Thailand - Where to go by @BigBirdsTravels

Wonderguide by

Joshua Grant

Thailand Guide by @bigbirdstravels

We spend most of the year based in Thailand, we love this country. So here is our list of places we have personally visited and would highly recommend.

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Island Recommendations

Here is some of the Islands that we really love and would highly recommend. (The word 'Ko' or 'Koh' means Island in Thai)

Image - Ko Lipe
Place
Ko Lipe
Joshua:To get here from Bangkok the easiest way, would be to fly to Hat Yai airport, from here take a bus to Pak Bara Pier and this is where you can get a ferry. This is a truly beautiful Island, one that really has turquoise blue waters and long white beaches. we love it here because of its chilled and relaxed feeling. you can sunbath all day or head out for a dive or snorkel before a visit to the walking street in the evening, here you can enjoy wonderful Thai or Western food and listen to some authentic Thai reggae. this Island really is for everybody from backpackers to married couples and families.
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Image - Ko Tao
Place
Ko Tao
Joshua:You can only get to Koh Tao by boat. You can get a bus from Bangkok that will take you to either Chumphon or Surat Thani, this will take around 10 hours and you can get a ferry from here. once your on the ferry it will take around 1.5-2 hours, so total journey with waiting will about 12-13 hours. when we went we used a brilliant company called Lomprayah and we would definitely recommend them. This island is the perfect place to go and unwind, we spent the days swimming in the warm sea and sunbathing on the beautiful beaches, before heading out in the evening to enjoy the amazing sunsets and atmosphere it has to offer. Koh Tao also is known for some of the best diving or snorkelling in Thailand. Because it is surrounded by large rock formations, which are covered with stunning Coral reef.
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Image - Ko Kham
Place
Ko Kham
Joshua:From Ao Soun Yai Beach on Ko Mak, you can take a 100baht return journey boat trip to Ko Kham. It only takes 10 mins to get here. On arrival you pay 200baht for entrance fee, but its worth it to spend the day on this paradise private island. Here you feel amazing and you honestly feel like you could be in somewhere like the Maldives.
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Image - Ko Mak
Place
Ko Mak
Joshua:This island is super laid back. It isn’t the most beautiful island we have visited and you may not want to sunbath on these beaches compared to others, but we love the true felling of Thailand you get from here, you also have amazing foods from pizza to delicious vegan choices to. This is also a great place for family’s. And for a small reasonable price and boat trip you can visit the stunning island Koh Kham. We rented a moped and had great fun exploring this small but cute island.
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Image - Ko Pha Ngan
Place
Ko Pha Ngan
Joshua:This is the fifth largest island in Thailand. it takes only 1 hour by ferry to get here from Koh Tao, so if you fancy a bit of island hopping then these are ideal to visit together! Koh Pha Ngan is mainly known for its monthly Full moon parties, so if you would prefer it not to be too busy and less people, it would be a good idea to avoid those. The beauty of the island is almost unspoilt, it has a hilly, lush tropical interior but also beautiful long white beaches, with over 20 diving sites. You can get around either by the local transport or rent a car or moped to explore yourselves.
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Image - Ko Samui
Place
Ko Samui
Joshua:Is the second largest island in Thailand and is very popular not only with those travelling on a budget, but also those who are looking for luxury. You can get to Koh Samui by flying or getting a bus to Surat Thani and taking a ferry across. Or to make things easier you can fly direct from Bangkok but often this is more expensive so it depends on your budget. Koh Samui has plenty to offer in the way of white sand beaches, authentic Thai food, Fisherman's villages and much more. Often it is said this is the island for everyone as it has the hustle and bustle but also a relaxed atmosphere.
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Image - Ko Lanta
Place
Ko Lanta
Joshua:we have visited here many times and the reason for that is because it is so easy to get to. we usually drive there by car and from Krabi that takes around 2 hours, or you can hire a taxi to take you at a very reasonable cost. we spend most our time on the West of the island on Long beach, which is beautiful during high season with its lovely soft sand and warm sea. but we also love renting a moped for a couple of days to head over to the Southeast of the island to visit the Old Town. This is so beautiful and cute and has a more traditional feel with many nice shops for souvenir shopping and great coffee!
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Image - Ko Libong
Place
Ko Libong
Joshua:You can get here in just 30 minutes by Long tail Boat from Hat Yao. It’s lovely here because it doesn't have as many visitors as others islands. It’s so fun to explore the area and to stop off at some of its lovely beaches. This isn’t the most beautiful island and there’s not loads going on but if you like quite then you will like it here . It’s a fishing place to, so you can enjoy delicious seafood at fantastic prices . This Island still feels untouched by the tourism of Thailand so please visit here if you want to experience a taste of that 😊
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Places We Love

Here is a list of where we have personally visited and are our favourite places in Thailand

Image - Ko Mak
Place
Ko Mak
Joshua:Not to far from Koh Chang is this stunning little laid back Island. It is more authentic, laid back & quiet compared to other Islands in Thailand. Although the beaches are not the best in Thailand, off the coast is the stunning private Island of Ko Kham which is the most beautiful place we've been to in Thailand.
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Image - Ko Kham
Place
Ko Kham
Joshua:From Ao Soun Yai Beach on Ko Mak, you can take a 100baht return journey boat trip to Ko Kham. It only takes 10 mins to get here. On arrival you pay 200baht for entrance fee, but its worth it to spend the day on this paradise private island.
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Image - Ko Lipe
Place
Ko Lipe
Joshua:This is one of our favourite Islands in Thailand. You can take a speedboat from Satun area, and arrive on this paradise Island in about 1.5hrs. This Island has everything that we love, beautiful beaches, great snorkelling, yummy restaurants, nice bars and live music but not too crazy and mad (which some Islands in Thailand can be) We Love It!
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Image - Khao Sok National Park
Place
Khao Sok National Park
Joshua:Not only is this our Fav place in Thailand, but probably in the World. Sleeping in a floating raft house on the lake, going for morning safari spotting the gibbons or trekking the jungle this is just the best place ever. You HAVE to go!
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Image - Kanchanaburi
Place
Kanchanaburi
Joshua:Kanchanaburi is a place that really surprised us for many reasons . We spent our days there exploring the Bridge over the River Kwai, tasting the local foods, enjoying the mountain & river views and visiting the lovely natural thermal spa. There is still so much more to go back and explore!
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Image - Ko Kut
Place
Ko Kut
Joshua:Ko Kut, also spelt Koh Kood (เกาะกูด), is a beautiful green island with some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, some areas even have a Maldives feel . It really is a place for all to visit especially as it is very family friendly and has lots to offer even for those on a budget. The island in this area are closer towards the Cambodian border and are not to be missed.
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Image - Ko Hong
Place
Ko Hong
Joshua:Paradise Anyone??? This is a small island that you can take day trips to from Krabi or Phuket. Arrive early to avoid the crowds. This really is a paradise island that you would love to be stranded on, but sometimes the amount of people can make it hard to see that.
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Image - Railay Beach
Place
Railay Beach
Joshua:Railay beach is a bay not far from Krabi and you can only get there by boat which we love! We always really enjoy our time here because of its beautiful white sand and amazing limestone cliffs that surround you. There is so much to do including hiking to the top of the cliffs or if you are brave enough try some of the best rock climbing in Thailand. Although it can be busy there we love the atmosphere in the walking street and the food is great also, so don’t be put off this beautiful place is worth a visit! P.S. Railay West is the beautiful part, the east side is mainly mangroves.
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Image - Trang
Place
Trang
Joshua:Trang is the place to visit if you want somewhere were not many other tourists venture. It’s a very Thai town steeped in Chinese heritage, wake up early for some of the most delicious dim sum and jasmine tea, then explore the town with its many coffee shops, or take a visit to the beautiful nearby Kachong waterfall or the hot water springs.
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Image - Chiang Mai
Place
Chiang Mai
Joshua:Chaing Mai is a very popular place to visit in Thailand and we can see why due to all it has to offer, from its beautiful parks to weekend market & it’s deep history. If you want to visit a Elephant sanctuary, this is the place to come as you can find those who love and truly take care for these wonderful animals the way they should!
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Image - Pai
Place
Pai
Joshua:Pai is a backpackers heaven! This place is super cool and relaxed. Hire a moped and casually explore this wonderful place with waterfalls, hot springs and markets. It also has amazing little places out of the way to stay and prices that are good for when your on a budget. The surrounding mountains and rice fields are truly beautiful but it takes over 700 turns to reach here from Chiang Mai so you may need a motion sickness tablet.
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Image - Ko Tao
Place
Ko Tao
Joshua:Ko Tao is one of our favourite places in Thailand, it has something for everyone. The beaches are beautiful and this whole island has a relaxed feeling about it, it also offers great night life. And if you love snorkelling this is the place to come as it has some of the best diving companies to help you get your PADI
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Image - Nang Yuan Island
Place
Nang Yuan Island
Joshua:Koh Nang Yuan is only a 15-20 minute Long-Tail boat ride from Koh Tao, so if you fancy a break from Snorkelling this little island is worth a visit. It’s very beautiful with bright blue water and crystal white sand. It can be busy though due to everyone visiting but if you can look past that you’ll love it. Tip: There is a view point you can hike up to found round the back along a wooden walkway.
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Image - Ko Samui
Place
Ko Samui
Joshua:Ko Samui is a very popular location. It’s one of the easier islands to get to as you can fly there from Bangkok in under an hour. You can also get there by other travel options to. It’s also very popular as you can visit this island for most of the year which is unlike other islands that close due to the weather.
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Image - Ko Pha Ngan
Place
Ko Pha Ngan
Joshua:We loved our time on this island. It was so chilled and the area we were staying had everything to offer, cocktails, lovely Thai food, beautiful beaches and Thai reggae. We felt truly chilled when we left. It was also not to busy when we went because it wasn’t round the time of a Full Moon party, so if you prefer it quiet we’d suggest checking when those party’s are due before booking your trip!
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Wonderguide map

  1. Ko Lipe
  2. Ko Tao
  3. Ko Kham
  4. Ko Mak
  5. Ko Pha Ngan
  6. Ko Samui
  7. Ko Lanta
  8. Ko Libong
  9. Ko Mak
  10. Ko Kham
  11. Ko Lipe
  12. Khao Sok National Park
  13. Kanchanaburi
  14. Ko Kut
  15. Ko Hong
  16. Railay Beach
  17. Trang
  18. Chiang Mai
  19. Pai
  20. Ko Tao
  21. Nang Yuan Island
  22. Ko Samui
  23. Ko Pha Ngan

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