Travelling to Thailand for the first time is an amazing experience. You can try all new foods, visit all the attractions, and feel completely at home with the locals. I highly recommend you do this once in your life, but don’t forget to prepare! There is so much to do in this amazing country but if you’re strapped for some time lets sort through some of the Must Do’s!
Thailand – The Land Of Smiles
Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles not only because of the warm, welcoming people but also because it’s a place where you can smile like mad and no one will ever ask why. The Thai people are very accommodating, helpful and loyal to tourists. They really go out of their way to make sure you have the best time possible in their country.
Explore Bangkok In Every Corner
Bangkok is something you must see in person. The city is so alive and different than most other cities. It’s one of the best places in the world to party, eat, shop, and yes it is even home to many Buddhist Temples. Almost like a concrete jungle over run by plants its a beautiful sight to many who have never seen a south east asian city. Bangkok is a big place and you can easily spend one to two weeks here and still not do all that is available. The BTS is the railway system that is built above the streets and one of the fastest ways to travel around the city. We definitely suggest experiencing a tuk-tuk which is a thai style fun taxi for the thrill!
Visit Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew is the home of Thailand’s most venerated relic, ‘the Emerald Buddha’ and a spot you must visit. In the complex there are many fantastic temples and a huge statue of King Rama IX who was once Thailand’s king. This temple is beautiful from the inside out and even better during an evening time as it’s all lit up!
Wat Arun – Temple By The River
Wat Arun is one of the best, if not the best, place to witness sunrise in Thailand. Wat Arun is located near the Chao Phraya river and is definitely one of thee most beautiful places to see. It is also said to be home of many spirits and was even added on to UNESCO’s World Heritage site.
Eat Street Food – But Only Freshly Cooked!
Thailand is known for it’s street food and it’s delicious! You can eat almost anything you want off the streets of Bangkok. If you’re staying in more touristy areas like the backpacker area (Khao San Road) I recommend sticking to some of the local dishes like pad thai, fried rice, spring rolls, or sweet pork on sticks. It’s very cheap and you get more bang for your buck. We definitely suggest eating food that has been cooked in front of you because if it has been sitting for long periods of time you can get Thai-Belly! This is not comfortable for anyone…
Songkran Festival
The Songkran festival is a lot of fun. The people are really friendly, especially the kids. They will spend the whole day splashing you with water. Songkran is also one of the best time to buy Thais gifts for family and friends. This event happens in the month of April so mark it on your map!
Khao San Road
Khao San Road is the place to be if you’re looking for good eats, partying, and the backpacker friendly area. For those who are into partying or just trying to dance off all that pad thai there are tons of rooftop bars that play live music, host DJ’s, and serve up great drinks. Khao San is also known for it’s great shopping.
Best Pad Thai In Bangkok
We love this place the most – Pad Thai Thip Samai. Nestled in Old Town Thip Samai is one of the nicest places to eat. It’s also a great place to get some street food for cheap.
Trains – The Cheap And Fast Way To See The Countryside
Thailand is criss-crossed by rail lines. Traditionally, the train system in Thailand was only used for cargo but more recently the government has begun to modernize the system and make it more accessible to tourists. You can get on a night train and end up somewhere like Nong Khai (a boarder town with Laos) in 3 ½ hours for about $4USD.
Koh Tao
This island is the best for diving and relaxing . There are some famous dive sites like “The Wall” which is a big wall of marine life. If you’re not one for diving there are plenty of other things to do on the island like enjoying the fresh white sand beaches, walking around the local village, or visiting monkeys in the jungle. It’s also not expensive compared to some other islands in Thailand.
Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is also famous for its full moon parties which are one of the top party destinations located on the island. If you’re looking for a more relaxing time Koh Nang Yuan is an island close to Koh Phangan where you can walk around, enjoy the ocean, and have a good time.
