Travelling in Thailand

Introduction

Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia and is overflowing with destinations worth visiting. You could spend three months in Thailand and barely touch the surface.

Bangkok, the epitome of a thriving Asian metropolis is a fascinating place to explore, particularly once you get past the smog and traffic. Aside from the Thai capital, most first time visitors, plan a hill tribe trip in the north of the country, often operating out of the northern capital of Chiang Mai and a beach side sojourn on one of the many Thai islands in the south, Ko Samui and Phuket to name but two.

Remember for every well-known tourist hub there are a bunch of other equally interesting yet less-touristed destinations. For example in the north, many travellers now choose to use the northern towns of Pai, Mae Hong Son and Nan as a trekking option, while in the south, Ko Tao is very popular with wannabe divers, Ko Pha Ngan with the party crowd and Ko Lanta with youngish families.

How long a holiday?

In Thailand, if you plan to see the north and the south of the country along with Bangkok, seven days is an absolute minimum, add four days if you want to do a trek in the north and add another five days if you want to do a PADI certificate on Ko Tao also budget for at least a couple of domestic flights to save time.

With an extra week, plan on visiting a second or even third northern Thai town -- Nan, Pai or Mae Hong Son are all excellent options. Alternatively, strike out west from Bangkok to the riverside town of Kanchanaburi and the stunning Sangkhlaburi by the Burmese frontier, or visit the ancient capital of Sukhothai.

With still another spare week, spend more time on the beaches -- Ko Chang on east coast near Cambodia is a very popular destination as is the rock climbers paradise of Raileh Bay near Krabi and Ao Nang.

A few ways to see more in less

Fly, fly, fly
Thailand has a good network of budget airlines that cover most of the popular destinations. Two one hour flights can save you 36 hours on a train or bus and often not cost much more.

Don't island hop in Thailand
If you've allotted a week on the Thai islands, pick an island and stick to it. There is really little to differentiate one Thai island from another nowadays and if you only have seven days, packing up and moving from Ko Pha Ngan to Ko Lanta really makes little sense (unless bad weather is to blame). Of course if you have more time, island hop to your heart's content -- but don't expect a totally different experience on each island.

Suggested itineraries for Thailand

THAILAND: A one-week holiday that will have you back for more:
A trip like this is suitable for those who have just a week in Thailand but still want a bit of sun along with the culture. ... detailed trip plan itinerary

THAILAND: Isaan explorer - get to know the northeast of Thailand:
National parks, ancient Khmer ruins, lovely Mekong river vistas and the wonderful Isaan food -- we hope you like it spicey! ... detailed trip plan itinerary

THAILAND: Isaan taster - just a sample of the northeast of Thailand:
Not everyone has the luxury of a month to explore northeast Thailand, so here's a short trip you could cover in as little as a few days. You'll get to see national parks, Khmer ruins and finish off with some sleepy Mekong River scenery. ... detailed trip plan itinerary

THAILAND: Jungle and islands - Islands and more islands:
A trip to Thailand isn't complete without at least a little down time on the islands, and this 3-4 week holiday has plenty of island time. ... detailed trip plan itinerary

THAILAND: Mountains and Islands - a two week sampler:
Most first-time travellers to Thailand opt for a trip like this -- we certainly did. Striking north into the hills and then relaxing on the beach is, for many, the ultimate first-time Thai experience. ... detailed trip plan itinerary

THAILAND: Northern explorer - two weeks in northern Thailand:
You could spend six months in northern Thailand and not experience all it has to offer, but even with just two weeks you can still have a great experience. ... detailed trip plan itinerary

THE REGION: Southern Laos, Southern Vietnam and Cambodia:
For those set on getting an experience in Laos, Vietnam and Laos, but with only limited time, a trip like this is a good choice, as while you miss the north of both Laos and Vietnam, you save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent getting from A to B ... detailed trip plan itinerary

THE REGION: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam explorer:
This is the big one! Travelling throughout the region, you'll touch on the highlights of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. ... detailed trip plan itinerary