Thailand is one of those destinations we keep coming back to.
It has an extraordinary ability to give you completely different experiences within the same holiday. One minute you’re surrounded by the chaos and energy of Bangkok, traffic, street food, shopping, temples and tuk-tuks, and a few days later you can be somewhere completely peaceful, surrounded by jungle, mountains or a beautiful tropical beach.
For both of us, there’s something particularly special about Thailand.
We love its spirituality and the tranquillity you find in its temples and quieter regions. Jonathan, however, also absolutely loves the chaos and hustle of Bangkok!
And that contrast is exactly what makes Thailand so exciting.
We’ve both travelled to Thailand several times and explored quite a few different parts of the country.
We’ve spent plenty of time in Bangkok, travelled north around Chiang Mai and towards Thailand’s northern borders, explored Phuket and Krabi, stayed in Khao Lak and experienced the jungle and elephants at Elephant Hills.
One trip can be about temples, cities and food. Another can focus on elephants, jungle and adventure. And another can involve little more than a wonderful resort, a beautiful beach and deciding where to have dinner.
There’s always somewhere else to discover, which is probably why we keep returning.
Those journeys shape the way we would put a holiday together. We would begin with the experiences you most want, then choose a route that lets you enjoy them without too many changes of base.
For some travellers, Bangkok and a well chosen beach resort will be enough. Others will want time in the north or a stay surrounded by jungle before settling beside the sea.
Our own visits show why the balance matters. A busy city day, a quieter cultural experience and a stretch of time with nothing arranged can each add something different to the same holiday.
Thailand gives you room to choose the mood of your holiday. You can make food and city exploring the focus, spend more time around cultural experiences or build the journey around a comfortable resort and a beautiful setting.
We particularly enjoy bringing those different sides together. The change from Bangkok to a quieter region can make each feel more memorable, while a beach stay gives the final part of the trip its own rhythm.
There is plenty of scope to shape the pace too. A first visit does not need to include every major destination, and a return holiday can take a different direction without repeating the same route.
For us, the most enjoyable trips leave space for everyday experiences alongside the famous sights. A meal, a market visit or time enjoying the surroundings can become a highlight when the programme gives you room to appreciate it.
Food is a huge part of travelling through Thailand for us.
Bangkok alone can take you from incredibly simple local food to sophisticated fine dining within the space of a day.
We’ve enjoyed everything from casual Thai dishes to Michelin-starred tasting menus. Jonathan particularly enjoyed one seafood-heavy Michelin experience. Phillip, who is considerably less enthusiastic about seafood, remembers that particular meal rather differently!
Choose a mixture of meals across the stay, leaving room for both simple favourites and evenings that deserve more planning. Your food preferences should be part of the conversation from the beginning.
Then there are the temples.
We both love Thailand’s spiritual side and the tranquillity you can find within its temples.
Although there is a limit.
Jonathan has occasionally reached temple saturation, which is why we wouldn’t build an itinerary that simply moves from one temple to another.
Choose the important ones, appreciate them properly and then go and experience something completely different.
A well chosen visit with time to understand the setting can be more rewarding than filling every day with another landmark. Leave space afterwards for a different kind of experience.
Time around the river provides a different view of the city from its roads and busiest shopping streets. You can consider a river journey as part of exploring or as an evening experience.
Choose the arrangement around the places you want to reach and the atmosphere you enjoy.
Look at how the outing connects with the rest of your day, including the journey from the hotel and any plans afterwards. A river experience can be a relaxed way to enjoy the setting when the route and timing work comfortably with your interests.
A stay around Chiang Mai can bring a quieter rhythm and a different regional focus. Allow time for the city as well as any countryside excursions.
Keep the programme manageable, with enough nights to enjoy the surroundings rather than spending the whole stay travelling between outings.
Choose the outings around what interests you most, whether that is scenery, cultural understanding or simply time away from the busiest streets. A knowledgeable guide can add context, while a free afternoon gives you room to enjoy your base and decide what to explore next.
A jungle stay can bring a different setting to a city and beach holiday. Consider the accommodation, activities and travel arrangements together when deciding whether it suits your trip.
If elephants are part of the programme, choose an experience consistent with the welfare focused approach described in our own account.
Allow enough time to settle into the surroundings and understand the programme before deciding how much activity you want. The setting is part of the appeal, so moments spent simply enjoying it can be as worthwhile as an organised outing or a particular wildlife encounter.
Think about how you want to spend an ordinary day at the coast. Restaurants nearby, a secluded setting or a hotel with plenty of facilities each create a different stay.
Choose the destination and accommodation together, with enough nights to make relaxation a real part of the holiday.
Consider how often you would like to go out, how much exploring appeals and whether privacy or nearby activity matters more. A hotel that suits those everyday preferences can make the final stay feel more enjoyable, even if you choose to do very little beyond relaxing.