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Bon Mai village, Thailand

Rice fields during the monsoon season in Bon Mai village in Northern Thailand

[This post was updated in October 2018.]


The hardest part of any trip to Thailand is deciding where to go. The choices are endless – the white sandy beaches of the Andaman Coast, indulging in Chiang Mai’s signature (and savory) soup curry, climbing Bangkok’s gleaming Buddhist temples and biking through the 13th century ruins of Sukhothai. Did I mention it’s one of the most budget friendly travel destinations?

I lived and worked in Thailand for three long summers running photo trips for high school students, teaching English and volunteering with an NGO. In between those gigs, I traveled extensively to every corner of the country. There is no place I love and know better than Thailand.

Since it’s the most common place I get asked for travel advice, I put together this extensive photo guide to help YOU plan your Thailand adventure. The guide includes all the highlights, logistical tips for transport and when to visit!

Photo guide to Thailand: Bangkok's Grand Palace

Bangkok’s colorful Grand Palace

Bangkok

Bangkok is a kaleidoscope of both Eastern and Western culture – sleek shopping malls just blocks away from traditional Buddhist temples. The capital city is filled with amazing sites and is the perfect place to recover from jet lag.

  • The Grand Palace, the former royal residence, is a must for your first trip. One of the highlights is the stunning golden 1782 temple complex of Wat Phra Kaew, home to the Emerald Buddha, the most revered image in Thailand that dates back to the 13th and 14th century. (Admission: 500B/$14 USD)
    • EXPERT TIP: Cover your knees and wear long sleeves or you’ll be forced to rent clothing. Be prepare to pay higher taxi fees because there are no trains near here. Go early and get out before rush hour when prices jump drastically and drivers might refuse to pick you up! Avoid Sundays when taxis use pricey fixed rates.
  • Wat Po is nearby and home to the largest reclining Buddha in the city.  (Admission: 100B/ $2.80 USD)
Photo Guide to Thailand: Bangkok's Wat Arun

The view from the top of Bangkok’s Wat Arun is worth the steep climb.

  • Was Arun. Take a boat across the river from the Grand Palace and climb the steep stairs of the 82-meter high Khumer-style tower of this grand Buddhist temple complex located on the Chao Phraya. (Due to construction, parts of the tower are closed for climbing as of late 2016.)
  • Jim Thompson House: This is the best thing in Bangkok. The house/art museum is the former home of American silk trader and antique collector Jim Thompson. The complex consists of six Thai-style houses moved from other parts of Thailand to the current location, which is walking distance from the MBK center and Skytrain. His art collection includes Buddha sculptures dating back to the 8th century along with paintings and porcelain. Photography is not allowed inside the houses. (Admission: 150B/$4 USD)
Photo Guide to Thailand: Bangkok's Wat Suthat

A monk walks through the courtyard of Bangkok’s most stunning temple – Wat Suthat.

  • Wat Suthat is not only visually stunning but also holds one the highest ranks of royal temples in the country. The photogenic courtyard is lined with Buddha statues, which is why it’s one of my favorite temples to photograph in Thailand! (Admission: 20B/$0.50 USD)
Photo Guide to Thailand: Chatuchak Weekend Market

A food vendor at Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market serves one of my favorite Thai street foods – moo ping, grilled pork skewers with a sweet dipping sauce. 

  • Chatuchak Weekend Market is my favorite place to shop. The sprawling complex is separated into 26 sections ranging from local artists to trendy boutiques to potted plants. The entire market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is close to both BTS Skytrain and subway (MRT) stops.
  • MBK Food Court: The food court at MBK, a sprawling multi-level maze-like shopping mall, is the best. It’s hidden on the sixth floor behind all the chain restaurants and vendor stalls. The food court consists of a series of stalls lined up side by side. (Don’t get it confused with the restaurants on the fifth floor, which is more obvious from escalators.) You have to buy tickets to purchase food and can redeem unused tickets for cash afterwards. You’ll see the ticket booth before you enter. They have everything from curry to papaya salad. Both the Terminal 21 and Siam Paragon shopping malls also have food courts. The food court is located on the top floor of Terminal 21 and the bottom floor of the Paragon behind all the normal restaurants.
  • Thong Lo: If you are a foodies, then this your neighborhood. Khao Jao is great for no frills, authentic Thai food with high spice levels. Sit and Wonder is a hidden spot with a great atmosphere and delicious Thai food!  Roast is a good treat if you’re craving Western food.
Wat Suthat

A scenic view of Wat Suthat

Bangkok Tips

  • The cheapest and fastest way into the city from Suvarnabhumi Airport is to take the Airport Link Train and connect to the BTS Skytrain.
  • There are multi-trip passes available for both the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway.
  • Taxis are ALWAYS cheaper than auto rickshaws/tuk tuks.
  • Avoid the tourist trap of Khao San Road in Bangkok. To be blunt, it’s sketchy, trashy and unsafe at times. Do not take any long distance buses that pick up or leave from there.
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Monks swim near Chiang Mai’s mountain top temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

NORTHERN THAILAND


Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the laid-back posh hub of Northern Thailand. Stroll through the old town, a 1.5 km square surrounded by original walls and moat. There’s a stunning temple on pretty much every block and an endless array of culinary treats. Here are a few other highlights:

  • Climb the 306 steps to the mountain top temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which is a short trip outside of the city.
  • Be sure to stop by the Chiang Mai Night Bazzar, the 1km long sprawling nightly market.
  • Try a bowl or two of Chiang Mai’s favorite dish: Khao Soi, a delicious soup curry.
  • Stayed within walking distance of the old city. (I stayed at the budget hotel Micasa and loved it.)
Photo Guide to Thailand: Chiang Rai's White Temple

Chiang Rai’s temple-inspired art project, Wat Rong Khun, features images of Hello Kitty and Keanu Reeves in the interior.


Chiang Rai

The small town of Chiang Rai is often overlooked but worth a visit if only to see the famous white temple, Wat Rong Khun. The temple is a contemporary art project by local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat that opened is 1997 and is still not yet completed. It’s open daily for visitors with a small entry fee (50 Baht/$1.39 USD).  Another local artist, Thawan Duchanee, is known for a 40-building complex known as the black temple that features a dark and controversial interpretation of Buddhist philosophy. The city itself has great food, budget accommodation, stunning temples and is a good base for nearby excursions.

Pai

Everyone loves Pai. The bohemian outpost is surrounded by lush mountain scenery and is one of the most visited parts of Northern Thailand. The city center is filled with trekking agencies, boutiques and an endless array of restaurants. The edges of the small city are best if you’re looking for solitude.

Photo Guide to Thailand: Ayutthaya Wat Mahathat Buddha Head

Ayutthaya’s ruins are famous for a Buddha head entangled in tree roots at Wat Mahathat, which was destroyed by the Burmese in the 13th century.

Sukhothai & Ayutthaya

If you love ancient Buddhist ruins as much as I do, then don’t miss these two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Sukhothai was the first capital of Siam in 13th and 14th century, and Ayutthaya was the second. Both are historical parks and most sites are easily visited by bike. (I personally prefer Sukhothai because it’s not as crowded, and there are far less annoying vendors.) Ayutthaya is 80 miles north of Bangkok while Sukhothai 135 south of Chiang Mai. Both are easily accessibly by bus. (For more on Sukhothai, check out this post.)

Photo Guide to Thailand: Ko Phi-Phi Don

Long-tail boats docked on the sandy shores of Ko Phi-Phi Don in Southern Thailand’s Andaman Sea. 

SOUTHERN THAILAND

The trickiest part of visiting Thailand’s beaches is deciding between the Andaman Coast or the Gulf Islands. The gulf islands of Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Panenag are close together, while the islands on the Andaman coast are scattered. Both have white sandy beaches and clear water, but the Andaman Coast is known for towering limestone cliffs.

Gulf Coast Islands

Ko Tao is a diving mecca of Thailand and second in the world for the annual number of dive certifications.  It’s also one of the cheapest places to be PADI certified. If you want to dive, there’s no better place in Thailand.

Ko Samui is a swanky resort island of the trio and probably the nicest island in Thailand with the cleanest beaches due to the amount of high-end tourism. All taxis are fixed rate so it’s pretty expensive to get around. Songthaews, pickup trucks with covered rows of seats, are the cheapest options.

Ko Pha-Ngan
is the infamous party island know for the Full Moon Parties, a never ending beach rave filled with electronic music and backpackers covered in neon paint. The party rages on both before and after the full moon. To escape the party scene, head to the laid-back and less visited northern parts of the island.

Photo Guide to Thailand: Ko Samet

Alfred, the traveling gnome, takes in the scenic view from the sandy shores of Ko Samet.

Ko Samet is my favorite island in Thailand and where I spent my birthday one year.  Despite being the closest island to Bangkok, it’s still an underdeveloped destination with a thick jungle interior. The southern portion of the island is more secluded and parts of the island only accessible by motorcycle or ATV, which are easy to rent. There are no white sandy beaches here, but the water is still clear.  There’s a direct three-hour bus from Bangkok’s eastern bus terminal to the ferry dock.

How to get to Gulf Coast Islands: You can fly to Samui from Bangkok easily on a few airlines. The cheapest way is a bus/ferry combination from Bangkok’s southern bus terminal. You can also take the train/bus/ferry combination from Bangkok, but the bus/ferry option is way easier.

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Kayakers near the limestone cliffs of the Ko Phi Phi Islands in Southern Thailand

Andaman Coast

Krabi Town is a key transport hub nestled between towering limestone karusts. Ao Naug and Railay are the nicest beaches nearby. While the town of Ao Naug isn’t the nicest, it’s a great place to grab a boat over to Railey, a tiny picturesque white sandy beach village accessible only by sea.

Of course, there’s Phuket, the celebrity of Thai islands and the largest island in the country. It’s a sprawling 30 miles long, which means you have to decide exactly what part of the island to book accommodation. Transport between the main town and other beaches is pricey. It’s a big luxury destination filled with swanky resorts, which is why I’ve always avoided it because that’s not my travel style or budget. Both Phuket and Krabi are good transport hubs to other islands.

Photo Guide to Thailand: Khao Lak

Clouds move in during the monsoon season along the beach in Khao Lak, north of Phuket.


Khao Lak
 is a small town with a nice beach an hour north of Phuket. I spent several weeks there volunteering with an NGO, the Foundation for Education and Development. It’s a great location for day trips to the Similan and Suring Islands, Khao Sok and Khao Lak/Lam Ru National Parks.

Ko Phi-Phi Don is a backpacker island accessible by ferry from Phuket or Krabi. I was disappointed by the trash on the beaches but loved the nightly fire shows. It’s nearby sister island, the uninhabited Ko Phi-Phi Leh, is a gorgeous national park island. You’ll probably recognize the soaring limestone cliffs jutting out of crystal clear waters from the movie The Beach that was filmed there.  It’s a popular day trip with great snorkeling opportunities. Tours cost roughly 700-800B ($20 USD) for a long tail boat and 2500B ($70 USD) for a motorboat. There is a 400B ($11 USD) park entrance fee.

How to get to Andaman Coast: Phuket is the largest airport with international flights, and Krabi is usually the cheaper option. Phuket is easily accessible via overnight bus from Bangkok. There is an endless amount of ferries between all the islands.

mazurek_chiang-mai_01

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai


When to Go to Thailand

The rainy season lasts from May to October, but it only rains a little each day. (I was always in Thailand during those months and didn’t really have any problems.) Temperatures don’t vary much year-round near to the equator. The north is less humid. Avoid the burning season near Chiang Mai in February/March.

March to May are steaming hot across the country so avoid this time of year if possible. November through February is peak travel season when temperate drop (low 80’s Fahrenheit) and prices increase dramatically. The water festival (Songkran) in mid-April is another peak travel time so book ahead for accommodation.

tuktuk

Thailand Transport Tips & Logistics

TRAINS: The trains in Thailand are good but usually late by at least 30 minutes to a couple hours. Sleeper trains are quite comfy and one of my favorite forms of travel. (Always get bottom bunk – it’s bigger. Plus, the air conditioner makes the top bunk FREEZING.) Book directly at train station. Bottom bunks sell out so try to buy a day or two in advance.

BUS: Buses are more efficient. Always take the second class buses instead of the VIP tourist buses. It’s half the price and nicer. (The VIP buses are always blaring music all night and are targets for people to get robbed since it’s all foreigners. The bus staff will go through the bags I’ve heard.) The second class buses are usually only locals so they are safer in my opinion. They have air conditioning and bathrooms, too. There are plenty of budget airlines as well. AVOID buses that drop or pick up on Khao San Road, the sleazy backpacker district. Those are targets for thieves and drop you off on the street at odd hours of the night.

TUK TUKS: Tuk tuk (auto rickshaw) prices are outrageous in Bangkok. Always get a taxi in Bangkok  – it’s significantly cheaper to pay by taxi meter than the horrible flat rate tuk tuk prices. They can be cheaper in other parts of the country. Always negotiate a price beforehand.

Banking

Exchange rates are always better in Bangkok than at the airport. The best rates are usually from the ATM. All ATMs in Thailand are now charging ATM fees for withdrawals. To avoid these fees, be sure to open a fee-free travel bank account before your trip, which will save you a significant amount of money. For more details, check out my post on Travel Banking 101.

Thailand Photo Guide: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai

How to Dress

Thailand is very conservative so be sure to cover your knees and shoulders in temples! Many temples in Bangkok even require long pants and long sleeves, and they will require you to rent clothing if you are not dressed appropriately. Be respectful at all times. Normal shorts are okay in Bangkok’s streets but avoid tank tops. Anything goes along the beaches in Southern Thailand.

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COMING UP:

White Sands New Mexico, Photography by Anna Mazurek. Image may not be reproduced without permission.

 

Best of 2016

Next week, I’ll wrap up 2016 with a recap of the most popular posts and adventures from the year to inspire your 2017 New Year’s travel resolutions! Tell me your New Year’s travel resolutions in the comments below!

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