva air from heathrow to bkk with an online booking site but found that we could not choose our own seats and in fact there were none available next to each other. We solved this by calling Taipei and they changed the seats for us. Both flights excellent, good staff and service and more or less on time.

People – we met so many lovely people, smiling, helpful and learnt a few phrases

Food – we never had a bad meal anywhere, the food was just excellent, fresh and tasty. Just remember that if the menu says spicy, then your food will be hot!!

Hotels – we chose to stay in all classes of hotel from a 5 star in BKK to a simple guesthouse in Lampang and were extremely pleased with all our choices except one. We stayed 3 nights at the Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit , excellent and at a bargain price, highly recommended, for 5 nights at The Rimping Village in Chaing Mai again excellent, and the Lampang Guest House for one night, this one was the cheapest but we enjoyed its simple charms, the Dewa at Karon Beach , this one we did not enjoy at all and in fact checked out 2 days early, it seemed to be an accident waiting to happen, one tragically did happen but this was electrocution rather than dysentry or a fall as we thought might happen(see our review for more details). We then moved to the Old Phuket which was excellent and just what we needed and finally to the Lemonseed Rooms in BKK which we really only slept in but was perfect for our needs.

Bangkok was our favourite place of all busy, crazy, exciting and serene. Just don’t take a taxi from the airport use the skytrain as we should have done. Transport was extremely easy to use and we got around quickly. We visited all the usual sites Grand Palace , Reclining Buddah, Baiyoke tower, shopping malls etc. We found prices cheaper in BKK than anywhere else. We really enjoyed sitting at a street bar on the corner of a very busy street and just people watching. Favourite place to eat was a German bar just off Sukhimvit but cant remember the name right now.

Chaing Mai was less busy and we were able to use the hotel bikes to explore the area. We visited themain temples and enjoyed the market and just wandering round really. We didn’t have enough time here as we spent a day in Lampang. The highlights were the night market and foot massages.

Lampang, not touristy at all. We went to visit the school where our son was teaching and found the staff were absolutely wonderful. If we had had even the smallest idea of how well he had been looked after, I would never have worried about him at all. My favourite temple was just out of the town and we must have visited 6 or 7 during the day with the teachers. We ate with them as well so lots of dishes were ordered and we were able to sample many different ones. The Thai version of green tea is interesting!! We also managed to visit the elephant hospital which is a must.

Karon, Phuket was meant to be where we relaxed for a few days before returning to the UK. Unfortunately the first hotel was not relaxing at all and dangerous. Karon was the least favourite place as we found it to be far more touristy than we had expected, we could have been in any resort in the world really but it is horses for courses really, not our thing but nothing bad about the place. The highlight here was a trip with Phuket Sail Tours to Phi Phi Island, an excellent trip, with great views, company, snorkelling and food.

All in all this was a trip we will never forget, next time I would visit just 2 places in 2 weeks as there is so much to see and do, and with the heat you do need some down time to just relax. We had planned to see and do so much more, that we will have to return again.

Sounds like you enjoyed your stay in the most part. Thank you for sharing. We're staying at the Rimping Village during our next trip so I look forward to reading your review.

Sounds like a great trip. We are going to Lampang for the day in June too, which Elephant Hospital did you visit and what did you like about it?

Thanks for such a lovely report. Where did your son teach ( if you don't mind me asking) I'm glad you're enjoy Lampang such a nice and quiet and of course not touristy at all. I'm from Lampang too. My whole family still there.

Again thank you for sharing.

Thanks for your report. Have never been to Lampang but it sounds like a place we would like to visit.

Thanks for your messages, I have now done my hotel reviews.

As we were ferried around during our visit, we did not really take a note of the names of the temples or of the elephant hospital, but I think there is only one in the local area.

The thing I liked most about the elephant hospital was that our hosts explained exactly why the elephants put on the shows for tourists. Before visiting I was not keen to see them performing or to ride on their backs, but this brings in much needed revenue to look after the elephants. We particularly enjoyed feeding the elephants at the end and elephants very gently took the bananas off us.

Our son worked at Kanlayanee School, which I am sure you know. There weren't any students there when we visited as the term had ended. The staff were so kind to us and we saw so much of Lampang with them. We are planning to send them some gifts over to say thank you for such a wonderful welcome and for how caring they were with our son.

One thing I would say is that Lampang is not at all touristy and the people do not really speak English. We visited one restaurant (no1 in lonely planet guide) and there were some tourists in there who were having problems ordering, although the menu is in English there is no description of what each item is. We simply wrote a list of items that our son had previously liked, about 10 dishes and some rice and just enjoyed finding out what the other dishes were when they arrived. It was very very cheap and very tasty. especially the fish.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Thailand records 9.4 mln tourists in first 3 months, $12.4 billion in spending, government says

Colourful umbrellas are seen in a restaurant as tourists enjoy a beach in the island of Phuket in Thailand

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Thailand records 9.4 million tourists in first 3 months, $12.4 billion in spending, government says

(Reuters) - Thailand recorded 9.4 million foreign tourists in the first three months of this year, who contributed an estimated 454.6 billion baht ($12.4 billion) to the economy in spending, the tourism ministry said on Tuesday.

Thailand is targeting a record of 40 million tourists this year, a figure close to that of pre-pandemic 2019.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpant; Writing by Martin Petty)

Colourful umbrellas are seen in a restaurant as tourists enjoy a beach in the island of Phuket in Thailand January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

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Couple fly through seven countries to catch up cruise ship that left them behind

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Jay and Jim Campbell smiling next to a picture of the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship.

An American couple who flew thousands of miles to rejoin a cruise ship after it abandoned them on a remote African island are now having second thoughts about getting back on board.

Jay Campbell and his wife Jill were among nine passengers abandoned on São Tomé and Príncipe by the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship when they were late to return from a shore excursion on March 27.

But after jet-setting through seven countries in 48 hours to catch up with the ship in Dakar, the couple are beginning to feel disillusioned with the luxury liner.

‘After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly,’ Jill Campbell told USA TODAY .

A map showing São Tomé and Príncipe off the west coast of Africa.

‘I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and that really the safety and the well-being of the customers should be their first priority, and that should be placed first.’

‘We believe there was a basic duty of care that they’ve forgotten about so it does concern us,’ she added.

The couple, from South Carolina, had been eight days into a 21-day cruise from Cape Town to Barcelona when they embarked on a third-party tour of the island, located around 190 miles west of mainland Africa.

But when they arrived back at the port, where the Norwegian Dawn was still docked, the captain refused to let them board as they had missed the 3pm deadline for re-entry.

The São Tomé and Príncipe Coast Guard then ferried the stranded passengers to the cruise ship, but they were once again denied entry by the captain.

Upon their return to the island, the Campbells soon found encountered a number of additional passengers who had been denied entry and abandoned by the cruise operator, including four elderly passengers, a pregnant woman and a person in a wheelchair.

They group later encountered an 80-year-old woman who had been on a separate tour organised by the cruise line, who had been left behind after becoming hospitalised while suffering a concussion while on the tour.

The Campbells were the only members of the group who had access to credit cards, and say they spent $5000 on accommodation for the group while they planned their next move.

The couple say they were grateful for the hospitality received by the people of São Tomé and Príncipe and had been receiving consular assistance from the US embassy in Angola. They were due to fly to Gambia on Sunday to try to rejoin the cruise.

‘I truly believe sometimes we’re put in certain places for a reason and I believe we were put in this place for the 80-year-old woman that was left alone,’ Campbell told ABC. ‘God forbid, what would have happened to that lady if we were not here.’

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line told the Mail that the eight remaining guests have been provided authorization to rejoin the ship in Dakar today.

The Norwegian Dawn cruise ship traveling on the sea.

‘Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjul, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal,’ the spokesperson said.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it was the passengers’ responsibility to ensure they returned to the cruise ship on time and that they had returned the group’s passports to the relevant port authorities before departing.

A previous statement from the operator read: ‘While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom in the daily communication and posted just before exiting the vessel.

‘Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed if the guests were to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call.’

Were you one of the passengers stranded on São Tomé and Príncipe? Contact us at [email protected] and tell us your story.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Thailand Records 9.4 Million Tourists in First 3 Months, $12.4 Billion in Spending, Government Says

Colourful umbrellas are seen in a restaurant as tourists enjoy a beach in the island of Phuket in Thailand January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

Thailand is targeting a record of 40 million tourists this year, a figure close to that of pre-pandemic 2019.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpant; Writing by Martin Petty)

Tags: Asia , Thailand

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Thailand records 9.4 mln tourists in first 3 months, $12.4 billion in
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Thailand Records 9.4 Million Tourists in First 3 Months, $12.4 Billion
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