Culture, food and history, three things that don’t come to your mind when you hear the word Thailand. Famous as the hot spot for parties and white sand beaches, yet, there is so much more to discover. Result? On a mission to discover all that in a 6-day packed itinerary, let’s get going!
Quick Tip: The best time to visit Thailand is between November to February. Summer months of April to September tend to get very hot, and the rains can be major dampeners July onwards.
Day 1: Arrival
The day of travel! I took a late night 12 AM flight to Bangkok from Delhi. It’s nearly a 4-hour flight, but Thailand is 1.5 hours ahead of Indian time, so I landed in Bangkok at 5.30 AM.
Thailand has Visa-on-arrival costing 1000 Baht (1 Baht = 2 Rupees). The Visa process is quite simple but may take a while. Make sure you have all your confirmed travel and hotel bookings in place when you arrive.
I had booked my stay at one of the oldest heritage hotels, Hotel Grand China Princess. It is an imposing building, located right in the centre of the city, towering over the bustling China Town area.
The Chatuchak Market
Bangkok has a well-built system of public transport to go around the city. If you study it before hand, it wud save you a lot of time and money.
The most anticipated pit stop for the day was the expansive shoppers’ paradise, Chatuchak market. Also known as the JJ Market, it is spread over 35 acres, 27 sections and home to over 10,000 shops. Navigating the market can get daunting if you don’t familiarise yourself before coming.
The best time to visit is Saturday or Sunday. Study the map beforehand and plan the sections you want to cover. The selection is huge, with irresistible bargains and offers.
Next only to shopping is Thailand’s street food! You will see it being cooked and packed all over the market area; meats, breads, fruits, juices, ice-creams, coffee. I am an ardent foodie and also love great coffee. I fell in love how the Thai prepare their unique iced coffee. You don’t have to visit an expensive branded establishment to experience one; there are iced-coffees being prepared at almost every corner of the street. Priced anywhere between 20-40 Baht, highly recommended.
Day 2: Thai Temples and River Cruise
In Thailand culture, ‘Wat’ is the name given to a Buddhist monastery or temple.
Quick Tip: All the Wats close between 5-5.30 PM, make sure you plan your day accordingly.
The first one was Wat Arun, or the ‘Temple of Dawn’, located along the West side of the Chao Phraya river. It has an imposing size with beautifully decorated spires to frame the view. It was designed to shine with pearly iridescence as the first light of the morning fell upon it.
The next temple was Wat Pho, also known as the ‘Temple of the Reclining Buddha’, located right across the river from Wat Arun. You can catch a quick ride across the river on a jetty; frequent and cost-effective. Wat Pho is a wonder in itself, the statue of the Reclining Buddha is 46 metres long and covered in gold leaf; the scale is unbelievable until you experience it for yourself.
Another famous city landmark is the Grand Palace, home of the Thai King. True to its name, it is magnificent. It attracts millions of tourists every year. Once you complete a tour of the Grand Palace, head to some of the other major Wats in the area; Wat Kalyanamitr, Wat Traimit and Wat Saket. Wat Traimit is the ‘Temple of the Golden Buddha’, housing a seated Buddha statue made from five and a half tons of solid gold.
My spiritual journey for the day was followed by an equally uplifting evening; a cruise along the beautiful Chao Phraya river. The river flows right through the centre of Bangkok and makes for a wonderful night-time view. The cruises are usually booked out well in advance, so plan your evening beforehand.
Day 3: Tour of Ancient Capital City of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Siam, known as the modern-day Thailand. It is about 80 Km from Bangkok and seeped in history. On a one day tour of the city you will find palaces, monasteries, temples and ruins of the old city.
Quick Tip: Start your day early to make the most of the tour. The drive from Bangkok to Ayutthaya takes about 1.5 hours.
When you arrive at the Ayutthaya Historical Park, explore the area and you will come across grand impressive ruins. Located in the park is Wat Mahathat, famously known as the temple with the “Buddha Head in a Banyan Tree”. It is one of the most photographed statues of Buddha in the world.
Quick Tip: This is very sacred site for the Thai, show your respect by sitting down while taking pictures of the statue.
Next, head over to the Bang Pa-in complex, the Summer Palace of the King. It has many structures within it, each built in a different architectural style. The magnificence stands testimony to the many different influences it has seen over the years.
Day 4: The Floating Market
Reminiscent of an era gone by, the floating markets stand to remind us of an old world charm. Houses were built on stilts along the canals when cities thrived there, but now these markets remain to serve as tourist attractions. There are four floating markets in Bangkok, among the well-known is Damnoen Saduak, about 1oo Km away from Bangkok.
Quick Tip: Reach early in the morning to avoid the heat as well as the crowd.
As the boat guide takes you through the canals, there are fresh tropical fruits along the way to keep you sated. You can browse through the wide array of trinkets, handicrafts and other accessories. You will also have the opportunity to also pick up traditional Thai handicrafts in the market area, where the boat ride ends. The entire tour takes about half a day.
By evening, it was time to head over to my next destination: Krabi. The flight from Bangkok to Krabi takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.
As soon as you land, you will be greeted by the bluest of skies and the greenest of landscapes. Small rock formations and a thick green cover dominate this quiet little city. Away from the fast city life of Bangkok, Krabi is serene and relaxing.
Day 5: The James Bond Island Tour
While in Krabi there are many island tours, popular ones being the James Bond Island Tour and the Four Island Tour. I chose the former.
Located in the Phangna Bay, the James Bond Island is home to the famous “rock in the sea” which was popularised by the Bond movie “The Man With The Golden Gun”, shot there in 1974. An hour’s ride from Krabi by speedboat, it is an exhilarating journey through the sea.
On reaching the island, take some time to explore the area, the pretty blue-green waters and clean white sands. You can enjoy snorkelling at the the Hong Lagoon with its crystal clear waters. The speedboat manoeuvres through large cliffs and enclosures formed by water. The tour ends with a canoe ride through beautiful natural rock formations, passing under low hanging cliffs and through mangroves.
Quick Tip: The nearby islands of Phi-Phi and Phuket, among others, are also accessible by speedboat from Krabi.
Day 6: The Jungle Tour
Located just 9 Km from Krabi town is Wat Tham Sueua or the ‘Tiger Cave’ temple. Built within a complex natural structure of limestone caves, the temple is truly impressive, (a slight dampener for tiger fans, there are no tigers in the Tiger Cave). There are many stories which have contributed to the tiger myth over the years. A climb of nearly 1200 steps will lead you to a giant Buddha temple at the top, which offers a spectacular 360 degree view. Unfortunately, the day I visited the temple, it was raining heavily and I couldn’t undertake the climb.
After about an hour’s ride from the temple comes the jungle area. The Emerald Pool and Hot Springs are top attractions. The Hot Springs have copper deposits, which may contribute to the Springs’ healing properties. So, go ahead and dip your feet in the warm flowing water which will surely feel relaxing.
A short walk from the hot springs is the Emerald Pool. And believe me when I say this, the water is smooth, clear and a beautiful shade of green; seeming like a large emerald stone. Take a dip or sit by the pool side; enjoy the natural beauty around you.
Quick Tip: The Emerald Pool is deeper than it appears, the floor declines steeply and is extremely slippery.
If you are adventurous enough, take a walk of about 800-900 meters along a narrow path leading away from the Emerald Pool and you will reach another astounding sight; the Sapphire Pool. A small pool nestled in the jungle, it is a brilliant shade of blue, staying true to its name.
This brings me to the end of day 6 and also the end of my trip. Signing off, I hope that you were able to find some inspiration for your next trip!
TrippyGoLucky 
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