‘If travelling was free, you would not know where to find me”. You must have read this quote quite a few times and probably felt it too.
It is definitely a dream for many to travel and explore exotic lands, but we hold it back considering the damage it can make to our pockets. But is it so? Let me surprise you by telling – it’s not. Not if you plan it well and in advance. Narrow it down to the countries which are comparatively near to India and you can save even more on time and travel costs.
One such country is Thailand, which is a very popular tourist destination because of its culture, beaches, nightlife and shopping. It is on my bucket list ever since I saw the beautiful isolated and clear blue water beach of Krabi in the Bollywood movie- “Kaho Na Pyaar hai!”:D
Though I haven’t myself been there yet (planning soon), I’m here to provide you with few tips and tricks to backpack Thailand and explore it onacheaptrip!!
Getting good deals on flight tickets
If you can plan your holidays well in advance, you can get very cheap flight tickets to Thailand. A return journey from India can cost around 12,000 INR whereas a return journey from London will cost around 400 pounds if you book your flight tickets well in advance. Bangkok’s international airport, Suvarnabhumi, is the cheapest airport in Thailand to fly into. You can compare the flight tickets at Skyscanner and book accordingly.
Thailand Visa information
A visa must be obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or a Royal Thai Consulate-General unless you are coming from a visa-exempt country or a country whose citizens are eligible to obtain visas on arrival. In total, Thailand offers visa-free travel to nationals of 64 countries and visa on arrival for 18 countries including India. Check out more detailed info at Visa policy of Thailand.
The citizens of the other countries will need to apply for Thailand eVisa to enter Thailand.
How to get around Thailand
Transportation in Thailand is cheap. Trains in Thailand are cheap though slow. The day trains cost as little as 2 dollars. Local buses in Thailand are cheap too. The Tuk- Tuk are expensive as compared to public transport.
5 Places to visit in Thailand
Krabi
It is one of the most relaxing parts to be in Thailand. The top destinations in Krabi are Railay, Tonsai, Ko Phi Phi, Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Tup Keak and Ao Nang.
Phuket
It is one of the world’s most beautiful beach destination with the finest white sand beaches. In total there are around 30 beaches in Phuket. Phuket is indeed touristy, but also has nice, calm and less-visited spots and you can really do a lot on this island.
Bangkok
It is the capital and most populous city in Thailand. Bangkok welcomes more visitors than any other city in the world. The city is a perfect blend of culture, food, nightlife, shopping, and affordability.
Chiang Mai
It is the largest city in Northern Thailand. It is the gateway to the jungles and cities of the north. The best things to do in Chiang Mai include visiting some of the city’s beautiful temples and unique sites.
Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is a quirky, artistic city in northern Thailand, offering a surprising number of things to see and do. It is the northernmost province of Thailand and borders Laos and Myanmar as part of the beautiful Golden Triangle.
Is Thailand safe to visit?
Thailand is a very safe place to backpack and travel even if you’re travelling solo. Even solo women traveller will feel safe in any corner of Thailand. The people of Thailand are nice and helpful and you’re unlikely to get into trouble.
Stay options in Thailand
Like transport, stay in Thailand is cheap too. The northern part of the country is comparatively cheaper than the south. Dorms and hostel options are present in most part of the country. A Dorm or Hostel may cost around 100-300 THB. You can check the accommodations online via websites like Agoda, Hostelworld and booking.com.
Best time to visit Thailand
The best time to travel Thailand is during the cool and dry season between Novembers to February. The low season is the rainy season, from July to September. Rainfall can be dramatic – ranging from light showers to high flooding. From March through to June Thailand gets scorching hot, with temperatures moving up to 35 – 40 degrees.
February is a great time for budget travellers to visit Thailand – the weather is still cool but the peak season is winding down.
Do follow me on Instagram as I am regularly posting travel posts and stories over there. Also, you can message me on Instagram if you want to join me on my next trip.
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One thought on “A backpacking travel guide for Thailand”
Thailand has one of the finest homestays in all of world. Living in homestays of Thailand will give you immense explore in the culture and food as well. Also, the best part is that some of the homestays will give you the facilities of spas as well.