Days there: 35

Route:

Chiang Mai – Bangkok – Ko Chang – Bangkok – Chumphon – Ko Tao – Ko Pha-Ngnon – Krabi – Hat Yai

Costs:

$1066.88CN for 35 days.
$30.48CN/day Includes all transportation, accommodation, tours, fees, food and beverage.

Not included, I got certified in Thai massage for $150CN, and did my open water SSI SCUBA diving course for $280CN.

Overview:

Thailand brings up mixed feelings for me. The country itself is absolutely beautiful, it’s home to amazing beaches, stunning natural attractions, world class cities, and incredible food. It is easy to see why so many millions of people flock here year by year. And that is the problem. It is built for mass tourism. It almost felt as though I had stopped backpacking and taken a weeklong spring-break vacation. I actually aborted the mission of going to Ko Phi Phi (where The Beach was filmed) because I got off the bus and saw a hundred backpackers waiting to catch a boat to the islands to drink their faces off. Im not judging those travelers by any means, but the idea of joining them really turned me off. This is just something you have to deal with in Thailand. Let me just say that this isn’t such a terrible thing, you will have an amazing time, see amazing things and meet amazing friends, I was just looking for something else by this point.

Best Experience:

Living the not so traditional island life in Ko Tao and getting my open water SCUBA diving certification, and picking up a new hobby for life in doing so. With so many dive schools to choose from it was hard to pick one. I eventually went with Phoenix Divers and was very happy with the staff, instructors, accommodation, and overall experience. It was the cheapest I found on the island as well. www.phoenix-divers.com

Cultural Highlights:

-Learning the art of traditional Thai massage from a professional and authentic school in Chiang Mai. I checked a few options and this one really stood out from the rest as far as price, professionalism, authenticity, facility, and staff. It is also a certified and accredited school recognized by the Thai Government.

http://northernthailand.com/thai-massage/

-Taking in a traditional Muay Thai Kickboxing match in Chiang Mai.

Party Spots:

Thai tourism seems to be geared towards the hedonist party seekers but the
places to ‘get fall down drunk’ and ‘drink til she’s/he’s pretty’ that I came across were:

Khao San Road Bangkok. A true tourist trap of indulgence.
Ko Tao, small island life with big island fun.
Ko Pha-Ngan (home of the world famous Full Moon Parties)
Chiang Mai had some very lively nightlife, ranging from dirty rock bars to sexpat hideouts to nightclubs. Lots of live music as well.

Chill Spots:

Ko Chang (Lonely Beach) offered a great beach spot to chill and listen to reggae while sipping on a Chang. The nightlife picks up later on if you want to indulge.

East Hat Rai Leh, Krabi has a decent little bar strip with nice spots to just chill and sip.

Best Adventures:

-SCUBA diving in Koh Tao. My first time and now I am hooked on the sport.
-Getting off Khao San road area and seeing the real Bangkok.

Food:

-Thai cuisine is worth the trip alone! Thai dishes are often spicy and very aromatic with some typical ingredients being turmeric, coconut milk, Thai basil, chiles, green curry, garlic, lemongrass, coriander, cilantro, tamarind, rice and rice noodles. I found eating on the street and in the markets to be very cheap and it gives you the chance to try many new and exotic dishes. The hostels and restaurants all serve typical western fare but being an adventurous foodie in Thailand will open a whole new world of flavor to your palate.

What to Expect:

-Mass tourism in all sectors.
-A ‘woohoo springbreak’ mentality in the islands.
-Ladyboys in everyday society.
-Beautiful scenery, great beaches, world class diving, and a laid back lifestyle.
-Amazing food.
-In your face prostitution.
-Disgusting displays of sex tourism (see Sexpats).
-Meeting many new friends.
-Indulgence.

Travel Tips:

-I rag on Thailand for being a hedonist’s playground but you really can avoid the insanity if you want to. Mix it up. Partying is fun, but there is also some great things to see, do and experience along the way.
-Massages in the markets and on the street are cheaper and actually better than the parlors.
-Eat street food.
-Chang beer is cheap, but the Changovers are deadly.
-Most prices are negotiable…for everything.
-Keep your eye on the political situation while there or planning on it. It changes more than my ex-girlfriend on a saturday night.
-Lose the shoes when entering somewhere.
-The south is wet from March to November…however, it is considerably cheaper.
-Thailand is one of, if not, the cheapest places in the world to get your open-water diving certification.
-Thai Visas, while still free, have been shortened to 30 days by air entry and only 15 by land entry. To extend your stay, you must cross a border, get a new stamp, and come right back. To avoid this, check with Thai embassies as they sometimes offer longer visas. I scored a 4 month double entry visa at the Vientiane embassy (Laos) as a special promotion.

Scams:

-Khao San Rd. has many people looking to take advantage of you…even westerners. So keep your wits about you.
-Ping pong shows have become a must see. They claim to be free and when you get there they start delivering random and very expensive drinks to your table, threatening you when you refuse them. Not a cheap sport to watch, but I bet you’ve never seen anything like it.
-Be careful playing pool with locals, if you beat them, it’s probably because they let you win.
-If you want to buy gems, bring a jeweler or know what you’re talking about.

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