Thailand is a country I have always wanted to visit and in February of 2018, we planned out a 10-day trip through the country’s best sites. I had done some research beforehand and came up with this Thailand travel itinerary, deciding the majority of our time would be best spent in Chiang Mai and Krabi. We flew into Bangkok from NYC and stayed at the Shangri-la hotel. I would highly recommend this hotel as it has a prime riverside location (along the Chao Phraya River) and the most memorable dining experience. The breakfast buffet is particularly praiseworthy and you basically have to see it to believe it. We spent two nights in Bangkok, which I think was enough to get a feel for the city and visit the most prominent sites.

On our first day in Bangkok, we visitied the Grand Palace, well-regarded as a must-see site. Made up of multiple intricately designed buildings that used to house the Kings of Siam, the court and the royal government, it is an incredible sight. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is also located here and is considered Thailand’s most important Buddhist Temple. Of note: proper decorum and dress is very important to Thailand culture and men and women are required to wear long sleeve shirts and pants as well as socks when visiting the Temples.

Across the street from the Grand Palace is the breathtaking Wat Pho Temple also known as “the temple of the reclining Buddha.” It is one of Bangkok’s oldest temples. It houses one of the largest single Buddhas, the reclinig Buddha and contains the most Buddhas in Thailand. Wat Pho was also the first public university in Thailand. There is a school of Thai medicine inside, and traditional Thai massage is also taught there. After a busy day of visiting various temples and historic landmarks, we took a ferry from our hotel to Central Pier, a bustling area with lots of restaurants and shops.

We started our second day in Bangkok at Wat Traimit, another temple, which boasts the largest Gold Buddha in the world. Afterwards, we headed to the famous floating markets. There are many floating markets in Bangkok, all offering a variety of Thai delicacies. The second night was spent watching a Muay Thai match at the famous Rajadamnern stadium, which as the first Muay Thai stadium in Thailand is a historical landmark. As someone who is not particulalry interested in watching boxing or really any type of fighting, I was pleasantly surprised by what a great experience the show was.

Our next stop on the Thailand travel itinerary was Chiang Mai, which ended up being my favorite destination. All throughout Thailand, the warm and peaceful nature of its people is palpable, an observation that has left a a long-lasting impression on me, but I think it’s most palpable in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai, the largest city in Northern Thailand has a lot of historical relevance given its proximity to major trading routes and over a hundred Buddhist temples. We stayed at Pingviman hotel, which I choose for its walkable location in the Old Town, a culturally enriching and authentic part of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is such a fun city to explore via walking. There are so many quaint eateries and local spots that add to the authenticity of the region. A main attraction in Chiang Mai is Doi Suthep, a majestic temple on top of a mountain that requires a hike up a long staircase.

The main highlight of our time there however was visiting the elephant sanctuary. I did a lot of researching when putting together this Thailand travel itinerary to make sure we were going to visit a sanctuary that treated the elephants humanely because there are a lot out there that are abusive towards the elephants (you will hear some horror stories on your trip). The place that kept coming up as a humane destination was Elephant Nature Park, a rehabilitation sanctuary where previously abused and disabled elephants are kept. We signed up for the “pamper a pachyderm” experience where we got to feed the elephants, bathe them and hike with them. They also have a “no ride” policy to protect the elephants. It was such an incredibly peaceful and enlightening experience.

After 3 nights in Chiang Mai, we were off to the Krabi islands in Southern Thailand. When you start reading about where to visit in the South of Thailand, there are a lot of opinions about where to spend the majority of beach time. The biggest debate is the Phuket versus Krabi one. Of course, Phuket is the more popular destination and typically the one tourists flock to, but I’m really glad we chose to spend most of our beach time in Krabi for several reasons. While Phuket has more beaches, the beaches in Krabi are more aesthetically pleasing in my opinion. The Krabi islands are known for their famous limestone formations, emerald pools, hot water springs and rugged charm. Phuket is also A LOT more congested and touristy as noted earlier although there is more of an active nightlife, more shopping areas and fine dining. In Krabi, there is more nature and less people, traffic and noise. Phuket definitely has more hotels and more of a city feel, and Krabi is more remote, but my intention for the second part of our trip was to be in a more secluded setting.

Once we decided to spend 3 nights in Krabi, we had to pick which area we wanted to stay in. We chose to stay at Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas in Ao Nang, which was an incredibly beautiful hotel with a private beach. One thing to note however is that we had to take a ferry to get to the hotel since it is on a remote private beach. Once you’re there, the only way to access the center of Ao Nang is via boat or via the Monkey Trail. We did the Monkey Trail hike for fun and it was short and easy, but sadly, we did not see any monkeys. We ended up doing a 4-island tour from the hotel, which included Railay beach, Poda Island, Chicken Beach and Top Island. I think this is the best way to explore Krabi and get a varied view of what the region looks like.

Our Thailand travel itinerary concluded with two nights in Phuket where we stayed at Le Meridien, a beautiful beach resort. We spent the first night in Phuket exploring the night life on the famous Bangla Road and it is definitely a sight to see! There are so many bars, lounges, restaurants and other “adult attractions,” but it has a more touristy feel. We spent our last full day and night in Thailand at the resort and enjoyed a fire show on the beach with a Phuket sunset backdrop. Thailand is by far one of my top 5 favorite destinations in the world. There is so much culture, history and an overall sense of calm and peace, which is what I was most captivated by.

With regard to COVID rules/precautions, here are some things to note:

• Thailand is currently reporting 20,000-30,000 new cases of COVID-19 a day.
• As of April 1, 2022, Thailand has relaxed its COVID-related entry requirements.
• All travelers will need a Thailand Pass to enter the country.
• There are 3 different entry programs-Test and Go, Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine.
• While a negative PCR test is no longer required within 72 hours prior to entry, it is still required upon arrival. Travelers will also be required to provide proof of a negative antigen test on day 5 of their visit.
• The Alternative Qurantine route was for unvaccinated travelers, which originally required a 10-day qurantine upon arrival to Thailand, which will now be reduced to 5 days.
• Fully vaccinated travelers can either participate in the Sandbox program where they will now be required to quarantine for 5 days as opposed to 7 days upon arrival or the Test and Go program, which involves testing on day 1 and day 5 without a quarantine.
• Masks are still required in both indoor AND outdoor settings in Thailand

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/