7 Days in Thailand

Oh, the illustrious Thailand. Everyone and their retired dad has been talking about Thailand. I mean that, from young digital nomads to retirees, everyone seems to want to live, work, or play in Thailand — and it’s for a good reason.

It’s gorgeous with its breathtaking movie-worthy beaches, grounding spiritual mountains, and lively cities. Thailand is the ish, I’ll admit it. That’s why I had to go see it for myself. 

This 7-day in Thailand article will focus primarily on Chiang Mai, Phuket, and their surrounding areas. This article will not touch on Bangkok because I decided not to go there and focus on the natural beauty of Thailand instead, not the big city life.

With that, let’s learn a little somethin’ somethin’ about Thailand and why it’s such a geographically and culturally unique place.

About Thailand

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia, just west of Laos, north of Cambodia and Malaysia, and southwest of Myanmar. The country was known as Siam until 1939. The capital, Bangkok, is a huge city with over 5 million inhabitants. Thailand as a whole has 17 million people, with a mix of locals and tourists. 95% of Thai people are Buddhist and its rich religious roots can be seen in the incredible amount of ancient temples sprinkled throughout the country from Chiang Mai to Phuket. Believe it or not, Thailand is a monarchy and is currently ruled by Vajiralongkorn a.k.a. Rama X. The Thai people have a lot of reverence for their rulers, and it’s considered impolite to ask about the royal family or make comments about them. In general, Thailand is a beautiful country with out-of-this-world landscapes, food that tantalizes the taste buds, and a rich culture worth exploring. 

The cost of food and travel in Thailand

I was surprised to experience how cheap but not so cheap Thailand is on the food and travel fronts. As far as food goes, the average street vendor can sell you a bite for as little as 30 baht (about $0.90), while a 3-course dinner for two at a good restaurant might cost you 700 baht (about $20). I met numerous digital nomads who told me they eat out twice a day because the cost of food is so affordable. I believe them!

Travel is another story. Hotels and short-stay accommodations in Thailand can get pricey if you aren’t careful. One night can cost anywhere between 1,000-2,000 baht ($30-60 per night). It doesn't sound like a lot when we compare them to western cities like New York or London. But in Southeast Asia, $60 is expensive. Depending on where you are, your accommodation may not be a 5-star residence with all of the bells and whistles you’d expect like hot water for your shower and built-in air conditioning. Living or staying long-term in Thailand can be a lot more affordable. Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center can cost around 15,000 baht ($500) per month.

How to get around Thailand 

Thailand was not an easy place to get around. Unlike Bangkok, public transport in Chiang Mai and Phuket was almost non-existent. If you want to get from point A to point B and you're traveling light, I’d recommend getting a Grab. It’s essentially the Uber of Southeast Asia and can give you options ranging from taxis or a thrilling ride on the back of a motorbike. Much like Uber, Grab works primarily on distance traveled, so the shorter the distance, the cheaper the ride will be. I paid as little as 50 baht ($1.50) for a GrabBike ride or as much as 556 baht ($17) for a longer taxi ride to and from cities. Either way, Grab is your friend!

Ride apps aren’t the only way. You could always rent a car, but I don’t recommend it because the rules of the road in Thailand are likely different from your home country's, and traffic can feel chaotic at times with bikers, pedestrians walking on poor infrastructure, and animals crossing here and there. In addition, if you’re coming from the U.S. or another country that drives on the right side of the road, it’s a bit topsy-turvy to drive on the left side like they do in Thailand. Just for your info, the average cost a rental car in Thailand can range between 400-800 baht ($15-25) per day.

Entering Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai was one of my favorite places in not just Thailand, but the world. Maybe it was the cool mountain air, the artistic and eclectic residents, or the endless, serene temples, but I was just struck by Chiang Mai’s ambiance and found it so hard to leave. I recommend staying at least 3 days in Chiang Mai and its surrounding areas.

Where I stayed in Chiang Mai 

Chiang Mai has incredible accommodations all over the place, but I stayed in a quieter corner of the city near the Wat Lok Moli temple called Jiang Mai 81. I loved their self-check-in process and low-frill amenities. I wanted a big room with a cozy kitchenette, and someplace away from the hustle and bustle, and that’s what I got. I paid about 4,000 baht ($123) for three days and I have no regrets.

What to do in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is known for its lush mountainous terrain, elephant farms, and temples. So, of course, that’s what you should do. Hike, pray, and feed elephants. What else could you want?

Temples

If you asked me to name one temple to visit that was better than the rest, I couldn’t tell you. Everywhere you turn, there is a gorgeous temple in Chiang Mai. Big ones, small ones, extravagant ones, laid back ones. It’s hard to choose, but some of my favorites were: 

• Wat Lok Moli

• Wat Khuan Khama

• Wat Rajamontean

• Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan

All of these temples are walking or motorbiking distance away from most accommodations and such grounding and gorgeous places to spend some time at.

Elephants

Now, this is a controversial topic. Thailand has been in the news for years regarding its elephant farms. Many people pay to ride them, which is perceived by foreigners as abuse. I was informed by a local Chiang Mai resident that elephants are considered family in Thai culture, and much like other members of the family, they have to work to contribute to the household. So they live and train at their family’s farm and are ridden in order to earn money for the family. I understand it’s a cultural phenomenon, but I still don’t recommend riding an elephant for ethical reasons. 

Not far from Chiang Mai, I found a sweet elephant farm called the Elefin Farm & Cafe. I chose this place based on recommendations from locals who claim that the animals are looked after, loved, and treated well. I saw firsthand that these particular elephants were not being abused and seemed to be in good spirits and health. While a couple of people were riding them, I opted to feed them sugar cane instead. It was one of my favorite experiences in the area and I would highly recommend feeding and spending time as much time as you can with these gentle giants. 

Hiking

One of my favorite experiences in Chiang Mai was doing a guided hike through the lush mountains of northern Thailand. This Tripadvisor-booked hike was 3 hours long and had us wandering through Doi Inthanon National Park, where we traversed past waterfalls, stopped for a sip of tea and coffee in a local village, and a too a stunning stroll through the royal Pagoda Noppamethanedon & Pagoda Nopphonphusiri. I left with new friends and a sense of pride at reaching Thailand’s highest peak. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.

Chillin’ in Phuket

Phuket looked like it stepped out of a movie scene — literally. And that's because this city and its surrounding areas were home to not one but at least 8 films like the famous James Bond film from 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun. Phuket feels a bit like a sin city. Drugs, music, and lady boys wander the streets day and night, and there’s always something to do or eat. But once you get out of the city, there are some very wholesome places to visit full of culture, beauty, and tranquility. I recommend staying at least 3 days in and around Phuket to see the best it has to offer.

Where I stayed in Phuket

As a solo female traveler in her peace-and-quiet era, I wanted to opt for a place way out of town to rest my head. I chose to stay in the southeastern part of Phuket near the Chalong Pier in a spot called Theclickguesthouse. It was simple, affordable, and quiet. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who wants to be in the heart of Phuket or those not interested in deep-sea diving. It seemed like folks going on deep sea expeditions were the ones who stayed in this area. As a woman who’s afraid of deep-sea anything, it goes without saying I wasn’t on one of those trips.

What to do in Phuket

When in Phuket, you dance, drink, and go to the beach. That’s why two out of three of my top recommendations involve beach or nightlife in some way. If you aren’t a big party person, I recommend sticking to the Phi Phi Islands or Old Phuket. 

Patong Beach

If you want to be in the heart of the madness, Patong Beach is where you go. Late night lady boy spill out into the street, huge fish restaurants have lit up menus, and tons of thrill seekers traverse the area all day and night. This is where you drink, dance, and party. 

The beach itself is at the end of a long row of businesses and is worth sitting and enjoying in the daytime hours. Get a cheap beach chair for 100-200 baht ($3-6) per day and relax. Get dinner at one of the many delicious restaurants near the beach. I can’t help but recommend the Roma Ristorante & Pizzeria. Their pizzas were truly exquisite!

Phi Phi Islands

The moment you’ve been waiting for. If you went all the way to Phuket, it’s probably for the Phi Phi Islands. This iconic chain of islands really is as pretty as the photos make it out to be. Turquoise water with pillow-soft sand and volcanic mountains shooting out from the seafloor makes this an incredible place to go boating and get a tan. I recommend going with an organized tour. I did the Tripadvisor-booked Phi Phi and Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour with Lunch by Speedboat tour and loved every second. Zipping through the islands on a boat, snorkeling through colorful fish, and enjoying all you can drink beverages made this excursion unforgettable. I paid about $100 and it was worth every penny.

Old Phuket

Most people don’t know that the hustle and bustle of Patong Beach isn’t the “real” Phuket. There’s an older part of town with historic buildings, charming landmarks, and locals that are sweet and kind-hearted. I did a Tripadvisor-booked Phuket City Tour with Wat Chalong, Big Buddha & Famous Viewpoints tour that let us wander the streets of Old Phuket and gave us some stunning stops at the Big Buddha and the Wat Chalong temple. I spent about $25 and a few hours taking a walk through time in Old Phuket and found it charming beyond belief.

Thailand was amazing. Need I say more?

The lush mountains of Chiang Mai took my breath away, while the serene beach views of Phuket made me want to move to Thailand. This article only covered two out of the three most popular areas and cities of the country. But imagine Bangkok? Or the countryside, where even richer cultural roots? For a 7-day trip, this was all I could fit in. But next time I go to Thailand, I’ll stay much longer — 3 or 4 weeks I imagine — to finally hit the big bad Bangkok and see even smaller, more remote villages. Have you been to Thailand? What would you recommend seeing?