Experience the best of Thailand in 11 days

I travelled through South East Asia for 43 days and Thailand was my first destination. Read below to know my 11 day itinerary:

Phuket (2 nights)

My first stop in Thailand was Phuket. I flew to Phuket from Kolkata via Bangkok. The town had a chill vibe with pleasant weather.

I rented a motorbike and visited the Big Buddha Statue, Phuket Museum, Old town and watched the sunset at Patong Beach. Ensure to stop for coffee on the way to the Big Buddha Statue. You can enjoy a nice view from the hilltop while sipping a cup a coffee.

I ate most of my meals from 7-Eleven which was convenient, pocket friendly and tasty but I also enjoyed the meals at local restaurants.

Stay - I stayed in an apartment that I booked through Airbnb. Nuthakun's place is very conveniently located in Phuket and super comfy to stay. Link - https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/913670069849488253?source_impression_id=p3_1708791903_MRJdhOxSfzSMforr

Motobike rental - Chai Motorbike Rental. I hired a motorbike for THB 150 for 24 hours. For deposit, they will accept either THB 3000 or keep your passport. The staff is friendly and are easy to communicate with. Location - https://maps.app.goo.gl/8pCgYF5VKpysZTro9

Krabi (1 night)

My next stop was Krabi. I travelled to Krabi from Phuket for 3 hours in a 12 seater mini van. The roads in Thailand well constructed so the journey was smooth, comfortable and scenic.

One of the popular sites in Krabi is the Wat Tham Suea or the Tiger Cave Temple. Climb 1,200 steps to the top of the hill to see the beautiful Budhha Status and also get a view of a lot Krabi town on one side and lots of greenery on the other.

In the evening, I headed to the Krabi Town night market for some delicious local food. The market has got a great vibe as there are live performances and lots of varieties of foods available. Grab service is easily available in Krabi. I used bike taxi for all my commutes.

Stay - I booked Sirin's guesthouse in Krabi through Airbnb. She is a friendly host. Link - https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/5964893?source_impression_id=p3_1708872975_oMi6zbrcNXA8pPTc

Koh Samui (2 nights)

There are two way to reach this island - flight and boat. I reached this island by boat. The Lomprayah speedboat services run from Surat Thani port to Koh Samui at regular intervals. Tickets can either be booked directly at their office or online.

I hired a bike that was available at my hostel and went around the island. There are beautiful beaches and temples to admire.

These are the places I visited - Wat Phra Yai, Wat Plai Laem, Hin Ta Hin Ya and Wat Samret. Entry to all these places is free.

Stay - I stayed at Baan Hinlad Home and hostel which I booked on booking.com. One can book individual rooms however, washrooms are shared. They offer free pick up and drop to and from the Nathon Pier which is a plus as Grab service is not easily available on the island.

Ko Tao (2 nights)

Took another morning ferry to Ko Tao island. I spent two days here doing my advance scuba diving course with Roctopus Diving Center. The island is a great choice for diving as it has beautiful dive sites. I did 5 dives in two days - buoyancy dive, wreck dive, navigation dive, night dive and deep dive (up to 30m). Sadly visibility under water was not more than 7 meters as the weather was still clearing up after the monsoons.

Stay: Buidchui Village 2 - I booked this stay on booking.com. The hotel room was nice and comfy. They even have a supermarket at their property which is open 24x7.

Bangkok (2 nights)

After a lovely 2 night stay at Ko Tao, it was time for me to head up north. I booked a boat to Chumphon and then a bus to Bangkok. The boat arrived at the Chumphon Lomprayah Pier and I boarded the bus to Bangkok from the same point. It was totally a 10-hour journey to Bangkok.

I spent the following day sightseeing at these places - Phraborom Maharatchawang, National Museum and strolling around Soi Rambuttri where I got a Thai massage done and enjoyed a meal.

Bangkok was not one of my favourite places. I found it very touristy and crowded. I would not recommend spending more than 2 days in this city. Unlike South Thailand, entry to most place sightseeing places is not free. The entry free range from 300 THB to 600 THB.

Stay: Khaosan Social Capsule Hostel - I stayed at this hostel for 2 nights. The hostel has comfortable beds and common areas are well maintained. They also organize social events like pub crawl and parties at the hostel.

Restaurants to try: Vespa cafe for breakfast, Madame Musur Bar & Restaurant.

Massage spa: Spaya Massage - reasonable rates and great service.

Chiang Mai (2 nights)

I took an evening flight to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.

These are the places I visited during the day - Wat Chai Si Phum, Wat Sri Suphan, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat. In the evening, I went to the Chiang Mai night market. The night market is best place for shopping souvenirs and eating local food.

Since it was New Year's Eve, I headed to the Tha Phae Gate later in the night to see several Chinese Lanterns being lit up and released into the sky. I would not recommend participating in this activity as it is not good for the environment. I would also suggest to keep distance and exercise caution while witnessing this activity as there were several lanterns being lit up at once and you could get burnt if you stand too close to the lanterns.

Stay: I booked a homestay through Airbnb. Lhin's place is conveniently located in Chiang Mai with all basic amenities and restaurants within walking distance.

Bike rental: It is best to go around Chiang Mai on a bike. Since I was in Chiang Mai during New Year's, getting a bike was challenging as they were all rented out. I managed to get a bike from Siri Motorbike Rental. They are very friendly and have good bikes - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SddqrnUaDt2goic78.

Sadly that was the end of my holiday in Thailand and the start of exploring my next destination - Laos. Look for my next blog on my journey in Laos.

Points to Note:

Lomprayah boat - The boat journey is not smooth. If you get sea sick, then it is advisable to consult a doctor for an anti sickness pill that you can take before the journey. The ferries don't always leave and arrive on time. This can be due to bad weather or due to their operational reasons so it is best to keep a buffer time of 3 to 4 hours for your next plan after arrival, especially for flights.

Bus and boat booking in Thailand - I booked all my road and sea journeys through 12 Go Asia. This is a reliable site and I've had no problems with my bookings.

Airline booking - I flew from Kolkata to Bangkok with Indigo Airlines. I took two internal flights. Bangkok to Phuket with Thai Air Asia and Bangkok to Chiang Mai with Nok Air. All bookings were done online. Services from both local airlines were good.

Thailand Visa - The Thai Government announced Visa free entry for Indians from 10 November 2023 to 10 May 2024. Otherwise Indians can get Visa on Arrival.