Carly’s experience backpacking Thailand – from beautiful temples in Bangkok to beautiful beaches in Koh Samet!
Bangkok
Things to do in Bangkok
Siam Centers/MBK
The shopping in Bangkok is on another level, specifically the Siam Complex (Siam Center, Siam Square, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon) and the MBK Center right across the street. You can easily spend an entire day wandering through the shops. Siam Paragon is the main one, with 7 levels, and a basement full of food and a movie theater on the top two levels.
Temples
There are several temples that are worth viewing; the popular ones are the Lucky Buddha, the Standing Buddha (Wat Intharawihan), Wat Arun, and Wat Pho. Particularly, Wat Pho and the Standing Buddha temples. Those were two of my favorites and are very impressive. These are a must see if you’re backpacking Thailand.
The Standing Buddha
Golden Mountain
The Golden Mountain was my favorite temple – it sits atop a hill and is a nice walk up with a great view of Bangkok at the top.
Walking up the stairs of the Golden Mountain
Grand Palace
While beautiful, the Grand Palace is also perpetually crowded. Be sure to dress appropriately (knees and shoulders covered) and pay extra attention to pick-pockets. It’s one of the most iconic things to see while backpacking Thailand.
Restaurants
White Flower in Siam Center
White Flower in the Siam Center is a great place to go for a nice sit down meal to get authentic Thai food.
Street food
All street food is good and you should try out as many things as possible, specifically chicken rice (Khao man gai). (Note that Thai food in general is next level spicy, so be prepared with a drink). However, chicken and rice is amazing and while it seems basic, it was my favorite thing to eat while I was there. Don’t be afraid to try the street food – it’s a staple if you’re backpacking Thailand.
Iced Coffee
This is a must for those backpacking Thailand. It is three times as strong and is made of concentrated coffee and condensed milk.
Vivi The Coffee Place
Vivi the Coffee Place is down by the river and is great place to grab a coffee or tea and relax. Right across is Wat Arun, and it is a beautiful view day or night. There are also several restaurants around that area, all which are good, but the experience is really the view. Wat Arun lit up at night is wonderful and it’s a peaceful place to spend an evening.
View of Wat Arun
Hotel
Lub d – Bangkok Siam
Lub D Hostel is a really great location for those backpacking Thailand. It has good facilities and is cheaply priced, safe and comfortable.
Transportation
Taxi – The best/safest mode of transport are taxi, though make sure before you close the door to confirm that they are going on meter. If you do not, then they may try to charge you 10 times the actual value of the ride.
Motorbike taxi – Traffic in Bangkok is insane, and motorbikes are the fastest way to get anywhere. They are not for the faint of heart however. Pro tip: when you ride, do not grab onto the driver, but instead hold onto the back of the bike. Also, make sure your bag is around front – i.e. do not ride with your backpack on your back or your purse behind you.
Trains – While they do not go very far into the Old City, they are a pretty reliable way to get around the outskirts.
Buses – Some city buses have no official stops and you just have to get on and off as its moving. They are the cheapest means of transport, but be prepared to get lost or go the wrong direction.
Koh Samet
Things to Do in Koh Samet
This is an island to the east of Thailand and is a great place to get away and hangout on the beach if you only have a couple days to do so. It’s about a 4 hour bus ride from Bangkok, but the island itself feels pretty remote. I spent most of my time on the beach.
I would recommend going further south on the island, rather than the resorts right next to the town if you just want to relax on a beach.
Hotel
The C Samet Beach Resort
The C Samet Beach Resort is a lovely place to stay in a little cove, with a few other hotels. The staff was wonderful and I would recommend paying the extra for the included breakfast (which is wonderful) and for the seaside bungalows. It’s right on the beach and the rooms themselves are great. It’s a very reasonable price for those backpacking Thailand who want to stay at a beach resort.
Transportation
You can take a bus from Bangkok to Phe, then a ferry across to the island. The resort has its own ferry from Phe straight to the resort. The public ferry will drop you off in town, then you have to hire a taxi to take you through the state park out to the resort. (Note there is a fee to enter the park.) You can also hire a taxi to take you all the way to/from Phe, and if rushed, it is a very reasonable fare. I believe it’s $50 for a 2 and 1/2 hour ride from Phe to the Bangkok airport.
Backpacking Thailand Travel Tips:
Culture – Keep in mind that people dress more modestly, specifically with their shoulders covered. For women, a good rule of thumb is to either have your shoulders or knees covered, and both when you visit the temples and the palace (where it is required – you will have to buy a wrap if you are not dressed appropriately). You will see tourists dressed in tank tops and shorts, but to be respectful plan on covering up. Loose clothing is also better for the weather and will protect you from the sun.
Koh Samet is much more touristy, but I would still recommend bringing a modest cover up for eating and walking about.
Safety – Beware of pick-pockets, and for driving schemes. There are organizations where one person will approach you on the street and convince you to visit all these places by Tuk-Tuk, then you walk around the corner and their partner will force you into a ride. While not expensive, they will take you places with the expectation that you will buy something, and when you don’t they will drop you off somewhere random. They like to target tourists backpacking Thailand.
Health – Do not drink the water out of the tap unless it is specifically specified as safe.
Sanitary – Bring tissues. Both because napkins are rarely given, but also in case you need to use a public restroom and it is out of toilet paper. Especially in Thailand, carry tissues and a plastic bag in case you also need a trashcan and they don’t have one.
Solo Traveling – I was backpacking Thailand by myself and I felt comfortable, but I would say that you need to be more aware, just in general. There was only one place where I felt a bit uncomfortable in Thailand, and that was the party street Khaosan Road. It’s where a lot of the clubs are and is full of drunk people (mainly white, western tourists) which means there is a lot of potential for scams and pick-pockets.
Good rules of thumb for solo-travel in Thailand:
– If you cannot see a 7/11, you should probably not be in that area by yourself at night.
– Always, always, keep your bag zipped and to your front, especially when you are bargaining with people or eating.
– When you are getting a ride, follow along on the map. Even if you can’t quite tell where you are, it shows that you are paying attention. Pro-tip: if you have a smart phone, turn on your wifi and follow along in google maps. For iPhones, even if you are not connected to any network, your blue location dot will update and can help you make sure you know where you are. Still, always grab a paper map at the airport or hostel and keep it with you for reference.
– Before you leave to go somewhere, make sure you have a rough idea of your route. This will keep you aware and also prevent you from having to pull your map out on the street.
Weather – it is very hot, very humid and rainy.
-Pack a thing of wet-wipes. It will be hot and you will be so so sweaty. Having these in your travel bag can be a God-send, especially if you are coming off the street to a temple or museum, or nice restaurant. Some restaurants will have these on the tables – you DO have to pay for them if you use them.
– Bring one of those water bottles that keep the water cool for 24 hours. I brought a knock off one (it held the temp for about 6 hours) and it was so worth it. In Thailand, do not fill it up with water from the tap. Instead, buy cold water bottles and use them to fill it up. After hours of walking around in the heat, you’ll be so glad to have something cool to drink.
– Bring a pair of shoes that you are comfortable wearing in the rain (NOT rain boots) and can get wet and still use. Plastic sandals, nice watershoes, or those croc flats with the holes in them are good options.
– If you bring a raincoat or poncho, make sure it is light and breathable. It will rain, but it will also be super humid and hot. Also, have an umbrella and a rainsack to cover your bag with.
– Sunscreen is pretty expensive over there so bring your own. Pro-tip: Get one of those sunscreen sticks. They look like deodorant and are solid, so you don’t have to worry about the 3oz rule if you are carrying-on.
Another Thailand Travel guide you Might Like:
Phuket, Koh Phi Phi & Bangkok, Thailand – Adventure Through Phuket, Koh Phi Phi & Bangkok
Follow the rest of Carly’s trip Backpacking Southeast Asia Here:
Hanoi & Hue, Vietnam – Female Travelers’ Guide to Backpacking Vietnam
Singapore – Solo Female Traveler’s Trip to Singapore
Tokyo, Japan – Explore the Culture of Tokyo
Save this info for later? Pin it!
