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Thailand, Laos, & Cambodia 

2.5 Week Trip

Don't forget to check out the Thailand, Laos, & Cambodia places tab for more information & tips on these countries! 

 

Day 1:  Flight to Bangkok

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  • Got a SIM card at the airport with unlimited data for 8 days for $9 USD!

  • Walked to the Phra Sumen Fort and along the Chao Phraya River

    • There were many shrines on the walk and a large Budah

  • Explored Bangkok

    • Went to Khao San Road Market

      • Got dinner here and walked around there at night.

      • My hostel was on that street

        • Note: it is very loud until about 2-3am every night

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Day 2:

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  • Tour of Damnoen Floating Markets:

    • I rode on a long paddle boat through the floating markets

    • Next, took a long-tailed speed boat to see the floating houses

      • 450 Baht for transportation & both boat rides- half day tour

  • Self-Guided Walking Temple Tour: (walked to 3 temples)

    • Grand Palace (500 Baht)

    • Wat Arun (50 Baht)

    • Wat Prha (HUGE reclining Buddha- 100 Baht)

    • Note: You must cover legs and shoulders when visiting all of these palaces! (remember these are holy sites!)

  • Back to Khao San Road Market at night

    • Got a message for my tired muscles -- highly recommend!

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Day 3:

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  • AM flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

    • I used Thai Airlines (but look for other cheap offers!)

    • Picked up a rental car at the airport

  • Drove to Pai (city 3 hours northeast of Chiang Mai):

    • NOTE: there are 762 curves to get to Pai- I thought it was a fun and gorgeous drive but some people might get car sick…

  • Pai Historical Bridge- walked across it

  • Pai Land Split:

    • Geographical Phenomenon which resulted from earthquakes in 2008, 2013, & 2015

    • Donate some money to the local farmer right there- he sells snacks

  • Pam Bok Waterfall:

    • 10 minute walk to get there

    • Bring your bathing suit and swim in it!

  • Container at Pai/ Pai Café:

    • This was and still is my favorite cafe to this day (DO NOT MISS THIS!)

    • Unbelievable mountain views from their balcony and fantastic local food!

  • Bamboo Bridge at Pai:

    • Cool to walk on the bridge

    • Cost 30 Baht

  • Stayed at Darling View Point Bungalows: great views from this hostel

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Day 4:

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  • Mo Paeng Waterfall:

    • This gem is nestled in the middle of the lush Thai jungle

    • The water is brown, but you can swim here (I just didn’t)

  • Yun Lai Viewpoint:

    • You will not often find a 360-degree view in nature, but here is a gem of one!

    • Gorgeous view of the mountains and valleys below. Stay up there a while and take it in.

    • NOTE: if you are driving yourself up here, know your car and your driving limits. It was VERY steep to drive up to the Viewpoint. I almost didn’t think the car was going to make it up, but it did haha.

  • Hiked Pai Canyon:

    • This was one of the craziest hikes I’ve ever done- though not a trail that you need to be an ‘advanced hiker’ to enjoy.

    • NOTE: if you are scared of heights, you probably will not want to do this hike.

    • Safety Note: The hiking path is very narrow and steep. Please, bring proper hiking shoes and take your time!

  • Drove back to the hostel, rested and got ready for a local festival

  • Loi Krathong Festival:

    • It’s free in Pai! And Fun, so I highly recommend you go if you are there during the festival (annually in November)

    • This is celebrated along the Pai Walking Street

  • Stayed at Darling View Point Bungalows again overnight. 

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Day 5:

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  • Left Pai in the morning via my rental car

  • Drove to Huai Nam Dang National Park

  • Doi Chang Viewpoint

    • Here, there are rows of brilliantly colored flowers with a towering mountain backdrop. It was a stunning!

    • Making the pit stop at this National Park really helped to break up the 3 hour drive back to Chiang Mai. If you have more time, or want to see more things, there are lots of things to do in this national park! 

  • Drove back to Chiang Mai (2 hr 17 min left)​

    • Checked into the Bunchun Hostel, unloaded my gear, and got ready for another festival!

  • Went to the Yi Peng Lantern Festival (NOT TO MISS)

    • This festival does require tickets

    • I got a standard ticket & transfer from my hostel with 4pm pickup (try not to head out later than that!)- must order ahead of time, as they sell out!

    • This was such a magical night! Highly recommend going to the lantern festival (only once a year in November, so check for the exact dates!)

  • Stayed at Bunchun Hostel overnight

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Day 6:

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  • Elephant tour day! One of my favorite days of my trip!

    • There are tons of tour options with different companies- I ordered mine online, but you can also book at your hostel!

    • I got picked up at 9am from my hostel. 

      • We got to feed the elephants, make special vitamins to give them, trekked with them, gave them mud baths, and just loved on them!

      • They give you clothes to wear since you will be mud bathing them and get dirty! Bring a towel and flip flops!

    • Do not ride the elephants!

    • Got back to the hostel at 4:30pm

  • I got cleaned up and hopped back into my car

  • Drove to Doi Suthop-Pui National Park (only 30 min from the Hostel)

    • Parked and walked up the 300+ stone stairs to reach Wat Phrathat Doi Suthop Temple (remember, cover your shoulders/legs)

    • From here you have views of the entire city of Chiang Mai!

    • I was up there for sunset; you should be too— it was beautiful!

      • There is lighting on the stairs, so if you are up there for sunset, don't worry about bringing a flashlight!

  • If you have time, explore the old city (walled city with temples inside)

    • I just didn’t have time, and between the two, I would rather see nature than be in the city.

  • Stayed at Bunchun Hostel again

 

 

Day 7: Exploring Chiang Mai

  • Up early with my gear and swimsuit packed in the car

  • Drove to Bua Tong Waterfall and Rainbow Spring (Known as “sticky waterfalls”)

    • Located about 1 hour away from Chiang Mai

  • Chiang Mai Grand Canyon:

    • Cost: 100 Baht (not the water park) ßwhat does this mean?

    • You can cliff jump here, but use good judgment!

    • The water was very warm to swim in, and you can float around on inner tubes!

  • Chiang Mai Night Market

    • Dinner here (I recommend trying something new every night)

    • This is where I would get my daily fresh fruit smoothie!

  • Stayed at Bunchun Hostel again

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Day 8:

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  • Got up early and drove 2 hours to Doi Inthanon National Park: stopped at 4 waterfalls along the way to the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail- Mae Klang waterfall and Sirithan waterfall

    • It was raining and super foggy when I got to the trailhead so I couldn’t see anything :( 

    • But I heard it’s supposed to be a spectacular hike!

  • Drove back to Chiang Mai to return by rental car and catch my flight to Luang Prabang, Laos via Lao Airlines

  • Note: Laos visa was $35 USD (cash only) on arrival. 

  • Got a 5GB SIM card for my phone for 4 days for 150 Baht ($4 USD)

  • Took a taxi to my hostel: Vongprachar Backpackers Hostel- good hostel with great free breakfast!

  • Mount Phousi: 15 min walk from hostel, 450 steps up to the top

    • I was up there for sunset: gorgeous! Highly recommend being up there for sunset if you don’t mind a lot of other people up there too...

    • There was a temple up there: Wat Tham Phu Si

  • Royal Palace

  • Walked around the street market at night

    • They sell mini coconut milk pancakes everywhere- try them! They are so yummu! Eat them for dessert (they are sweet!)

  • Stayed at Vongprachan Backpackers Hostel

Day 9:

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  • Took a bus to Kuang Si Waterfalls:

    • Bluest water, I swam in these waterfalls!

    • The water is freezing but so worth going for a swim here! It’s gorgeous!

    • 35,000 kip for the transportation (includes there & back) = $4 USD

    • The hostel set me up with the tour/ transportation

  • Got back to the hostel then walked along the Nam Khan River, saw a few more temples: Wat Sensoutearam and Wat Xiengthong

  • I walked across the Bamboo bridge (5,000 kip = $0.60 USD)

    • Fun Fact: they have to take down this bridge and rebuild it every 6 months because the water levels gets too high half of the year

  • I walked along the Mekong River and found a set of stairs that went down to the river, so I sat there for a while and watched the sunset- less crowded than yesterday’s sunset at Mount Phousi!

  • Went to the night market in the evening again. 

  • Stayed at Vongprachan Backpackers Hostel again

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Day 10:

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  • Luang Prabang to Siem Reap, Cambodia flight (2:40 from Laos to 4:10 direct 1.5 hr flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia)

    • Taxi to Luang Prabang airport from my hostel = 40,000 kip = $4.67 USD

  • Note: Cambodia visa $30 on arrival

  • Taxi from Siem Reap to hostel- Onederz Hostel = $10 USD

  • Walked around the night market and pub street at night

    • They sell rolled ice cream everywhere here!

  • Stayed at Onederz Hostel Siem Reap (next to Angkor Night Market)- had a rooftop swimming pool! It was the best hostel I’ve ever stayed at! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

 

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Day 11:

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  • I woke up at 4:30am and my tuk tuk driver took me to Angkor Wat for sunrise!

    • Set up a tuk tuk driver for yourself for the whole day to drive you to all the different temples and wait for you while you explore them! You can set that up the night before at your hostel!

      • First we had to stop and get my 1 day ticket ($37 USD)

  • Sunrise at Angkor Wat, then went to Bayon in Angkor Thom (face carvings), then Angkor Thor, then Baphuon (temple mountain with elephant statues), then Ta Prohm (HUGE tree roots), then Banteay Kdei, then Bakong temples (I was tired of temples at the end haha).

    • Angkor Thom Gate: 1km east of Ta Prohm, it’s a 3km walled city with 5 entrances

      • Each gate is crowned with 4 giant faces and Bayon is at center of the city (South Gate is often the 1st stop on a tour)

      • Baphuon is inside

  • Tuk Tuk driver drove me to see the floating villages - private boat tour

    • This was a bit scary since I was alone… I recommend only going if you are with other people...

  • Tuk Tuk driver for the whole day costed me $35 USD

  • Ate dinner at the hostel: Amok- it’s Cambodia’s specialty dish- like a green curry, not spicy, very good!

  • Stayed at Onederz Hostel Siem Reap again!

 

Day 12:

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  • Flight from Angkor Wat to Bangkok (1:25pm to 2:35pm direct 1 hr 10 min)

  • I got another 8 day SIM card with unlimited data for $9 USD

  • I picked up a rental car at the Bangkok airport through Chic Car Rental (good company and nice cars- I recommend them here!)

  • I drove 3.5 hrs to my place for the night (Pranburi Canaba Resort)

    • Gorgeous inground pool/ free parking - highly recommend! Nice break from hostels!

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Day 13:

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  • Went to San Roi Yot Beach for sunrise

  • Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park: hiked down to Phraya Nakhon Cave

  • Hiked to the Khao Daeng View Point

    • The earlier you go, the better; it gets too hot and crowded around lunch time & after. 

  • Drove to Chumphon and stopped along some beaches on the way there/ went to the night market here. 

 

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Day 14:

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  • Chumpion Pier to Ka Tao Island: 7:15 to 9am

  • Ka Tao was my favorite island! Snorkeling in clear                                              waters with tons of marine life!

    • I did a snorkel tour that went to 5 islands: Nang Yuan Island was the best!  (hike to the viewpoint), Mango Bay, Hin Wong Bay, Aow Leuk, Shark Bay- snorkeled at all 5 islands!

  • Night life on the island!

 

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Day 15:

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  • Went to a secluded beach and spent most of the morning there swimming and paddle boarding!

  • Ko Tao back to Chumphon Pier (3:30 to 5:15pm)- come 30 min before departure

  • Drove 4.5 hours to my hostel in Krabi

  • Stayed at Pak up Hostel: very nice hostel, in middle of Krabi town- highly recommend!

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Day 16:

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  • Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail in Khao Ngon Nak Naitonal Park

    • I had a rental car here, so I drove the 40 minutes there.

    • The drive was gorgeous; driving next to huge limestone cliffs!

    • Hike was 5 miles roundtrip; took me 3 hrs

    • Go early in the morning, because it gets way too hot and crowded later.

    • Dragon Crest viewpoint you just have to find this- there is no sign

  • Drove 45 minutes to Tiger Cave: temple at the top of 1,260 steep and tall steps! There were many monkeys along the stairs (mostly at the bottom). 

  • Night market in Krabi

  • Stayed at Pak-Up Hostel again!

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Day 17:

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  • Railay Beach: only accessible by boat (take the long-tail boat!)

    • Swam at the beach

    • Got lunch at the Mangrove Restaurant (very good food!)

    • Walked to the viewpoint (rock climbed)

    • Rock climbed down to the Lagoon

    • Ao Phra Nang Beach and explored the caves around there! Absolutely gorgeous limestone caves!

  • Back to Krabi around 5pm

  • Night market

  • Stayed at Pak-Up Hostel again!

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Day 18:

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  • Ferry from Krabi to Phi Phi Island (350 Baht): 8am to 9:30am

  • Hiked to the 2 viewpoints! The 2nd is a spectacular view of the whole island!

  • Took a long-tail boat tour: 400 Baht total

    • Tour went to: Monkey Beach (don’t let them climb on you; they bit!), Viking Cave, Pileh Bay/Lagoon, Loh Sa Mah Bay, Maya Bay

    • Ate lunch on the boat (they provided it)

    • We swam at a few of the stops and snorkeled!

  • Ibiza pool party

  • Stayed at Blanco Beach Bar: the #1 party hostel on the island- such a fun night with beach fire shows, limbo, jumprope, and all the beach parties along the whole island!

 

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Dec 19:

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  • Spent the morning on the beach

  • Ferry back to Krabi from Phi Phi, drove 2 hours to Phuket to catch my flight from Bangkok to Toronto with a long layover in Beijing, China

    • I picked this flight on purpose so I could walk the Great Wall of China on my layover!

 

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Day 20:

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  • 7 hour 10 min layover in Beijing, China - Great Wall of China Tour!

  • Flight back to Toronto, Canada

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