Where to go from Bangkok on your own. Beaches of Bangkok or where to swim near the capital of Thailand? Nepal is a country for those seeking harmony

In this review, we will help you figure out where it is best to fly from and tell you about the most interesting places. The capital of Thailand is the largest Asian air hub, from where you can travel inexpensively both within the country and to other countries. The cheapest way to do this is with low-cost airlines: , and others. If you are traveling with hand luggage, then flying from Bangkok costs mere pennies (especially if you do it in advance).

In addition to beach holidays, Phuket offers a lot: numerous Thai and Chinese temples, observation decks, ancient mansions in Phuket Town. The locals will give a sea of ​​emotions to lovers of shopping, and the nightlife and discos of Patong will leave an indelible impression on lovers of parties and.

For children there is a water park, themed hotels with children's animation, clubs and playgrounds.

Currently, flying from Bangkok to Phuket is almost as inexpensive as traveling by bus, which takes more than 11 hours. And you will spend less than an hour on the plane.

Angkor city (Cambodia)

From Bangkok you can fly inexpensively to Siem Reap, a city in Cambodia, next to which is the famous Angkor temple complex. This ancient monument of Khmer culture is declared by UNESCO as a historical heritage of all mankind. There are no such grandiose and well-preserved buildings in Thailand; they are noticeably inferior to it.

Angkor occupies a vast territory, where there are several dozen temples located several kilometers apart from each other. The most famous are Angokr Wat and Angkor Thom and they are also the largest.

The flight from Cambodia takes just over an hour.

City of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

is the capital of Malaysia - a unique city where antiquity coexists with modernity. Numerous colonial buildings and palaces are intertwined with modern skyscrapers, Chinese temples with huge shopping centers.

The city offers a rich excursion program; there are more than two dozen interesting places. Apart from the famous Petronas Towers and Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur has observation decks, museums, royal palaces and much more. It is easy to travel between attractions by excursion bus or public transport: metro, monorail, city buses, taxis.

You can also fly to Kuala Lumpur from Bangkok to renew your visa.

Singapore

Singapore is a city-state rolled into one. Here you can visit the future. Singapore is the most modern in the region, using the latest technology everywhere: both in the external design and in the interior decoration of buildings.

If we think theoretically, then beaches in Bangkok there could be, because the capital of Thailand stands on the mighty shore and borders the Gulf of Thailand. In this city you can find almost everything that makes the civilization of Southeast Asia attractive, including exotic and not entirely legal ways of getting pleasure (read more about), but not a place where you can sunbathe, strip down to your underwear, and cool off your hot... body. You can enjoy exotic cuisine, feast your eyes on the views of Buddha statues and temple complexes, visit shops, supermarkets and shopping centers, plunge headlong into the boiling passions of the night... But if you need sand and a gentle sea wave, you will have to drive kilometers away from the metropolis 100-150.

Pattaya

Story about relaxing on the beaches near Bangkok It's best to start with this tourist center, which is closest to the capital of Thailand. It takes about two hours to get there (all ways,). It is best to choose a place for relaxation in the north and south - this is Naklua or, as well as the Long Beach and Aisavan hotels. The beaches are sandy, much cleaner than in the center, with well-developed infrastructure. Here and there there are reef shoals. According to many tourists, the transparency of the water in Pattaya leaves much to be desired. That is why the services of small fleet owners are so developed there, ready to deliver for a reasonable fee to.

Hua Hin

On the opposite coast from Pattaya, and southwest of Bangkok, is Hua Hin. The monarchs of Thailand honored this city with their attention by building it. much cleaner than "Pattaya". The length of the beach with clean white sand is about six kilometers. The entrance to the sea is gentle and shallow, perfect for those who... The infrastructure is well developed. There are plenty of sun loungers and sunbeds with umbrellas. There is an opportunity to ride on an “air banana” and a lot of other activities described in the article ““. There are many cafes and restaurants where the food is tasty and relatively inexpensive. It’s a full 200 kilometers to get to this city, but the trip will be worth it.

Khao Takiab

We advise you not to particularly wonder about “ are there beaches in bangkok", and going straight to Khao Takiab is an excellent place for a relaxing holiday. Again, you will have to move towards Hua Hin, right to the southern foot of the so-called Monkey Mountain (Khao Thakiab). It is also sometimes called “black beach” because the sand, which contains an admixture of volcanic rocks, is not white, but gray. The beach will delight you with peace, cheapness and delicious authentic food, for which coastal restaurants are famous.

Bang Saen

If you are interested in authentic Thailand, then head from Bangkok to a town called Bang Saen. Everything there is for “internal use” and only a quarter of the population understands. This is a small university town with an excellent beach of the same name, where city residents prefer to relax. There are even comfortable hotels built here for them. You won’t find cheap hostels there, but cafes and restaurants are as Europeanized as possible. After Pattaya, full of forbidden entertainments Bang Saen beach may seem overly boring.

Get to Bang Saen Beach The most convenient way is from the Victory Monument station, close to which is the fourth most important bus station in the Thai capital. There you need to take a minibus, which will take you to Laemthong in about an hour and a half. This is a shopping center located on Bangsaenlang Road leading to the beach. There are many cafes and restaurants on it, it is shady, so a walk of a quarter of an hour will not be tiring. Minibus taxis from "Victory Monument" run from five thirty in the morning until 11 pm.

Thailand is undoubtedly a very interesting and original country. However, for many of our compatriots it has become a “second home” - today it is one of the most affordable and popular East Asian destinations. That is why some tourists are thinking about where else they can fly from Bangkok in order to get a portion of completely new bright emotions and see several countries at once during their vacation.

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Angkor is a “dead” city, the heyday of which falls on the X-XI centuries. Today, a huge number of temples have been preserved here, including the legendary Angkor Wat, considered the largest religious building in the world. Its outline appears on the national flag of Cambodia. Moreover, this particular place was, is and will forever remain the soul of the Khmer people - here you can get acquainted with the traditions, culture, and art of a great civilization. In addition to Angkor Wat, other temples are also interesting: Phnom Bakheng, built one of the first (in the 9th-10th centuries), Angkor Thom, which served as the city’s citadel, Bayon with giant stone sculptures of Buddha’s faces, which were supposed to instill fear in the northern newcomers .

The most curious and restless tourists can go to the jungle - there are unique complexes, untouched by restorers, and iconic pools. Special routes are laid out for guests, passing through the main “mast see”, so it is almost impossible to get lost. You can get from the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, to the ancient temple complex of Angkor and the nearby city of Siem Reap by plane in an hour - there are direct flights and there are many of them.

Singapore - the city-state of the future

The small city-state of Singapore attracts travelers from all over the world. All sorts of unofficial names are attributed to it - “lion city” (in fact, this is how “Singapore” is translated from Malay), and “Disneyland for adults”, and “metropolis of the future”, and “city of prohibitions”. All of them only partially reflect the features of this place, because it is impossible to find one word that describes Singapore. It’s too different... Hotel Raphael, reminiscent of the distant architectural traditions of the 18th-19th centuries, is adjacent to futuristic skyscrapers. A quiet, cozy zoo and botanical garden, the age of which has already exceeded 1.5 hundred years - with the tallest Ferris wheel and a fantastic amusement park with dizzying, literally and figuratively, attractions. In addition, representatives of four religions coexist in a small area.

In general, Singapore is a very unusual “cocktail of the future” for lovers of excursion programs who believe that they have already seen everything and it is impossible to surprise them with anything. But fans of beach holidays are better off looking for other options. Even the world-famous Sentosa cannot boast of a coastline that resembles a picture from a bounty advertisement - the beaches of Singapore cannot be called clean and cozy. You can get from Thailand to Singapore from the Thai airports Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. The flight takes about 2.5 hours. Flights are operated by different airlines, including low-cost airlines.

Kuala Lumpur – the city of lights and skyscrapers

Lively, modern, a little chaotic - all these descriptions perfectly suit the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, or as the locals lovingly call it “K-El”. Today this city is considered one of the most beautiful in Asia and it really has something to surprise tourists. Skyscrapers lost among the clouds here coexist with beautiful parks, fashionable restaurants with cozy cafes, the oldest mosques with modern museums and exhibitions. The most logical place to start exploring the city would be from its place of origin, the square near the Masjid Jamek mosque. You also cannot ignore the modern symbol of the Malaysian capital - the Petronas Twin Towers, the legendary 88-story skyscrapers.

Almost at their top, on the 86th floor, there is a magnificent observation deck. On the 41st floor there is a covered bridge that allows you to cross from one skyscraper to another. Also inside there are panoramic restaurants, an art gallery, numerous boutiques, and a concert hall. In general, it’s a real paradise for tourists that you simply don’t want to leave. The Minara TV Tower is not as tall as its neighbors, but it does boast a revolving restaurant that is wildly popular with tourists. The flight from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur is not that long, only 2 hours. There are enough flights to choose a convenient time.

The Indonesian island of Bali is a world of ancient sanctuaries and paradise beaches

Many vacationers in Thailand and those who love this country are completely perplexed - why go to Bali and change one beach for another? In fact, if only to compare Thai massage with Balinese and understand how they differ, to “catch a wave” on the surf and look at the Australians who have learned to do it masterfully, and, of course, to get acquainted with unusual cultural and architectural traditions that differ even from Indonesian ones in general, not to mention Thai ones. The island of Bali is convenient for curious tourists because it is very compact.

By renting a car with a driver for one day, you can see all the “must see”: the temples of Uluwatu, Tahan Lot and some others (there are more than 1000 ancient sanctuaries on the island and each is interesting in its own way - you’ll have to make a choice), rice terraces, the capital Denpasar and “craft capital” Ubud, Lake Bratan. And, of course, spend at least a few hours on one of the beautiful sandy beaches, reminiscent of a picture from a bounty advertisement, and admire the dizzying sunset. Also interesting are the tides, which can be quite strong. You can get to the island of Bali (Denpasar Airport) from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. Travel time is about 4 hours. There are flights with transfers - more budget ones, but the journey can “stretch” for 8-10 hours.

Nepal is a country for those seeking harmony

Nepal is a small, mysterious country about which many, even experienced tourists, cannot say a few words. What is it famous for? Firstly, its location in the mountains - if you are not used to it and without a certain level of physical fitness, it can be difficult to stay and move here. In addition, the territory contains 8 of the highest peaks in the world, including the legendary Everest. Life in Nepal proceeds slowly, the locals are in no hurry and, it seems, do not even know what fuss is. It is not surprising that tourists have unique opportunities to experience what harmony is, practice meditation and, of course, enjoy the beautiful nature.

The architectural component of the Nepalese program is not very diverse - it is limited to visiting ancient pagodas and magnificent temples. True, there really are a lot of them here. In addition, a must-see is the small town of Lumbini - the place where Buddha himself was born. What else amazing to expect from Nepal? Basically nothing. The cuisine here is very ordinary, not sophisticated. There are no exciting entertainment options other than elephant safari. Which, in general, is not surprising. After all, this is, first of all, an Asian center of spirituality, and the main thing that mysterious Nepal can give is a special atmosphere that you can either be imbued with and fall in love with forever, or not understand at all. A flight from Bangkok to Nepal takes just over 3 hours – not so much time to find yourself in a “haven of calm and inspiration”.

Vietnam is a country of amazing diversity

Vietnam is an extremely interesting and diverse country that deserves a separate visit and close attention. But, if you have time and desire, you can fly there and from Thailand in order to see a slightly different Asia. Moreover, the flight is no more than two hours. Where to start getting to know Vietnam. There are many options. You can go discover temple complexes and the mysteries of ancient unknown civilizations. You can endlessly enjoy the splendor of the national park in Halong Bay - the local landscapes are considered one of the most beautiful on the planet.

You can get acquainted with the diversity of the underwater world - Vietnam has the cheapest diving in the world, you can admire the performance of the Hanoi puppet theater, which takes place on the surface of Hoan Kiem Lake. You can... in principle, in Vietnam you can find entertainment for every taste and the list of them can be endless. Also, don’t forget about the opportunity to look at the beautiful local beaches, if only to compare them with Thai ones and draw conclusions: where is better? After all, these two Asian destinations are the most popular among Russian tourists.

The Philippines is a state lost among the seas and oceans

The Philippines is another mysterious country about which tourists don’t know much. Perhaps two indisputable facts are that its capital is Manila, and its territory includes more than 7,000 islands. But only those who were lucky enough to visit there know that this is the quintessence of all the best that Southeast Asia has to offer. So, what can tourists expect? Skyscrapers no worse and no lower than those in Hong Kong - please. There are also ancient temples and an exotic excursion program, no less interesting than in Cambodia. Original cuisine, modern hotels and a high level of service are present. Beautiful nature and the opportunity to go diving are available. There are even ski resorts in the Philippines. Few? It seems that there is more than enough reason to drop everything and go discover this exotic state. Moreover, the flight from Bangkok to Manila takes no more than 3.5 hours.

Hong Kong - the financial capital of the world

Hong Kong is one of the Special Administrative Regions of China, located on the Kowlun Peninsula and more than 250 islands. Among tourists, the most famous are Lamma, famous for its excellent fish restaurants and the complete absence of gasoline transport, Lantau, where the Asia World Expo exhibition center is located, and, of course, Hong Kong itself, which occupies the city of the same name. This is where you need to start getting acquainted with the region.

Among the local attractions, it is worth paying attention to the numerous Buddhist temples built in the traditions of Chinese architecture, its own Avenue of Stars, an analogue of Hollywood, only with names known in the Asian film industry, Kotov Street and Hollywood Road, along which antique shops are located - an excellent place for shopping non-trivial souvenirs and, of course, skyscrapers soaring to the skies. It is here that the offices of large companies from different countries are located, billion-dollar transactions are concluded and issues related to the global financial market are resolved. The flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong takes 2 hours 40 minutes or a little more, depending on the airline. Almost 2 dozen flights depart daily in each direction, at any convenient time.

Macau - Las Vegas of the East

The Chinese city of Macau is often called the gambling capital of not only the country, but also the entire eastern region, and is even compared to Las Vegas. Although in some respects it is completely superior to it - after all, it is here that the largest casino in the world, the Venetian, is located, as well as many others, smaller in scale, but no less famous: Sands, MGM, and so on. But Macau attracts many guests not only with its gambling houses. Historically, this city was a Portuguese colony for a long time and came under the jurisdiction of China only in 1999. The result is an amazing interweaving of Eastern and European traditions. If you walk through the central part of the city, you can easily forget that you are in Asia. Only ancient temples built in honor of Buddhist and Taoist gods remind us of this.

If you go to this beach, take a few hours and check out Si Racha, which is located right in Chonburi. Here you can “rent” a tiger cub for half an hour to play, take pictures and just hug these wonderful animals.

Hua Hin and Cha Am Beach

Not far away, at a distance of 200 km from Bangkok, are the famous Cha-am and Hua Hin with clean beaches. They are considered the best beaches near Bangkok.

Hua Hin is the oldest developed resort tourist center for almost all types of recreation, and we recommend considering it as an alternative option for a vacation in Pattaya.

The biggest pride of Hua Hin is its wide beach surrounded by green trees, located next to a beautiful Buddhist monastery. White sand and a calm, gentle sea, architectural and natural attractions, the best conditions for active recreation - this is an incomplete list of things that attract tourists to Hua Hin. If we add to this the highest level of service, the friendliness of local residents and authentic Thai cuisine, then the city can rightfully be called a modern paradise.

With its atmosphere of peace and comfort, Hua Hin is reminiscent of very young but famous ones. Here, too, you won’t find an abundance of nightlife entertainment, so evenings are mostly spent walking around the beautiful surroundings or in cozy fish restaurants on the ocean shore.

Cha-Am (Cha-Am) is a small town and popular beach resort on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 160 kilometers south of Bangkok. In many sources, Cha-am is attributed to Hua Hin as one of its districts, but in fact it is a completely independent resort and city 25 kilometers from Hua Hin.

Cha Am Beach itself is a very long line of sand along which there are many casaurines - evergreens. The trees provide good shade, which is very helpful on particularly hot days. The sea is quite shallow, but clean - there are no factories nearby. All this makes Cha-Am Beach an ideal place for families with children.

We chose this resort for its close location to Bangkok, a few hours in a minibus and you are at sea.

Resort Pattaya

From Bangkok to Pattaya it is only an hour and a half drive. I recommend using high-speed buses from 180 baht.

Pattaya is a city of loud music, varied smells, a string of bright smiling faces, fun, love and pleasure. The marine atmosphere only fuels the “exotic fever”.

It’s really cool here, you can rent an apartment in a condo for 1000 baht per day, with several swimming pools and a 20-minute distance to the sea. The beaches themselves in Pattaya, let’s say, are not heavenly, but quite clean and well-groomed. The sand is yellow, sun loungers are often not available even without the possibility of renting.

Watch video reviews of Pattaya beaches:

Very close to Pattaya, in the Gulf of Thailand there is the island of Koh Larn. Here it can be safely recommended as a very good beach not far from Bangkok. For 50 baht, there are boats and boats from almost every beach that will take you to Koh Larn in 30 minutes.

Read the review article: comparison of prices, beaches, attractions.

Here are, in fact, 4 excellent examples of where you can go to the beach from Bangkok. Have a nice holiday! See you again!

It seems to me that the lives of many Russian tourists are connected with Thailand, those who have upgraded themselves from the “Turkey-Egypt” stage and are proud of conquering a “distant country”. Yes, the statistics don’t lie—Tai is among the top five most popular destinations in the modern mass travel market. Is it good or bad? So let's try to figure this out.

***This article is an addition to my series of articles about Thailand. To thoroughly prepare for your trip, I recommend that you read all of them carefully. Then you will understand how to correctly place emphasis when planning your trip to Thailand and Cambodia.

Bangkok

This article will talk about Bangkok - the gateway to Asia. What to do, where to live and where to move next from Bangkok.

To begin with, I would like to dispel the myth about the high cost of Bangkok/Phuket destinations. If you monitor groups with cheap air tickets and promotions of Thai airlines, then you can easily catch a ticket for 20 thousand rubles in both directions (in high season the price is about $1000). And since the ticket is the most expensive thing you will have to buy, then in the total amount of your trip it is not expensive.

Honestly, I can hardly imagine how you can spend $1000 in Thailand even in a month. Paradise for thrifty adventurers!

Where does Thailand begin? Of course - from Bangkok. You expect a big, dirty metropolis, with a bunch of screaming “blind-eyed pussies,” slums and bare concrete junctions. But from the first minutes you can see through the taxi window that this city is very different from typical Asian metropolises. Mysteriously large (there are many underground addresses in the capital, where not every taxi driver can take you), colorful (due to multi-colored bright pink, green, yellow taxis and red tuk-tuks) and very tasty smelling (if you compile an Asian street food safety rating, then Bangkok street - food will be in the top positions) it directly catches a keen interest.

There are contrasts everywhere: here is a toothless monk in a shabby temple smiling and trying to communicate with me with gestures, here is a giant modern shopping center with an aquarium and Madame Tussauds. On the left, Thai market women sell Chinese rags, and on the right, Thai bohemian fashionistas in the latest Valentino collection hold a fashion show.

I just take my already favorite green Thai Tea in a bag of ice and wander around the city, sucking on a straw and looking around.

A couple of tips on how to organize your time in Bangkok

1. Place accents

Understand what you are really interested in seeing in the city. You can take a standard sightseeing tour (but keep in mind that there are very big traffic jams in Bangkok and it’s almost impossible to see the city in a day by car), you can choose places that interest you (for example, floating markets or Madame Tussauds with wax figures or a huge aquarium) and completely devote yourself to time for them

Several good guides will help you set the accents: a guide from Medusa - “one day in Bangkok that will change everything” - or a guide from my favorite 34 Travel. And also one unknown site, Love you Planet, believe me, they have excellent guides. Bonus: One of the three Michelin-starred street food stalls is in Bangkok. 70-year-old granny Jay Fai cooks a divine crab omelette, for which she received a star.

2. Choose the right accommodation

Housing is a fairly important factor in a metropolis. How much you will have time to see in the city depends on its location. But I usually spit on these conventions, because Asian cities are rich in unusual, authentic housing. Even if it is not in the center, spending the night in a real tree house is worth it!

So, a few of my accommodation secrets:
Baiyoke Sky Hotel- classics of the genre. Located in the tallest skyscraper in the city. Don't expect much, but the room's great views, reasonable price ($50) and convenient location are reasons enough to book it.
J No.14- a paradise for lovers of eclecticism. Inexpensive designer b&b hotel - stuffed animals, butterfly decor, loft, wood and metal, piano in the lobby and farm breakfasts. And all this for $50 for a spacious room (relatively in the center). Choose this option if you want to impress your friends with photos on Instagram.
Bangkok Tree House- tree houses combined into a hotel on the outskirts of Bangkok. Hotel - experience. What does it mean? Getting there is long and difficult (actually not, if you take a taxi), you pay a lot ($120), but you will remember the tropical shower on the street and the feeling of spending the night in a tree house for a long time. Recommended if you have more than one night in the city.

3. Get a guide

You'll think I'm crazy - what a guide in the article about the non-trivial Bangkok. But no. Having worked for some time in a creative travel agency, I can confidently say that finding a great, non-standard guide is possible, but difficult. In the case of Bangkok, this is Anton Dryanichkin(+668-3298-0468, whatsapp) - founder of the group RealBangkok. Moreover, it is better to use the services of Anton and his team if you want to see something truly Bangkok (read trashy). Anton studied the city thoroughly, dividing it into small squares, then trained a team of guides and conducts excursions for demanding guests.

Anton gives a tour to Leonid Parfenov

4. Go to Khao San Street to find travel companions and adventures

The real juice of adventure flows like a fountain on Khao San Street, the starting point for any backpacker. An intriguing description is given by Afisha Mir: “The former rice market suddenly began to specialize in budget tourism - or rather, everything a young man who wanted to overcome Asia for 2 kopecks appeared here: from a camp pot to a fake ID of a member of a foreign legion. Naturally, restaurants serving a variety of world cuisines flourished. Now even those who live at the Grand Hyatt come here to see what they missed in their lives.”

Kao-San is very authentic! There you can play around all evening and even night, choosing ethnic clothes and leather accessories for pennies (ethnic lovers, get your wallets ready), you can test your strength with street food (one of the cheapest and most delicious pad thai is there), you can weave Kanekalon into your hair or get a tattoo, or you can just sit in a bar and engage in people-watching, tired of barkers for erotic shows and other adventures.

I sat and did just that, sipping a delicious milkshake. It seems that this is where DiCaprio's adventures in The Beach began (must watch before going!), when he experienced life by drinking the blood of a snake and met a crazy neighbor in a hostel who told him about a paradise.

Where to fly from Bangkok

Of course, I would really like and advise you to stay in Bangkok longer, but this is only a small fraction of all the beauty and mysteries that this country has. Therefore, I will briefly tell you where you can quickly and conveniently get from Bangkok:

1. Cambodia

Yes Yes! This is the coolest authentic option when you can cover several countries on one trip. The flight Bangkok - Siem Reap (the closest city to Angkor Wat) is operated by Airasia ($100 round trip) from the airport for low-cost airlines Don Mueang (if you have large luggage with you, I would advise you to leave it right at the airport in the luggage room). Cambodia, as such, did not impress me much, but you definitely need to see Angkor Wat at least once in your life. It costs 1-2 full days to fly to Siem Reap.
What to do? If you need excursions, contact the Sigurtravel company, founder Elena (+855 85 881153), she will help organize any leisure activity. Here - Focustravel (Julia +840837447201) - if you want to organize a tour on Vespa mopeds around Angkor Wat. In general, I advise you to do everything yourself.
You need to see Angkor Wat for yourself, renting a simple bike (don’t take a bike - it’s difficult and long distances; a tuk-tuk with a driver is possible - but you have to bargain) from the nearest hotel, because getting lost in this city is much more interesting than walking with the Chinese along the beaten path . On the second day you can go to Tonle Sap Lake, but this entertainment is rather dubious, since in fact it is a dirty shallow lake where very poor Vietnamese refugees live and the only goal of this organization is to scam tourists out of their money. It’s better to go there on your own on a bike, stopping at a lotus plantation along the way. But it’s definitely worth visiting Cambodia even for just 1 day. you will find a useful guide to it, and more of my Cambodian photos.

2. Pattaya

It takes 3.5 hours to get there by bus from Bangkok. I can't say anything good about this place. This is a grotesque part of tourist Thailand. Pattaya is a resort town, brought to such a state by tourists that it is physically impossible to swim there. Therefore, people go there either on homeless trips and go to the islands on boats every day, or backpackers are looking for adventure. If you are planning to go to Pattaya, then I advise you to escape to the islands of Ko Chang and Ko Kut in Trat province. It’s at least somehow calmer there (although I won’t say that it’s more beautiful in nature than the provinces of Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket).

3. Krabi

The province of Krabi, like Pattaya, is considered a rather touristic place, but at least you can swim there. Bangkok - Krabi $40 return per person, so why not explore? Krabi is closest to the bohemian island of Phi Phi (where if you are traveling as a couple, it makes sense to stay overnight in the jungle - Viking Nature Resort). And also to Koh Lanta and all the other Kohs located below Lanta in this province. Again, a savage, avoiding tourist places.

4. and

Wow, something interesting has already happened. You will find separate articles about these places on my website, because these two tiny islands have been thoroughly studied and are highly recommended by me for visiting.