Check out the following articles and resources to help plan your trip to one of the best backpacking regions around:

• Everything You Need to Know About Train Travel in Southeast Asia: Many may not know how vast the rail network is in the region, and Thailand’s trains are some of the best. Check out this article for further information about traveling around the region by train.
• Check out the Southeast Asia Indie Travel Guide for information about traveling around the region.
• Touted as the next Thailand, head across the border for Indie Travel in Myanmar for $45 Per Day.
• Bordering Cambodia is also a great destination for those heading to Thailand. Read Indie Travel in Cambodia on $25 Per Day for a super in depth article that talks about more than just visiting Angkor Wat.
• Many travelers come to Thailand solely for the food, and with good reason, but you may want to head across the border for 5 Dishes No Traveler to Laos Should Leave Without Trying.
• We all know the Thai beaches are world-renowned, but Nha Trang – Vietnam’s Happiest Beach Town on $30 Per Day, can give the best Thai islands a run for their money.
• Renting motorbikes is a rite of passage for many travelers in SE Asia, and Exploring Indonesia by Motorbike is perhaps the best way to take advantage.
• Sticking around Thailand is always a good idea, and if you do, check out our Thailand Indie Travel Guide for practical information about traveling here.

While it’s not terribly easy to get off-the-beaten path in Thailand anymore, there is a reason that tourists keep flocking to The Land of Smiles. Actually, there are countless reasons.

While the headier than thou backpacking crowd may scoff at it being an indie travel destination, there are still plenty of ways to have an indie travel experience in Thailand.

Here are just a few reasons to add Thailand to your trip, whether it’s just a couple week jaunt through the region or as part of a longer, round the world trip.

• The people are still as friendly as ever.  Many locals would be sick of tourists by now and become jaded, but not the Thais.  You’ll still be greeted with a giant smile in most places.  An even bigger one if you try to speak some of the language.  Learning “Hello” and “Thank you” will do wonders.
• While some islands and beaches have been overrun with giant resorts, there are well over 1000 islands in Thailand.  They aren’t all overrun.
• If you travel for food, then there is no better place to go than Thailand, particularly if you are into the local, street food scene.  Safe, delicious, and cheap – three great criteria for food.  Read Cheap Eats in Bangkok: Life Beyond Pad Thai for more information on the street food scene in Bangkok.

For more on traveling in Thailand and SE Asia, check out some of BootsnAll’s most popular Indie Travel Guides for the region:

• Southeast Asia Indie Travel Guide
• Bangkok Indie Travel Guide
• Vietnam Indie Travel Guide
• Cambodia Indie Travel Guide

For travelers visiting Thailand, Phuket Airfares is the best source for great deals on airfare. Before departing, however, it is highly recommended that travelers learn a few common terms in Thai to better interact with locals and ensure the best travel experience. Here is a list of 10 common and useful phrases.

1. Ka and Krub

Ka and Krub are added to the end of a sentence to denote respect. For men, krub is used while for women ka is the correct term.

With ka, there’s a tone difference between questions and statements. With the former, a high tone, short vowel sound is used while for the later a falling tone and short vowel pronunciation is used.

2. Sawatdee

Like aloha in Hawaii, sawatdee is a universal greeting in Thailand and is pronounced “sa-wat-dee.” It means hello, goodbye and everything in between. Be sure to always follow the greeting with krub or ka depending on your gender.

3. Khun

Khun is another pleasantry that’s primarily used before a person’s name when they’re addressed. Using this term will quickly earn the respect of locals so its use is advised. Note, however, that in Thailand, as with many Asian countries, individuals are formally addressed by their first name in lieu of their surname. The pronunciation is “koon.”

4. Phet

The first of a few dining-based phrases, phet means hot, or spicy. If you intend to dine out in Thailand, it’s a good word to know since Thai food is generally spicy. Two phrases worth knowing are mai phet, or not spicy, and phet nit nawy, or a little bit spicy.

5. Aroy

Aroy simply means delicious. Since cuisine is an important part of Thai culture, having this word in your arsenal is definitely a wise choice.

6. Kep Tang

This term is used when asking for your bill in a restaurant. We’ve all experienced the daunting task of trying to get a waiter’s attention when we’re ready to leave, so this term should come in handy.  Be sure to incorporate  krub or ka at the end as well.

7. Tao Rai

Tao Rai, pronounced “tow-rye,” means how much and is always a useful term when shopping.

8. Lod Dai Mai?

Translated as can you give a discount, this is a term that’s useful when shopping as bargaining for cheaper prices is a standard practice in Thailand. Most items are marked up and the vendor expects shoppers to haggle. Don’t, however, go too low initially as that can be perceived as disrespectful to the vendor. The dai and mai are pronounced with a long i sound.

9. Khob Khun

This phrase means thank you. Pronounced “cob-koon,” besides hello and goodbye, thank you is one of the most often used terms in any language so it’s good to know the Thai translation. Be sure to follow the phrase with krub or ka as well.

10. Chan Tong Pai

Meaning I need to go … this is a useful term to know when asking for directions.

Photo by Ian Fuller

>> First Time Guide to Thailand
>> Transportation in Thailand

Destination: Bangkok – 3 Days

Bangkok is an exciting sprawl of nightlife, shopping, culture, and of course delicious food. Most travelers to Thailand will enter via Bangkok as there are numerous flights, trains, and buses that arrive here daily, so this is a great time to get your bearings and to book the rest of your excursions and onward travel if you haven’t already. Many backpackers choose to stay on Khao San Road and you will definitely find a rowdy crowd here. But even if you’re not looking to stay in the area, it can be worth a visit in order to do a little bit of travel planning as there are numerous tour agencies based here. Do some research though, and ask fellow travelers who’ve just returned about their recommendations so you can try to avoid scams and rip offs. Khao San Road after dark is home to neon lights, cheap drinks, and a “spring break” like atmosphere, so if you’re looking for a little more quiet, you’ll want to move on. Perhaps checking out a night market or the street food stalls along Sukhumvit Road.

Three days in Bangkok is enough time to get your first taste of Thailand. Be sure not to miss the famous Reclining Buddha at Wat Po, a river cruise or a water taxi ride, shopping at the night markets, the floating markets, or Chatuchak weekend market, take in a muy thai boxing match, and maybe book a day trip or two. Unwind with a thai massage or just lose yourself in the neighborhoods, like Chinatown. Check out our full itinerary for spending 2-3 Days in Bangkok here.

>> 2-3 Days in Bangkok: Itinerary Ideas
>> Cheap flights to Bangkok
>> Destination Guide: Bangkok

Destination: Chiang Mai – 3 Days

It’s easy to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai via flights, buses, or trains, although my favorite is by train. The overnight sleeper trains are an adventure on their own and if you’re really on a budget, this saves you a hostel or hotel night. Overnight buses are another option, and if you’re short on time you can always fly. No matter how you arrive, you will immediately feel a slower pace in Chiang Mai. Generally the climate is also a bit cooler than Bangkok as well, which can be a welcome change!

There is quite a variety of things to do in Chiang Mai, so you’ll want to plan ahead to sort out your options. Cooking classes are especially popular here, and you will often have a variety of menus to choose from and many schools to compare. You will get hands on with a chance to prepare popular Thai dishes like green papaya salad, curries, and perhaps the local specialty Khao Soi (a noodle dish). Other classes you can take in Chiang Mai include jewelry making, Thai language classes, or courses in yoga, meditation (sometimes staying in a Wat), and even muy thai boxing. In the evening, check out one of Chiang Mai’s night markets. This is a great place to see local handicrafts, taste some delicious street food, and relax with a foot massage at the end of the day.

Because it is so close to many of the northern hill tribe villages, a day or overnight trek is a popular side trip from Chiang Mai. Although many packages exist you will find a mix of things such as elephant rides, white water rafting, waterfalls, and sometimes an overnight stay with a hill tribe. Another popular day trip is a visit to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos meet. Besides this classic photo opp, Golden Triangle day trips will usually also include a trip across the river to Laos where you can sample snake whiskey, as well as to the city of Chiang Rai. For a unique day trip option, you may want to visit Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Mai’s white temple. Most can be arranged through your guest house although you might want to ask around and get opinions from other travelers as well.

>> Getting from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
>> Cheap flights to Chiang Mai
>> Destination Guide: Chiang Mai

Destination: Beaches – 4 Days

For your last stop, spend some time down south soaking up the sun. The beaches and islands of Thailand’s southern provinces are picture-postcard worthy and a perfect way to relax and enjoy the rest of your time in Thailand. Flights will get you there fastest, and many choose to base themselves or to fly into Phuket, Thailand’s largest island. From here you can check out our itinerary suggestions for spending 3 days in Phuket and spend your days lounging around the beaches, snorkeling or diving along the beautiful coral reefs, enjoying great seafood dinners, and exploring the local culture. Many day trips to other islands in the Andaman sea are possible from Phuket, making it a great home base.

If Phuket isn’t your style, you have many other options for places to spend your sun-worshipping time. Hua Hin and the somewhat hedonistic city of Pattaya are both located relatively close to Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand. Ko Chang is also known as “Elephant Island” with lush rainforest and beautiful oceanside cliffs. It may not be as secluded as it once was, but you may still find your own uncrowded beach here if you avoid the main tourist areas. Ko Samui (“Coconut Island”) is popular for honeymooners or those on a romantic getaway.

>> Cheap flights to Phuket
>> 3 days in Phuket: Itinerary Ideas
>> Thailand’s Beaches and Islands

photos by eGuide Travel, Spark, edwin.11

Salads

One of the most well known salads you’ll encounter in Thailand is called Som Tham (Green Papaya Salad). Often sold by street vendors, this tasty salad is originally a dish from neighboring Laos. The various components are tossed into a mortar and pestle fresh when you order them. Ingredients include crunchy strips of unripe papaya, garlic, palm sugar, fish sauce, green beans, tomatoes, lime juice, and as many chilies as you indicate. The original Lao version usually has salted field crabs in it, while the Thai version uses dried shrimps and sometimes peanuts. It’s popular to eat your green papaya salad with some sticky rice and a protein like fried chicken or fish. Laab is another popular salad from Laos, made of minced meat and seasoned with lime juice, herbs and chilies.

Noodles

Foreigners often hail Pad Thai as the national dish of Thailand. Flat noodles with strips of egg, bean sprouts, dried shrimps, tofu are seasoned with lime and fish sauce. Condiments such as chilies in vinegar and crushed peanuts can be added to taste. Although this is the most popular of the noodle dishes, you should also try the stalls selling delicious noodle soups. Regional noodle dishes include Khao Soi, sometimes called Chiang Mai noodles, since they are a specialty of the town of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. This noodle dish is served in a light coconut-curry flavored broth and a bit of fried egg noodles over top. It should be noted that noodles are considered Chinese, and therefore are the only Thai food eaten with chopsticks.

Rice

Rice is a staple in Thai cooking, and a popular type you will encounter is the gelatinous Khao Niaw (sticky rice) often rolled up and eaten with the hands or wrapped around bits of food, especially those from the northeaster regions of the country. Sticky rice can also be served as a dessert where it is steamed in coconut milk with mango. Jasmine rice is the other type of rice you will most likely encounter in Thailand, especially with curry dishes. Sometimes rice will be wrapped in banana leaf or even bamboo stalks and steamed, other times it will be stir fried or made into a porridge called Khao Tom, popular as a breakfast food.

Curries & Soups

There are various types of curries in Thai cooking, most coconut-milk based with various levels of heat depending on the chili paste mixture used as flavoring. Gaeng Kiaw Wan (Green Curry) is delicious, but you may also want to try the slightly sweeter (often served with potato chunks) yellow curry or the classic red curry, made with dried chilies in the paste. Tom Kha is a chicken soup with a coconut milk base (similar to a watery curry) flavored with lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime. Tom Yum is a flavorful soup with a clear broth which can be made with shrimp or chicken and spiced up with chilies.

Snacks & Desserts

Snacks and desserts are both commonly bought from street food vendors. Some of the local snacks may seem strange or scary to foreigners – crickets and grasshoppers are often fried to a crisp, seasoned with salt, and then munched on like protein-rich versions of potato chips. Various types of food-on-a-stick are popular such as chicken, beef, pork, or seafood ball sticks, often grilled over a flame and served with dipping sauces. For a sweet treat, check out vendors selling coconut or rice based dishes, or special occasion treats like Foi Thong (“golden threads”) made from egg yolks and sugar.

>> Read up on some Thai menu tips
>> Our guide to Tipping in Thailand
>> A beginner’s guide on How to Eat Thai Food
>> Advice on Drinking and Dining in Bangkok
>> Bring a piece of Thailand home by taking a Thai Cooking Class

photo credits: rice, curry – all others by Malia Yoshioka

Useful resources:

• How to Get from Bangkok to Phuket
• Cheap Flights to Phuket
• First-Timer’s Guide to Thailand

Day One in Phuket

Start your visit by wandering around Phuket Town, admiring the Sino-Portuguese architecture and stocking up on things you may need once you hit the resorts and beaches of Phuket. Half-day sightseeing tours are an easy way to get acquainted with the island and tours can be arranged through your hotel or by haggling with the local tour companies. Most will be offering the same tours, so feel free to comparison shop for the best prices. The usual tours make stops at Wat Chalong (the island’s famous buddhist temple), Rawai Beach, and Promthep Cape at the southern tip of the island. Many will end by admiring the views at Khao Rang before returning you to Phuket Town or to your hotel if you’re staying elsewhere. There’s also a charming little Chinatown area near Talan Street to wander. Once you’re ready to head out to the beach, you’ll find a multitude of transportation options in town to get you wherever you need to go.

Get settled at your hotel and then give yourself time to head out for an evening meal, perhaps a romantic seafood dinner on the beach. (Phuket is known as one of the best places in Thailand for a honeymoon, after all.) It may be a bit of a tourist trap, but the Phuket FantaSea show bills itself as the ultimate cultural theme park, where you can enjoy a dinner buffet as well as entertainment on Kamala Beach. Or if you’re in the mood for the best nightlife, head to Patong, a hedonistic paradise.

Day Two in Phuket

For your second day in Phuket, sign up for a day trip. If you’re a diver and visiting during high season, you may want to consider the Similan Islands, which are open yearly from mid-November through mid-May. Some of the best snorkeling and diving can be found here with karst limestone cliffs surrounding pristine waters boasting excellent visibility.

Another day drip option would be to visit the islands of Kho Phi Phi, made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach in 2000. For this day trip, you’ll want to leave as early as possible, preferably at sunrise. Hire a longtail boat to get you there just after sunrise so that you’ll be able to enjoy the natural splendor before the throngs of day trippers arrive. The famous Maya Bay is on the island of Koh Phi Phi Ley but you may also want to consider a stop at Koh Phi Phi Don.

Phuket is surrounded by excellent diving and snorkeling so you may want to shop around for the day trip that suits your needs and time frame best. Phang Nga bay, Coral Island, James Bond Island, or Kho Hae Island are all excellent choices.

Day Three in Phuket

For your last day, soak up the sun and head out to explore Phuket’s beautiful beaches such as Hat Karon or Hat Kata. If you still haven’t gotten enough of the ocean, go for a swim, snorkel or scuba dive or perhaps just lay out and enjoy the beach. And although it doesn’t seem possible, if you’ve gotten too much ocean or sun, there are many land-based activities as well. Try a round of golf, an elephant safari or thai cooking classes. Some of the more unusual activities to be found on Phuket include a shooting range, bungy jumping, horseback riding, monkey or snake “shows”, and jungle tours. It’s a great time for some souvenir shopping or to treat yourself to a relaxing day at a spa.

And of course, many come to the beaches of Phuket just to simply slow down and just enjoy paradise. For day three, my personal choice would be to just relax at my favorite beach, paperback book in hand, cool drink in the other, and just enjoy the feeling of my toes in the sand and a cool dip in the ocean just beyond my beach chair. However you choose to spend your time here, you’ll probably want to return, so day three is also the perfect day to start planning for your next trip.

photos by mynameisharsha, Daniele Pesaresi, Jo@net, williamcho

Bangkok is one of the biggest hubs of Southeast Asia, and if you are planning an around the world trip, there is a good chance you’ll end up in Bangkok at one point or another. When taking a RTW trip, you meet plenty of other travelers, and you will hear both positive and negative aspects of this city. My advice is to take all those comments and advice with a grain of salt and just wait until you arrive and have a few days in the city before forming an opinion. It can be crazy, it can be chaotic, it can be maddening. But it can also be amazing, with super friendly, warm people, historic and beautiful sites, amazing food, and crazy cheap prices.

Don’t let what others say and write scare you off. Adding Bangkok to your RTW trip may not be a mistake. Give Bangkok a chance, and you may be surprised at how much you end up falling in love with this nutty city.

The best time to visit Phuket depends on many factors. Weather may be the main issue for people. Some people like the low season because the island has fewer visitors and resort and airfares are lower. Some people prefer the high season because of the crowds and nightlife. It is up to people to research and make a decision. Since Phuket weather is a major factor, the seasons and climate you might expect are described below.

Phuket, Thailand has three seasons. The rainy season is hot and wet, the hot season is very hot, and the cool season is hot. The climate is controlled by the winds of the monsoon, which is the direction of the customary wind, which is influenced by the variation in the way the land, and oceans keep heat. During the summer months, from April until October, the large Asian land mass is warmer than the ocean. The air over the Indian Ocean which is colder and heavier and moves into the war air over the land. As a result, the warm southwest wind over the Indian Ocean carries warm wet air and rain to Phuket.

When the continent of Asia cools during the months of November until April, the water of the ocean warms up more than the land. The prevailing wind direction alters and comes from the northeast from over China, resulting in cooler and drier air and good weather for Phuket. Consequently, the weather of Phuket is easy to predict.

Phuket’s cool season lasts from November through February. The temperatures range from 70 to 90 degrees F. The amount of rainfall ranges from 190mm in November through 32 mm in February. The winds from the northeast begin in November, and this brings the rainy season to an end. The cool season is considered the best time of year to visit Phuket as the sky is blue, there rainfall is minimal, the humidity is lower, and temperatures are comfortably hot. This is the time of Phuket’s high season with most visitors arriving during the Christmas and New Year’s.

The hot season occurs from March until early May. The temperatures vary from 80 to 93 degrees F. The rainfall varies from 106 mm in March to 265 mm in May. While the weather is dry and skies are blue, some visitors discover that the hot temperature is not comfortable. This is Phuket’s mid-season with many visitors but lower hotel rates.

During the raining season, the monsoon winds blow beginning in April and May and bring the rains with the greatest amount in May, September, and October with rain occurring for long times. The temperatures range from 74 to 91 degrees F. The amount of rainfall is 265 mm in May, 227 mm in June, 223 mm in July, 327 mm in August, 372 mm in September, and 536 mm in October. These three months are not compatible for travel if visitors want to enjoy the sun or the outdoors. June, July and August are good travel months because while there is lots of rain, it only rains for short times but the temperature is comfortable with a breeze. As this is Phuket’s low season, the hotel rates are low and visitors should be able to get better deals on tours, car rentals, and boat trips.

photo by zoutedrop

Thai spices

Throw together a gift basket filled with the spices that make Thai food so yummy and unique. It’s more fun to buy them in Thailand at the market than at the supermarket back home, and you can throw in some market photos with the gift. Look for star anise, dried chilies, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, galangal, and maybe a bottle of tamarind sauce, just to name a few. If you don’t mind the weight, mortar and pestles are inexpensive and are a great accompaniment to the herbs and spices.

>> Buy Thai spice blend on Amazon
>> Buy a mortar and pestle on Amazon

Thailand books

If you know someone going to Thailand, this is a great opportunity to help inspire them for their trip. If you know someone who’s longing for Thailand after a visit, you can help ease the pain with a beautiful book of photography. Either way, a book about Thailand is a great gift.

>> Buy Lonely Planet Thailand on Amazon
>> Buy The Colours of Thailand on Amazon

Hammock

What better way to remember lazy beach days than with a hammock? Portable and easily-packed, a hammock is a great way to bring a little bit of island life back with you.

>> Buy a hammock on Amazon

Triangle pillows

If you took any of your meals sitting on the floor in Thailand, then you’re probably familiar with the triangle-shaped pillows like these that give your back a bit of support. They make unique and functional living room decorations, and are definitely a gift that screams “Thailand.”

Fisherman’s pants

These one-size-fits-all pants are about as comfy as it gets, and function as pajama bottoms, yoga pants, and about anything else. The wrap-and-tie method means they’ll fit anyone – just choose your length and color!

>> Buy fisherman’s pants on Amazon

Krating Dang

The original Red Bull, Krating Dang isn’t sold in the US. You can find it everywhere in Thailand, though, and it comes in small little bottles that are nice keepsakes. If you want to get really wild, throw in a matching Krating Dang t-shirt purchased on Khao San Road…

Charity donation

Head over to www.thaicharities.org for an extensive list of organizations that help animals and children, as well as fund community development projects. Make a donation in a friend’s name, and help make Thailand a better place.

Photos by: wharman, Rene Ehrhardt

Ao Nang Beach is the best known and most popular beach in the area, while Rai Lay Beach is the hidden choice, accessible only by boat.

Travelers will most likely arrive here via Krabi Town, which is located a few hours’ drive from Phuket . You can also choose to come here by plane, bus , rental car or boat.

Quick summary

The cheapest way to get from Phuket to Krabi is by bus. It takes about 3 hours and the single fare starts at 120 baht (US$4).

Flights from Phuket (airport code: HKT) to Krabi

Krabi International Airport (KBV) is located about 7 km from the city center but does not receive any direct flights from Phuket.
You can, however, fly from Phuket to Krabi via Ko Samui. The total travel time is 5 h 30 min and the single fare is US$184 on Bangkok Airways.

>>read more about Cheap Flights to Phuket

Buses from Phuket to Krabi

It is possible to travel by bus from Phuket to Krabi. It takes 3-4 hours, depending on the traffic. There are minibuses and regular local buses which depart from Phuket Town’s bus terminal. They depart about every hour from Phuket and the single ticket is about 120 baht (US$4).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Thailand

Ferries from Phuket to Krabi

It is possible to take the ferry from Phuket to Krabi but you’ll make a stop at Phi Phi Island (and you’ll also have to change the boat here).
Private speedboats are also available from Phuket to Krabi and they take about 3 hours.

Driving from Phuket to Krabi

You can rent a car and drive the 185 km between Phuket and Krabi. It should take about 3 ½ h.

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