Backpacking Thailand: 28 best places to visit
The most rewarding stops for backpackers in Thailand, ranked and mapped — and real routes through them, written by travellers who went.
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Bangkok
Central Thailand
Temples, street food, nightlife.
2
Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand
Old-city temples and mountains.
3
Phuket
Southern Thailand
Biggest island, beaches and party.
4
Krabi
Southern Thailand
Limestone cliffs and Railay.
5
Ko Phi Phi
Krabi Province
Iconic Maya Bay islands.
6
Ayutthaya
Central Thailand
Ruined old royal capital.
7
Ko Samui
Surat Thani Province
Palm resorts and beaches.
8
Ko Pha Ngan
Surat Thani Province
Full Moon Party island.
9
Ko Tao
Surat Thani Province
Cheap scuba diving.
10
Pai
Mae Hong Son Province
Chilled mountain backpacker town.
11
Chiang Rai
Northern Thailand
White Temple and hills.
12
Sukhothai
Northern Thailand
First Thai kingdom's ruins.
13
Kanchanaburi
Central Thailand
Death Railway and waterfalls.
14
Khao Sok National Park
Surat Thani Province
Jungle lake and karst.
15
Ko Lanta
Krabi Province
Laid-back long beaches.
16
Phang Nga Bay
Phang Nga Province
James Bond limestone stacks.
17
Hua Hin
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
Royal seaside town.
18
Ko Chang
Trat Province
Big forested east-coast island.
19
Pattaya
Chonburi Province
Brash beach resort city.
20
Erawan National Park
Kanchanaburi Province
Turquoise tiered waterfalls.
21
Khao Yai National Park
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Wildlife and wineries.
22
Mae Hong Son
Northern Thailand
Misty far-north loop town.
23
Similan Islands
Phang Nga Province
World-class dive sites.
24
Doi Inthanon
Chiang Mai Province
Thailand's highest peak.
25
Ko Samet
Rayong Province
Weekend beach escape.
26
Nan
Northern Thailand
Quiet valley off the trail.
27
Ko Kood
Trat Province
Unspoilt far-east island.
28
Lopburi
Central Thailand
Monkey-temple town.
Backpacking routes through Thailand
Real trips through Thailand, drawn on maps by the people who took them.
North by Night Train: Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Pai and the Mae Hong Son Hills
Ride the sleeper train north from Bangkok, settle into Chiang Mai's old city, survive the 762 curves to Pai and push on to Mae Hong Son. Costs included.
Andaman Season: Phuket to Phi Phi, Lanta and the Karst Coast of Krabi
Island-hop Thailand's Andaman coast from Phuket through Koh Phi Phi and laid-back Koh Lanta to Railay's climbing cliffs, with ferry costs and timing.
Gulf Islands Hop: Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Samui by Train and Boat
The classic train-and-ferry run from Bangkok to the Gulf islands: dive cheap on Koh Tao, time Koh Phangan's moon, and exit via Samui. 2026 prices inside.
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