Although I visited Thailand in my back-packing days, spending all day looking at holidays to Thailand, I found it hard to avoid the draw of going back. I wanted the combination of city, beach and wildlife so decided on Bangkok, Krabi and Phuket, with a visit to Elephant Hills.
Kicking Off with A Bang in Bangkok
If you’re in Thailand, you have to experience Bangkok. The city’s that’s a little bit crazy has the kind of energy that’s hard to describe. Basically, it’s infectious chaos. Dazzling temples, futuristic skylines, people everywhere, and the best street food, floating markets, and buzzing nightlife ever.
We flew there from Manchester. The minute we arrived, I remembered why I wanted to return. Wandering the bright lights and tightly-packed alleys had our stomachs rumbling almost immediately. Street vendors selling fresh-fried noodles and papaya salads will make you want to skip that hotel breakfast! Bangkok might top street food cities, but it’s got a lot more to offer. The 18th-century Grand Palace is just stunning. The historic Rattanakosin district also has the sacred Emerald Buddha, and it’s a quick walk to Wat Pho Temple’s Reclining Buddha. This sprawling setup is basically the most ornate, mesmerising thing you’ve ever seen. Glowing golds, giant Buddhas, and enough tradition to feel like you’ve stepped back in time. For Wat Pho, I’d recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
The thing about Bangkok is that it’s as historic as it is modern. One minute, you’re at Wat Saket’s Golden Mount. The next, you’re hopping on the Skytrain to 7-floor malls. The one we went to even had a replica Golden Gate Bridge in the middle. It was literally that huge.
We went on our Triple Gems tour, to explore the city’s main highlights, to ensure we didn’t get side-tracked and miss anything. We still had enough time though to enjoy wandering around the city, taking in the smells and sights and losing ourselves in all the craziness.
After a long day out though, I’ll admit a hotel with a rooftop pool and a cocktail bar doesn’t hurt. We stayed at the Icon Bangkok. This one ticks a lot of boxes for being bang in the Sukhumvit area and a 7-minute walk from the Skytrain. The beds are the comfiest I’ve ever stayed in, so no worries on that front. You’re also quite near Chinatown and Terminal 21 mall. An absolute standout was sipping drinks under the rooftop canopy- a pretty fantastic way to watch those thunderstorms.
Krabi: Offshore Islands, Paradise Beaches, And Bobbing Longtail Boats
We flew from Bangkok to Krabi. This south-coastal region is completely different from the capital. The first thing that hits you here is the scenery. If you saw Leonardo DiCaprio in The Beach, you’re halfway there. The movie was actually filmed on Maya Beach, although it’s now mega-crowded and under a “no boat” ban. You can still view the green-blue bay, dazzling sands, and craggy limestone rocks from a distance, though. We stayed in the Aonang Beach area.
Personally, I don’t feel that Aonang is Krabi’s most stunning shoreline, but it’s brilliantly placed for getting a longtail boat out to picture-perfect bays. Railay Beach is also accessible from here. This one’s a winner. Rainforest-wrapped with a peninsula setting, Railay is all about turquoise-clear waters, dramatic horizons, and some pretty amazing cave formations. Aonang itself feels small, but the food is fantastic, the nightlife is brilliant, and the waterfront Seafood Street is definitely worth stopping at.
We stayed at the Deevana Plaza Krabi. You’re a 10-minute walk from the main hub here, so it’s brilliant on the location front. It’s also really relaxing. You walk in past the aroma spa, breakfast is outdoors, and the woods and trees feel really tropical. Swim-up rooms are available, but I personally wouldn’t recommend them- unless you want strangers floating past your window!
Elephant Hills: Floating Lake Tents, Wildlife, And A Full Jungle Experience
After a megacity and a beach, I was definitely up for some greenery. We reached Elephant Hills via road transfer. This stretch of rainforest is in Southern Thailand’s Khao Sok. The great thing about Elephant Hills is that you can get picked up from virtually anywhere including Phuket and Koh Samui. We did two nights here- one with a jungle focus and one on the lake.
This place is something else. Lush rainforests and thick greenery mean you feel completely at peace, although prepare to bring some stamina for the jungle treks. Elephant Hills offers guided nature tours with a bit of a safari feel, but the accommodation is pretty luxurious. Think tents, but high-end. They’ve got their own bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and lovely woven terrace chairs under thatched roofs. The only thing that surprised me here was how many people hadn’t realised you can actually stay on the floating lake. Looking at their disappointed faces, I’m glad I knew in advance!
Wildlife-wise, we spotted elephants, monkeys, beautiful birds, and all sorts popping their heads out the water. Elephant Hills also organises self-paddle canoe trips and family activities. They even do traditional Thai cooking demonstrations. From the chicken in coconut milk to the Kaeng Kai Subparod curries, the food was nothing short of amazing.
Phuket: City-Come-Beach, Colonial Gems, And A Buzzing Night Scene
Phuket is the only destination I hadn’t been to before. We stayed for 7 nights and I absolutely loved it. It’s a tropical island with quiet beach resorts, but also has some lively places too, with plenty in-between. Phang Nga Bay has dazzling cliffs, there’s glowing temples everywhere, and you won’t be short of everything from street eats to amazing restaurants.
We chose to stay in Karon. The beach here has warm golden sands, clear waters, and a chilled bar and restaurant scene that’s quite family-friendly. Then again, you’re not a million miles off party central (a.k.a. Patong Beach). Karon itself had us well-placed for trips to Ko Phi Phi, James Bond Island, and being either way for Patong’s nightlife or calmer Kata. For me, Phuket was a mishmash of cultural Buddhas, brilliant markets, street food galore, and always being 5 minutes from the beach. There’s also Old Phuket if you’re interested in Thailand’s Portuguese colonial heritage.
We stayed at the Centara Karon which is a reasonable 4-star, and is quite a large resort. The rooms overlook a really peaceful lagoon, and it’s got both adult-only and kid’s pools. I’d also recommend the upgraded rooms.
Thailand is such an amazing country, so much buzz, culture, unbelievable food and stunning beaches… what more could you want from a holiday. If you are considering Thailand, it’s worth looking at our Thai Multi Centre Page as it features our most popular itineraries.. some great ideas on there. Otherwise give me a call, as I’ll be happy to provide any advice you need.
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Anonymous
We contacted eShores having visited the website to discuss a tailor made holiday to the Sporades islands. We spoke to one of the Travel Consultants, Kadie Ryan, who was friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. We received a quote shortly following our conversation and with Kadie's help were able to book our holiday with ease the next day. We are very happy with our experience booking this holiday.
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ColinMichael
Fantastic Holiday. Just returned from a great South African holiday, Cape Town 3 nights, Pilanesberg Safari 3 nights and a week in Zanzibar. Big thanks to Chris again, his knowledge helped organise and plan this vacation. This is the second long haul holiday he has booked for us. Each holiday has been faultless even though we have changed the itinerary to suit . The Safari he recommended on this trip, Ivory Tree in Pilanesberg was 5 STAR and made the holiday, another tick on the bucket list. Eshores customer service is second to none. I recommended this company to my daughter who is presently on a Canadian fly drive with them and is thoroughly enjoying it. Based on previous experience Chris has now helped us book Australia, Hong Kong & Dubai for next February, can’t wait. All their trips are good value for money, would not have any hesitation in recommending them.
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Julie
First time booking with eshores, so far So good, everything seems to be going smoothly, our adviser Chris is really helpful and communication and itinerary’s are all great.
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Susan
Gavin truly understands what we like but isn't worried about suggesting new countries or places of interest. All his suggestions have been spot on and enriched our holidays, he is a pleasure to work with. We look forward to many more adventures.
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Paul
Very knowledgeable and helpful Prompt replies and very quick to answer any questions
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DarrenBoyd
Very happy with what we booked, ( we asked for a trip/experience to Egypt), and Rachel put something together and within the budget we asked for. Once we reviewed it, we tweaked it several times for what we wanted in parts and Rachel did the rest. Very personable and pleasant to deal with. I think we will be looking at other experience holidays through E Shore in the future rather than your standard package holiday.
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Helen
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Ian
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Jacqueline
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Claire
Booked with eshores last year. Holiday was excellent and everything ran smoothly. We had one problem with one of the transfers in which we missed the plane and had to pay for the next flight but that was sorted and refunded when we returned home. Booked with them again for next year. Matt has been extremely helpful (and patient. We are a nightmare). Eshores are very competetive and I would not hesitate in recommending them and I hope to be using them for years to come.
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