{"id":7805,"date":"2019-01-16T20:01:41","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T19:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/?p=7805"},"modified":"2026-10-28T07:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T07:53:40","slug":"backpacking-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"Thailand Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thailand was likely the first country in Southeast Asia to welcome travelers, and it has now become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the years, some regions have perhaps become overly touristy, but if you&#8217;re looking for an exotic, affordable, and safe destination, Thailand is the perfect place to visit. Precisely because millions of tourists visit Thailand every year, traveling within the country is really easy\u2014even for less experienced travelers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Buddhist temples, markets and beautiful beaches to the delicious food, Thailand has something to offer for every taste. Over the years I&#8217;ve spent about three months backpacking around the country (<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/gmYsVlWtvyo\">here<\/a> you can find the video of my most recent trip, in Italian, but you can turn on the subtitles), and in this guide you&#8217;ll find a ton of useful information and tips to plan your trip to Thailand as best you can.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"quick-menu\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Quick menu<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#when\">When to visit Thailand<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#doc\">Documents and vaccinations to enter Thailand<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#what\">What to do and see in Thailand<\/a>\r\n    <details>\r\n      <summary>Destinations<\/summary>\r\n      <ul>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#bangkok\">Bangkok<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#kanchanaburi\">Kanchanaburi<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#ayutthaya\">Ayutthaya<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#sukhothai\">Sukhothai<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#chiang-mai\">Chiang Mai<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#pai\">Pai<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#chiang-rai\">Chiang Rai<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#koh-chang\">Koh Chang<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#khao-sok\">Khao Sok National Park<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#krabi\">Krabi, Ao Nang and Rai Leh<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#phuket\">Phuket<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#koh-phi-phi\">Koh Phi Phi<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#koh-lanta\">Koh Lanta<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#koh-lipe\">Koh Lipe<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#koh-tao\">Koh Tao<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#koh-phangan\">Koh Phangan<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#koh-samui\">Koh Samui<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <\/ul>\r\n    <\/details>\r\n  <\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#iti\">Suggested itineraries in Thailand<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#how\">How to get around in Thailand<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#cost\">Backpacking Thailand: costs<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#safe\">Backpacking Thailand: safety<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/#quick-menu\" style=\"position: fixed; right: 18px; bottom: 18px; z-index: 9999; padding: 8px 12px; border: 1px solid #999; border-radius: 6px; background: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-size: 14px;\">\u2191 Menu<\/a>\r\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tempio_Wat_Arun.jpg\" alt=\"The Wat Arun temple in Bangkok\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Wat Arun temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"when\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>When to visit Thailand<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three seasons can be roughly identified in Thailand: the rainy season (May-October), the &#8220;cold&#8221; season (November-February), and the hot season (March-May).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The rainy season<\/strong> (May-October) is the least predictable of all. Generally, it rains every day, but these rains are often concentrated during a few hours in the afternoon or at night, with a greater concentration starting in July-August and peaking in September-October.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The &#8220;cold&#8221; season<\/strong> (November-February) isn&#8217;t really that cold. In fact, it&#8217;s considered the high season, as well as the best time to go to Thailand, with temperatures that can easily reach 30 degrees Celsius during the day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The hot season<\/strong> (March-May) is indeed really hot, with temperatures that can exceed 35 degrees Celsius, especially in the cities. If you visit the country during this period, specifically from 13 to 15 April, don&#8217;t miss Songkran, known as the water festival: it&#8217;s the most important celebration held in Thailand!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are some regional variations to consider. For example, the southern part of the country is more prone to a rainy season that sometimes lasts into November-December, while in the north, especially in the mountainous areas, temperatures tend to vary more drastically from season to season and even from day to night.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"doc\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Documents and vaccinations to enter Thailand<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Italian passport holders with at least six months of remaining validity who arrive by air (or cross the border by land) receive a free 60-day tourist visa (the rules change depending on your nationality, so check yours).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The free 60-day visa can be obtained a maximum of two times during the same calendar year if entering by land or sea. However, there&#8217;s no limit if you arrive by air.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to exiting and re-entering the country\u2014doing the classic &#8220;visa run&#8221;\u2014it&#8217;s possible to renew this visa for another 30 days at the immigration office in major cities, resulting in a total of 90 days. This extension costs 1,900 THB (about 50\u20ac).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thailand doesn&#8217;t require mandatory vaccinations, but Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations are always recommended.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For up-to-date information on visas and everything else, I recommend checking your own government&#8217;s official travel advice (for example, the UK&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/thailand\">Foreign travel advice<\/a>). On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thaievisa.go.th\/\">this page<\/a> you&#8217;ll find the official immigration website, which for once is actually really well made.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"what\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Thailand<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cosa_vedere_thailandia.png\" alt=\"What to do and see in Thailand\" width=\"450\" height=\"759\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">N.b. Throughout the guide you&#8217;ll find links to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you want to use offline navigation directly from the Alltrails app you need to upgrade to the pro version. However, you can get around this by downloading the coordinates from the desktop version of the site in \u201cGoogle Earth KML\u201d format and then uploading them to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/organicmaps.app\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organic Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is by far one of my <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/app-travelling\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">favorite travel apps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this guide, prices are often expressed in the local currency. The official currency of Thailand is called &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thai Baht<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; abbreviated as &#8220;THB&#8221; or simply &#8220;B.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exchange rate is about 1\u20ac = 38 THB. For the current exchange rate, I suggest you look at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.xe.com\/currencyconverter\/convert\/?Amount=1&amp;From=EUR&amp;To=THB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can also see from the map, the country can be divided into three distinct regions, with the center and the north of more historical and cultural interest, and the south, home to the famous beaches that made Thailand so famous. So in this guide I&#8217;ve divided the various destinations by region, starting from the center of the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>CENTRAL THAILAND<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<div id=\"bangkok\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bangkok<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and, with a population of over 11 million, it&#8217;s also by far the country&#8217;s largest city. The city is characterized by traffic congestion, intense heat and a wild nightlife. But you&#8217;ll also find distinctive temples, palaces and markets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Bangkok<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below, I focus on the main tourist sites, which are primarily royal residences, palaces, and Buddhist temples erected by the Siamese dynasty. If you&#8217;re more interested in nightlife, then Khao San Road (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/jeSYGypUQa6e1HB1A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is undoubtedly the street to hang out on: there are lots of clubs and bars here, but some people simply stick to drinking the famous &#8220;buckets&#8221; on the street.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The grand royal palace and the temple of the emerald buddha<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The grand royal palace (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/JYxVY3od1mP1ToGZA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and the adjacent Emerald Buddha Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/rKFvVf2YnvGXzdX4A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) are probably the two most visited and impressive sites in the city. They can be extremely crowded and I recommend visiting them early in the morning so as to avoid both the heat and the crowds. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours. The most practical and inexpensive (if shared) way to get to the palace is probably a taxi.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opening hours 8:30-15:30, entrance fee 500 THB (includes both sites).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Wat_Phra_Kaew.jpg\" alt=\"Wat Phra Kaew temple in Bangkok\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Wat Phra Kaew temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Pho<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining\/Sleeping Buddha (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/DHWg7bHT2t2Nhke8A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is located not far from the royal palace and can be easily reached on foot. Once an educational center of traditional medicine and the birthplace of classic Thai massage, it&#8217;s now home to a giant 46-meter-long golden buddha enshrined inside an equally impressive temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opening hours 8:00-18:30, entrance fee 100 THB.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Arun<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the riverbank near Wat Pho it&#8217;s possible to take the ferry (4 THB) at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/p1BxubgwR8K2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this point<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and reach the other bank where Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is located (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/biZkLzWzeohy6upTA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This is the tallest temple in the city, and the view once you get to the top is excellent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opening hours 8:30-17:30, entrance fee 50 THB.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sites just listed are the most popular ones and can easily be visited on the same day, since they&#8217;re conveniently located really close to each other.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Floating market<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I only visited the Damnoen Saduak floating market (which is about 100 km away and is the largest and most touristy). I joined a tour and, all in all, it wasn&#8217;t that bad. If you want, you can also visit it on your own <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thebeautraveler.com\/damnoen-saduak-without-tour\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as described in this guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you want a more authentic experience I recommend looking into other options. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thailandstartshere.com\/2024\/03\/29\/best-floating-market-in-bangkok\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find a guide on this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/mercato_galleggiante_Bangkok.jpg\" alt=\"The floating market near Bangkok\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Damnoen Saduak floating market.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chatuchak Market<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many markets in Bangkok but with over 200,000 people visiting it every weekend, Chatuchak Market (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/MoLhq2nwHkhPdiFs5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the largest weekend market in the world. There are over 15,000 stalls and 26 sections ranging from food to antiques. Some sections are also open during the week but the entire market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 18:00, so I think it&#8217;s really worth visiting only on these days. To get there, the easiest and cheapest way is by subway, the &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/cVCuB3YXMMTZr8vY8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kamphaeng Phet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; stop is literally at the entrance of the market. In any case you can find all the relevant information on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chatuchakmarket.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you aren&#8217;t in Bangkok on the weekend, a nice though certainly not as impressive alternative is the Jodd Fairs night market (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/CcxgmU4QD39G8hJL6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Again, this can be easily reached by subway thanks to the nearby subway stop.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Khao Yai National Park<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ll preface this by saying that I haven&#8217;t personally visited the park, which is about three hours north of Bangkok. However, as the second-largest national park in Thailand and a UNESCO site since 2005, it&#8217;s definitely worth mentioning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The park is located along the road that connects Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat). From what I&#8217;ve read online, it&#8217;s best to get off at Pak Chong, the nearest town to the park entrance. This involves a 3-4 hour bus ride from Bangkok&#8217;s Victory Monument.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Pak Chong, you can rent a motorcycle to explore the park independently or hitchhike, which seems to be relatively easy within the park. Alternatively, you could rent a car in Bangkok.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re interested, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alexinwanderland.com\/the-complete-guide-to-khao-yai-national-park\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you can find an article about the park here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you opt for an organized tour, I recommend booking it directly once you&#8217;re there.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, I recommend<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> visiting Chinatown (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/fmpX14b2DuUU6Wvo9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) which is a really nice place to stroll around especially in the evening. Yaowarat Road (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/nNhWbGGF9sQ5Aku77\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the main street. If by chance you haven&#8217;t had enough temples, I suggest you check out Wat Traimit (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/sA4Snw447Q178YCL8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) close to Chinatown and Wat Saket (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/2rWJSyJcLgWbXvnX7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) not far from Khaosan Road.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Khao_Yai_parco_nazionale.jpg\" alt=\"Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park near Bangkok\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Khao Yai National Park.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Bangkok?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people decide to stay around Khao San Road. Personally, when I first visited Bangkok I slept at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/born-free-hostel-vista.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mind Day Hostel Khaosan<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, nothing exceptional but it&#8217;s cheap and the location is great, the environment is clean and there&#8217;s air conditioning in the room. If budget isn&#8217;t an issue, check out <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/nappark-hostel-khao-san.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nappark<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it won the award for best hostel in Asia in 2011, I got to go there because a friend was staying there and it&#8217;s actually really cool.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During my last few visits to Bangkok I always stayed at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/ama-hostel-bangkok-krungethphmhaankhr1.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ama Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I highly recommend it, modern and clean in a quiet area within walking distance of Chinatown and especially well connected to major public transportation hubs thanks to the nearby subway stop. Another great hostel I recently stayed at is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/pinto-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pinto Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Bangkok?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virtually every destination within the country has direct connections to the capital. If you&#8217;re arriving from the airport a taxi to Khao San Road should cost 350-400 THB, with public transportation the fastest method is to take the train to Makkasan Station from where you can board the &#8220;BTS&#8221; or &#8220;Skytrain&#8221; and the &#8220;MRT&#8221; subway that connects downtown Bangkok. You can find an interesting article on how both work <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.phuket101.net\/bangkok\/bangkok-bts-skytrain-and-mrt\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"kanchanaburi\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Kanchanaburi<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kanchanaburi isn&#8217;t part of the typical tourist itinerary and is mainly visited by backpackers looking for a place to relax for a few days. The city itself is unremarkable, but its main attraction is definitely the bridge over the River Kwai, made famous by the movie of the same name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bridge is part of the famous Burma-Thailand railway, renamed the Death Railway. In fact, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died during its construction around World War II, and their bodies were buried along the railway. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Burma_Railway\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find an interesting article on the history of the bridge and the railway here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Additionally, there are numerous sites in town related to this topic.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ponte_fiume_Kwai_Kanchanaburi.jpg\" alt=\"The famous bridge on the River Kwai\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The famous bridge on the River Kwai.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Kanchanaburi<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides seeing the famous bridge there are a number of activities that can keep you busy for a couple of days.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Hellfire Pass<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a cutting through the mountain, dug practically by hand to make way for the Death Railway, that has been converted into a memorial thanks to Australian government funds. You can follow a short self-guided walking tour (4 km) that starts here (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/L4nEgECzZWZ4ntWN7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and visit the museum on site (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/2tmPmbNUHZpwwfzL8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The site is certainly not spectacular but undoubtedly of profound significance; admission is free.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get to the pass starting from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kanchanaburi, if you wanted, you could take the bus to Sangkhlaburi (50 THB) and get off at the entrance to the memorial and then simply wait for the return bus across the street, the last one should be at 17:00.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively, you could enjoy the train ride from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok (2 and a half hours) and then take the bus to the memorial (about 20 minutes). Or rent a scooter. If you like, on the same day you could also visit the Hin Dat hot springs (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/BuA5ChcNYtyesDpDA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) located about 40 km further north, also along the main road connecting Kanchanaburi to Sangkhlaburi.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Erawan Falls<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erawan Falls (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/tw6x7o1hb7Fy8FNC9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) are considered among the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. There are a total of seven levels and to explore them all takes at least a couple of hours, admission costs 300 THB. You can follow the stream all the way up to the seventh level of the falls (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/FtvJNFp53Zc52AKbA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reach them, there&#8217;s the public bus 8170 that leaves from the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kanchanaburi <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">terminal <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(you can catch the bus along the main road, ask at your accommodation) about every 50-60 minutes from 8:00 to 17:00, 50 THB, about 90 minutes. Try to leave early to avoid the tourists.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively you could rent a scooter. Besides having more freedom, if shared it&#8217;s also cheaper than the bus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Erawan_cascate_Kanchanaburi.jpg\" alt=\"Erawan Falls in Kanchanaburi\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Part of the Erawan Falls system.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in <\/i><\/b><b><i>Kanchanaburi?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/asleep-hostel-kanchanaburi-city.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asleep Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great hostel with a relaxed atmosphere, a neat and clean environment and great value for money.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Kanchanaburi?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Bangkok there are several options, the public bus (line 81) departing from the south terminal (Sai Tai Taling Chan) (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/eP6TY5Lu7kh3dTws9\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), with departures about every 20 minutes, 2-hour trip. There are also tourist minibuses leaving from Khao San Road at 13:30 and 18:30.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"ayutthaya\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Ayutthaya<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya became the second capital of the Siamese Empire after Sukhothai. Over the centuries, due to its strategic location, it first became the commercial capital of the Asian continent and around 1700, it was the largest city in the world with about one million inhabitants.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, very little remains of what must have been the splendor of its golden years, but numerous temples and palaces, the only buildings constructed of stone during that period, are still visible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Bangkok, the city can even be visited on a day trip.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Wat_Chaiwatthanaram_tempio_Ayutthaya.jpg\" alt=\"Ruins of the Wat Chaiwatthanaram temple in Ayutthaya\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Ruins of the Wat Chaiwatthanaram temple in Ayutthaya.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Ayutthaya<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main archaeological area is located on the island in the center of the city and is best explored by bicycle (40-50 THB) or, for the lazier among us, you can also get around by tuk tuk. By bike you can also ride off the main island, where there are other sites of interest.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon arriving at the bus terminal (located off the island), you could rent a bike directly, but it&#8217;s preferable to take a tuk tuk to the center of the island, specifically to Wat Maha That (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/u6MkxXqzGrtYTaAB8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), from where you can begin the following itinerary that covers the main buildings (admission to the various temples generally costs 50 THB):<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Maha That<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Famous for having a buddha head wrapped in trees (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/u6MkxXqzGrtYTaAB8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Ratchaburana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: One of the best preserved temples, it&#8217;s possible to go down inside the crypt (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/dNQcE8h4wC32SEC56\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Thammikarat: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This temple is still used by monks, and there are hundreds of rooster statues that the locals bring as offerings following a legend about a rooster fight during which a Burmese prince was defeated by an Ayutthayan one. Near the temple is also a building with a reclining Buddha inside (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/tPf861FwJZdqz4fw6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Phra Ram: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not the most impressive temple, but since it&#8217;s often snubbed by major tours, it&#8217;s possible to explore it at leisure (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/HgrSu2GysTn3bvkP7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Phra Si Sanphet: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was the city&#8217;s most important temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/m5BpsdRENsXULkvM7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you like, your tour of Ayutthaya can end here. As mentioned above, these are all sites within the main island, but outside the island, there are numerous other sites. The most impressive, in my opinion, are Wat Phu Khao Thong (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/24UinEqwVNxHU9Za7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and Wat Chaiwatthanaram (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/9qmkszvc5Xx2HhKS7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and you could also cycle all the way to Queen Sri Suriyothai Memorial, which isn&#8217;t too far away and less busy. Here there&#8217;s a monument dedicated to the queen (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/c6LV1DyUdf1f3vro6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), built in 2000.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Lopburi<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ll preface this by saying that I haven&#8217;t personally been there. Nevertheless, it&#8217;s one of the oldest cities in Thailand and served as its capital for a time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city is famous for the hundreds of crab-eating macaques that live within the old city, where all the major historical sites and the train station are located. Being only an hour&#8217;s train ride from Ayutthaya, it could make for a great day trip to see something different.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thaitrainguide.com\/2022\/08\/20\/day-trip-to-lopburi-home-of-the-monkeys\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here you can find a short guide about it.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/macachi_Lopburi.jpg\" alt=\"Macaques at the Lopburi ruins\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Macaques at the Lopburi ruins.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Ayutthaya?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you decide to spend the night here and perhaps continue your trip north without returning to Bangkok then <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/early-bird-hostel-ayutthaya.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early bird Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great place to stay right in the center of the island, good price and breakfast included. It also offers bike rental.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Ayutthaya?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Bangkok-Hualamphong station (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/rTRWrHA3fMVGXM8R9\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) the train is the cheapest and most scenic way to reach the city. The trip takes about two hours and in third class (seats aren&#8217;t guaranteed) costs only 15-20 THB, while in second class with air conditioning it&#8217;s 250-350 THB.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By bus from the north terminal Mon Chit (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/T3psjrnhFAjV2Yby5\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) there are departures about every 20 minutes, 50-60 THB, about 2 hours.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>NORTHERN THAILAND<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<div id=\"sukhothai\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Sukhothai<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sukhothai is now a small city of about 30,000 inhabitants in north-central Thailand, but it was the first capital of the Siamese Empire and still retains many temples and monuments dating back to the 13th century.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Sukhothai<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sukhothai Historical Park (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/vmfMMfJPqtCSi4Q79\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is situated about 12 km west of New Sukhothai and is one of Thailand&#8217;s UNESCO World Heritage sites. The park, which covers approximately 70 square kilometers, is renowned for its well-preserved ruins of the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom. You can reach the park by local bus or songthaew (shared taxi) from New Sukhothai. Bicycles can be rented at the entrance for around 30-60 THB per day, making it easier to navigate the large area.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The park is officially open from 6:00 to 18:00 every day. It&#8217;s divided into three main zones: Central, Northern, and Western. Each zone requires a separate entrance fee of 100 THB, with an additional 10 THB for bicycles, 30 THB for motorcycles, and 50 THB for cars.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the official opening time is 6 in the morning, if you arrive slightly earlier you can enter for free. Similarly, entering the park just before closing time, particularly after 17:30, lets you get in for free to watch the sunset.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central Zone: This is the most visited area, featuring the iconic Wat Mahathat (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/PGkABBJnUqumZ5NW7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), the largest and most important temple in the park, known for its impressive Buddha statues and intricate architecture. It&#8217;s also a very popular spot for sunrise. Other notable sites in this zone include Wat Si Sawai (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/vNNG9w1XmTFXf6tB9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), Wat Sa Si (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/X6zvrTn9nUoKSwKj9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and the King Ramkhamhaeng Monument (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/aYWCtKAebAmH2FWDA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Northern Zone: The Northern Zone houses Wat Si Chum (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/dmgNsSC1oU37zcbP8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), famous for its large seated Buddha, and Wat Phra Phai Luang (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/7Pqbyxz7wywghbeK8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which dates back to the pre-Sukhothai era and features significant Khmer architectural influences.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Western Zone: This zone is less frequented due to its dense forest and fewer prominent ruins, with Wat Saphan Hin (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/mVdrTtQHJCpqbYaS6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) being a notable exception. Getting to this temple takes a short uphill walk and the view from up there is really beautiful, but if you&#8217;re short on time you can skip it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/rovine_di_Sukhothai.jpg\" alt=\"Sukhothai ruins\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sukhothai ruins.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Sukhothai?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/aenguy-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aenguy Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a good hostel in the center of the new town, breakfast is included in the price. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/perfect-resort.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perfect Resort Sukhothai<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers cheap private rooms.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Sukhothai?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the Mo Chit terminal in Bangkok (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/T3psjrnhFAjV2Yby5\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) it&#8217;s about 6-7 hours. From the Arcade terminal in Chiang Mai (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/k2atdxCWrwvLJDsg6\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), on the other hand, it&#8217;s about 4 hours.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"chiang-mai\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chiang Mai<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chiang Mai is considered the most important city in northern Thailand and the most visited. With over 1 million people in the metropolitan area, it&#8217;s the country&#8217;s fifth largest city. Surrounded by forests and mountains, it&#8217;s home to many expatriates and digital nomads who prefer it to the more chaotic Bangkok.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in <\/b><b>Chiang Mai<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chiang Mai is particularly famous for its giant night market (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/NxbrW2A5yEjzZuDU8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) that takes place every night where you can find literally anything. If you&#8217;re around during the weekend you might consider visiting two other markets, the one along Wualai Street on Saturday (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Rj6q2vbf2xL6YYYQ9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and along Ratchadamnoen on Sunday (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/kbm9bKxjE7MK5FES6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which are considered by some to be more &#8220;authentic.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The old city, which is easily recognizable as it&#8217;s bordered by a canal and in some places by the remains of ancient walls, is easy to visit on foot and \u2013 just for a change! \u2013 there are numerous temples that can be visited (over 300 in and around Chiang Mai). The most popular are <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Phra Singh (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/xuyevqqbjzV7uS5YA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and Wat Chiang Man (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/GyfMwUhHEv79BsBh6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) but there are many others scattered in and around the city. In any case, here you&#8217;ll find an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/royalvacationdmc.com\/blog\/chiang-mai-temples\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">exhaustive list<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with photos and details.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Wat Phra That Doi Suthep<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is considered the city&#8217;s iconic temple and is located on top of a hill, about 15 km outside the city (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/NNNzucaYxK4qN3vz6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). You can reach it by scooter, taxi, or even aboard a Songthaew (the red pickup trucks with benches in the back) that leave regularly just outside the zoo or, alternatively for the more active, you can walk up in about two hours following the &#8220;monks&#8217; trail&#8221; (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/thailand\/chiang-mai\/doi-suthep-monk-trail?u=m&amp;sh=mxqbmj\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Admission to the temple costs only 30 THB and it&#8217;s open to the public from 8:30 to 15:30. The temple itself is really impressive, and so is the view over the city.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Wat_Phra_That_Doi_Suthep_-_Chiang_Mai.jpg\" alt=\"Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Visit an elephant sanctuary<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want to clarify that I haven&#8217;t personally visited any elephant sanctuary, especially given the numerous stories of mistreatment and terrible living conditions of these animals. However, it must be said that some facilities use far more ethical practices than others and focus exclusively on caring for and rehabilitating these creatures; in some cases you can even volunteer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I encourage you to do your own research, and I&#8217;ll leave you the link to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elephantnaturepark.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this facility<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which had been recommended to me by some guys I met.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The Chiang Mai canyon<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is now called a canyon is essentially a former quarry filled with water. It&#8217;s located just outside Chiang Mai and is an extremely popular place to spend a relaxing day, escaping the heat of the city (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/h26soDmEFUVP2SVXA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s absolutely not a must-see attraction, but it&#8217;s definitely a great way to spend a day jumping off the &#8220;canyon&#8221; walls or just soaking up the sun. There are also several restaurants. I went there by scooter but I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s also possible to get there by taxi\/Songthaew; entry costs 50 THB.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Update: This place has changed significantly since my first visit. They now charge 800 THB, but the area is filled with inflatables, and they also offer wakeboarding. While it looks like a lot of fun, it&#8217;s not exactly cheap.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, I went to Huay Tung Tao Lake (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/NsEjt9pURjxf7G6x8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which, however, I didn&#8217;t find all that exciting. Other popular activities in and around Chiang Mai are cooking classes and excursions to the nearby Doi Inthanon National Park and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/ShowUserReviews-g1951349-d1760401-r214971593-Bua_Thong_Waterfalls_Nam_Phu_Chet_Si-Mae_Taeng.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bua Thong Falls<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/ZYSpvRa9iZ5RYyzNA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/canyon_Chiang_mai.jpg\" alt=\"Swimming at the Chiang Mai canyon\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Chiang Mai canyon with some guys from the hostel.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Chiang Mai?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/potae-39-s-house.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potae&#8217;s House<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great, really cheap hostel a stone&#8217;s throw from the city center. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/your-space-hostel-chiangmai.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jeune Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is another great hostel just outside the center, only three dorms, extremely quiet and clean, laundry costs only 30 THB then you can hang out your clothes on the terrace.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Chiang Mai?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Bangkok it&#8217;s about 12 hours by bus, 400-800 THB depending on the type of service, it&#8217;s also worth taking a look at flights especially with <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nokair.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nok Air<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as they can be really cheap. Train is the cheapest option by far but it&#8217;s almost 16 hours of travel. From <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sukhothai it&#8217;s only 4 hours while from Chiang Rai it&#8217;s about 3 hours.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"pai\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Pai<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For years just a small village lost in the mountains of northern Thailand, it first became a popular destination, especially among hippies, and is now a popular stop on travel itineraries around the country. Although tourism has increased considerably over the years, the atmosphere remains fairly relaxed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The village is also one of the stops on the &#8220;Mae Hong Son loop&#8221;, which is really popular especially among motorcyclists and connects Chiang Mai, Pai and other destinations in the region; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.roadsofasia.com\/motorbike-routes\/mae-hong-son-loop\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find a really detailed article.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Pai<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don&#8217;t have to be a hippie to enjoy your stay in Pai. There are numerous interesting activities to explore in the surrounding area. My advice is to rent a scooter for maximum freedom of movement. There&#8217;s very little traffic, so even less experienced riders should have no problem getting around.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Pai Canyon (Kong Lan)<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s located about 8 km from Pai (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/qizXJVEEEj6P424E6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and, rather than a canyon, it&#8217;s a red earth ridge up to 50 meters high with forest as a backdrop on both sides. There are a number of trails to follow and some viewpoints from which the view of the surrounding area is excellent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s not exactly the Grand Canyon but it&#8217;s definitely worth a visit, count on spending a couple of hours there at most, I recommend visiting in the late afternoon so you can watch the sunset from here, admission is free. Another popular place to watch the sunset is the Two Huts Pai bar (<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/w9d3mYpWWw4JCSmp7\">Google Maps<\/a>) while at dawn many decide to go to the Yun Lai Viewpoint (<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/qkbpCJkHPNFYijEj6\">Google Maps<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tromonto_canyon_pai.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset at Pai Canyon\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Pai Canyon.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The Pai waterfalls<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three waterfalls around Pai:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mo Paeng (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/vpEjB244mcEtRxYs6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the most popular. Here it&#8217;s possible to ascend to the second level of the waterfall and then descend by sliding down the rock. Mae Yen (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/TdaeMBcfnSmTkrmS6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the &#8220;hardest&#8221; one to reach as, if you reach the beginning of the trail by scooter, the walk is 4-5 hours round trip. If you start walking from Pai instead, add at least an hour; the waterfall is certainly not impressive but the walk is pleasant.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally Pam Bok (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/T3CZPmAvYv6LrxiEA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is located not too far from the canyon. You have to walk a short distance but nothing too challenging.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">N.b. Ideally, you should visit the falls at the end of the rainy season as they are much less impressive during the dry season.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The Pai hot springs<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Tha Pai Hot Springs (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/hNcM14PLdEXSbmECA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), don&#8217;t expect any fancy facilities: there are simply pools where the thermal water meets the cooler water of a stream, making the temperature more bearable, and you can also have mud baths. Admission costs 300 THB. If you&#8217;re looking for something more polished, I recommend visiting the resort nearby (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/gwUec7WwMuMzJQzQ9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">); you can use the facilities without necessarily staying the night, and entry costs 150 THB.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Tham Lod Cave<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This giant cave system (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/N4M1QfUUzySFf2SZ7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is located about forty minutes by scooter from Pai. The road through the mountains is really scenic and the cave itself is fairly impressive. Inside there are a series of wooden boardwalks that allow you to go deeper into the caves. There are also &#8220;guides&#8221; more than willing to take you inside and show you all the curious rock formations. If you wish, you can board rafts made of bamboo and travel along the watercourse that flows inside.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Update: Guides seem to be mandatory now. 1 cave = 300 Baht, 2 caves = 500 and 3 caves = 600 for a group of up to three people.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To wrap up, I recommend stopping by Boon Ko Ku So, a bamboo bridge (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/4zbBTw41QMtssi2J6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) across the rice fields that leads to a small Buddhist temple, really beautiful to photograph! Finally, in the evening stop by Pai Circus (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/75ezjbxZfrQ7c1ds5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">): it&#8217;s a hostel on top of a hill just outside Pai where every night there&#8217;s a great party atmosphere, complete with fire shows just like a circus, and you don&#8217;t need to stay at the hostel to get in.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/grotta_Tham_Lod.jpg\" alt=\"Entrance to Tham Lod cave near Pai\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Entrance to Tham Lod cave.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Pai?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reach Pai basically you have to go through Chiang Mai where there are public buses (only one at 7:00 in the morning, 80 THB) and minibuses (150 THB) that leave frequently. You can also arrange a &#8220;pick up&#8221; directly from your accommodation. It&#8217;s a 3-4 hour drive along a really scenic road, and that&#8217;s why many people decide to make the trip by motorbike. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/theroamingrenegades.com\/chiang-mai-to-pai-scooter-bus-from-chiang-mai-to-pai-thailand\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find a guide on this page<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Pai?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/up2u-guesthouse-pai.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UP2U Guesthouse<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great budget place to stay just outside the center.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"chiang-rai\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chiang Rai<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Less touristy than Chiang Mai, it&#8217;s a great destination if you&#8217;re looking for something more authentic in northern Thailand. Chiang Rai has a relaxed atmosphere and some interesting attractions, including some contemporary Buddhist temples that are really different from others in the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Chiang Rai<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it doesn&#8217;t reach the size of Chiang Mai&#8217;s market, Chiang Rai&#8217;s Evening Bazaar (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/wa9J2Fr7Xrt\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is definitely worth a visit, both for classic shopping and for eating delicious street food.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The temples of Chiang Rai<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The three most impressive (and touristy) temples are:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The White Temple<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Rong Khun) is definitely the symbol of Chiang Rai: it&#8217;s a modern temple covered with thousands of pieces of glass that give it a truly unique look (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/VNKCHV8YCA8vuFXN8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). What makes it really unusual is the presence of several murals with images of &#8220;Hello Kitty&#8221; and &#8220;Neo&#8221; from The Matrix, just to name a few&#8230; seeing is believing! In the middle of the garden there&#8217;s also a statue of one of the characters from &#8220;The Predator&#8221;! <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amusingplanet.com\/2013\/02\/wat-rong-khun-buddhist-temple-inspired.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find an interesting article.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The temple is open daily from 8:00 to 17:00, admission costs 100 THB, and to get there just take the public bus from platform 8 of the station, about 30 minutes, 20 THB.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/mSEVAU83ifcgLpCL6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is still under construction but has the main span completed. It&#8217;s another example of contemporary art with a more restrained style than the White Temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entrance is free but it can&#8217;t be reached by public transportation, so rent a scooter or take a tuk tuk.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Black House Temple (Baan Dam Museum) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/h4asSvH74trKowAY6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is technically not even a temple although it definitely has the features of one. It&#8217;s a building that is part studio and part museum. It too is the creation of a local artist.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 (closed from 12:00 to 13:00), admission costs 80 THB, and to get there just take the public bus from platform 5\/6 of the station, about 30 minutes, 20 THB. From the stop it&#8217;s about 500 meters.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Another interesting temple that not many people visit is <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/8G8KaBEvvYghS1vo9\">Huay Pla kang,<\/a> which is slightly outside the city and can be reached on foot if you like, but it&#8217;s better to have a scooter; I recommend it especially at sunset.<\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Wat_Rong_Khun_-_Chiang_Rai.jpg\" alt=\"The White Temple of Chiang Rai\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The White Temple of Chiang Rai.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Mae Salong<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s a small village located about 40 minutes from town in the mountains surrounding Chiang Rai, offering excellent views of the valley below. Founded in 1949 by Chinese rebels, the village still retains a strong influence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there isn&#8217;t much to do in the village itself, the road to get there (I recommend renting a scooter) is really scenic and passes through tea plantations, and I think you can join some educational tours <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/VuZBt7c3qeNBjqLPA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">like this one<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/K7LCX59bpjM4F9ej8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this one<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It&#8217;s definitely a great way to spend a day exploring the surroundings of Chiang Rai on a scooter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Phu Chi Fa<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two hours east of Chiang Rai, along the border with Laos, is a mountain range that offers some very impressive views of the valley below and the Mekong River. The best time to admire this view is at sunrise when clouds\/fog often form at low altitudes creating a very striking effect.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most popular viewpoint is definitely the one at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Attraction_Review-g2237308-d547605-Reviews-Phu_Chi_Fa_Forest_Park-Thoeng_Chiang_Rai_Province.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phu Chi Fa<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, although Phu Chi Dao, Doi Pha Tang and Phu Pha Sawan \u2013 from what I&#8217;ve read \u2013 are great alternatives. This isn&#8217;t a cheap experience at all because it&#8217;s impossible to reach any of these places by public transportation. So you have to rely on organized tours or private transportation, or alternatively take the bus during the day, spend the night in a guest house and return the next day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To wrap up, lots of treks around the city are offered from Chiang Rai, with stays in local villages and various activities; the options range from a single day to three days and two nights.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/alba_Phu_Chi_Fa.jpg\" alt=\"Sunrise at Phu Chi Fa near Chiang Rai\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise at Phu Chi Fa.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Chiang Rai?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/mercy-hostel-echiiyngraay.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercy Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great hostel with nice common areas and air conditioning in the dorms. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/stay-in.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay in Chiang Rai<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is another great option, slightly cheaper and not far from the station, with exceptional staff and a great breakfast included in the price.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Chiang Rai?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s good to know that there are two terminals in Chiang Rai, the first one in the center (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/PWrc561FKVfyM2nq9\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the domestic one and serves destinations within the region, plus Chiang Mai, with the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/web.greenbusthailand.com\/en\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Green Bus<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> company, while the second one is about 7 km outside the city and serves mainly more distant destinations within the country (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/f4tUBdjQLEoUgair9\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). There&#8217;s a songthaew (minibus) that connects the two terminals frequently, 15 THB.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">N.b. From Chiang Rai (if you wish you can also arrange the transfer from Chiang Mai and Pai) it&#8217;s possible to cross the border into Laos aboard a &#8220;slow boat&#8221;. It&#8217;s a trip that many people make and it&#8217;s said to be a nice experience (I haven&#8217;t done it); I&#8217;ll leave you the link to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backpackerswanderlust.com\/slow-boat-laos\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where everything is explained in detail.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chanthaburi<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chanthaburi isn&#8217;t exactly a tourist destination, but I think it&#8217;s an interesting destination especially for those who want to break the trip from Cambodia to the Koh Chang archipelago.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4926\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07950-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07950-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07950-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07950-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07950-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Pailom.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Chanthaburi<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The area known as the Waterfront (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/NMcnbk81J4jsn1ha7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) has a lot of historic buildings, and the riverside setting makes it especially nice. I also recommend visiting Chanthaburi Cathedral (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=Cathedral%20of%20the%20Immaculate%20Conception,%20Chanthaburi&amp;query_place_id=ChIJRWmvhr-BBDERiG3CBe50Ig4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and Wat Pailom (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/iQWwjAMxCtv1DBtZA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a temple complex not far away.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4925\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07883-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07883-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07883-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07883-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07883-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waterfront.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>How to reach Chanthaburi?<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Bangkok there are direct buses leaving from Ekkamai terminal (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/kVRUYhnopHXWfQup6\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Toward the Cambodian border at Ban Laem there are four daily departures, 8:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00, the trip takes about 1:30 and I really think the minivan comes back shortly after so adjust accordingly if you want to travel in the opposite direction. 200 baht. If you arrive from Koh Kood or Koh Chang, there are songthaews at the pier waiting for boats and ferries to arrive and take you to Trat station for 70 baht, from Trat station for 80 baht there are frequent minivan departures to Chanthaburi.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Chanthaburi?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I slept at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/chernchan-hostel-chanthaburi.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chernchan Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I recommend it. Literally one of the nicest hostels I&#8217;ve slept in in Thailand and amazingly, given Chanthaburi&#8217;s lack of popularity as a destination, I was the only guest in the dorm!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4927\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07961-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07961-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07961-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07961-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07961-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chanthaburi Cathedral.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>SOUTHERN THAILAND<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Southern Thailand can be divided into two regions:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Coast (Andaman Sea): This region is generally more developed, particularly around Phuket, which is famous for its numerous resorts and popularity as a destination for organized travel. The west coast also tends to experience a longer and more intense rainy season.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">East Coast (Gulf of Thailand): This region has fewer islands but benefits from a shorter rainy season, making it pleasant to visit almost year-round.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below, I list some of the most accessible and popular islands and archipelagos. Of course, listing them all is unthinkable\u2014there are almost 1,500 of them!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4887\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0418-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0418-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0418-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0418-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>White Sand Beach, Koh Chang.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Chang Islands Archipelago<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This archipelago, consisting of a group of islands near the border with Cambodia, is less popular and well-known than the islands further south. I spent almost two weeks between Koh Chang and Ko Kut (also known as Koh Kood), and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised, particularly with Ko Kut. Other islands in the archipelago include Koh Mak, the third largest island, which is completely private and owned by a group of families that promotes sustainable tourism, as well as Koh Wai and other smaller islands that are mostly visited on day trips.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-chang\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see on Koh Chang<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Chang, the largest island in the archipelago and the third largest in all of Thailand, is relatively developed and certainly attracts a good number of tourists each year. However, it&#8217;s large enough to offer plenty of uncrowded beaches. The best beaches are all along the west coast and are very similar, especially in being very narrow at high tide. The ideal way to get around is to rent a scooter, which starts at 200 baht a day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4885\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0314-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0314-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0314-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0314-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Lonely Beach, Koh Chang.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The beaches of Koh Chang<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White Sand Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/DvSbiAfkYQZ1GA7Z8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the northernmost of all and perhaps my favorite. The most convenient access I&#8217;ve found is this place (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XvvphbRM8Xvk7ZJDA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Klong Prao Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/gc1wvengmKaB1jmL6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">): you can leave the scooter at this point (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/m1oSvWMDQQw4cekn7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and walk on. Chai Chet Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7a3VJuNGWb2Su2fT8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), just north of Klong Prao Beach (technically I think it should be considered the same beach): you can leave the scooter at this spot (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/euumz1hZyeUnC6pf9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and walk on. Kai Bae Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/wVd5x5ckcu5QmUE8A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">): you can literally leave the scooter along the beach at this point (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/DHCKNDYmRtkaDPvJ7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). From any of these three beaches you can easily reach the two islets you can see offshore, Koh Rom and Koh Suwan. I haven&#8217;t been there but apparently the snorkeling isn&#8217;t bad at all.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4916\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07645-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07645-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07645-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07645-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07645-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Lonely Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lonely Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/oLQWjY5CG7mcQy2T9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), whose most practical access, as is often the case, is through a resort: park here (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/SfRputLBexqGGuC69\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and walk on. This is the most popular beach among backpackers. It&#8217;s wider than the others but, in my opinion, less attractive. In the evening, or anyway around happy hour, there&#8217;s quite a lot going on, or at least much more than on the other beaches.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4886\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0347-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0347-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0347-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0347-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kai Bae Beach, Koh Chang.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The waterfalls of Koh Chang<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several noteworthy waterfalls on the island, the most popular being Klong Plu Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/5cJgb5snLxe8qRW86\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which, however, being within the national park requires an entrance fee of 200 baht \u2013 which for the record is five times what locals pay. I haven&#8217;t been there but was told it&#8217;s extremely crowded during the day so if you decide to go, try to arrive early in the morning. The other waterfall within the national park is Than Mayom Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Zk8mALmo3pnQL1X39\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), where, from what I read, you can&#8217;t even swim.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4917\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07658-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07658-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07658-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07658-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07658-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khlong Nonsi Waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The waterfall I recommend visiting is Khlong Nonsi Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/nSfKNrKLQdAEd9eU8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). I arrived in the morning around nine o&#8217;clock and there was no one there; entry is free and it&#8217;s really pretty. Don&#8217;t stop at the first waterfall, continue along the path on the left to the main waterfall!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Klong Jao Leuam Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/j3qPLpBUeNcRXwR69\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) on the other hand disappointed me a bit: it&#8217;s a series of tiny waterfalls (seven, according to the signs) that aren&#8217;t really impressive, and to make matters worse at a certain point the path becomes really difficult to follow, so much so that I couldn&#8217;t get to the last level, which on Organic Maps is marked as &#8220;level 7&#8221;. The entrance costs 40 baht. The last stretch of road is unpaved, but nothing impossible by scooter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kai Bae Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/LqiMGq6o3La3PdkL6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is my favorite and also the closest to the area where most people decide to stay. At this spot (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/YTrriRJ66KN3hdn18\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) there&#8217;s a parking lot where you&#8217;re required to pay the 40 baht entrance fee. From there it&#8217;s a 15-20 minute walk to the falls. I arrived early in the morning around 8:30 and had it all to myself. Recommended!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4919\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07712-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07712-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07712-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07712-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07712-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kai Bae Waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Boat excursion with snorkeling<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I haven&#8217;t taken part in any tours; however, I imagine they aren&#8217;t bad at all, especially if you haven&#8217;t done any other snorkeling in Thailand. The most popular itinerary appears to be the half-day tour that takes you to Koh Yakyai, Koh Rang Beach, Koh Maping, and Koh Yak Lek. It costs about 600 baht, plus an additional 200 baht to enter the national park.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The floating village of Bang Bao<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rather than a floating village, it&#8217;s a village that grew up along the pier, stretching for a few hundred meters. Not much remains of what was probably a simple fishing village, as it now mostly consists of souvenir stores and restaurants, but it&#8217;s still fascinating, especially when photographed from above.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4889\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0516-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0516-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0516-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0516-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0516-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Bang Bao floating village.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Viewpoints<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kai Bae View Point (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XSCaAbEKvj1rucEa7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the most popular viewpoint on the island and a great place to watch the sunset. There&#8217;s a small restaurant\/bar on site and ample parking. Many people don&#8217;t realize that, if you want, there&#8217;s a second platform slightly higher up. Another nice viewpoint is at this location (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/sHyJ3AkYjru2uNTi8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, if you&#8217;re in an adventurous mood, there&#8217;s a trail to the top of Khao Salak Phetch, the highest mountain on the island, which you&#8217;ll find described in detail on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/thailand\/trat\/khao-salak-phetch-mt?u=m\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Recent comments described it as overgrown with vegetation and discouraged me in light of some experiences I had in previous weeks, but it could still be an interesting hike.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4921\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07736-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07736-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07736-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07736-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07736-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Kai Bae View Point.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Chang?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I slept at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/bailan-hut-resort.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7 Guesthouse<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> paying about 10\u20ac per night for a private bungalow thanks to an offer on Booking. At that price I absolutely recommend it. As for hostels, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/cafe-del-sunshine.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cafe del sunshine<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a popular option not too far from Lonely Beach. In general, if you plan to rent a scooter (as I recommend), one place is as good as another.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Chang?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfers are offered from Bangkok that include minivan and ferry departing from Khao San Road, but you can save a few hundred baht by taking the handy 999 bus. The bus has two departures, 7:45 and 9:45, from Bangkok Ekkamai Bus Terminal (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7JW2FtEjiWVWHLHV8\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) which can be easily reached by the BTS Skytrain, 292 baht including water and snacks, about 6 hours travel time. The bus fills up quickly so ideally it&#8217;s best to buy your ticket the day before by going directly to the station or <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.busonlineticket.co.th\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">booking online<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The bus also stops at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Chanthaburi.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;re dropped off at Ao Thammachat pier (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/iTbEBYYFVYXsH1gj9\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) often called &#8220;Laem Ngop&#8221; which is actually the name of the village. From here the ferry leaves about every hour, 80 baht. Once you disembark in Koh Chang there are Songthaew waiting to take you wherever you want, the cost varies depending on the destination, I paid 150 baht. If you want to go directly to Koh Kood you have to stay on the bus and get off at the &#8220;next pier,&#8221; in any case the driver and his helper are really clear about it and when you leave they ask where you want to go.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One last option is to reach Trat, where minivans at the bus station go to the pier and vice versa. This option is convenient if the 999 bus is full or if you prefer not to wait for its arrival when returning from Ko Chang or Koh Kood.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4918\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07687-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07687-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07687-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07687-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07687-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Ko Chang sunset.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Kood<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Kood or Koh Kut <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is definitely less developed and touristy than Koh Chang but in my opinion much more beautiful. Along with Koh Lipe it&#8217;s my favorite island in Thailand. To get around the island, ideally you should rent a scooter, it starts from 200 baht per day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Koh Kood<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Koh Kood too, for many people the main activity is relaxing on the beach, and just like on Koh Chang the best beaches are all along the west coast. Truth be told, much of the east coast can only be reached by boat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4890\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0550-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0550-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0550-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0550-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0550-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Takhian beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The beaches of Koh Kood<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Secret Beach or Klong Han (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/NdsiDkzW6hT4yzK9A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the northernmost beach. It&#8217;s really nice and quiet, practically only hotel guests are there. However, not being within a protected bay, if the sea is even slightly rough, it isn&#8217;t ideal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yai Kee (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XzAQTkARF7fqxPpX6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is slightly further south. You can park here (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=11.681865,102.535614\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and continue along the short path on the left that leads to the beach, where if you wish you can rent a kayak to reach Koh Rat, which I talk about below.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Tapao (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/oTny7iVGmNgBQqsr6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is my favorite beach. There are lots of swings, a hammock in the middle of the sea, and a platform where you can sunbathe or dive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4894\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0702-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0702-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0702-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0702-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0702-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Tapao beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khlong Chao (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/8Q6rVE5RhiqSwtaq6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is perhaps the busiest beach on the island, since the village of the same name can be considered the main tourist hub of Koh Kood, but it&#8217;s still pleasant and certainly not too crowded, as well as being really convenient to reach on foot if you&#8217;re staying nearby, as many people do.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bang Bao (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/59NnRuTZgQRsY7VY9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is very pretty and sheltered within a wide bay. It&#8217;s a really narrow beach that at high tide leaves very little room to maneuver. Also, maybe it was just the wrong day, but a guy in the hostel was literally devoured by sand flies.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Takhian (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/iEw7JPZnQSWML8yv7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), except for a single resort, is basically a deserted beach. Certainly not the most beautiful on the island but still nice and recommended for anyone who wants a corner of paradise all to themselves.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Khlong Hin (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Y3x2Xp14JpbS4gNz9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a little further south and located within a bay, is definitely the most beautiful. There&#8217;s plenty of shade and the water is very shallow even far from the shore. Maybe even too much at low tide!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4893\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0649-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0649-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0649-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0649-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0649-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Khlong Hin beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Jak (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7LjLmCGMgmvejrGq7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is similar to Ao Khlong Hin, a sheltered bay and shallow water for several meters from the shoreline. Also, while not exceptional, the snorkeling along the northern part of the beach isn&#8217;t so bad.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Phrao (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/TZnVwx189x78ZpFc6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the southernmost beach on the island, as well as being uncrowded and extremely wide and spread out, perfect for anyone who wants to feel partly <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">isolated<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the world!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To wrap up, if you&#8217;re at one of these beaches in the south, Ban Cheongkao is a good restaurant with honest prices (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/V3fHbmQLZbfgxR3VA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4892\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0635-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0635-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0635-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0635-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0635-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Phrao beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The waterfalls of Koh Kood<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khlong Chao Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/WZzmNzuLJswhL8iy9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the most popular waterfall on the island and the most impressive. There&#8217;s a large natural pool at its base and from what I was told the water flows year-round. The waterfall is reached at the end of a short walk of about 10 minutes through the forest. Alternatively you can go up the river by Kayak and walk only the very last stretch. If possible, arrive early in the morning and you&#8217;ll have it all to yourself. Admission is free.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4922\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07769-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07769-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07769-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07769-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07769-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khlong Chao waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khlong Yai Kee (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/vQgjj8UFy3JUMmDY8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is less popular than Khlong Chao but still very pretty. However, I&#8217;d like to point out that as early as mid-December there wasn&#8217;t much water and \u2013 from what I was told \u2013 for much of the dry season the waterfall dries up completely. Admission is free. If you decide to go, or if you&#8217;re in the area anyway, I recommend eating at Mr. &amp; Mrs. Coconut (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/srwVR8Nk3R4BSE6L8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), great food and fair prices. They make good coconut ice cream, too!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4891\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0604-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0604-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0604-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0604-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0604-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khlong Yai Kee waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Huang Nam Keaw Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/wi2RCyXbrf7f2Dp88\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the most inconvenient of the three to reach, and although it&#8217;s very beautiful, the natural pool at the base of the waterfall isn&#8217;t at all inviting, so much so that I didn&#8217;t go for a swim. Here too, I really think it dries up completely as the season progresses. If you have time, I still recommend stopping by and also stopping at the Macca Tree (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/sYbiwDdLhgdzL4fd9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This is a really big tree that, from what I understood, has some religious significance. The last part of the road is unpaved but nothing impossible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4924\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07833-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07833-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07833-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07833-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07833-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Huang Nam Keaw waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Reach Koh Rat by Kayak<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a good way to spend half a day and do some great snorkeling without joining an organized tour. To do this I recommend going to Yai Kee beach as described above. Here I rented a Kayak for 100 baht; the guesthouse had lent me a mask and snorkel. It takes about 20 minutes to reach Koh Rat. Parking the kayak is a bit of a pain: lots of rocks, little beach and you have to watch out for urchins. In any case, while snorkeling, I left it exactly at this spot (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/n5XLsP4ZVJ4ybWEv7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The best area is marked by buoys so you can&#8217;t really go wrong. Alternatively you could just join one of the many snorkeling trips that are offered; at PD Guesthouse they were being sold for 800 baht all inclusive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4895\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0711-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0711-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0711-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0711-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0711-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Koh Rat.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Ao Salat<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ao Salat is the village located in the northeast of the island, where most boats arrive from the mainland. The coast is mostly rocky, there are no breathtaking beaches, so most travelers prefer to stay elsewhere. But if you have time on your hands you can take a scooter ride there. There&#8217;s a giant statue of the Buddha (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/gATafBwGG8H4Qy8R7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and somewhat like Bang Bao on Koh Chang it looks like a sort of floating village. I spent a few hours there to take a couple of photos and ended up playing soccer with some local kids. It was nice but certainly not a must-see destination. However, you can feel a more authentic atmosphere than in other parts of the island.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4896\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0731-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0731-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0731-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0731-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0731-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Ao Salat.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In conclusion, the island doesn&#8217;t offer much of a nightlife and maybe that&#8217;s why I fell in love with it. But I strongly recommend Tawan Eco Bar (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/x3sWT74zz825TkT88\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Every night the owner plays live music and often some travelers join in, there&#8217;s no staff whatsoever, you serve yourself and leave your money in the till, if you want you can dine following the same self service model, great atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Kood?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent the first night at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/bb-dorm-koh-kood.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BB Dorm Koh Kood<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (on the spot they charge 250 baht) and all in all it isn&#8217;t that bad but for the rest of my stay on the island I shared a double room at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/p-d-guesthouse.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PD Guesthouse<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a guy I met in the hostel. Not only was it slightly cheaper (450 baht for the room), it was also definitely more comfortable. Bungalows overlooking the inner garden cost 650 baht, if I&#8217;m not mistaken. In high season they open the dormitory for 250 baht per person. The owner &#8220;Pat&#8221; is really nice and friendly. Another interesting option is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XdSRQFWHhLAKv5qR7\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cozy House<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 750 baht breakfast included and free kayaks to use along the river. Whether you decide to stay at PD Guesthouse or not, I strongly recommend the nearby Koh Kood Aroi Aroi Restaurant (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/KQR53wgR8h6f8yPy8\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), the food is great, the prices honest and the staff is lovely.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4923\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07820-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07820-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07820-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07820-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07820-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Macca Tree on the road to Huang Nam Keaw Waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Kood?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to get to Koh Kood without going through Koh Chang, as mentioned earlier, you can simply stay on board the 999 bus, which, after unloading passengers bound for Koh Chang, continues on to the pier from where boats bound for Koh Kood depart. The cheapest option should cost 350 baht or at least that is what I paid traveling in the opposite direction when I left the island, the price also included the transfer from the guesthouse to the pier.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Koh Chang I took the &#8220;wooden boat&#8221; that leaves every day at 9:00 from Bang Bao. It costs 700 baht including transportation from the pier to your accommodation on the island. The trip takes about 4 hours. This is also the boat to take if you want to reach Koh Wai (about an hour) and Koh Mak (about 2 hours). If you want, there are speed boats, but they cost about twice as much.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4888\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0486-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0486-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0486-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0486-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0486-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise at the Bang Bao floating village.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Planning your trip? If you still need travel insurance, you can find my <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/travel-insurance\/\">guide to the best travel insurance<\/a> here. Purchasing through the links in the guide supports this site at no additional cost to you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"khao-sok\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Khao Sok National Park<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khao Sok Park is considered one of the most spectacular in the country. The landscape often seen in photos features a large lake and giant limestone monoliths emerging from the water and dense forest. In addition, from January to February it&#8217;s possible to see the world&#8217;s largest flower, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rafflesia\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rafflesia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see at Khao Sok National Park<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The park can be divided into two parts: the area where the iconic Cheow Lan Lake is located and the area around &#8220;Khao Sok village,&#8221; where virtually all travelers stay.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Trekking in Khao Sok National Park<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you just want to do some trekking in the park, you can do it completely on your own starting from Khao Sok Village, but I absolutely recommend downloading Organic Maps, especially if you want to reach the more remote waterfalls. The entrance to the national park is at the end of the road, at this point (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Gu2YN7SD1iZvf8v98\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From here you have several options. The most popular seems to be just going as far as this point (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=8.911011,98.505911\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which is number 6 on the map at the park entrance. There&#8217;s a small caf\u00e9\/ranger station here, and along the way there are a couple of small waterfalls and chances to go for a swim.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4914\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07581-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07581-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07581-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07581-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07581-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>One of the small waterfalls before reaching the caf\u00e9\/ranger station.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the caf\u00e9\/ranger station there&#8217;s a sign politely asking you to continue only if accompanied by a guide, but there&#8217;s no mention of it being mandatory, so I continued to Ton Kiol waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=8.921973,98.487546\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), but the trail actually isn&#8217;t exactly in good shape and in some sections it&#8217;s difficult to follow. Without the help of the GPS I highly doubt I would have made it, and in any case it took me almost three and a half hours. On the way back, knowing what was in store for me and walking at a brisk pace without making any detours for photos, it still took me just over two hours. To reach Tan Sawan (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=8.905700,98.488799\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) you even have to ford the river, which was still fairly deep at the end of the rainy season, and with my camera gear I didn&#8217;t trust it. Basically, this isn&#8217;t a hike I&#8217;d recommend to just anyone; especially without a guide, I think many people wouldn&#8217;t feel comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other, slightly more accessible waterfall is Sip et Chang (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=8.944524,98.526886\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The trail starts at the park entrance in the opposite direction from Ton Kiol. I tried to reach it on the same day, and after walking for about an hour I got to about 1 km from the waterfall, but it started raining and it was getting dark, so I preferred to turn back. Here too, except for the first part, the trail isn&#8217;t exactly in great condition.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To wrap up, maybe it was because it was the end of the rainy season, so there was still a lot of water and humidity, but over the course of the day I must have removed at least 30 leeches!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4915\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07601-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07601-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07601-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07601-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07601-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ton Kiol waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Boat tour on Cheow Lan Lake<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In my experience, 99% of travelers opt for the boat tour without even considering doing the treks I just talked about. In fact, the lake really does seem to be a unique place, while trekking in the rainforest, though enjoyable, is an experience you can have elsewhere too. I was planning to do the day trip on my own as described below, but because of time and weather I had to give up and left without seeing the famous lake.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any case, if you prefer the do-it-yourself approach, you can get to the pier located here (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/MJEmQd24zG4JR6f47\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) by renting a scooter for 200\/300 baht, about an hour&#8217;s ride, and once you get there, the boat should cost 1700 baht to split among the number of participants &#8211; so if you form a group it can be really cheap. On top of all this, there&#8217;s the 200 baht entrance fee to the park.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re on your own and don&#8217;t want to try your luck at the pier hoping to find someone to share the boat with, in Khao Sok village the day tour costs 1500 baht + 200 baht for the park entrance. Departure around 9:00 and return around 18:00. Included are transportation to the pier, from where you take the boat to the famous floating bungalows, a swim or kayak ride, lunch, a short waterfall\/forest excursion, an afternoon snack and the return to Khao Sok village.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most popular tour by far is the two-day, one-night tour that includes an overnight stay in the floating bungalows, with departure around 9:00 and return around 14:00 the next day. The program on the first day is the same as the one-day tour, while on the second day there&#8217;s a boat ride just after sunrise, breakfast, relaxing\/kayaking\/swimming, lunch and the return to Khao Sok village, all for the modest sum of 2500 baht + 200 baht for the park entrance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, you can visit the elephant sanctuary (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/hSgJXuUvpW6syER77\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) located not far from Khao Sok village.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4928\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Tip_of_mountain_range_over_the_water_at_Cheow_Lan_Lake.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Tip_of_mountain_range_over_the_water_at_Cheow_Lan_Lake.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Tip_of_mountain_range_over_the_water_at_Cheow_Lan_Lake-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Tip_of_mountain_range_over_the_water_at_Cheow_Lan_Lake-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Tip_of_mountain_range_over_the_water_at_Cheow_Lan_Lake-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Cheow Lan Lake.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Khao Sok National Park?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can reach the park from most tourist destinations in southern Thailand (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/wikitravel.org\/en\/Khao_Sok_National_Park#Get_in\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">find an overview here<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) including a direct bus from Bangkok. The minivan station is located just outside the village at this point (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/tXc6i7x2j4RUqyKp9\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and transfers to Surat Thani are definitely offered there, which you can book on your own.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Khao Sok?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hostels are really cheap, and I think this is because most travelers end up booking the expensive tours on offer, so I think there&#8217;s a race to the bottom on accommodation that&#8217;s offset by the commissions on the tours. I slept at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/coco-khao-sok-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coco Khao Sok Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I recommend it; another popular and even cheaper option is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/khao-sok-jungle-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khao Sok Jungle Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"krabi\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Krabi, Ao Nang and Rai Leh<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Krabi town isn&#8217;t exactly of tourist interest, but the nearby beaches (about 15 km outside of town) are really nice and characterized by huge cliffs and limestone monoliths overlooking the sea, the two most iconic being Ao Nang and Rai Leh (Railay).<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Krabi, Ao Nang and Rai Leh<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When most people talk about Krabi, they&#8217;re actually referring to Ao Nang and Rai Leh. What follows assumes you decide to base yourself in Ao Nang (as I recommend), but nobody&#8217;s stopping you from choosing Krabi or Rai Leh.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4908\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07513-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07513-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07513-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07513-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07513-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Rai Leh Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Rai Leh Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rai Leh can only be reached by boat from Ao Nang beach, 10-15 minutes, 200 THB if the boat is full. You buy the ticket at the office here (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/E87cKiS2gMr9ReZH6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and as soon as the boat is full you leave. Especially in high season, you wait very little. The return is included in the ticket and you just have to show it to board any of the many boats waiting at Rai Leh. Technically, if I remember correctly, no later than 18:00. The beach here is nice, but I recommend walking to Phra Nang Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/CM6bPNaaAJkAwLmo8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which in my opinion is prettier, and if you&#8217;re in the mood for an adventure, absolutely don&#8217;t miss the Princess Lagoon (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/hwaDBoB2CsDrPg4D6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and the viewpoint (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/jo2QsP2BnUST3dRN8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4906\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07401-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07401-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07401-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07401-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07401-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Princess Lagoon.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trail <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=8.007335,98.841270\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">starts here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and climbs through the jungle, almost vertically in places, so much so that there are ropes to help with the ascent and descent, 20-25 minutes. Some may find it really challenging, so much so that the day I went I met people who had decided to turn back. I absolutely recommend doing it in a proper pair of shoes and avoiding it right after heavy rain. Also, if possible, try to go at high tide when the lagoon fills up. I went at low tide, and although it&#8217;s still a fascinating place, let&#8217;s say the conditions weren&#8217;t ideal. Another interesting trail is the one leading to the Bat Cave (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/EyiKKZWyGAsevkvk6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">); here too, some may find the trail too challenging.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4907\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07429-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07429-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07429-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07429-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07429-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phra Nang Beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To conclude, the area is famous for climbing. There are numerous schools offering lessons or alternatively you can simply rent equipment and attempt one of the many routes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4903\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07316-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07316-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07316-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07316-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07316-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pai Plong Beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Pai Plong Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pai Plong Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/k8kkknxXSeUbJaYd6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is reached at the end of a short trail called &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/teSMqsrwVPnChuLu8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monkey Trail<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; that starts at the end of Ao Nang beach. The path through the forest is really pleasant, and once you get there, the beach isn&#8217;t only prettier than Ao Nang but also less crowded. Recommended.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4884\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0238-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0238-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0238-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0238-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pai Plong Beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Dragon Crest Mountain<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the hike inside Mount Khao Ngon Na National Park, where until a few years ago you could take the iconic photo on the rock outcrop, which has since been closed to the public for safety reasons. You can&#8217;t take cool photos anymore, but I think it&#8217;s still worth going: the view is breathtaking and the trail up through the jungle is pleasant.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4910\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07532-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07532-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07532-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07532-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07532-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>On top of Dragon Crest Mountain.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The entrance to the park is at this point (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/cKWZ1hohdk1trdrX7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). From here to the top of Hang Nak Mountain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/uD5KpTPmFMH5eFEW8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) it&#8217;s about two hours, and about an hour to come down; you&#8217;ll find the trail described on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/thailand\/krabi\/khao-hang-nak-hill-nature-trail?u=m\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. There are at least a couple of detours that take no more than ten minutes or so: the first leads to Hang Nak waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ngx5CyiaaumdDWjM8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), while the second leads to a spring with a legend attached to it (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/48aAXfAfFXEvkXLV6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The waterfall is pretty, the spring isn&#8217;t. To reach the park entrance I recommend renting a scooter for 200 baht. The entrance to the park costs another 200 baht.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4909\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07525-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07525-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07525-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07525-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07525-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hang Nak waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some people combine the hike with Tha Pom Son Nam (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/cUff3txWcgndSAge7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), where you can rent kayaks to navigate the canal system, but from what I understood you can&#8217;t even swim, so I preferred to do something else. The entrance fee is 100 baht. You could also start your day at sunrise by going to Din Daeng Doi (<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/tZHf9dy2eiv2rHot8\">Google Maps<\/a>), which has become a fairly popular viewpoint.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4911\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07554-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07554-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07554-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07554-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07554-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>One of the many viewpoints at the top.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tiger Temple<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of going to Tha Pom Son Nam, I preferred to climb to the top of the Tiger Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ELbvyZiYLUGZeGah6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">): <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">exactly 21 minutes, but what a struggle!!! About 15 minutes to come down. For some people it could be real torture, as some flights of stairs are almost vertical, but once you get to the top you&#8217;re rewarded with a great view! Admission is free and there are other nice temples at the base that you can visit. I personally haven&#8217;t been there, but many people combine a visit to the Tiger Temple with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Huay To <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">waterfall <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/rr7758PzeDJLBKFT8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) further north; entrance costs 100 baht plus 20 baht to park the scooter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4913\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07579-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07579-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07579-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07579-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07579-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Tiger Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Hot springs and Emerald Pool<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the course of another day on the scooter, you could combine a visit to the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emerald Pool, also known as Crystal Pool (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Xy2Z3p54WVYJEGg17\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and the hot springs (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/yELKRW8DSC138bwMA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). I haven&#8217;t been there, so I won&#8217;t stick my neck out, but the photos look really nice. Admission to the Emerald Pool costs 200 baht, while the hot springs cost 100 baht plus 10 baht for parking.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4912\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07562-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07562-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07562-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07562-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07562-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset from the Tiger Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Boat tour of the islands with snorkeling<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another popular excursion is the classic boat tour to some islands around Ao Nang. I didn&#8217;t join one because, as nice as they are, after a while these tours all start to look the same! A close friend did tell me, though, that Koh Hong is really beautiful, while Koh Lao is small and extremely crowded, so it&#8217;s something you might keep in mind when you&#8217;re evaluating a potential tour.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To wrap up, if you&#8217;re looking for a good restaurant with honest prices in Ao Nang, I recommend Family Thaifood &amp; Seafood (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/FRDRC8KPHvRVB1xb8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). It&#8217;s really popular, so try to avoid peak hours, otherwise you&#8217;ll almost certainly have to wait in line for a table.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4902\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07223-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07223-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07223-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07223-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07223-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pai Plong Beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Krabi \/ Ao Nang?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless you opt for a tourist transfer, to reach Ao Nang you&#8217;ll more often than not have to go through Krabi, or at least its station\/port\/airport. In any case, connections are really frequent and cheap during the day. There are songthaews that frequently shuttle from the bus station to Ao Nang for 60 baht.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Ao Nang?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent a couple of nights at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/pop-in-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pop-In Aonang<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and all in all it isn&#8217;t bad, but if your budget allows, I recommend <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/tan-hostel-x-cafe.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TAN Hostel x Cafe<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a much better hostel. The bar on the ground floor isn&#8217;t exactly cheap, but the food is great.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4905\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07399-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07399-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07399-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07399-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07399-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Viewpoint on the trail to the <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Princess Lagoon.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"phuket\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Phuket<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phuket can, for all intents and purposes, be considered the capital of mass tourism in Thailand, and it&#8217;s without a doubt the most visited island in the entire country. I haven&#8217;t been there personally, but beaches like Patong, Kata and Karon are to be avoided, unless you want to be completely surrounded by tourists. The beaches further north, on the other hand, like Nai Yang, Nai Thon and Mai Khao, are said to still be relatively less touristy. If you&#8217;re interested, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/brenontheroad.com\/where-to-stay-in-phuket-everything-you-need-to-know\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here you&#8217;ll find a complete guide to the island<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phuket, and perhaps even better Khao Lak further north, are however the ideal base for exploring the nearby Similan Islands, a true paradise considered one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkeling. That said, a well-traveled diving friend of mine wasn&#8217;t impressed at all, so I recommend doing thorough research before making plans.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately I haven&#8217;t been there; if you&#8217;re interested, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shippedaway.com\/similan-islands-travel-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you&#8217;ll find some more information.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-phi-phi\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Phi Phi<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s an archipelago (probably the most famous one) in the middle of the Andaman Sea, roughly between Phuket and Koh Lanta, considered for years one of the most spectacular and accessible archipelagos in the world. Today, unfortunately, it has lost much of its beauty.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mass tourism has literally destroyed this archipelago, so much so that the famous &#8220;Maya Bay&#8221;, where the movie &#8220;The Beach&#8221; with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed, was closed in June 2018 and only reopened in January 2022, with a limited number of visitors and a ban on swimming.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I had the &#8220;pleasure&#8221; of visiting the bay about a year earlier, and I have to say the degradation was evident, to say the least, but it was still a place of absolute beauty.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The archipelago is certainly still spectacular, but don&#8217;t expect an unspoiled paradise: Koh Phi Phi Don, the main island and the only inhabited one, is extremely developed; most of the buildings are concentrated along a narrow strip of land. Not exactly a heavenly sight, in short.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although I think there are better destinations in Thailand, Koh Phi Phi is still a valid option, especially for those who don&#8217;t mind a bit of nightlife.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you decide to visit Koh Phi Phi, I still recommend doing the classic boat trip to Maya Bay and visiting one of the viewpoints (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/sXiEFu6nnqz3sVC29\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">number 1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/VTjhsrJmmoxXBw5x8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">number 2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/aFtrD4QCn3kMDpUo8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">number 3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Another nice beach that&#8217;s easy to reach is Long Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/UxfRzs8YJjGjSzaF8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). I also recommend hiking to Nui Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/QxBCzxNuXyXXbGD37\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Be careful, because access can be difficult at high tide. You can also get there by boat or kayak.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Punto_panoramico_koh_phi_phi.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset from the viewpoint on Koh Phi Phi island\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset from the viewpoint on Koh Phi Phi island.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Phi Phi?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several daily sea connections from all major destinations in the area including Phuket, Ao Nang, Krabi and Koh Lanta.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Phi Phi?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accommodation tends to be more expensive here than in the rest of the country. I shared a cheap room with a friend in a guesthouse that wasn&#8217;t listed online, and I can&#8217;t remember its name. Personally, I&#8217;d recommend avoiding the main area and choosing to stay a bit further away, like at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/sweed-dee-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sweed Dee Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-lanta\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Lanta<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Lanta may not be as visually spectacular as other islands in the region, as it lacks imposing limestone formations and cliffs dropping into the sea. However, it offers pleasant beaches, low prices and a relaxed atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The island is quite large and best explored by scooter. Long Beach, considered the &#8220;main&#8221; beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/oaPfhPm37m1FewmN8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), is the most developed and lively. I visited the &#8220;Tiger Cave&#8221; in the past; it&#8217;s now closed, but you can still visit nearby Tham Khao Mai Khew (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/cUHtrmT3mUb818Dm6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), another popular cave, which however requires a guide at a cost of 300 baht.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heading south, you can do a short hike to Khlong Chak Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/RziRntMtsPK4oh2DA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and along the trail you can visit the Bat Cave (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/EP8d6Sq3oXYakGqw7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Access to the trail costs 200 baht. I didn&#8217;t visit it, but the nearby Elephant Sanctuary is also often recommended (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Uqnbov7hHp47e9pt6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). After the waterfall, it&#8217;s worth stopping by Khlong Chak Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/hrydwhyGPMDKSjV36\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although I haven&#8217;t visited it personally, many travelers drive all the way to the lighthouse inside the national park (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/d2dBEmGkYMvuhDZN6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which requires a 200 baht entrance ticket. If you decide to go, there&#8217;s a short nature loop trail (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/thailand\/krabi\/mu-ko-lanta-nature-trail?u=m&amp;sh=mxqbmj\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short, Koh Lanta is an ideal destination for budget-conscious travelers looking for an accessible island with nice beaches and a relaxed atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tromonto_koh_lanta.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset at Long Beach on Koh Lanta\" width=\"1110\" height=\"625\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Long Beach on the island of Koh Lanta.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Lanta?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By boat\/ferry there are connections with Koh Phi Phi, Ao Nang and Krabi, but also with Malaysia or Koh Lipe to the south. For these last two, though, it&#8217;s still cheaper to travel overland to Satun province and take a boat from there. There are also direct buses from Bangkok, while from Hat Yai, near the Malaysian border, there are minivans: you can book them on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/?z=2634140\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12go<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Lanta?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/hub-of-joys-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hub of Joys Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a good budget place to stay with air conditioning in the room, a stone&#8217;s throw from &#8220;Long Beach&#8221;, the most popular beach.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-lipe\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Lipe<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Lipe is a small island near the Malaysian border that for years stayed largely away from mass tourism and only recently started to experience a real &#8220;boom&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortunately &#8211; or unfortunately, depending on your point of view &#8211; it lies outside the jurisdiction of the nearby Tarutao National Park, and this has allowed a not exactly sustainable development of tourism.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any case, the island is a true tropical paradise: white beaches and crystal-clear water are the norm, there are no cars and the atmosphere is relaxed, to say the least. Moreover, the coral reef wasn&#8217;t damaged by the 2004 tsunami, so it&#8217;s still in excellent condition. Maybe it was because a really close-knit group had formed at the hostel where I stayed, maybe it&#8217;s because the island is really beautiful, but the fact is that Koh Lipe is one of the destinations in Thailand closest to my heart.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4881\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0109-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0109-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0109-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0109-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0109-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanom Beach, Koh Lipe.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Koh Lipe<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The island is really compact and you can easily get around on foot. For many, the main activity is spending the day at the beach. The most beautiful one is undoubtedly Sunrise Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7jjYkSKk1YQAqqoV8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), where unfortunately there are lots of boats, but if you walk toward the northern part of the beach there&#8217;s a nice area marked off by buoys where you can swim.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other popular beach on the island is Pattaya Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/GJYzormnVwhnAJsX8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This is where speedboats and ferries arrive, and there&#8217;s a lot more going on, especially in the evening, with many bars and restaurants overlooking the beach. If you&#8217;re looking for a bit more peace and quiet, I recommend walking to Sanom Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/VUQrvQRhM6kK1wiF8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which you reach at the end of a short trail starting from Pattaya Beach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re looking for an even more remote beach, head to Pollo\/Galah beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/czuztSA1Hb9AEDsC8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">): the afternoon I went there with some guys from the hostel, there were only two other people. Unfortunately there&#8217;s quite a bit of trash, but it&#8217;s still an enchanting place. For the last stretch down to the beach you have to walk along a trail through the forest, but it&#8217;s nothing challenging.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4883\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0197-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0197-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0197-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0197-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0197-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pollo\/Galah beach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, Sunset Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Qf36ggYdcUS7Cs657\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), as the name suggests, is the ideal place to watch the sunset, but it&#8217;s probably the ugliest beach on the island, so I recommend going only in the late afternoon, just in time to enjoy the last moments of daylight.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4897\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07155-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07155-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07155-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07155-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07155-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Reach Koh Jolona by kayak<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Jolona (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/RDUmCqajJjGzEMBp8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is one of the two islets you can see from Sunrise Beach. You can easily reach it by kayak (or even by swimming, if you like), and it&#8217;s a great way to spend half a day. There are at least a couple of shops renting kayaks at Sunrise Beach; together with two other guys, we paid 200 baht each for 3 hours plus 100 baht for mask and snorkel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The snorkeling, especially along the side facing away from Koh Lipe, is great, so much so that it&#8217;s a stop on many boat tours. Basically, park your kayak on the beach and then swim around the islet. We limited ourselves to Koh Jolona but from what I was told the other islet is just as nice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4882\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0156-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0156-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0156-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0156-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0156-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Excursion to Koh Adang<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A nice day trip is the one to the nearby island of Koh Adang. The island is inside the national park, there are only a couple of places to stay and it&#8217;s much wilder than Koh Lipe. Taxi boats leave from Sunrise Beach and cost 200 baht per person; unless you make special requests, you&#8217;re dropped off at the ranger station (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/zqfSPTxjVxYAmvBH8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). For the return you can agree on a time or alternatively just call the boat, in any case no later than 18:00 if I remember correctly. I recommend leaving early in the morning and, if you&#8217;re on a budget, bringing water and food with you: there&#8217;s at least one restaurant near the ranger station, but it&#8217;s quite expensive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4898\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07161-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07161-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07161-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07161-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07161-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Koh Lipe seen from the viewpoint on Koh Adang.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once on the island, you could just spend the day at the beach in the company of the monkeys (watch your food!), but I think it&#8217;s worth going up to the viewpoint (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/4a3ZHSDt2tNM3pWVA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), from which you get great views of Koh Lipe. It takes about half an hour. I did it in flip-flops\/barefoot, but I think it&#8217;s a good idea to bring a pair of shoes. There are actually three viewpoints, so if you don&#8217;t feel like going up to the last one you could stop earlier; the higher you go, though, the better the view gets. Your call.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4899\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07168-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07168-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07168-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07168-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07168-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Monkey on Koh Adang.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way to spend a couple of hours is to hike to the Pirate Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/5KWYEHczp1EAevDw9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a really pretty waterfall in the middle of the forest that is about a 45-minute walk from the ranger station.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4900\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07175-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07175-HDR-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07175-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07175-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07175-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pirate Waterfall.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Boat tour with snorkeling<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least a couple of different &#8220;standard&#8221; itineraries are offered, visiting 4-5 islands. I don&#8217;t remember exactly which one I did, partly because, due to not-so-great weather, we had to change it along the way. In any case, the tours are sold for 600-800 baht per person including lunch, mask and snorkel. With three other guys from the hostel we opted for a private tour since, ironically, it cost less, and we paid 500 baht each (2000 baht for the boat).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To wrap up, eating on the island can be relatively expensive, especially compared to the mainland. Two cheap restaurants I&#8217;d recommend are Madam Yoo Hoo (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XrE9crxGeP8qx72N9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and Banana tree restaurant (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/EKs6iEm2Q5SeBXP48\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Also worth trying are the coconut donuts sold by the man in front of the 7-Eleven next to Banana tree, you can&#8217;t miss him! \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4880\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0090-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0090-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0090-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0090-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0090-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanom Beach and Pattaya beach, Koh Lipe.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Lipe?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I slept at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/nest-hostel-lipe.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nest Hostel Lipe<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I can&#8217;t recommend it enough! &#8220;Pino&#8221;, the owner, is a woman of unparalleled kindness and hospitality. There&#8217;s free drinking water, tea, coffee, cookies and bananas at the reception. Another great option literally a stone&#8217;s throw away is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/bloom-cafe-amp-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bloom Cafe &amp; Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: I had a look at it when I arrived, before choosing Nest Hostel, and went there for breakfast a couple of times; the staff seemed really friendly and the dorm isn&#8217;t bad. Finally, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/sangchan-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sang Chan hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a slightly cheaper option located literally in between. It&#8217;s a good hostel, but at least during my visit the dorm didn&#8217;t have air conditioning, which can be a problem.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Lipe?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are direct speedboat or ferry connections to Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi to the north, but transfers are sold to practically any other destination. To the south, you can go directly to Langkawi Island in Malaysia. In this case, near Koh Lipe&#8217;s main pier there&#8217;s a small immigration office where you get your passport stamped to leave the country, or get your visa on arrival if you&#8217;re coming from Langkawi.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you arrive overland, you have to go through Hat Yai, from where you then continue to Pak Bara, where the pier with the speedboats to Koh Lipe is. The Hat Yai minivan station is out of town at this point (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/SqLs4aWmnGJyqoMj6\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), but I really think this is one of those times when taking a tourist transfer is more practical and not necessarily more expensive. Across from the Hat Yai train station, at this point (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/UdkvFmgQPB2SobU57\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), there&#8217;s an agency that grabs a good share of the travelers arriving by train. They wanted 1100 baht and then dropped to 1000 baht for the minivan + speedboat combo, which still seemed too much based on what I had read, and on top of that they weren&#8217;t friendly at all. After wandering around a bit, I found an agency at this spot (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/HjFjWR295BYhWL66A\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) that offered me the exact same transfer for 800 baht. In any case, it&#8217;s about two hours by minivan plus about another two hours by speedboat.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re coming from Malaysia without going through Langkawi, the most practical way is to take the direct <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/online.ktmb.com.my\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">train<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the border town &#8220;Padang Besar&#8221;. There are also direct minivans from Penang that you can book on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/?z=2634140\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12go<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Once you&#8217;ve crossed the border, there are both trains and minivans to Hat Yai. You&#8217;ll find lots of information on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/railtravelstation.com\/hat-yai-padang-besar-minivan\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In any case, <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when you enter the embarkation area at Pak Bara port you have to pay both the national park entrance fee of 200 baht and the port fee of 20 baht.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4901\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07182-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1110\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07182-Edit.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07182-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07182-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07182-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Pattaya beach in the evening.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Samui Archipelago<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Samui archipelago is located in the Gulf of Thailand and therefore has a shorter rainy season than the islands in the Andaman Sea. There are three main islands: Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-tao\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Tao<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Tao has the highest concentration of diving schools on the Asian continent, and possibly in the world. Because of the high level of competition, it&#8217;s probably one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified. During my last visit, an open water certification cost about 9,000 baht. If you get certified, try to organize a trip to Sail Rock. It&#8217;s a bit expensive because of the distance, but it&#8217;s considered the best dive site in the area.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/spiaggia_koh_tao.jpg\" alt=\"Koh Tao island\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>John-Suwan viewpoint on Koh Tao.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see on Koh Tao<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The island is less developed and has a more relaxed atmosphere than the bigger islands, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Even if you don&#8217;t plan to dive, I find it the most beautiful, with the best beaches. There&#8217;s also a decent nightlife along Sairee Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/eiUArtGodVitS3sNA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7791\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0709-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"977\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0709-Edit.jpg 977w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0709-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0709-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Aow Luek Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some beaches I recommend checking out are Freedom Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/SeuKVfd6ibzr847YA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which costs 50 baht to enter and includes access to the nearby John-Suwan Viewpoint (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/R28o8C1y4P5HGsxE8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Ao Hin Wong (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/1c3SwU1Upxrz9DDv5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is a nice bay with good snorkeling on the left side, and Ao Leuk (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/c1jhhhWMHQmwbifTA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is fairly similar. Haad Sai Daeng (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/PMXhqZFaPSSkGrKt8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is run by a resort, but access is free. At Shark Bay (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/GZeeVgYueJpqsc4cA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) you&#8217;re almost guaranteed to spot small sharks on the left side of the bay. Ao Laem Thian beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/mQ5RyhWDMKBdiBvS8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is reached after a short hike and you&#8217;ll most likely have it all to yourself. Finally, I recommend Aow June Juea (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/pntnXsrYPYEg8B1d9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), especially at sunset; it&#8217;s very quiet. I took the trail along the coast, but I think you can also get there by scooter. Speaking of sunsets, two great bars\/restaurants I recommend are the Secret Bar (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/3j178eUHeMxjebvJ8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and the Horizon Bar (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/7GkbLgtGdT8RXGPT6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). There are many other viewpoints on the island; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.islandtravelkohtao.com\/koh-tao-attractions\/viewpoints\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you can find an overview on this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7795\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0717-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"977\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0717-Edit.jpg 977w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0717-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0717-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Koh Tao.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To wrap up, even though I&#8217;ve been to Koh Tao twice and spent several weeks on the island, I&#8217;ve never joined one of the snorkeling boat trips they offer, but I&#8217;m pretty sure it&#8217;s a good way to spend the day. The tours normally start around 10:00 and end around 17:00, visiting five different spots with lunch included, for about 650 baht. Another very popular boat trip is the one to the iconic Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/L4wkHfBdLQNh2x9D8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which personally I don&#8217;t think is worth it, considering how crowded the whole islet is.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Tao?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I highly recommend staying at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/the-dearly-koh-tao-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Dearly Koh Tao Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It&#8217;s one of the best hostels I&#8217;ve ever stayed at. However, if you prefer to be closer to the nightlife of Sai Ri Beach, I suggest the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/savage-hostel-koh-tao.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Savage Hostel Koh Tao<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7799\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0726-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"977\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0726-Edit.jpg 977w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0726-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0726-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Aow June Juea.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-phangan\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Phangan<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Famous for the legendary Full Moon Party that attracts tens of thousands of people each month, Koh Phangan is a destination I recommend even to those who aren&#8217;t into such events and are looking for something different.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fullmoonparty-thailand.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full Moon Party<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/halfmoon.festival\/?hl=en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Half Moon Party<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/jungleexperiencekohphangan\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jungle Party<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> occur only a few days each month and impact only a small part of the island. The rest of the island, particularly in the north, remains relatively undeveloped, with many uncrowded beaches and some waterfalls worth visiting.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Koh Phangan<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The beaches may not be as heavenly as those on Koh Lipe, but they&#8217;re still great. My favorite is Bottle Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/kj5J5tA2yqKSm9Gt5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), located in the north of the island and accessible only by foot or boat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rent a scooter and drive to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/LTyoTpdCtBPDnyGA9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trailhead<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. From there, you have two options to reach Bottle Beach: a longer coastal route that takes about 2 hours or a shorter one through the forest that takes about 1 hour. Once you&#8217;re at the beach, you can also climb up to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/a2mSd9Hw2yfsA6aSA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">viewpoint<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a great view (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/thailand\/surat-thani\/haad-khom-beach-bottle-beach-viewpoint?u=m&amp;sh=mxqbmj\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). If you don&#8217;t want to hike back, you can take a taxi boat for 150 baht to Haad Khom beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/BjkDCeVXUnXdvZKF9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zen Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/b19RBJEUzC4VhJ3ZA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is another nice and popular beach, especially for sunset, with a very hippy vibe. Haad Yao (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/T5daFiHeMFvmkFyz7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and Haad Salad (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/EWn1Yvaeaf5JvBBz9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) are also really beautiful beaches along the west coast.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also three waterfalls worth visiting, as long as the rainy season has only recently ended. While they&#8217;re certainly not impressive, they&#8217;re a nice place to go for a refreshing swim. Paradise Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/CdP2XBAUysnV3XQaA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) has a 30 baht entry fee but is kept clean, Phaeng Noi Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/QuVSFiaNytF3NAqn9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the biggest and most popular one and has a 30 baht entry fee, and finally Wang Sai waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/y9oBHyuVsYHu195VA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) has a 20 baht entry fee.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bottle_beach_koh_phangan.jpg\" alt=\"View from above of Bottle Beach on Koh Phangan\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>View from above of Bottle Beach on Koh Phangan.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Ang Thong Marine Park<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About an hour by boat from both Phangan and Samui lies Ang Thong National Marine Park, a really popular archipelago of small islands. Although I&#8217;ve never visited the marine park, the snorkeling and diving are considered excellent. Boat tours, lasting about seven hours and including lunch, snorkeling, and other activities, are offered from both Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Phangan?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to stay close to the port area, I recommend <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/hao-norn-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hao Norn Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Otherwise, go straight to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/sarana-bungalows.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sarana Bungalow<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Although it&#8217;s a bit pricey, for what it offers it&#8217;s still good value for money.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7801\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0731-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"977\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0731-Edit.jpg 977w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0731-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0731-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Koh Samui.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-samui\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Samui<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Samui is the second most visited island in Thailand after Phuket. After avoiding it for many years, I finally decided to give it a chance, but it was disappointing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see on Koh Samui<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you decide to visit the island anyway, I recommend renting a scooter and checking out the following:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In my opinion, the best beach is Crystal Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/B6W35YmXPGSS9bD98\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Other commonly recommended beaches, such as Lamai Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/2ZihHEAR2W9soi1i6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and Choengmon Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/QMu3imcYkdFfyYeB7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), are too developed and crowded for my taste, but obviously it depends on what you&#8217;re looking for.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also check out Na Mueang Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/HyvV9BJuHsfSbceJ6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and Na Mueang Waterfall 2 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/KFCLninJz915JEYM7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which are very close to each other. If you visit the island well into the dry season, don&#8217;t expect much water. Another waterfall worth checking out is Hin Lat Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/3mdpQpFkWRsG9BSVA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Khunaram Ko Samui (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/g2p1GeoApMr6oujVA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the island\u2019s most famous temple, known for its mummified monk on display. The mummy is the body of a very revered former abbot of the temple who was also a meditation master and apparently able to predict his own death.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, you can catch the sunset from the Big Buddha (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/2GB2bgSfXihKPzGbA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and then grab some food in the Fisherman&#8217;s Village Walking Street (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/hHo63e852ZZpiJTS8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which becomes very lively at night.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Samui?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I stayed at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/th\/kohabitat-samui.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KoHabitat Samui<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I recommend it. Great value for money.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7803\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0735-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"977\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0735-Edit.jpg 977w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0735-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/DJI_0735-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Bang Kao Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All three islands are connected to each other daily by ferries. Only Koh Samui has an airport with daily flights to Bangkok. The cheapest way to reach them, however, is by land\/sea; packages are offered that include bus, port transfer, and ferry from virtually any tourist destination within the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re the do-it-yourself type, the port for Koh Tao is <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chumphon, while for Koh Phangan and Koh Samui it&#8217;s Surat Thani. If you&#8217;re coming from Bangkok, I recommend booking the night train to Chumphon. <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On arrival in Chumphon in the morning, you can take a joint bus and ferry service directly from outside the railway station, offered by <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lomprayah.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lomprayah<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Depending on the time of year, the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/songserm.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Songserm<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> company provides the same service.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In my case, the train arrived almost an hour late, but I still managed to catch the 7:00 boat; there was a Lomprayah pickup that raced to get us to the pier. The transfer officially leaves at 6:00. 900 baht in total (750 boat + 150 minivan). The bus transfer from Bangkok costs 1500 baht.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to go to Koh Phangan or Koh Samui, I recommend booking the train to Surat Thani, where you can get the same kind of transfer (minivan to the port + ferry). Finally, if you arrive on Koh Samui by boat from Koh Tao with Lomprayah, they offer a transfer to anywhere on the island for 150 baht once you arrive at Pralarn Pier (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/XmSMoGPBR5BNTSDt7\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). I tried booking a Grab motorbike without any luck, so I ended up taking the &#8220;expensive&#8221; transfer.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"iti\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Suggested itineraries in Thailand<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below I list possible 2-, 3- and 4-week itineraries. Obviously, take what follows as inspiration and adapt the itinerary to your interests\/budget, and remember to take into account the time of year you&#8217;re visiting Thailand!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Two-week itinerary in northern Thailand<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/itinerario_due_settimane_nord_thailandia.png\" alt=\"Two-week itinerary in northern Thailand\" width=\"500\" height=\"494\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This itinerary essentially covers the highlights of northern Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bangkok (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 1:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A relaxing day, maybe walking around Chinatown.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 2:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow the classic tourist route: Grand Palace -&gt; Wat Pho -&gt; Wat Arun. Khaosan Road in the evening?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 3:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit a floating market or maybe join an organized tour to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khao Yai <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Park (if you do it on your own as a day trip, you risk spending the whole day on a bus).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overnight train\/bus to Sukhothai to save time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Sukhothai (1 night)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 4:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore the ruins of Sukhothai.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chiang Mai (4 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 5:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Chiang Mai in the morning. Explore the historic city center.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 6:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, maybe take a dip in the canyon in the afternoon. Visit the night market.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 7:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the elephant sanctuary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 8:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spend the day as you like, you could visit <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doi Inthanon <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Park<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Bua Thong Falls, attend a cooking class, etc. etc.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Pai (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 9:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Pai.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 10:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit Tham Lod Cave.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 11:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore the falls and go to see the canyon at sunset.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chiang Rai (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 12:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pai -&gt; Chiang Mai -&gt; Chiang Rai transfer. Visit the night bazaar.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 13:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit the temples in the city.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 14:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Return to Bangkok.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Two-week itinerary in southern Thailand<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/itinerario_due_settimane_sud_thailandia.png\" alt=\"Two-week itinerary in southern Thailand\" width=\"500\" height=\"544\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This itinerary essentially covers the highlights of southern Thailand. I&#8217;ve assumed that the starting and ending point is Bangkok, but I suggest you also consider Phuket, as flights there are sometimes really cheap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid this itinerary during the peak of the rainy season (July-November), especially the islands in the Andaman Sea.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bangkok (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 1:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A relaxing day, maybe walking around Chinatown.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 2:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow the classic tourist route: Grand Palace -&gt; Wat Pho -&gt; Wat Arun.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 3:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit a floating market or maybe join an organized tour to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khao Yai <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Park <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(if you do it on your own as a day trip, you risk spending the whole day on a bus).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Night train\/bus to Surat Thani to save time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Khao Sok National Park (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 4-5:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surat Thani -&gt; Khao Sok bus. You can join an organized tour or take day trips on your own starting from Khao Sok village.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Krabi (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 6:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khao Sok -&gt; Krabi -&gt; Ao Nang beach bus. Spend the rest of the day at the beach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 7:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day trip to Rai Leh; don&#8217;t miss the viewpoint and the lagoon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Lanta (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 8 &#8211; 9 &#8211; 10:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I recommend three beach days on Koh Lanta rather than on Koh Phi Phi (unless you&#8217;re interested in nightlife).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Tao or Koh Phangan (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 11 &#8211; 12 &#8211; 13:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Break up your trip back to Bangkok by visiting one of these two islands. My preference goes to Koh Tao, but obviously the choice is yours.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 14:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Return to Bangkok.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Three-week itinerary in Thailand<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With three weeks available, my advice is to follow the itinerary for northern Thailand described above and add a week of beach time on the islands of the Gulf of Thailand (Samui Archipelago or Koh Chang) or on the islands of the Andaman Sea (Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, etc.).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;d go for the former &#8211; especially during the rainy season from May to September, when the weather is much better &#8211; rather than the Andaman Sea islands. In October and November it&#8217;s best to avoid southern Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Four-week itinerary in Thailand<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With four weeks available, I recommend that you simply combine the two-week itinerary in the north with the two-week itinerary in the south.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"how\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>How to get around in Thailand<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting around is really easy, even for the less experienced. Any accommodation or agency (there&#8217;s literally one on every corner of any even slightly touristy destination) can book your transfers to virtually any other destination within the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who can&#8217;t be bothered, there are packages that combine several means of transport, such as bus + ferry to a particular island and so on, and more often than not they also include &#8220;pick-up&#8221; directly from your accommodation. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airasia.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AirAsia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also offers this kind of package in combination with domestic flights.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obviously this is a really practical way to get around, but certainly not the cheapest. With a bit of research, you can actually replicate all the journeys using only public transportation, or at least skip the middleman, who, however little, has to make something out of it. As always, the choice is yours.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/autobus_thailandia.jpg\" alt=\"Double-decker bus in Thailand\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Double-decker bus to Chiang Mai.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"buses-thailand\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Buses in Thailand<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buses are generally a good compromise between the slower, cheaper trains and more expensive flights. As a rule, you can book buses online, although it&#8217;s almost always cheaper to show up directly at the terminal and buy the ticket on the spot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Departures are frequent and you shouldn&#8217;t run the risk of getting stranded. To get an idea of prices and schedules, you can take a look at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/?z=2634140\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12go<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but remember that certain options may not show up in your search.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"trains-thailand\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Trains in Thailand<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rail network is relatively extensive and is often the cheapest and most comfortable option. It&#8217;s a good idea to book your tickets a couple of days in advance, especially if you want to travel at night in a sleeper berth (sleeper train), and during high season.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main website is the railway&#8217;s own, which <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.railway.co.th\/Home\/Index\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you&#8217;ll find here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, for checking schedules and departures, while booking directly online is finally possible without paying extra fees (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as long as you use a card without currency exchange fees<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dticket.railway.co.th\/DTicketPublicWeb\/home\/Home\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: just register and you&#8217;re done. Be wary of anyone who says it&#8217;s not possible and recommends using third-party services.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re traveling at night, I think the best value for money is a second-class sleeper berth with air conditioning. If you want a bit of extra space, choose the lower berth, but I&#8217;ve always been fine on the upper one too.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"flights-thailand\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Domestic flights in Thailand<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In many cases, especially if booked in advance, flights can be relatively cheap, with the Bangkok &#8211; Chiang Mai route costing even less than 30\u20ac if you travel with carry-on luggage only. The two low-cost airlines par excellence are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nokair.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NokAir<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airasia.com\/en\/home.page\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AirAsia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other airlines operating domestic flights are <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bangkokair.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BangkokAir<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thaiairways.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ThaiAirways<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"taxi-thailand\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Taxi, tuk tuk and <\/b><b>Songthaew<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taxis, tuk tuks and songthaews (pickups with two benches in the back) are found literally everywhere and are cheap by European standards. Meters are rarely used, and only in Bangkok and Chiang Mai anyway, so remember to agree on the price before getting in to avoid surprises.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Songthaews sometimes act as taxis, but they&#8217;re often used as minibuses and are, for all intents and purposes, part of public transportation, so they have fixed fares.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Songthaew_Thailandia.jpg\" alt=\"A songthaew used for city transport\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>A songthaew in Chiang Mai.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"cost\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Backpacking Thailand: costs<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much does a trip to Thailand cost? Not much by European standards, although the country is certainly no longer as cheap as it was twenty or so years ago. Bangkok was even recently named the second most expensive city in Southeast Asia after Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s also a clear difference between the north (much cheaper) and the south, where some islands have prices 3-4 times higher than Chiang Mai, especially during high season.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any case, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/planning\/40-tips-for-backpackers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">traveling on a budget<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a daily budget of 30\u20ac (probably closer to 40\u20ac if you focus on the south of the country) should be enough, as long as you eat at local restaurants, where a cheap meal generally costs around 40-50 baht on the mainland and 80-100 baht on the islands, sleep in cheap hostels\/guesthouses and use public transport to get around. For example, during my last 32-day stay I spent exactly 942.93\u20ac, or 29.47\u20ac a day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"other-costs\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Other costs (ATM withdrawals and SIM cards)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, Thailand is one of those countries where it&#8217;s impossible to avoid withdrawal fees charged by local banks, which are typically around 220 baht per withdrawal nowadays. I recommend using a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/best-travel-cards\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">good travel card<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to minimize fees from your bank and withdrawing larger amounts at once. Most banks have a withdrawal limit of 20,000 baht, but Krungsri bank allows up to 30,000 baht per withdrawal. Another option is to bring cash from home; Superrich has foreign exchange offices scattered all over Bangkok with great exchange rates.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a local SIM card, I recommend choosing between <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ais.th\/en\/consumers\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AIS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.true.th\/home\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">True<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which have the best coverage. You can easily purchase one at any of the many 7-Eleven stores around the country or directly from their official stores. Bring your passport. Tourist packages tend to be more expensive than buying a SIM card and signing up for plans directly in the app.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"safe\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Backpacking Thailand: safety<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thailand is definitely a safe destination (even with kids). Obviously, as in every country, crime does happen, but with a bit of common sense I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll never get that feeling of &#8220;danger&#8221; you might have, for example, in some Latin American cities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only thing I think you really need to watch out for is scams targeting tourists, ranging from simple inflated taxi prices to so-called &#8220;double menus&#8221; for locals and tourists, through to the extremely dishonest practices of people renting out scooters and the like who, once you return the vehicle, demand that you pay to repair pre-existing damage or charge you astronomical sums for minor damage. So make sure you inspect the vehicle thoroughly, maybe by taking a video, and if you&#8217;re sure you&#8217;re in the right, stand your ground! Unfortunately, renting something without leaving your passport is difficult, so they often take advantage of it. These practices are certainly not the norm, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/backpacking-safety\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with a bit of savvy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you shouldn&#8217;t have any problems.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Are you planning a trip to Thailand? Check out these posts:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/packing-list\/\">What to pack in your backpack<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/travel-backpack\/\">Which travel backpack to choose<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Do you have any questions? Updated information? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ilbackpacker\/\">Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Since I no longer run ads, if you found this article helpful, please consider purchasing your <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/travel-insurance\/\">travel insurance<\/a> through one of the links on this site. Doing so supports my work at no additional cost to you. For EU and UK residents, I recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.truetraveller.com\/?tag=4486\">True Traveller<\/a>. For everyone else, I recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/heymondo.com\/?utm_medium=Afiliado&amp;utm_source=ILBACKPACKER&amp;utm_campaign=PRINCIPAL&amp;cod_descuento=ILBACKPACKER&amp;ag_campaign=INPUT&amp;agencia=3e3e0e90cc3ad100e738962ea2e0b0be8d69\">HeyMondo<\/a>, which offers a 5% discount. Thank you for your support!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=QTBBEQQCE37GA\">For donations\/pizzas and virtual beers<\/a> \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">Did you like the post? Pin it!<\/h5>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7629\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_thailand.png\" alt=\"Guide to planning a trip to Thailand\" width=\"330\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_thailand.png 330w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_thailand-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px\" \/>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From Buddhist temples, markets and beautiful beaches to the delicious food, Thailand has something to offer for every taste. Over the years I&#8217;ve spent about three months backpacking around the country, and in this guide you&#8217;ll find a ton of useful information and tips to plan your trip to Thailand as best you can.","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-thailand"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.5 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Where to go, what to see, itineraries, costs, useful tips and more to plan your trip to Thailand.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tr1nCa92\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" 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