- Koh Tao
The first thing I told everyone when I came back from Thailand was how impressed I had been with this small island called Koh Tao. When told me they had never heard of it, I let the pictures speak for themselves.
The only way I can describe Koh Tao is by saying that it is a little paradise on earth. At first, it does not strike you as anything special – the accommodation where we stayed was a small walk from the beach, and I did not think anything of it at first; that is, until we went to eat in a restaurant on the beach that directly overlooked the sunset.
When the whole sky lit up, the clouds became pink, and the silhouettes of little boats had me looking up ad wondering how a sight like that was real. It seemed like a shot from a movie, or even, a painting on the ceiling of a roman church.
As I heard, renting a villa on the beach in very cheap in Koh Tao – much like everything else in Thailand. If I ever come back, I would stay in one of those villas where the daily sunsets would be accessible without leaving the comfort of your accommodation. The little beach cafes and restaurants also stretch along the same beach, and you do not need to go far to find everything you need.
In terms of nightlife, Koh Tao also provides more than enough bars and clubs. There is even a bar crawl that anyone can join, which includes an impressive fire show, a chance to socialise and meet fellow travellers through several games, and, of course, cocktails that come in buckets.
2. Koh Phi Phi Don
Koh Phi Phi is one of the islands that you hear a lot about, but you never truly know what it’s like until you actually go there yourself. It offers some of the best views, no doubt and the best beaches, where you can relax and take in the beauty of your surroundings.It is also worth climbing the many steps and feeling like you can’t go on any more of the feeling you have when you finally reach the top – it’s like being on top of the world.
The nightlife is Phi Phi is also paradise for young people. Drinks are cheap, music is fun, and you are constantly surrounded by people your age who also want to meet people from different backgrounds and places. Thailand makes it incredibly simple for young people to come together and have fun. It is not at all intimidating going there on your own because you know you will meet people similar to you, and perhaps you will strike up unlikely friendships and make friends for life.
Another great thing about Phi Phi is the food. If you are looking for a cafe that makes food worthy of posting all over social media, then you are in the right place. Grand PP Arcade makes very delicious and good looking food – it is great for breakfast or bruch, but their lunch and dinner is great too. If not, Mango Garden is another famous place for breakfast or just a snack, where mangos come cut up in a fancy shape!
3. Bottle Beach
Bottle Beach is another incredible beach in Thailand. It is so beautiful, you will want to take endless pictures of it.
The place where we stayed had bungalows that were located on the beach, overlooking the sea. There was no need to leave the beach – you could stay there all day!
Activities included beach volleyball during the day, and a fire show at night. However, the highlight of the night was making our own lanterns, writing wishes on them and letting them fly, a kind of sight you will find in the movies. It felt magical!
Overall, I would say Bottle Beach is more for relaxation; perhaps staying there for a day or two is enough, as the choice of activities is limited. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful place worth visiting!
4. Khao Sok national park
Now Khao Sok national park was something else entirely. When they told us, a group of young people, that we were going to a place where they would be no service, everyone was dissatisfied. That is, however, until we got on the boat to go to Khao Sok.
The views that open up when you go to Khao Sok are similar to the ones you see on postcards, something resembling paradise rather than real life. The boat ride is long, but is worth it for the destination.
Where we went, we stayed in little bungalows that stood on water. We were isolated from the rest of the world, as we stayed there without any service and with electricity being only from 6pm-6am. As a result, we were forced to get to know each other, socialise, swim in the lake and eat the incredible Thai food that we were provided with.
In the evening, we drank and played Never Have I Ever, finding out some fun and not to fun facts about each other. Some people who were brave enough (or drunk enough) jumped in the river, which was pitch black and looked scary in the darkness.
As a result, I would recommend going here with a big group of friends to make the most of the experience.
5. Railay beach & monkey beach
if you’re seeking for the side of Thailand that is more immersed with nature and/or you want to see monkeys, then Railay beach is for you. It offers not only amazing views, but also a chance to get close to the monkeys.
When walking from my hotel to go out and eat, I encountered a whole family of monkeys. They stood there, or hung from the trees, and stared at me with their big eyes. It was scary as I did not know whether to walk through or not, and how dangerous they were.
Later, we went to a beautiful beach close to where we were staying (picture below). While swimming in the sea and relaxing, we saw a monkey come out of nowhere and steal the food of the people next to us who were having a picnic. One of the monkeys stole an avocado, the other knocked over the basket full of food and stole as many fruits as it could. A whole group of people gathered around them, filming and laughing. It was quite a sight!
In fact, if you would like to get even closer to the monkeys, the monkey beach is a great place to go. It’s fascinating to watch as the monkeys take bottle out of people hands and drink from them expertly – just like humans.
However, you don’t want to feed them, or even bring food near them – they can smell it from a mile away, and if they see it, they will all come running towards you. It can be dangerous, as they also bite.
I had a great trip to Thailand, and if you are planning to go anytime soon, I hope that this guide will be useful. Safe travels!
