Pack your backpack and let's discover the magic of Thailand's most beautiful regions together!
In 23 days, we will explore the megacity of Bangkok, enjoy the dream beaches on Thailand's most beautiful islands, hike through idyllic rice fields in the mountains and cycle through the UNESCO temple ruins of the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai.
XXL itinerary through Thailand:
Bangkok 🏙️ -> Koh Tao 🏝️ -> Koh Phangan 🏝️ -> Krabi 🏞️ -> Koh Phi Phi 🏝️ -> Phuket 🏄🏼 -> Chiang Mai 🍜 -> Pai 🌿 -> Chiang Mai 🍜 -> Sukhothai 🏯 -> Bangkok ✈️
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ℹ️ OVERVIEW:
Day 1-3: Arrival in Bangkok 🏙️
We all meet in Bangkok for dinner at the latest, get to know each other personally and discuss the next few days. I will be happy to give you helpful tips in advance on the easiest and cheapest way to get from the airport to your accommodation in Bangkok. If you are arriving in Bangkok a few days early, please let me know and I will be happy to give you tips on how to make the most of the time until your trip.
If it's your first time in Bangkok, I'll show you some of the typical (but worth seeing) highlights of the Thai capital. But we also like to visit the less touristy corners of my new hometown. Decide what you want to focus on:
- Street food 🍜
- Shopping 🛍️
- Culture 🏯
- History 🏛️
- Nightlife 🍻
Day 4-7: Koh Tao - the diving paradise 🏝️
The island of Koh Tao is a comparatively small island and offers a relaxed start to our Thailand round trip. Koh Tao is particularly famous for its underwater world. There is a really wide range of diving schools and prices are low due to the high level of competition. If you're planning to do a diving course, this is the place for you (costs: €250-300, ❌ not included). You can decide spontaneously on the island, but please let us talk about it in advance, as we may have to change the schedule.
Day 7-10: Koh Phangan - the modern hippie island 🏝️
Koh Phangan used to be an insider tip many years ago, when backpackers and hippies from all over the world celebrated a big party once a month on the beach of Haad Rin. Nowadays, the Fullmoon Party attracts thousands of guests every month to drink cocktails from beach buckets in colorful neon shirts and dance in the sand to electronic music. But the island has much more to offer than just this one party night, let yourself be surprised!
Day 10-11: Krabi - The outdoor paradise 🏞️
Krabi is the gateway to the islands on Thailand's west coast, so cozy Krabi will be our next stopover before we continue on to the islands on Thailand's west coast. We will spend the afternoon exploring this small provincial town and sampling all kinds of street food at the cozy night market. Krabi is particularly popular with climbers and outdoor fans. If we agree as a group, we can also spend an extra night here and spend one night less on the islands before or after.
Day 11-13: Koh Phi Phi - the picture-book island 🌴
Hardly any other island in Thailand is more synonymous with a dream island than Koh Phi Phi. Ever since Leonardo DiCaprio's "The Beach", the region around the tranquil island of Koh Phi Phi has become a magnet for visitors from all over the world. There is always something going on on Koh Phi Phi, from morning to morning.
Day 13-15: Phuket - Thailand's largest island 🏄
Our next and last stop in the south is the largest (and most touristy) island in Thailand, Phuket. As this stop should not be missed on a round trip to Thailand, we will pick out the most beautiful beaches here, which offer the perfect conditions for surfing beginners and bodyboarding. The island's capital Phuket Town also attracts visitors with its beautiful old town and offers interesting options for shopping enthusiasts and Harry Potter fans.
Day 15-17: Chiang Mai - the culinary heart of Thailand 🍲
From Krabi, we will take a direct flight to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand (❌checked baggage not included!). We will spend several days here and explore the charming and traditional city and its surroundings. The local cuisine here is really excellent (also veggie & vegan friendly) and a highlight for all foodies. 🍜 🍍
Day 17-20: Pai - Koh Phi Phi in the mountains of Thailand 🏞️
Afterwards, the picturesque mountain village of Pai awaits us. The village, which is very popular with backpackers and hippies, has something for everyone. There is plenty of party and action here, but also relaxation in hot springs, beautiful rice terraces and bizarre natural wonders such as the "Pai Canyon". We will explore the very scenic and relaxed landscape on our own by scooter. 🛵 ⛰️
Day 20-21: Chiang Mai - buffer day
From Pai we head back to Chiang Mai, where we have the chance to see more highlights of this temple city. However, we can also use this day to stay longer in Pai or to explore the area between Chiang Mai and Pai.
Day 21-23: Sukhothai - the most beautiful temple ruins in Thailand 🏯
From Chiang Mai, continue by bus to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sukhothai. The former kingdom of Sukhothai was once the origin of the country and is still considered the cradle of Thai culture. Here we will explore the ancient ruins by bike, picturesquely nestled between palm trees and lakes. 🛤️🏯
Day 23: Bangkok - return to the megacity
At the end of our Thailand backpacking round trip, we take the train from Sukhothai via Phitsanulok back to Bangkok. If you are staying longer in Thailand or traveling in Southeast Asia, I have a few more hot tips for you. ✈️🏙️
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What can you expect on this trip?
➕ 100% backpacking feeling 🎒
➕ Get to know all facets of Thailand 🌿🏯🌴
➕ Enjoy the most beautiful islands in Thailand 🏝️
➕ Get your diving license spontaneously and dive with the turtles of Koh Tao 🐢🐟
➕ A cool international travel group that's up for islands, partying and traveling 🌏🤗
➕ Enough flexibility to be able to adapt our travel plans spontaneously
What is included in the price?
✅ All transfers (night bus, train, flight, cab, speedboat, ferry, bus, minivan)
✅ Accommodations (in shared double rooms/bungalows)
✅ Thai SIM Card with 20GB 4G/5G Internet
✅ Sightseeing Tour (incl. entrance fees) - Bangkok
✅ Snorkeling boattrip full day incl. lunch - Koh Tao
✅ Scooter rental 2 days - Koh Phangan
Entrance fee national park - Koh Phi Phi
✅ Scooter rental 1 day - Phuket
✅ Sightseeing tour (incl. entrance fees) - Chiang Mai
1x lunch (authentic thai noodlesoup) - Chiang Mai
✅ Scooter rental 1 day - Pai
Entrance fee + bicycle Sukhothai Historical Park - Sukhothai
✅ 24/7 Customer Service and Support.
✅ Travel Insurance for Trip Mates coming from Austria and Germany.
What is not included in the tour price?
❌ (International) Flights to/from Bangkok
❌ Daily Meals, Snacks & Drinks (approx. 5€-15€ per day)
❌ Scooter fuel (approx. 2€ per day)
❌ Optional: Check In luggage on flight Phuket - Chiang Mai
❌ Optional: single room upgrade (approx. 10-20€ per day)
❌ Everything else which is marked with ❌ or not listed
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ℹ️ TIME OF TRAVEL: Low season 🌦️
We will be traveling in the off-season. It is no longer as hot as in spring and the climate is generally more bearable. The rainy season has already started in some parts of the country. This means that there may be heavy showers in the evening or afternoon, but continuous rain is very rare.
For me, the low season is the best time to visit Thailand. Everything is green and in bloom, 🌺🌳 the air is clean and the tourist crowds take a short break.
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ABOUT YOUR TRIPLEADER:
I've been exploring the world for 10 years now and have lost my heart to Thailand. In 2024, I moved from Germany to Bangkok together with my girlfriend Hannah. From here, I regularly travel to new and old regions in Southeast Asia. Since Hannah can only travel with me during school vacations, I look forward to meeting cool tripmates from all over the world so that I don't have to discover the most amazing places in Southeast Asia alone.
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HOW DO I TRAVEL?
I am a fan of the simple life, live a vegetarian lifestyle and prefer a cheap and sustainable backpacking travel style.
That means:
- (hand luggage) backpack 🎒 instead of a suitcase 🧳🚫
- Simple, clean rooms in local guesthouses 🏡 or sociable hostels 🏠
- Good and cheap local food 🍲
- Beer 🍺 and cocktails 🍹 preferably at happy hour instead of fancy drinks at the rooftop bar 🍸
- Travel like the locals, slower but 100% authentic 🚂
- Sightseeing on your own 🛵 instead of organized tourist groups 🚐
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MY EXPECTATIONS:
My ideal tripmates share a passion for simple and authentic backpacking travel. On our Thailand round trip, we will travel to very different areas, some very touristy and some so idyllic and relaxed that you won't want to leave. It is therefore important to me that you are open to the different places and that you can motivate yourself to hike through rice fields and visit a temple complex after a week's beach vacation. 🤗
IMPORTANT❗We are going on a BACKPACKING trip. 😉 On this trip, we are traveling with many different means of transport and suitcases are sometimes really impractical. I therefore prefer tripmates who swap their suitcase for a backpack. 🧳🚫
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ℹ️ ACCOMODATION:
On our Thailand round trip we will stay in simple but clean and well-kept hostels 🏠 or in family-run homestays and bungalow resorts 🏡.
The whole thing is planned as a backpacking trip, so the accommodation is generally functional and does not meet the expectations of a 4* all-inclusive hotel ;)
Two people always stay in a twin room (separate beds, of course), usually with their own bathroom, sometimes with a shared bathroom if necessary (depending on the size of the group and local availability).
It is almost always possible to upgrade to a private room. The costs must then be paid on site (€10-20 extra per night, not included ❌).
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ℹ️ Travel safely as a woman ♀ and LGBTQ 🏳️🌈:
I am aware that it can be a big hurdle to embark on a travel adventure with unknown male travel partners from different cultural backgrounds. However, to take away as many worries as possible right from the start and create more security, you can rely on the following measures:
1) Separate rooms 🚪
If no other woman is taking part in this trip alongside you, I will book you your own single room or bed in a dormitory of the same sex at your request. This means you always have a place to retreat to and a safe space, at no extra cost!
2) Woman to woman 🙋🏻♀️
On all my trips that start in Bangkok, there is the possibility that you can get to know my partner Hannah personally at our first dinner together. Should a situation arise during the trip where you feel uncomfortable and prefer to have a woman as your contact person, you can contact her or my co-tripleader Lama from JMT.
3) You always have a choice ⛔
If you realize during the first few days that the chemistry just isn't right or you feel uncomfortable in the presence of other tripmates and we can't improve the situation through a confidential conversation, you can cancel the trip as a last resort even after the trip has started. And without having to pay the full cost of the trip.
I will refund you the full amount of your trip price in the local currency, minus
- Costs already incurred for activities, accommodation and transportation
- JoinMyTrip commission (10-15% of the trip price, JMT may refund you the fees afterwards)
- Costs for future bookings that can no longer be canceled (e.g. flights, train/bus or accommodation)
As a rule, you should receive at least 60-70% of your travel price back. Money should therefore not be a motive that prevents you from listening to your gut feeling!
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If you have any questions, suggestions or ideas, please send me a message and let's chat in advance. It is also possible to shorten the trip and return to Bangkok earlier.