The Ultimate Backpacker’s Guide to Staying in Thailand

Thailand, with its untouched natural beauty, rich heritage and mouth-watering cuisine has been a hot favourite with tourists since many years. What’s more, there are plenty of options available to have a totally pocket-friendly holiday in Thailand, because of which backpackers flood to Thailand by the hoards. It is easy to get overwhelmed in the sea of tourists and multiple attractions, so we have put together a guide to everything you need to know to have a fun holiday in Thailand!

Where to go backpacking?

This is the first question you need answered, to be able to put together an itinerary. You can start off easy and mainstream with Bangkok. Explore the temples, palaces, markets and the buzzing nightlife. This is the best place to familiarise yourself with Thai flavours.

Move on to the Khao Sok National Park, which is arguably the best national park in Thailand. Hike on its beautiful trail or kayak on the Sok river, the choice is yours and the scenery is beautiful. If you want to experience living in  a treehouse, head to Koh Yao Noi. Other beautifuk islands you could explore are Koh Samet, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tarutao, Koh Chang, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Joh Lanta and the Similan Islands.

What activities to do in Thailand?

If you want to do something different from run-of-the-mill shopping on this backpacking trip to Thailand, we recommend you volunteer at Mindful Farm- an organic farm outside of Chiang Mai. It is founded by a Buddhist Monk, Pinam, who uses a volunteering system to keep the farm running and keep mindful living alive, far away from the commercialised hustle of tourism. You can volunteer here for a minimal fee of 200 bhat a day (which covers housing and food). You should also attend the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, go scuba diving, jungle trekking or get a Sak Yant tattoo.

When to visit Thailand?                          

The peak tourist season in Thailand is November to February when the weather is cool and beautiful, but the downside to this is that you will find the entire place crowded with tourists. Accommodations will be rare and costly during this time, so be sure to make bookings in advance.

How to reach Thailand?                                 

Air Asia is the best way to reach Thailand in terms of flight availability and cost of tickets. However, it tends to get filled up pretty fast so you might want to book tickets in advance. Even for travelling within the country, you can consider taking flights f you get short on time. More economical methods of getting around include trains and night buses. Many backpackers also prefer to rent a bike and explore the country their own way.

What other things should I remember?

Always remember to be safe with your cash. Keep it well hidden. Carry a water bottle with you to save money and reduce plastic footprint. Be careful with your drinks, as there have been stray incidents of tourists getting roofied. Lastly, don’t forget to ease up and have fun!

These were essentially all you need to know to be able to have the coolest backpacking vacation in Thailand. Are you inspired to go out there already?