Thailand & Backpacking. The two go together like Sang Som & Coke.
Is backpacking in Thailand easy? For the most part. Should you expect challenges? Definitely.
If you want order, normality, and don’t want to be placed outside of your comfort zone, you probably shouldn’t visit Thailand. Expect language barriers. Expect that someone will try to scam you. Expect to get lost. Expect squat toilets. Expect the power to go out. Expect delayed buses.
If you’re willing to take these challenges in stride and are keen to experience a part of the world that is unlike anywhere else, then backpacking in Thailand is right for you. Here are:
7 Reasons You Should Experience Backpacking in Thailand
1) The Capital City
Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city, is a series of contradictions, layered in smog and drenched in heat. It’s a chaotic rush of traffic, horns, and pollution.
You have BMWs sharing traffic clogged streets with dated motorbikes and tuk tuks. Bald-headed monks sporting traditional orange robes ride Bangkok’s excellent public transit system whilst typing away on iPhones. Five star hotels share the same streets as slums that local Thais and immigrants from SE Asia call home.
It’s a strangely addictive city that begs to be explored.
Not to be Missed: Khao San Road, food from the street stalls scattered throughout the city, and the Giant Reclining Buddah.
2) The Locals
You’ll be hard pressed to find a country with a more welcoming, laid-back, and friendly population (and I’ve just spent a year backpacking in New Zealand). Thailand is called the “Land of Smiles” for a reason, and you can expect a hospitable welcome almost anywhere you travel to.
Mai pen lai translates roughly to “no worries” and is very much indicative of the Thai’s outlook on life. Similarly, sanuk translates to fun and permeates all aspects of Thai culture. Thais love eating together, drinking together, and generally living and having fun together.
Expect smiles, a carefree outlook on life, and generosity – soon, you’ll wonder why you’d ever want to leave.
3) The Nightlife
Thais love to party. Your experience backpacking in Thailand should include a healthy dose of the country’s nightlife. Chances are, you won’t be disappointed and you’ll stay out far later than you expected.
Drinking in Thailand is cheap; you can get a beer for $2, a cocktail for $5, and a bucket filled with Sang Som (Thai Whiskey, which is actually rum), Coke, & Red Bull for $7.
Whether you’re drinking in a classy Bangkok club, a Thai bar filled locals, a Koh San Road street bar, or a moonlit and music filled beach, you’ll soon understand that the nightlife in Thailand is second to none.
4) The Cost of Living
To say backpacking in Thailand is budget friendly is a gross understatement.
Backpacking in Thailand is cheap. Really cheap. You can expect quality accommodation for $10 / night, delicious street food meals for $2, overnight air-conditioned bus rides for $15, and a long taxi ride around Bangkok for less than $5.
Adventurous Kate, myself, and a Swedish mate chartered a private longtail boat with a driver on Koh Phi Phi for an entire afternoon. We saw Maya Bay (where they filmed “The Beach”), went snorkeling, and watched the sunset. The cost? $30.
5) The ExPats
Many people are aware of these advantages and have temporarily made Thailand their home; from location independent lifestyle designers, to dive instructors, to travel bloggers, to English teachers, there is a great group of foreigners who have relocated to Thailand.
And I don’t blame them.
Your visit to Thailand won’t be complete without seeing Thailand through their eyes. Find out the best spots to eat, to drink, and get a feel for what life in Thailand could be like. Just be careful, you may never leave.
6) The Food
Thailand’s food is a culinary delight; from spicy curries, to aromatic stir-fries, to barbecued meats, to fried crickets, to the quintessential pad thai noodles, there is something to please even the most discerning backpacker’s palate.
For anyone traveling on a budget, you don’t need to look further than the street vendors scattered throughout Thailand’s streets and alleyways. Street food in Thailand is cheap, it’s delicious, and it’s safe. I ate food from street vendors literally every day for six weeks and wasn’t sick once.
Expect to pay anywhere from $1 – $3 for a full meal. You won’t be disappointed.
7) The Beaches
Thailand’s South is a tropical paradise. On the East Coast you have the Gulf of Thailand with Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, and Koh Samui. On the West Coast you have the Andaman Sea with Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi.
While each island has its advantages and disadvantages, they all are home to some of the world’s most pristine beaches. Think fine white sand, clear water with tints of blues and greens, and beachside bungalows.
These beaches are the reason many backpackers travel to Thailand and the reason many never leave.
Have you traveled through Thailand? Leave your backpacking tips and top experiences in the comments section below.
Backpacking Matt 
hai Matt,
never been there, but i might add this country to my travellist.
Btw: nr. 8 can be the weather (important to me as you consider i live in rainy Holland).
Greets and happy travels, Jaap
@Jaap The weather is a definite advantage to backpacking Thailand as well. Add Thailand to your list! You won’t be disappointed!
I agree for all the 7 reasons. I have travel to another countries in South Asia and are all wonderfull, but Thailand is definitive a place where I want to go back soon.
@Eugina Glad you agree!
Gah, I need to get to Thailand ASAP! Great list, Matt.
@Amanda Thanks – might possibly have surpassed NZ as favorite country. Not sure if that’s possible – I’ll let you know after a couple months of deep contemplation!
Cannot wait to get here in Feb!
@Dan You’ll absolutely love it.
This list could easily be a million reasons why. I love Thailand. Good stuff Matt. Good to hear you had a great time there.
@Michael Thanks mate. Always tough making a list like this when 7 could very easily be 20. Glad you enjoyed it — Ill be jealous come New Years!
I must be spoiled. I’m used to paying for $2 beer here in Austin lol – especially on $2 pint night. :X
Looks amazing.
@Erica Very good point – it was never difficult to find ‘$1 you call it’ in Iowa! Yet the beaches in Iowa just aren’t quite the same!
Great post, Matt, and even though it could go on for pages and pages, you picked seven EXCELLENT reasons to visit this wonderful country!
Thailand is a must for any backpacker. And even though you listed some disadvantages at the beginning…they’re really not that bad at all (except for squat toilets, that is…grr, I hate those). This country is fantastic. 🙂
@Kate Fantastic is an understatement. I wouldn’t even call the points at the beginning ‘disadvantages’ – rather they’re challenges that add to the overall experience, and I think you need to be aware of them going in.
Great stuff man, you and Kate’s travels and blogs have really reinforced the idea to me that Thailand is a true backpacking “rite of passage”, I can’t wait ’til it’s my turn, thanks for the inspiration!
@Scott Glad you’re enjoying are stuff – Thailand is a must on the backpacker trail for sure.
As mentioned before, great list. Excited I get to experience Thailand in January.
@Mike You’ll love it – have a blast!
7 could easily be 77 – thats why i call this place home when i stop traveling every 6 months or so 🙂 thanks for sharing mate!
@Johnny Stopping at seven points was a challenge! It’s a fantastic country and I don’t blame you for calling it your temporary home.
Love this post, reminds me of all the reasons I had such a great time there.
@Ayngelina Glad you enjoyed it!
Sweet post man! Those are half the reasons I ended up staying in Thailand for over a year, food being the foremost!
@Migrationology It’d be easy to do. I would spend entire days in BKK wandering the streets checking out different street stalls. I’ll never tire of Thai food!
Good summary of Thailand…
To add to your points:
*I’ve gotten booze even cheaper than the prices you quoted in the blog … last night (in a restaurant no less), I got a large Chang for 50 baht (~ $1.65 CAD), and when I was in Koh Chang, there was a special for a Sangsom and Coke bucket for 120 Baht (~ $4 CDN, simply evil!)
*Speaking of Koh Chang, it is one of the least crowded Thai Islands … apart from the main population centre in White Sand beach, Koh Chang has relatively uncrowded beaches (especially Long Beach) … see it while you still can, it is developing rapidly!
* As far as the locals go, in complete agreement … I’ve been invited to eat with them twice, and have been stuffed to the gills each time!
@James A large Chang in a restaurant for 50 Baht is a bargain! Whereabouts were you? I’ve heard Koh Chang is amazing – and yes, well worth a visit before development takes over. Glad you enjoyed the post and could relate to my points. Safe travels!
Thailand was a blast for all the reasons you expressed and ten thousand more! Some of my favorite Thailand memories include snorkeling on Koh Phangnan, descending in to the Wat Ba Darn cave and making new friends along the way.
@Josh Koh Phangnan will be one of my first stops the next time I’m back!
Funny about the squat toilets…didn’t know about them until listening to the podcast Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase. Betty said that ppl from countries with squat toilets are often stymied by the toilets on airplanes.
I’d go to Thailand just for the street food an the sunsets. I love to try street food wherever I go…even at home in Philadelphia. The Mexican Popsicles in San Antonio hit the spot too.
@Mary I miss the food perhaps more than anything – there are so many new & exciting things to try at such a budget friendly price. And the sunsets are pretty sweet too. 🙂
You found excellent reasons to be in Thailand and i can never disagree. The cost of living is what I like most. Its really cheap. There are delicious foods that are also cheap. The beaches are as good as anywhere else. Thailand is always at the top of my list whenever i need to be frugal.
@Nelly Thanks for the comment — Thailand is certainly budget friendly.
Matt, Thailand is one of the coolest places I’ve ever been too. The islands, the beaches, the food, the noise, the hangovers. It’s awesome. Orange-robed monk smoking a cigarette is a sight I’ll never forget.
@Eli Glad you agree – excellent to meet up in Bangkok, hope your travels are going well.
Looks like i need to consider Thailand to be on my list=)
Nice. the only caveat I can come up with is that not all islands are created equal. Koh Samui and Phuket do not feel like Thailand, but then there’s Koh Phangan (if you avoid Haadrin beach home of the Full Moon) and Koh Tao, Lanta and Chang who all retain a local charm.
in the end, it really is all about ho you interact with the locals.
@Thomas I’d definitely agree. Unfortunately I only made it to Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta but Lanta was heaps better in my mind. As you said, it has the ‘local charm’ and feels more or less untouched by tourism.
All perfect reasons to visit. I have a friend who is leaving for Thailnd in 4 days and she’ll be glad to read this article. Cheers Matt!
Great post Matt. I am set to go to Thailand in Feb and I cannot wait!! Your photos make it look even better. 🙂
@Bethany Thanks – you’ll have an absolute blast. Tell Thailand sa-wat dee kab for me!
Maybe a good suggestion. This year I’ve been to the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand. This island is located 70km off the Andaman (west) coast of Thailand’s most southwestern province, Satun Province and shines out among some of Thailand’s most beautiful, and unforgettable environments.
I had a great time on Lipe and there was a lot to do like snorkeling, shopping and eating in good quality restaurants and bars. I found my resort on Koh Lipe on http://www.welovekohlipe.com, where you can also check out more information about Koh Lipe and the surrounding areas. I can really recommend Koh Lipe for a nice relaxing holiday in paradise!
While I haven’t been to Thailand, it certainly sounds like the ultimate country to visit. I love the “no worries” and “fun” attitudes you describe the Thai people to embody. And the beaches look astounding.
@Suzy A backpacking & budget travel paradise! I can’t wait to return.
Nice post with excellent pictures. The pictures alone would make me want to go there, because they show how much character the place has!
@Leslie Thanks! Lanta would be the first place I returned to the next time I was in Thailand .. well, I guess I’d probably stop off and visit mates in Railay first!
Spot on. The thing that struck us the most when we first came to Bangkok (besides the craziness of Khao San Road) was the hospitality of the locals, the smiles, and general optimism. This did change a bit when on Koh Tao or Koh Phangan; seems like there was a bit of resentment of the tourism there. Less smiles & attention than Bangkok or Chiang Mai.
We made a short, colorful video from the streets/markets of Bangkok: http://www.itsgoodforus.com/video-midnight-bangkok/
@It’s Good For Us — Interesting to hear your experience. I found the locals on Koh Phi Phi much less inviting than elsewhere in the country, and suspect it’s simply the massive amounts of drunk tourists that frequent the island. The locals in Koh Lanta – with more space and fewer tourists – were fantastic.
I’m all over Thailand these days.
Not nearly as fun and eloquent as your blog, nevertheless I talk about my experience with Thai girls, visa runs, ladyboys, and general mayhem:
http://two.cedonulli.com/?s=thailand
@Jake Thanks for the heads up on the blog – will have a look!
this article seems too much about thailand in a tourist sense. when i go backpacking, i go to be away from “the nightlife” and “the capital city” and stuff. i wish they had more about the mountains and the seclusion. that’s what a major part of backpacking is for me. i prefer the backcountry stuff.
@Paul Cheers for the feedback – a very good point. This post heavily focuses on seeing Thailand from a tourist’s perspective. I didn’t do much quote end quote backpacking in the mountains or exploring the national parks whilst in Thailand, but this is absolutely on my list for the next time I’m there.
I have just finished writing an upto date budgeting guide for backpacking in Thailand, gives a good idea of the costs for those planning a trip.
Cost of Backpacking in Thailand
@Jake Cheers! Great resource!
Hi, thanks for your great tips. I’m planning to come here hopefully next year. I promised myself to ride their elephants and visit their ancient temples. This colorful and rich culture is a must see for me. 🙂
this is quite an old post but just wanted to mention that i agree with you one hundred percent! i’m in vietnam right now, have been to thailand twice and will be returning at the end of my trip again. there is something that draws people back to that country over and over. My personal favorite city? Chiang Mai!
@EJ Juen Jr – if you’re looking for an elephant experience, check out the elephant nature park up near chiang mai. no elephant riding allowed, but it is an amazing experience and you will learn all about why you shouldn’t ride an elephant. i’d highly recommend the 1 week volunteer position or the 2 day, 1 night stay if you don’t have the time!
Great post Matt! Makes me miss Thailand so much! I am trying to think of other reasons why people should go to Thailand but I think your post pretty much covers it ^^
Cheers!
Nate
@Nate Cheers for the comment – reading this post makes ME want to go back too!
Very cool post. #5 is me! I’m one of those expats… Feel free to talk to nearly any of us, we are happy to show you why we love Thailand 🙂
Glad you enjoyed. I would love to get back to Thailand for some street food, relaxed beaches and awesome locals/expats.
Hi
Congratulations on a great site mate!
My stay in Khao San Rd was a real treat, at 2am when Bangkok is asleep Khao San is ablaze with lights and the party goes on till dawn!
Also never heard a harsh word spoken or any Agro, all happy friendly people.
Would just add a warning to those who might like to venture out into the countryside.
I was warned by the locals not to go alone into the country side on foot as local farm dogs have been known to attack strangers!! And you do not want a dog bite from the many stray dogs in Thailand.
Their penchant for mangy stray dogs which are everywhere, even in Bangkok CBD is the only negative for this beautiful country.
Even Thais love Thailand!
Also beware of TUK TUK drivers scams! Never agree to visit tourist shops to help them, it’s a scam and when you come out they will have gone!
Apart from that loved Thailand!
Keith
i love this list, i have recently moved to thailand. I love having friends over here and showing them these different aspects of thailand! Great article!
Thanks Olivia!
I’d really love to visit Thailand one day, it looks like such an amazing country!