Written by Adam Whitehouse
Posted, 14th November 2021
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned veteran or you’re a first-time solo traveller, Thailand really has something for everyone! It could be the idyllic white sandy beaches, the delicious street food on every corner or maybe it’s the endless parties from north to south. With so much on offer, it’s easy to see why Thailand is the go-to place for backpackers looking for a great time!
This list of 11 reasons why backpackers love Thailand could be as long as my arm, but I decided to strip it down and deliver the absolute highlights to get you started…
White Sandy Beaches 🏝
It really is no secret, Thailand has a very iconic coastline and some of the best beaches in the world. Whether you’re a backpacker looking for turquoise paradise or quiet little bays that are hard to reach. You can find it all here in Thailand that’s for sure! We experience the best beaches Thailand has to offer as we visit Krabi & Phi Phi on both our trips here in the Land of Smiles.
Crazy Nightlife 💃
Whether it’s the raw of Bangkok or the firey beach parties of the south… Thailand never disappoints when it comes to nightlife. Grab yourself a bucket 🪣 or a couple of chang beers 🍻 and get yourself ready for a night you’ll never forget!
Untouched National Parks 🏞
Among the 100+ national parks here in Thailand is our absolute favourite – Khao Sok. This little slice of untouched beauty is hidden deep within the rainforest. Stay overnight in floating bungalows as you really find the most peaceful and magical place on earth. To this day, in all my years backpacking, I’ve yet to find a place more special than here.
Everything is Cheap Cheap! 💵
Thailand has a reputation for being extremely good value for money for backpackers. You can sink a beer in Bangkok for as little £2 or if Thai food gets your taste buds going, grab the infamous Pad Thai for less than £1 on the street. If haggling your way down from £3 to £1.50 for a new set of ‘Ray Bons’ is your style… get your bartering skills at the ready!
Read this: How to haggle and act like you’re not even BOTHERED!!
⚠️ It is very easy to get sucked into the world of not knowing what’s good a deal and what could be a SCAM. Transport and excursions are things that often come with varied pricing and can lead to disappointment. This is one of the major benefits of coming on a group tour like ours here in Thailand.
Street Food 🍡
Some of the worlds most delicious flavours can be found at street vendors. Whether that’s a quirky burger van at a festival or Thai-Style Grilled Pork Skewers (Moo Ping) here in Bangkok. One thing that Asia does better than anywhere is street food. Many people are fearful at first, they worry about getting sick. Once you let your guard down and introduce these flavours into your life, your taste buds will thank you later!
Tropical Weather ☀️
Say hello to the lush green jungle, crystal clear blue skies and tropical sunsets! Sounds bloody awesome right?! Generally speaking, this is what you get 80% of the time here in Thailand. That other 20% does, unfortunately, come with tropical storms. You’ll get about a week’s worth of rain in 30 minutes when it comes… kind of crazy but also quite entertaining at the same time (as a Brit I way prefer this kind of weather over the constant grey miserable skies back home).
Warm Culture 🙏🏻
The hearts of minds of this incredible country really translate well into its nickname of ‘The Land of Smiles’. Whether it’s a smile as a welcome, a smile to say thank you or just a smile in passing. The purity of this incredible nation comes from the large majority (over 90%) practising Buddhism.
Golden Temples ⛩
Buddism is a huge part of everyday life here in Thailand, there are over 300 temples in Bangkok alone with some of the most incredible being Wat Pho, The Grand Palace and Wat Arun. The preservation of these ancient golden temples is funded largely by offering from the people to the temple. The sheer beauty of these amazing structures will truly blow your mind!
Islands Vibes 🍹
When you think of island hopping in South East Asia you automatically think of Thailand right? Well, that’s for good reason due to the incredible beaches, idyllic coastline and tropical island vibes. Grab yourself a coconut or a chang beer if you prefer and get yourself well and truly immersed in the island vibes of Southern Thailand.
Epic Sunsets 🌅
You honestly won’t go far without a jaw-dropping sunset making an appearance I can promise you that! I’ve personally experienced amazing sunsets in all 6 of the locations we visit on the trip (Bangkok, Khao Sok National Park, Krabi, Phi Phi, Chiang Mai & Pai). If you decide to join us for our ‘South to North – 15 day’ trip, you’ll almost certainly experience 1 or 2 belters!
It’s a Safe Place to Travel 😃
By many peoples standards, Thailand is a very safe country for tourists. It is known as the backpacking hub of South East Asia and receives way more travellers than its neighbours Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Like everything, nothing comes with its risks, there is terrorism like in the UK, you’ll find pick-pocketers like in New York City and you’ll experience road traffic accidents like all countries across Europe. One thing you can be confident about, tourism is a MASSIVE contributor to the economy here in Thailand, that being said you can rest easy knowing that the government has your back 💪🏼
