The Ultimate Thailand Travel Guide

The ultimate Thailand travel guide including Phi Phi Islands, Krabi, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

From endless bowls of steaming Pad Thai, vibrant night bazaars, mystic jungle temples and snorkeling in the most turquoise water I’ve ever seen, our trip to Thailand ranks as one of my top adventures of all time.The one thing that particularly attracted me about Thailand was the promise of a diverse variety of activities ranging from island hopping, venturing to mountaintop temples and hiking to crystal pools in the middle of the jungle.

If you know me, when I find a reasonably-priced flight to somewhere on my never-ending travel list, I’m powerless to look the other way. Such was the situation when I was browsing a few weeks ago, and stumbled across the perfect flights to Thailand. Southeast Asia has been on my list for quite some time now, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to escape the frigid DC winter and explore a vast landscape on the other side of the world.

In this blog post, I’m breaking down everywhere we went, everything we saw and ate during our 2 weeks in Thailand. Scroll down to the bottom of the blog post for ALL the logistical details on what to wear, when to go, visas, money, transportation and more!

Phuket

Our journey began in Phuket, though we did not spend a significant amount of time here since I had heard mixed reviews. Nevertheless, it was great for a quick stop to recharge for after our long flight. We spent the morning swimming in our rooftop pool before venturing to the charming Phuket Old Town for breakfast and a bit of wandering around the colorful streets. However, I did think that breakfast and a half day was more than enough to get a sense of the area, and then we boarded a the ferry at Rassada pier and headed to Ko Phi Phi.

Phi Phi Islands

Located in the middle of the Andaman Sea, Phi Phi can only be reached via boat. It’s world-renowned for the bright white beaches, crystal clear sparkling waters, stunning jungle interior and vibrant nightlife.

Ko Phi Phi was certainly a highlight during our time in Thailand. While the island can become crowded during the day hours, make sure you stay for at least a few nights to enjoy the island during the off hours (morning/night) when the tour boats are gone for the day. Here were a few of our favorite activities while on Ko Phi Phi:

Phi Phi Viewpoints 1&2

(Admission cost: 30 baht (about $1) per person)

For a beautiful island overlook, make sure to leave some time to hike up to Phi Phi Viewpoints 1&2. The two viewpoints are not far from the main market area and are connected to one other, so you start out at one and then can hike a bit further up the hill to reach the second one. We headed up in the late afternoon to catch a beautiful sunset and lemme tell ya…it was SPECTACULAR. Picture cotton candy sunsets over rolling mountains and the gorgeous blue Tonsai Bay. Truly amazing. We much preferred Viewpoint 2 to Viewpoint 1, so make sure to take the time to go the extra bit!

Island Hopping via Longtail Boat

(Cost: 1,800 baht (about $60) for a private boat for ½ day)

This is an absolute MUST while in the Phi Phi Islands. We also rented our own private boat, as it was fairly inexpensive and afforded us the opportunity to go at our own pace and get to the hot places before they got crowded. If you have the budget to do this, I would HIGHLY recommend getting your own private boat. While there are group tour boats that will take you around, we watched as people were dropped off for a period of time and then herded to the next location – it was WELL WORTH the cost of getting our own boat driver. It was super easy to just walk down to the pier and set a time for someone to take us – don’t worry about pre-booking online as it’s very simple to just do on-site and there is no lack of options! I would also highly recommend making sure that you get someone to take you out EARLY so that you get all of the locations to yourself.

We chose to island hop around Ko Phi Phi Leh including Maya Bay, Viking Cave, Pileh Bay, etc. Our driver also took us to a few hidden coves and beaches (another perk of a private driver!). In contrast to the main island, Ko Phi-Phi Leh is undeveloped and hotel-free, its coral reefs and crystal-clear waters overseen by soaring, jagged cliffs. AMAZING to visit!

Shopping/Markets

The markets and night bazaars on Phi Phi were such a fun element of this island. We spent plenty of time sipping on fresh mango and kiwi smoothies, shopping for souvenirs or trying out different restaurants!

Krabi

From Ko Phi Phi, we boarded another ferry and set sail for Krabi, Thailand. This province on the southwest coast of the country is known for its sheer limestone cliffs, dense mangrove forests and hundreds of islands just off the coast. From the crystal waters of the famous Railay Beach to hidden mountaintop jungle temples and hot springs, the scenery here felt like something straight out of a fairytale.

We stayed in Ao Nang, due to its easy accessibility to everything we wanted to see within Krabi including the pier (for longtail boats) and taxis. If you’re planning on just staying at the beach and not doing any excursions, I would definitely opt for Railay, however this was a beautiful area and perfect for our itinerary, which included quite a few trips out to other hotspots in the vicinity.

Tiger Cave Temple

(Admission cost: Free)

Located northeast of Krabi, this sacred Buddhist temple is located amidst a maze of natural caves in an overgrown jungle valley. It’s known for tiger paw prints in the stone, tall statues and the intense flight of stairs (1,237 steps to be exact) to reach the summit. However, we were rewarded with panoramic views encompassing the Andaman Sea, dramatic cliff formations, jagged mountains and lush rainforests.  The vistas were unreal – we went during the morning, but I can imagine that they would be particularly spectacular at sunrise or sunset!

Emerald Pool/Blue Pool

(Admission cost: 200 baht (about $6) per person)

A short hike through the rainforest will open to limestone foothills and a vivid emerald pool set in the middle of the jungle with fresh, cool water is supplied from natural streams coming from up the hill. This gorgeous natural sanctuary is a must-see while in Krabi, although it gets crowded as the day wears on, so I would highly recommend hiring a private driver and getting there before the crowds arrive to have a relaxing morning swim. The natural park opens at 8am, so the sooner the better.

If you hike just a bit further along the jungle boardwalk trail, you’ll have the opportunity to see the luminescent Blue Pool. While you aren’t able to swim in this one, it’s gorgeous nonetheless and definitely worth the extra walk to see it because of the dazzling blue color. The pool was formed from the hot spring under the earth’s crust, which is indigo blue – if you look closely, you might just see the bubbles coming up from the bottom!

Emerald Pool (left), Blue Pool (right)

Krabi Hot Springs

(Admission cost: 90 baht (about $3) per person)

These incredible natural hot tubs are the PERFECT way to relax and de-stress after a long day of adventuring. The smooth, hollowed out “bath tub” formations channel water from deep thermal springs located in volcanic chambers with temperatures ranging from 95-105 degrees. The jungle baths cascade down into a cool stream at the bottom and are surrounded by a beautiful rainforest. Make sure to bring a towel, sandals, etc.

Railay Beach

(Cost: 80 baht (about $3) per person for a boat each way from Ao Nang)

One of the most popular beaches in Krabi, Railay is known for its amazing rock climbing, rock formations and sandy white beaches. Although it looks and feels like an island, it’s actually part of the mainland and accessible only by boat due to high limestone cliffs. It’s actually a small peninsula that includes four beaches – there are no roads, buses, or cars. Just footpaths and longtail boats! We took a 15 minute boat ride from Ao Nang and spent the day there. Definitely enjoyed it, but if you’re choosing between a day at Railway or a day island hopping, I would easily recommend the island hopping. Railay is popular (for a reason) but it can get crowded.

Island Hopping (Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Tup Island and Phranang Cave Beach)

(Cost: 1,800 baht (about $60) for a private boat)

Ao Nang serves as a great departure point for plenty of island-hopping day trips in Krabi. A particularly popular one is a four island day trip which includes exploring some of the jaw dropping small islands just off the coast. From visiting Phanang Cave Beach, enjoying snorkeling and swimming at Chicken Island to relaxing on the flawless beaches on Koh Poda, this is the perfect way to spend a tropical day!

Bangkok

We only allotted ourselves 2 days in Bangkok, because while I wanted to see the city, I’d also heard mixed reviews. In all of my pre-Thailand research, it seemed that Chiang Mai was much preferred over Bangkok, to which I would certainly agree. However, if you have the time, Bangkok is definitely worth a visit! We absolutely loved the bustling markets, looming skyscrapers and glittering temples.

Grand Palace

(Admission cost: 500 baht (about $17) per person)

Located in the heart of Bangkok, the Grand Palace has been the residence of the kings of Siam since the 1700’s and features several magnificent buildings. The palace also includes the sacred Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) and tons of intricate architecture. While it’s definitely an iconic Bangkok attraction, it is significantly more expensive than any of the other temples or locations that we visited. It was also incredibly crowded. I’m talkin’ crowded. I’d try to get there first thing in the morning should you choose to add this one to your list.

Wat Pho

(Admission cost: 200 baht (about $7) per person)

This temple is truly the crown jewel of Bangkok. I honestly don’t have many words for how utterly impressive and extensive it was. As one of the largest temple complexes in the city, it’s especially well-known for its giant reclining buddha. Even though there were a fair amount of people visiting when we were there, I there were parts that we had completely to ourselves, which I loved. A definite must-see.

Wat Arun

(Admission cost: 50 baht (about $1.70) per person)

Nicknamed the “Temple of the Dawn,” Wat Arun is another beautiful temple that is located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river. It’s truly set apart from many of the other temples due to it’s colorful spires towering over the water. It’s also located almost directly opposite of Wat Pho, so it’s a quick and easy visit right after! Just head over to Saphan Taksin boat pier and take the river boat across the river for 3 baht (10 cents).

Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)

Admission cost: 20 baht (about $0.66) per person)

This hidden gem was probably our favorite temple that we visited while in Bangkok. While certainly not as grand and extensive as Wat Pho, we found it to be so charming and beautiful. Known by many as the Marble Temple, it’s beautiful pillars, white marble and golden windows will definitely have you in awe. Despite the fact that it’s actually on the 5 baht coin, it’s really not that heavily promoted (although it SHOULD be). There were maybe 10-15 people when we first arrived, but we found the temple so gorgeous and peaceful that we just sat and enjoyed it for awhile and within 20-30 minutes we had the entire place to ourselves. There’s a beautiful little river and some pagodas as well on the complex. Do not skip this one!

Siam Center

Our hotel was right next to Siam Center, so we spent plenty of time doing some shopping in one of Bangkok’s trendiest malls – the complex is actually made up of Siam Discovery, Siam Center and Siam Paragon. There are tons of shops, restaurants and everything from massive LED screens, light-up stairways, water fountains and light tunnels. A super fun place to explore!

MBK

If you’re more serious about buying than just looking, MBK is right next to Siam. The notoriously frenetic mall has 8 stories, attracting more than 90,000 shoppers per day. The over 2,000 shops here sell everything from clothing, leather products, accessories, handbags, furniture, cameras, etc. While it certainly can’t compare to the glitzy Siam Center, the mindboggling range of goods are definitely much less expensive if you want to do some real shopping!

Chiang Mai

From Bangkok, we headed over to Chiang Mai, the largest city in the mountainous northern region of Thailand. Chiang Mai was arguably our favorite stop on this entire trip, largely because of its unique balance between traditional and contemporary, affordable lodging, delicious food, plethora of temples and activities. Forget the overwhelming traffic of Bangkok and spend time wandering down calm, leafy streets, relaxing in the cool climate and enjoying the friendly night bazaars. Easily navigated by foot, tuktuk or songatheaw (these adorable red pickup trucks that you can take anywhere for 20 baht), a mountaintop view or a cascading waterfall is only a day trip away!

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

(Admission Cost: 30 baht (about $1) per person)

Situated atop Doi Suthep mountain, this ancient temple is probably the most famous in all of Chiang Mai and definitely something that should be on your list. We hired a local taxi driver to take us up and back (about 800 baht or $25 for about 3-4 hours) but you could also easily take a songatheaw and it would probably be cheaper! The 306-step staircase to the top has glittering serpents on either side leading up to a majestic golden temple at the top. The terrace has beautiful trees, gardens, statues and monuments with panoramic views of Chiang Mai in the distance. Absolutely beautiful – however be warned that it can become VERY crowded, so I would highlight recommend going early in the day to beat the crowds.

Wat Palad

(Admission cost: free)

On our way down from Doi Suthep, our taxi driver offered to drop us off at what he called the “hidden forest temple” known as Wat Palad or Wat Pha Lat. I would HIGHLY recommend this in conjunction with (or even instead of) Doi Suthep. Nestled in the lush jungle just down the mountain from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, this mystic paradise is calming and awe-inspiring. Think old stone buildings, intricate statues and walkways, this secret hideaway was actually the most beautiful surprise of our trip to Chiang Mai since it wasn’t even originally on our itinerary! We almost had the entire place to ourselves – can you say fairytale vibes?!

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

(Admission cost: free – minus anything you buy there!)

The Chiang Mai night bazaar is definitely not to be missed! This huge shopping epicenter is located on the east side of the city near the Ping River and comes to life every night from 6pm-10:30pm. We loved wandering through the rows and rows of hand-made items, clothing, bags, jewelry and all the food we could eat! From fresh smoothies, ice cream, dumplings, Thai pancakes (the Nutella ones are to DIE for) and even a special dish that’s just made in Chiang Mai known as Khao Soi (definitely make sure you try it!), this is such a fun place to spend a few hours in the evening. We ended up coming here every night that we were in Chiang Mai!

Chiang Mai Cooking Class

(Cost ranges from 600-1,000 baht (about $20-$50) per person)

Venture onto any street and you’ll find plenty options to register for Thai cooking classes or book online before you go! Such a fun way to spend an afternoon learning the techniques behind traditional Thai food and getting to taste the results!

Elephant Sanctuary

(About 2,000 baht ($65 USD) per adult for a full day)

Chiang Mai is renowned for its abundance of elephant sanctuaries. You can sign up for a visit to one, which usually includes pickup and dropoff from your hotel, a traditional Thai lunch and time with the elephants – sometimes you can even bathe with them! Be aware that these will require at least an hour of driving each way + the time at the site, which adds up to a half day minimum, with most of them being full day activities! Just make sure that you budget adequate time and bring clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, NEVER go to any location that advocates riding on the elephants – these places are usually very abusive and definitely not something that you want to support!

Thai Massages

(Cost: 300 baht – around $10 for an hour massage)

When in Thailand, massages are something that you simply can’t skip! Trust me when I say that we soaked up every opportunity for some inexpensive relaxation. Thai massages are notoriously painful, so unless you have a high tolerance for an intense massage, I’d recommend sticking with one of the other options – after a long day of walking, foot massages were high on our priority list!

Although we didn’t have time to do the following, if you have the time I would highly recommend the following activities:

• Bamboo Rafting Trip
• Ziplining Trip
• Bua Tong Waterfall
• Mae Sa Waterfall
• Huay Keaw Waterfall
• Chiang Rai/White Temple Daytrip

In short, Thailand easily ranks as my all-time favorite trip I’ve taken to date and I can HIGHLY recommend it for anyone. Whether you prefer taking a dip in the gorgeous turquoise islands, sipping fresh coconut water on a white-sand beach, climbing to the top of a beautiful temple overlook, venturing through the jungles, exploring the vibrant markets or gilded temples and palaces, Thailand has something for every traveler. From the delicious food, wonderful people and majestic landscapes, I do think I left a piece of my heart in Thailand and I can guarantee you that I’ll be going back soon.

What to Expect in Thailand

When to Visit

The best time to visit Thailand is between the end of November and early April, when there is little rain and lots of sun during their dry season. We went early December and found the weather to be PERFECT averaging in the 80s and 90s with not a single drop of rain the entire time we were there.

Language

Thai is the main language spoken in Thailand, although most of the locals in the areas that we visited were able to speak basic English. We had absolutely no issues with communication and found that most people understood what we were trying to communicate. If in doubt, the Google Translate app is a lifesaver – you can even hold it over menus/etc. to translate them (although most all menus include English or pictures). Make sure you learn a few basic Thai phrases (Hello = sah-wah-dee-ka, Thank you = kob-kun-ka) as it means a lot to the people when they hear you speaking their language!

Currency

Thai Baht ($1 USD = around 30 baht). We had no issues transferring over our money at the airport or ATMs during our trip. Credit card is not widely accepted (even in airports or cities), so I would make sure that you have adequate cash on you at all times.

Visas

Depending on what country you are coming from, you may require a visa to travel to Thailand. If you’re from the US, no visa is required as long as your stay is under 30 days. Remember, that you passport must be valid for 6 months from your date of entry! (Check out more info from the Thai Embassy here)

Transportation

Transportation is incredibly easy in Thailand. There is no shortage of taxis, songatheaws, tuk-tuks, motorcycles, etc. ready to take you wherever you want to go! We also used the Thai version of Uber, known as Grab (download it on the app store), which was another easy and inexpensive way of getting around. Note = tuktuk’s are cute, but note that they are more expensive than a normal taxi!

Food

The food in Thailand is fresh, flavorful and delicious! Think lots of Pad Thai, fresh-squeezed juice and smoothies, coconuts, mango sticky rice, vegetables, spring rolls – I could go on and on! We didn’t have any issues with the food, but definitely picked reputable restaurants.

Airfare

We took several flights within Thailand itself save time and energy. I would highly recommend this since flights are usually only an hour or two and range between $20-$30 for a one-way. Definitely the way to go!

Data/Wifi

The LTE data connection was surprisingly strong during our entire time in Thailand. Since I have Verizon, I just activated TravelPass for $10 a day which included unlimited talk + text (my existing plan). Depending where you stay, wifi can be spotty, so I’d recommend reading the hotel reviews closely to verify that you won’t have issues! Otherwise, we didn’t have any issues at all!

Outlets/Chargers

Thankfully in Thailand, the plugs are the same as in the USA, so no special adaptors needed.

Vaccinations

The CDC recommend Hep A/B, Typhoid, Meningitis, MMR, Tdap, and yellow fever. Your physician should be able to give you more specifics on which ones you need, but as with traveling to any other country, make sure you’re up-to-date!

Clothing

Shorts, skirts, summer dresses and tasteful tops are definitely solid choices for Thailand – it’s important to be aware of the cultural etiquette. Be prepared for humidity and bring shoes that you don’t mind getting wet or doing a lot of walking in. Also, keep in mind that all temples have a strict dress code (women = no exposed legs or shoulders), so ensure that you have the appropriate attire or you won’t be allowed to enter. We bought pretty scarves in one of the markets that made the perfect combo with a tank top to ensure that the shoulders were covered to pair with a skirt or a dress!

Safety

I can honestly say that I felt safer traveling in Thailand than any other country I have visited thus far. Honestly, I felt safer there than I often do in DC! The Thai people are incredibly friendly and inviting, the other travelers that we met were amazing (I even follow some of them on Instagram now!). As with any other place, keep your wits about you, make smart decisions and keep your wallet and valuables in a safe place/watch out for pick-pockets!

Jet Lag

Thailand is 12 hours ahead of Eastern time, so we took a red-eye flight and arrived around 5pm the next day in Thailand (say hello to 24 hours of traveling!) We stayed up for as long as we could and then took a double-dose of melatonin to knock out on the plane ride and start getting on the correct schedule. A bottle of melatonin is one of my best-kept travel secrets!

Check our Thailand Highlight Reel Here: