Thailand is a backpacker's paradise! It's the perfect place for anyone wanting to travel on a shoestring budget. As a company that sends teachers to Teach English Abroad every day, we're constantly searching for new ways to make your adventure as exciting as possible in the most affordable way.
Since Teaching English in Thailand is one of our most popular programs and so many of our teachers are choosing to use their holidays to travel through this phenomenal country and its neighbors, we thought we'd bring a list of the best places to backpack in Thailand.
The key to saving money when backpacking is to save on accommodation, so backpackers hostels are usually your best option. Not only are they cheap, but they are filled with like-minded travelers looking for an adventure; this type of environment allows you to mingle and share stories with fellow keen travelers. Another useful tip for backpacking in Thailand is to eat like a local, western food is very expensive in Southeast Asia. You can get as much as three local dishes for the price of one western meal, it's also a great opportunity to try out different foods.
We've carefully selected accommodation that does not go over the $10 mark and most of the activities we've listed are either free or very affordable. We did this to keep daily spend at $50 dollars or less.
Bangkok
For anyone wanting to backpack through Southeast Asia, Bangkok is always a great place to start. It has connecting flights to most places in the region, for some decent prices too. Even though Bangkok is the capital and biggest city in Thailand, it's very possible to enjoy it on a small Budget. The city is blessed with plenty of cheap accommodation and inexpensive activities. It's considered the tourist hub of southeast Asia, where expats gather before they begin their travels through this captivating region.
A crowd favorite here is Khao San Road as it’s the party hub of the city. Although it can be quite overwhelming being packed with tourists, ravers and Bangkok's general buzz, its definitely a place you have to experience at least once. Be sure to check the canals of the Chao Phraya River, where you'll see a completely different Bangkok filled with a mixture between decay and contemporary chic that invokes an Eastern soulful feel.
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Chiang Rai is a charming small little town in the north of Thailand. Even though the town gets a lot of tourists, you can still hire a bike and find some trails which are very remote and relatively untouched. The further you walk north of the city, you’ll get to parts where there are hill tribes that still believe and practice their traditional way of life. They've had very little contact with westerners, thus have not been in any way affected by us.
Chaing Rai, unlike its sister town Chiang Mai, is all about taking it slow, completely chilling out and savoring each moment as it passes by. Here life is very mellow and gives about a down-to-earth feel. It's the ideal place to reload your batteries after extensive traveling. This little town is not short of attractions though, mostly with its impressive collection of art, temples, language, delicious cuisine, and local music. The town doesn't offer much when it comes to nightlife, shopping, and entertainment and rightly so.
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Chiang Mai is the capital of northern Thailand and many people consider it to be one of their favorite parts of Thailand. It has an interesting blend of Thai culture and religion, but also modern comforts. It’s amazing how Buddhist temples and hipster cafes can coexist in such an authentic way. This is every seasoned traveler's playground, a shoppers dream, and an outdoor adventure's favorite basecamp.
This city epitomizes Thailand: the food is to die for, the people are the sweetest you'll ever meet, and the nightlife is exciting! Chiang Mai might be small but it truly has it all.
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If you’re in Northern Thailand, then Pai is a place you have to experience! It is one of the most beautiful small towns in all of Thailand. Situated in a quaint river valley and surrounded by natural beauty on all sides, it's the perfect outdoor getaway after the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai, 150km away.
Most consider Pai to be quite a paradox, as you can visit it for a journey of spiritual healing, where you meditate in the mountains and wonder at nature. Or, it's a place where you can party all night in the misty jungle. Pai is a different place for every traveler, depending on what you're looking for. Whitewater rafting, tubing, jungle trekking, and waterfalls await the adventure seekers… while bars with nightly happy hours await the party-goers.
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Undoubtedly one of the best places to spot wild Elephants in Thailand. Khao Yai is the oldest national park in the country, as it was established in 1962. It is also the third largest, after Kaeng Krachen and Thap Lan. Many will know the national park as it’s Haew Suat Waterfall features in the Leonardo Di Caprio film, The beach.
Covering 2168 sq km, Khao Yai incorporates one of the largest intact monsoon forests remaining in mainland Asia. There is said to be more than 50km of hiking and biking trails throughout the park, which makes it one of the more accessible parks in the region.
If you're looking for picture perfect scenes of diverse wildlife, you're in for a treat. You'll find bears, elephants, gibbons and so many more sheltered in the majestic park.
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Blessed with hidden waterfalls and caves, Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park's rainforest is said to be more than 160 million years old, making it one of the oldest in the world. It’s the perfect getaway for those looking to escape the noise of Bangkok and full moon parties of Koh Phangan. It's famous for its iconic tower-like limestone karst formations and the man-made Cheow Lan Lake which you can explore via canoes and kayaks. It's a rain forest with a great diversity of wildlife and plants. What sets this park apart is its accessibility through public transport from the neighboring Phuket and Krabi.
The dry season: is from November to April, but still be prepared for showers and muddy hikes. The dry season is the best time to visit Khao Sok.
The wet season: is from May to October and we’ve been told that it’s pretty difficult to visit Khao Sok during this time because many things are closed. You can still go, but your activities may be limited.
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To anyone who loves a good party, Koh Phangan is where you wanna be. This is the island that‘s known for having the full moon party, but there’s a lot more to this island. One of the most fascinating insights about Koh Phangan is, although it's been long known as Thailand's party HQ, it remains one of the countries most popular destinations because peace, serenity, and raves can coexist like no other place on earth. The best way to explore it is by renting a motorbike and riding around to all the white sandy beaches.
Most activities will be on Sunrise Beach, which is lined with bungalows filled with fellow backpackers. Away from Hat Rin beach's parties, is Hat Khuat and Hat Thian where families looking for mouth-watering food, alluring night strolls and a quiet night in can be found.
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There's a good chance that every picture you'ever seen of Thailand online will be taken here. Krabi is on Southern Thailand’s west coast, it's a province characterized by sheer limestone cliffs, gorgeous mangrove forests and hundreds of stunning islands. Koh Phi Phi Island and Railay Beach are among the most popular locations in Krabi province.
The province is filled with seaside restaurants and beach bungalows. Even though it’s packed with tourists like most beach spots in Thailand, it’s still an ideal place for those looking for an awesome beach getaway with a touch of adventure.
You can bathe in the inviting waters of the Emerald Pool at Thung Teo Forest Natural Park before exploring forest trails and waterfalls. At Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple) you can climb more than 1000 steps to witness a bird's eye view of the surroundings and admire the golden Buddha statue and pagodas. From hidden lagoons to wildlife-rich mangroves, there’s plenty to discover in this breathtaking province.
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Straight out of a tropical dream lies this tiny forest-covered island in the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Toa, lesser known than it's bigger sisters Samui and Phangan, is regarded as one of the best diving spots in all of Thailand. What sets it apart from other diving locations is that many of the spots are completely accessible by foot as people can dive straight off the island's shores.
They say what makes this island so perfect is that it has the busy vibe of Krabi but the laid back nature of Ko Phangan. This, complemented with the dripping coastal jungles, makes for an unrivaled paradise.
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Last but not least, Phuket, a rainforested, mountainous island in the Andaman Sea. Easily the most recognizable destination in Thailand. It houses some of Thailand's most popular beaches, like Patong and Karon which lie along the crystal clear waters of the western shore of the island. This island along with Krabi province is undoubtedly the biggest tourist drawers to Thailand. Phuket is as close as it gets to a dream summer vacation, with its stunning beaches, lavish seaside resorts, and vibrant nightlife.
That being said, the island also has an exciting backpacking community, where travelers from all walks of life meet to mingle and celebrate life. You'll find most of them scattered all over Patong beach during the day and two-stepping till the sun comes out at Phuket's Bangla road, well known for its exuberant party scene.
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We can turn that dream into a reality!
One of the best ways to fully immerse yourself into Thai culture is by teaching English in Thailand. It's one of our most popular programs and for good reason too, you can earn generous salaries of $800-$1200 and with low cost of living, you can really save to travel around Thailand and its neighboring countries. Another exciting drawing point for Thailand is the 2 and a half months of school holidays teachers get, which they can use to travel through Southeast Asia and other countries in the region.