Do you know this clever iPhone trick?
Northern Thailand and the beautiful south – from Bangkok and Chiang Mai to Phuket is written by Jesper Munk Hansen.
Planning a trip to South and North Thailand
Already in the autumn we started talking about the summer holidays. Should we go on that trip to Thailand we've been dreaming of? Is Thailand a good place to visit in summer when it's rainy season?
I was in Thailand as a 16-year-old and we were in Vietnam in 2019 – both trips were in the rainy season, without it raining. So we have traveled in before Asia in the summer.
We chose to travel with TourCompass, which offered a tour of Thailand full of excursions and experiences.
Thailand offers a diversity of experiences from vibrant cities to wild jungles and paradise beaches. On our 13-day round trip, we got a taste of some of what South and North Thailand has to offer. Here is an insight into our journey through this fascinating country.
Bangkok – Thailand's beating heart
Our adventure began in Bangkok – a city that never sleeps. After a long flight and a three-four hour wait at the hotel before we could check in, we were ready to explore the city. Bangkok is an exciting mix of ancient culture and modern chaos, and we were immediately captivated by the city's energy.
Our first stop was the Chao Phraya River, where we took a boat ride into the center and experienced Bangkok's iconic skyline. When we arrived by boat to the center, we visited the temple, among other things Wat Pho, where we saw the impressive 'Reclining Buddha' - also called the Reclining Buddha, which is one of the largest Buddha statues in Northern Thailand with a height of 15 meters and a length of 46 meters.
It was fascinating to experience this peaceful oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city.
Temple time and appropriate attire
There are many beautiful temples in Thailand that are worth visiting, and there it is important to know that knees and shoulders must be covered when entering a temple in Thailand. In some cases, you even have to wear long pants.
That's why we bought a pair of 'elephant pants', which are very popular in Thailand. These are comfortable long trousers which do not feel hot to wear, even if it is over 30 degrees.
Our time in Bangkok was also spent seeing Wat Arun – another iconic temple – enjoying local food at street food markets and soaking up the atmosphere.
Bangkok has so much to offer that two days is not enough to explore this exciting capital, so luckily we had planned to return later in the trip.
River Kwai in Northern Thailand – the rush of history and rainy season in the jungle
One of the things we had been looking forward to when planning our trip to Northern Thailand was time in the jungle, and after the hectic atmosphere of Bangkok we headed for the jungle at River Kwai. It started to rain as we drove north towards Kanchanaburi and the rain increased.
On the way we stopped at the Bridge over the River Kwai, known from the book and film of the same name, the Death Railway Museum, the War Cemetery and the Hellfire Pass memorial.
Hellfire Pass gave us an insight into the harsh conditions during the construction of the Thai-Burma Railway during World War II, where many working Thais and Allied POWs lost their lives due to extreme working conditions. Today, Hellfire Pass is a memorial and museum commemorating the workers who suffered and died during the construction of the railroad.
When we arrived in the jungle on the River Kwai, we had to spend the first night in a glamping tent. The rain was intense and the 'natural pool' was closed due to the rising water level. We were told that the water level was six or seven meters above normal, so here we could really feel the rainy season.
Despite the rain, we enjoyed our time in the jungle, and especially the Thai massage at the hotel was a welcome opportunity to relax after the first days in Bangkok.
The next day we continued to a floating hotel in the middle of the river; an experience that really brought us closer to nature. Here we enjoyed the silence without electricity and wi-fi, which gave us time to disconnect from the outside world. The water level had risen to eight to nine meters above normal, and we were told that they had not experienced similar rainfall for approximately 20 years.
In the evening we experienced the traditional Mon Dance, although we had to abandon the visit to the Mon Village, which is the village where the Mon people live, as the bridge to it had collapsed due to the weather. This stay in the jungle on the River Kwai was a perfect combination of nature experiences, relaxation and historical immersion.
Back to Bangkok
After the stay in the jungle we returned to Bangkok for a single day. We managed to experience the city from a different angle by going up to one of the city's many 'sky bars', where we got a fantastic view from the 61st floor.
It was a day full of contrasts, where we went from being on a raft in the jungle in the morning to standing on the 61st floor of Thailand's capital in the evening.
Ayutthaya – a journey back in time in Northern Thailand
The next morning the sun had returned and the trip continued to Ayutthaya, which is Thailand's former capital and a city full of old temples and ruins.
Ayutthaya that is on UNESCO World Heritage List, offers majestic ruins where we were reminded of Thailand's heyday, and it was a gripping historical experience.
The city gave us a deeper understanding of the country's rich cultural heritage. We also visited the Gold Treasure Exhibition, a gold museum with over 2200 gold objects, and ended the day with a boat trip on the Chao Phraya River, where we watched the sun set and elephants bathe in the river.
There are many opinions about the elephants in Thailand and I will not enter into that discussion. I will just say that the elephants we saw in Thailand were well and happy.
Historical grandeur and Thai culture
In Ayutthaya we got a taste of the city's historical grandeur and its importance to Thailand's culture. It was fascinating to walk around the ruins and imagine what life must have been like in this ancient capital.
We only had a single day in Ayutthaya before we had to go beautiful Chiang Mai next day. After living in four different places in six days, the fatigue set in, so we looked forward to having four days in one place in Chiang Mai, so we could experience the calm and this beautiful city without stress.
Chiang Mai – culture in Northern Thailand
Chiang Mai was the next stop on our journey, and the city offered a completely different atmosphere. Here we encountered a more relaxed side of Northern Thailand on our journey, and we started with a rickshaw ride through the old streets.
A visit to the famous night market was also on the program, where we both experienced the local crafts and a lot of specialities.
Majestic nature in ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary
One of the absolute highlights of Chiang Mai was the visit to the ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary. Here we learned about the lives of elephants, helped prepare their food and learned about these majestic creatures.
In ChangChill live four female elephants who live freely in the wild, but still receive the necessary care.
It was fascinating to get an insight into the diet and behavior of the elephants. Did you know, for example, that an adult elephant weighs three to four tons, eats 300-400 kg of food a day and only sleeps about three hours?
It was new to us how much work is involved in taking care of these animals, while allowing them to live in the wild. It was a great experience.
Big city and relaxed culture in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a city of over a million inhabitants, but it feels much quieter than Bangkok. The mentality of the city is relaxed, and the Chinese influence is clearly felt, as China is only a few hours' flight away.
I really liked Chiang Mai because of the calmer atmosphere of the city, so it was a very well-chosen experience on our trip in Northern Thailand.
Phuket and Phi Phi Islands – paradise beaches and crystal clear water
After the cultural tour, we ended our trip with pure relaxation Phuket. Here we enjoyed the beautiful beaches, the warm sea and the relaxed atmosphere.
In Phuket I got a bit of a feel for it Gran Canaria, because it was very adapted to tourists. But it was nice to have a little beach holiday after all our excursions.
In return, there was one more day trip Phi phi islands the icing on the cake. We sailed through crystal clear water, snorkeled among colorful fish and coral reefs and relaxed on beaches that you otherwise only see in movies and pictures.
It was fantastic to experience these world-famous beaches, where the white sand meets the clear blue-green sea.
It was a perfect place to end our trip to Thailand and we went home with the memories of a trip filled with both adventure and relaxation.
Can you travel to Thailand in the rainy season?
So can you travel to Thailand during the rainy season? Yes, you can easily do that.
Our experience with extreme weather in the jungle was a rare occurrence, and although rain can occur, you can also be lucky to experience dry weather all the time, as we did in Vietnam in 2019.
The warm climate makes the rain more refreshing than annoying. So if you're planning a trip to Thailand during the rainy season, don't be intimidated by the weather forecast.
Our tour of Thailand gave us the opportunity to experience the country's diversity. Whether you're into culture, history, nature or relaxation, Thailand has something to offer. This trip will always stand as an unforgettable memory of a country full of beauty and hospitality. There is no doubt that we will return to Thailand.
Did you know: Here are the top 7 best nature destinations in Asia according to Booking.com's millions of users
7: Pai in northern Thailand
6: Kota Kinabalu on Borneo in Malaysia
Get numbers 1-5 immediately by signing up for the newsletter, and look in the welcome email:
Did you know: Here are 7 overlooked food experiences you must try in Austria!
7: Gourmet at an altitude of 3,000 meters at the Ice Q restaurant in Tyrol
6: Eat cheese on the cheese street in Bregenzerwald near Vorarlberg
Get numbers 1-5 immediately by signing up for the newsletter, and look in the welcome email:
Add comment