Backpacking in Thailand – What You Can Get Out of It

Take a look at any list of the top voyage destinations in the world, and you’ll see Thailand right on top (or at least, close to it) – and for good reason. Either you’re a seasoned traveler, or a newbie to backpacking, Thailand has something good in store for you.

1. Smiles.

Koh Chang Beach Bar

Over the years, Thailand has aptly earned the moniker: the Land of Smiles. The people of Thailand are known to be among the nicest, friendliest, and most helpful folks on Earth, and you’re sure to be greeted with warm smiles and cordial banter wherever you go. If you’re new to backpacking, Thailand is by all means; of course the place to go because you can rely on help from the locals anytime, with a smile.

Backpacking in Thailand – What You Can Get Out of It

2. Sun.

Without a doubt, Thailand has among the most ideal climates in the world; hence, why visitors from the colder regions of the west visit the country in droves. Thailand enjoys sunshine all year round, even throughout the so-called rainy season. So do pack the right stuff while backpacking – Thailand gives you the occasion to show some skin!

3. Sand and Sea.

For most people, beaches are a must in backpacking. Thailand is probably best known for its numerous marvelous White Sand Beaches and virtually untouched aquatic wildlife, so it’s a match made in heaven!

Of course, the ‘different strokes for different folks’ adage apply. The many beaches of Thailand each has their own determined personalities that cater to the discrete preferences of their discerning visitors. For example, scuba divers and snorkelers looking to enjoy an unspoiled water world frequent Koh Tao and the Similan Islands. Ravers can’t get sufficient of the full moon parties of Koh Phangan, or the quarterly beach parties at neighboring Koh Samui. The nature-tripper will have much to gush about in Krabi’s Phi Phi Islands and Trat’s Koh Chang. The pleasure-seeker will never want to leave Patong or Pattaya Beach. And if you just want to spend the day baking under the sun, well, take your pick and go visit one – or all!

4. Sex.

Possibly the main guess why most travelers (men, to be entirely accurate) frequent Thailand is the country’s predominant sex industry. In Bangkok alone, a farang (Western) man – and in some cases, woman – can indulge in forbidden pleasures by simply visiting areas like Patpong, Nana, and the infamous Soi Cowboy. Such pleasures can also be found in the go-go and coyote bars that litter Pattaya‘s predominant Walking road and Phuket‘s Patong Beach. Tastes fluctuating from the approved to the slightly askew to the downright sleazy are sure to be satisfied in any of the sex areas that can be found in most of the country’s traveler haunts. Either you’re into skinny, bowlegged chicks, or the more voluptuous pre and post-op trannies, Thailand has it all.

Of course, this is probably not the whole point of your backpacking. Thailand, however, has a way of luring unsuspecting travelers into its raw sexual energy, and this has come to be the downfall of many a hapless farang who end up with empty wallets (all thanks to seemingly angelic bargirls who need ‘rescuing’), or worse, a plethora of undesirable diseases due to general carelessness. Know that by indulging in Thailand’s most predominant industry, you are treading in dangerous waters, so do tread carefully.

5. Shopping.

Without a doubt, Thailand offers perfect shopping, by all means; of course one of the best in the world. Bangkok itself plays host to numerous shopping districts where one can get whatever from designer labels to cheap knock-offs. Those with heftier wallets frequent the Ratchaprasong area and its upscale malls with their numerous designer boutiques. The more budget-conscious, however, can be found haggling their way through around Pratunam, the Lumphini Night Market, the Chatuchak Weekend Market, and Bo Bae, Asia’s wholesale mecca.

Most of the time, shopping is roughly unheard of while backpacking. Thailand, however, sells all from clothes and accessories to the latest gadgets at incredibly cheap prices. Haggle like there’s no tomorrow, why don’t you? That’s part of the fun!

Indeed, there’s much to learn in backpacking. Thailand is an perfect teacher. No wonder newbies flock to the country by the thousands, and the veterans just keep on coming.

Backpacking in Thailand – What You Can Get Out of It

Thanks To : โรงแรม รีสอร์ท เกาะหมาก กาญจนบุรี

Backpacking data on Thailand

Population: 64.1 million (Un, 2005)
Capital: Bangkok
Area: 513,115 sq km (198,115 sq miles)
Major language: Thai
Major religion: Buddhism
Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 74 years (women) (Un)
Monetary unit: 1 baht = 100 satangs

[b]Kanchanaburi[/b]

Thailand is one kingdom of beautiful places and smiling faces. Up until the onslaught of the Red Shirts that caused uproar of tour alerts prohibiting tour to these parts, Thailand has been one of the ultimate destinations of South East Asia, the “backpackers’ gateway to the southeast”. easily the Land of Smiles, the people have whizzed through one of its toughest years flashing their pearlies, teeth and all. And with what harshness and violence the political situation is putting the country under, one has to guess if the smiles are still genuine. As the home of phad thai, muay thai, satay, and lady boys, they have every guess to smile. Still, despite the sensationalism on Thailand that covertly masks its attractiveness and spectacle, the basis for its “ultimate tour destination” accolade and famosity remains, be it in Pattaya, in Kho Lipe, in Chao Phraya, in Kanchanaburi, or in Chiang Mai. The Kingdom of Thailand, the heart of the Asia Pacific, remains to be a country of interest for any culture or price range with its magical balance of Old and modern World.

Geography

Thailand (15 00 N, 100 00 E) points its geographic coordinates at the heart of the Asia-Pacific region, making it the aviation hub of Sea. The Kingdom has total area 513,120 km 2, slightly smaller than France, but big sufficient for thick green forests and crystal blue seas and all in between. The terrain is ordinarily mountainous, particularly to the north of the country with the highest point the Doi Inthanon at an altitude of 2,576 m. To the centre, the land is mostly flat and low, the Chao Phraya River Valley, but farranging practically diverse regional topography features.

Climate

The climate is a peculiar tropical wet and dry Savannah climate with seasons that range from warm to hot and hotter, with a quick cool to 19°C from November to December. Expect roasting temperatures in big urban cities, and cooler ones at the highlands. The farranging climate in Thailand is a very important observation for tour specifically because if it’s too hot, tour is stressful, if too wet, a limited more dangerous, pertaining to water activities at least. Notably, the best time for tour is while the ordinarily cooler months from November to mid of March, the peak season unfortunately. Whatever the weather, a visit to this sin paradise is of the utmost necessity.

People

And here are 65,998,436 more reasons to come visit, the Thai people who probably invented the word “party crashers” – a concept with positive connotation that is if anything, a proof of their hospitality. Theravada Buddhism is the customary religion, the religion of the state that is practised by a easily big 94.6% of Thais. Muslims and Christians are a tiny minority standing in comparison to the Buddhist demographic.

Language

Thai, a Kradai language like Lao, is the legal language of the state, accounting for the 75% of Thai people in the kingdom. English is the secondary legal language and is a compulsory subject and language to learn in school as early as preschool, although Chinese, Teochew in particular, is more widely spoken by more than 14%, the Chinese people here in Thailand. On the other hand, Yawi is the customary language of the 4.6% of Malay Muslims living in the south near the Malay border, while the remainder of the people in outlying provinces in the north speak Lao and Thai dialects.

Attraction

Thailand has been as widely infamous for its beach paradises as its alternative sex tour attractions. And for the former, the latter, or both, Thailand has loads to offer like Phuket and Ko Lipe with its four more than awesome, Pattaya, Sunrise, Chao Ley, and Karma beaches. However, as the 17th in the world by number of populations with Hiv/Aids, the traveller needs some caution and lots of protection. Bangkok has for so long offered the best introduction to the traveller with a boat ride up the Chao Phraya, the bloodline of the city, where one can marvel at the intricate opulence of the temples that lay not asunder but very much intact.

But the City of Angels may have been evacuated for the time being by these heavenly creatures with what political chaos plagues the great city of Bangkok. Had it not been, as sure and hopeful as most are that peace is not a far goal, Bkk also makes an unbelievable haven for shopping, counterfeits need it be said, whether in modern Jj shop (Chatuchak), Mbk, or Ampua for tradition’s sake. Why not Patpong for a limited bizarre ping pong show for the separate kind of visitor? Muay Thai is also a huge tourist magnet for travellers, who can be whether play spectators or students.

While nothing beats Chiang Mai in terms of culture and temples with around 300 wats sprawled all over town, Kanchanaburi is the nature-lovers haven and nowhere can first-rate water fun be had than here. Erawan, Pha Thad, Huai Khamin, and Saiyok waterfalls are easily worth an whole day’s visit each, no doubt a separate feel each time. The ultimate way to tour is study what has not been uncovered for a once in a lifetime Thai adventure, not forgetting of course to spend time with the locals who in more ways than one are the main attraction…and then there’s also the food.

Food

One cannot enjoy to the maximum a visit to the Kingdom by not experiencing the food culture. Thai food is food fit for a King. Thai food alone is more than sufficient guess for a holiday to these parts. Let it be said that Thai cuisine is a festive fusion of Indian, Chinese, Cambodian and all that is Asian and good, and all starts in the streets. Rice is a staple and is engorged in many forms from rice noodles to sticky rice desserts with mango. Khao suai is the generic term for white steamed rice typically eaten with meals, while khao phat is basic fried rice with pork or chicken stirred in. Road food culture is an integral part of the Thai identity as a group of people with a natural inclination to gastronomy, cooking and eating both. The streets are a cultural and culinary crossroads where people can offer their home-cooked specialty to the rest of the world for a very small cost. In doing so, the Thais don’t mind making a modest behalf for, at the end of the day, cooking is what they love to do. A modern Thai would eat 9 times a day from a Thb 25 phad thai off the Road or a 0 10-course meal-anything that involves putting something edible or nearly edible to the oral cavity.

Thai cuisine is very regarded all over the world for its extra flavor that Whatever from everywhere enjoys, and this can never be best represented than by the national dish, phad thai. This salutary noodle dish with a great blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy is the epitome of Thai cuisine because it is light, healthy, balanced, spicy, flavorful, and aromatic. Tom yam and Tom Kha Gai are popular soup dishes while som tam (papaya salad), sticky rice, and kai yang (grilled chicken) are a popular meal combo. Indian culinary influence is quite strong especially with its curry dishes like green curry, although Thai cuisine has its distinctive capability now more than ever, take pandan chicken for example. Pandan is a flavorful leaf, which works like spice to Thai desserts, similar to vanilla, but more versatile as it also gives a spectacular, flavor to meat, in this case, as the chicken is cooked wrapped in these leaves. Chiang Mai, the aged capital, is the foodie wonderland of Thai and world cuisines from British fish and chips to Italian pizza and pasta delights.

Thais love things that are all nice and sweet, especially for dessert, but the Thai concept of dessert is not like the western after-meal dessert model. As it is in general Asia, dessert may pertain to a sweet snack eaten as a small meal per se. Inasmuch as it can be eaten after a meal western-style, this is more for preference than a custom. Desserts like khanom (cookies or snacks), khao nio ma-muang (sticky rice with mango and coconut milk drizzle), or waan yen, a heap of shaved ice on a bed of “toppings” like corn and kidney beans drizzled with syrup and coconut cream, are desserts that are mostly consumed as a snack or fill-upper. Yes, they snack on bugs and roaches too, which without a doubt is an acquired taste.

Backpacking data on Thailand

See Also : Koh Chang Hotel เกาะเสม็ด Koh Samet

Backpacking Southeast Asia – Thailand Itinerary Ideas

Considering a backpacking trip to Thailand? Here are some ideas for your itinerary.

One Week: If you only have one week in Thailand, you will have to make sacrifices on what you will be able to see. The most common route would be to spend a few days in Bangkok, checking out the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and getting customary with the Thai culture. The remainder of the trip could be spent on one of the numerous beach locations Thailand has to offer.

Chiang Mai

Catch a cheap flight to whether Phuket or Ko Samui to relax on the beach for a few days. From Ko Samui you could spend a few days at Ko Pha Ngan if you wanted to attend the full moon party (book chamber well in advance if you are trying to go to the full moon party). From Phuket, you could spend a few days on the beautiful island of Ko Phi Phi, relaxing on the beach or going snorkeling.

Backpacking Southeast Asia – Thailand Itinerary Ideas

Two weeks: With two weeks in Thailand, you will be able to the vast majority of what Thailand has to offer. Again your trip will most likely start in Bangkok.

If you want to do the beach circuit, catch the bus or a cheap flight to Phuket. Spend a day in Phuket, before heading to Ko Phi Phi. From Ko Phi Phi, catch a ferry to the Krabi region and spend some spend rock climbing and snorkeling. From Krabi take the bus to Surat Thani, to catch the Ferry to head to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, before heading back to Bangkok to stop your trip.

Another option is to visit Northern Thailand, but still spend some time on the beach. Again start in Bangkok before catching the train to Chiang Mai. While in Chiang Mai, visit local native hill tribes, go on elephant rides, go bamboo rafting, take Thai cooking classes, and visit the Sunday Market. From Chiang Mai you can choose to whether visit Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, or Phuket, Ko Phi Phi and Krabi. The easiest way is to catch a cheap flight from Chiang Mai to whether Ko Samui or Phuket.

One Month: With one month in Thailand you can visit almost every projection of the country. Along with all the destinations previously mentioned, you can also visit the white sand beaches of Ko Samet and Ko Chang. To the East of Bangkok, these destinations are much quieter than the beach destinations in Southern Thailand. Ko Chang is a good place to visit if you are into scuba diving.

Another destination that is potential to visit is Ko Tao. A short ferry ride from Ko Pha Ngan, this sleepy island also has some perfect scuba diving, and can be a peaceful break from the craziness of the full moon party.

Unfortunately, due to Bangkok’s central location and the fact that it is the communication hub of Thailand, you will have to backtrack if you want to see all corners of the country. If you are willing to take some discount flights, it can help to eliminate the long backtracking journeys.

Backpacking Southeast Asia – Thailand Itinerary Ideas

Related : ที่พักเกาะช้าง Phuket Resort

Backpacking in Thailand – 5 Must See Destinations

Thailand is a noted backpacker destination and has seen travellers arrival straight through the gates for many years. Its request for retrial is in its amazing collection as well as its exotic feel which provides a real fly for Westerners. The question is in trying to conclude where to go in the time you have there as there are so many amazing places on offer. I’ve tried to make this decision easier for you by listing my 5 favourite spots that you can’t miss if you’re heading to Thai shores:

1. Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is the place most citizen are aware of when they head over due to it being the host of the ‘Full Moon Party’. Hundreds of thousands of backpackers flock there every year to drink Sam Son and paint themselves in fluorescent pen. It truly is a memorable caress – just make sure you don’t enjoy it too much!

Chiang Mai

2. Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a great place to fly from the island hopping lifestyle and hoards of foreigners and sample some authentic Thai lifestyle. Obviously there are still abundance of travellers to be seen but you’ll also bump into a Buddhist monk and a woman on the road who will cook you some of the best food you’ve ever eaten in 2 minutes. There’s also an array of treks out into the jungle using Chiang Mai as a jump off point where you can see elephants, ride bamboo rafts and much more.

Backpacking in Thailand – 5 Must See Destinations

3. Khao Sok National Park
This striking national park offers other perfect stepping back from the hectic parties and beach goers with a seemingly never ending contribute of amazing walks foremost to deserted lakes underneath cascading waterfalls. If you’re lucky you’ll spot some of the wildlife that lurks in the shadows as well from elephants to leopards.

4.Bangkok
You can’t miss Bangkok on a trip to Thailand. This sprawling urban mass is an strike on the senses and will wear you out in no time, but it is a totally unique caress that will leave you stunned. From the tours of golden palaces to the offers from Thai ‘girls’ on every angle it is a world away from home. Get yourself a new suit, chomp on some Pad Thai and then get out before it’s too late!

5.Kho Phi Phi
Phi Phi has long been the jewel in Thailand’s crown ever since it featured in The Beach and it easily lives up to the hype. Whilst it is steadily getting overrun by travellers there is still nothing more refreshing than dipping your toes in the crystal clear waters that are surrounded by huge, green rocks towering over you and providing the frame for this gorgeous picture. Make sure this is near the top of your itinerary but be careful, you might end up not looking everywhere else.

For info on other backpacking destinations visit Top Backpacking Destinations.

Backpacking in Thailand – 5 Must See Destinations

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