Two weeks in Thailand – Khao Lak

Location: Khao Lak

Duration: 5 nights/6 days

Hotel: The Haven Khao Lak

After the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, it was time for a little bit of relaxation! After checking out of our hotel in Bangkok, we headed to the airport and took a short, 1 hour flight to Phuket. We flew with Air Asia who were a fantastic airline and considering we were only on a one hour flight, an in-flight meal was a welcome surprise! The flight was brilliant and with clear skies we could actually look down and see the east coast of Thailand with its golden sands and crystal clear sea.

We arranged a transfer through our hotel to pick us up from Phuket airport and take us straight to our hotel. If heading to Khao Lak, I’d recommend trying to arrange a transfer as once you’ve got through the main built up area of Phuket, the surrounding environment soon becomes pretty bare. The journey to Khao Lak takes around an hour and a half via car and whilst it is possible to take a bus, we opted for the quick and easy.

Khao Lak suffered major devastation following the 2004 tsunami with over 4,000 people dying (with local unofficial estimates topping 10,000), as well as destroying most of the coastal landscape. The 2012 film, The Impossible, is based on the true story of the family of María Belón who survived the 2004 tsunami, with the film actually being shot in Khao Lak.

Despite the devastation, Khao Lak has recovered phenomenally and if it weren’t for a few stark reminders around the area, you wouldn’t have known the ruin that the tsunami caused less than 20 years ago. Khao Lak has undergone huge redevelopment and is still a hugely popular tourist destination. The area is also now much more well equipped to deal with any future natural disasters, with the implementation of an early warning system to alert locals to the possibility of any potential tsunamis.

We stayed at The Haven Khao Lak, for 5 nights whilst in Khao Lak. The Haven Khao Lak is an adults only resort, nestled between lavish gardens and a sparkling sandy beach. We booked a standard deluxe room and amazingly as we were staying for my partners birthday, the resort actually upgraded us on our last night to an oceanfront villa – complete with a private jacuzzi! Whilst the deluxe room was more than satisfactory, the opportunity to experience the oceanfront villa on our last night made the stay even more special and I would highly recommend upgrading if you get the chance!

We couldn’t fault the resort at all, the staff were some of the friendliest we met whilst in Thailand and the setting was just perfect. The pool main pool is actually a saltwater pool and was so spacious and clean and with the resort practically on the beach, there was a great variety of options. We made the most of all the free activities at the resort, including kayaking on the resorts private lagoon and playing table tennis and pool in the evenings.

It wasn’t all relaxation in Khao Lak however! As always, we kept ourselves busy and explored the best of what Khao Lak had to offer. Some of our favourite activities included:

• Similan Islands – Approximately 70km west of Khao Lak and only accessible via boat, The Similan Islands are one of Thailand’s most popular snorkelling destinations. The Similan Islands were most definitely one of our highlights whilst we were in Khao Lak. Its crystal clear waters and beautiful sandy beaches make this place so idyllic! We visited the Similan Islands as part of our snorkelling tour as there is an absolute abundance of marine life there. With stunning coral reefs and a plethora of beautifully coloured fish, you could literally spend hours there!

Boats depart daily from Khao Lak and Phuket and take tourists to all of the major points of interest across the islands. Due to the popularity of the islands, a cap has been put on the amount of visitors allowed on the islands per day, so it’s best to book your trip in advance! Likewise, all overnight accommodation on the islands has been demolished as part of the islands rehabilitation programme, meaning the islands are only accessible via day trips.

• Khao Lak–Lum Ru National Park – Khao Lak-Lum Ru National Park is a fairly small national park made up of beaches and forests. A lot of the park is inaccessible, but there are a number of different paths which allow you to explore the jungle. The nature trails do require you to climb over fallen trees and navigate round obtrusive tree roots, so I would recommend wearing sturdy shoes (not flip-flops like I wore!). Alternatively, you can access the national park via the beach, which when we visited was fairly quiet and actually had a little hut to purchase drinks and snacks from!

The nature trail follows the coastline but the majority of it delves through thick rainforest. We really enjoyed walking the trail and absorbing all the sights and sounds of the forest. We did the trail in the afternoon but I’d recommend going early in the morning to have the best chance of spotting any wildlife – it’s been reported that Malayan tapir and binturong have actually been spotted along the trail!

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• Bang Niang market – Khao Lak village mainly comprises of local shops and restaurants located along the main road. Whilst a little touristy, the main ‘strip’ is a really nice laid back environment and we visited a few times during our stay in Khao Lak. The Bang Niang market can be found opposite the International Tsunami Museum and the market is a great place to pick up some souvenirs! The main ‘strip’ is generally walkable from most of the popular hotels but the majority of hotels also offer free shuttles to the market.

• Sea Turtle Conservation Center – The Sea Turtle Conservation Center is less than a 20 minute drive from Khao Lak and is one of the most interesting places to visit in the area! Located on the Royal Naval Base, the Conservation Center is home to a vast number of baby sea turtles as well as a temporary home for sick and injured turtles. Whilst the actual Conservation Center is nothing special, the opportunity to see so many sea turtles, particularly babies, was unforgettable. 

The sanctuary brings in baby turtles hatched on the Similan Islands and these are reared and cared for until they are released back into the ocean. Providing this sanctuary is said to increase their survival rates by about 80%, which is truly phenomenal. We were fortunate enough to be at the Conservation Center at feeding time and we had the chance to feed some hungry sea turtles!

As well as making the most of all the fun activities and sights in and around Khao Lak, it is just a great place to sit back and relax!

Top Tips for Khao Lak:

• The two closest airports to Khao Lak are Phuket and Krabi, with Phuket being the closer of the two. The best way to get from the airport to Khao Lak is via a shuttle arranged through your hotel. This is the easiest way to get to Khao Lak, particularly if carrying a lot of luggage and you’re not comfortable with hiring a car and driving yourself. A much cheaper option would be to get the public bus from Phuket to Khao Lak, which I believe does go direct from Phuket to Khao Lak.
• Navigating round Khao Lak couldn’t be easier! Whilst there are a number of tuk-tuks scattered around the area, your best option is generally to use a taxi. All of the taxi drivers we spoke to were super friendly and if you can agree a price, you can actually get your driver to take you to multiple destinations and he will wait for you until you are finished. We actually visited the Sea Turtle Conservation Center and Khao Lak-Lum Ru National Park all in the same day whilst our taxi driver waited for us. This meant we didn’t have to worry about trying to arrange a taxi when we were in remote locations such as the Royal Naval Base (which houses the Sea Turtle Conservation Center).

We stayed in Khao Lak for a total of 5 nights and we could have easily stayed for longer! If you are planning on staying in Khao Lak for a few nights, I would recommend booking a good hotel/resort like The Haven Khao Lak for ultimate rest and recuperation. 

After Khao Lak, the final stop on our adventure was Koh Lanta. To check out the overview of our trip, go here or to check out what we did in Bangkok, go here.

Looking for a good travel guide to read before your trip to Thailand? I recommend Lonely Planet’s Thailand Book – you can purchase it here on Amazon (as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases).

Two weeks in Thailand – Bangkok

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Duration: 4 nights/5 days

Hotel: Tower Club at Lebua

We were eager to visit the capital of Bangkok to see some of its infamous temples and soak in the culture of a bustling Asian city, so we made this our first stop on our Thailand adventure. We flew with Emirates, flying out of Manchester, with a 3 hour stopover in Dubai. Dubai airport was mightily impressive and despite the mind-boggling £10 I paid for a pint, we still had great fun passing the time, exploring all of the luxury shops and ogling at the gold-plated iPhone’s on display.

The total travel time was just under 16 hours and whilst the flights themselves weren’t too bad, unsurprisingly when we arrived in Bangkok, we both could have passed as extras from The Walking Dead we were that tired! Despite our tiredness, nothing was going to stop us from making the most of our time in Bangkok.

We stayed in Bangkok for 4 nights at the hotel, Tower Club at Lebua. Tower Club at Lebua is a huge five-star all-suite hotel with suites on the 51st through to 59th floors. The hotel has actually featured in the film, The Hangover Part II as well as the Netflix series Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father. Despite all the glitz and glam, prices for the hotel are actually very reasonable given the quality! We managed to combine the price of the hotel with our flights as part of a package deal, which helped us to secure an even better rate.

The hotel really was faultless, the rooms were huge and came complete with lounge area, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, plus the views from the balcony of Bangkok were sensational. Staying at the hotel also offered access to the hotel lounge, where for a few hours each day you can access a selection of complimentary drinks and snacks. This was a god send after a tiring day exploring busy Bangkok, being able to retreat back to the lounge for a free beer and sandwich whilst look out at the stunning views of the bustling city justified our decision to choose the hotel.

When we weren’t admiring the view from the Sky Bar at Lebua, we were busy exploring the city! Literally from the journey out of the airport to our hotel, it didn’t take long for it to hit us that we were on the other side of the world. Immediately we could see the difference in culture and lifestyle as we drove past bustling street markets and watched people go about their daily lives. 

The best way to experience the Thai culture is getting out and exploring Bangkok! Bangkok is a huge, vast city with plenty of activities to keep you busy. We crammed so much in during our stay here before moving on to Khao Lak. Some of our favourite activities, not to be missed, included:

• Wat Pho – Wat Pho is a 16^th century Buddhist temple complex, right in the heart of Bangkok. We visited a few temples during out time in Thailand but Wat Pho was undoubtedly our favourite! The temple is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and actually features a mammoth 46m long golden Buddha which is truly phenomenal to behold. We also visited Grand Palace which is another temple complex and was fascinating to explore. If you can only fit one temple visit in during your time in Bangkok, I would recommend Wat Pho as this was our favourite of the two.

• Jim Thompson House – The Jim Thompson house is a museum dedicated to the American Business man and architect, Jim Thompson. We really didn’t know what to expect with the Jim Thompson House but it actually turned out to be one of our favourite things to see in Bangkok! Guided tours are included in the entry fee and are highly informative about a man who contributed so much to the silk industry in Thailand. The house itself is beautiful and if you do visit, make sure you listen to the story of his disappearance in 1967 which is absolutely fascinating.

• Khao San Road – Khao San Road is the place to go in Bangkok if you’re looking to party! During the day Khao San Road is a road packed with vendors selling various things like DVDs and clothing, but come dark it turns into party central! Bars open, music begins blasting and street vendors roam the streets selling barbecued insects on sticks! Whilst the area is a bit of a tourist hotspot and not exactly the main reason you’re going to want to visit Bangkok, it’s still a great place to go to blow off some steam! We had a brilliant night there (despite waking up with very sore heads the following morning) and made friends with plenty of other travellers as well as a few locals!

• Soi Cowboy – Soi Cowboy is a short 150m street in the heart of Bangkok and is one of the capitals most popular red-light districts. Soi Cowboy is undeniably seedy, but like Amsterdam’s red-light district, its bright neon lights and shady go-go bars peak the curiosity of thousands of visitors every year. We didn’t stay for long but it’s a fascinatingly surreal place to have a beer and people watch. If you are easily offended or travelling with children, I do not recommend visiting for obvious reasons!

• Terminal 21 – If Soi Cowboy isn’t your thing, a 2 minute walk away is one of the most amazing shopping centres I’ve ever visited! Terminal 21 is 10 story shopping centre with each floor decorated in the theme of various cities around the world. Even if you’re not planning on shopping, it’s worth visiting just to check out the awesome designs of each floor.

• Asiatique The Riverfront – Asiatique is another outdoor shopping mall come outlet featuring restaurants, markets, boutique shops and even showcases live Muay Thai performances. Once you’ve navigated through all of the fake Rolex’s and designer handbags, it’s a good place to explore some authentic Thai markets, albeit if it is a little bit more expensive than other places in the city. As the name suggest, Asiatique is located on the riverfront and makes for a perfect setting for a meal in the evening. Plus you can even take a free Asiatique river ferry from various docks in the city, meaning it’s easily accessible. Asiatique is also home to the tallest Ferris wheel in Bangkok!

There is so much more to do in Bangkok that I haven’t even mentioned, from riding in a Tuk Tuk around the city to simply sampling the delicious street food on every corner. Whatever you spend your time doing in Bangkok, it’s safe to say you’ll leave feeling knackered!

Top Tips for Bangkok:

• The easiest way to travel around Bangkok is via Tuk Tuk and there are literally hundreds lined up on the streets waiting to take you to wherever you desire. All of the drivers we went with were friendly and spoke good English, just be sure to negotiate a price before setting off!

• A more cost effective method of travel around Bangkok is via the BTS Skytrain. The Skytrain is effectively a tram elevated high above the traffic and is by far the locals most popular way of getting around. The Skytrain can be extremely busy at times and a little overwhelming at first, but it has air conditioned carriages which is a god send on those hot, sticky days!

• For entering any of the temples in Thailand, you must respect the dress code! Whilst some temples are stricter than others, its generally best practice to wear a long sleeved top (shoulders covered) and trousers or a long skirt. If you do forget, you don’t have to look too far to find vendors selling dozens of pairs of funky harem pants.

• Lastly, beware of tourist traps! Tourist traps are very common in Thailand and whilst we didn’t fall for any when we were there, we did run into a few! On our way to the Grand Palace a man came up to us and told us the Grand Palace was closed today but instead he could take us to a ‘special temple’ for a fee. Thankfully we knew full well that it was open, but it’s important to be vigilant. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

We had an amazing time in Bangkok and we felt that 4 nights/5 days was the perfect amount. There is so much to see and do but the bustling nature of Bangkok can leave you in need of a breather! I would recommend booking a decent hotel to escape into at night to rest your legs after a busy day! 

The next stop on our Thailand adventure was Khao Lak. To check out the overview of our trip, go here.

Looking for a good travel guide to read before your trip to Thailand? I recommend Lonely Planet’s Thailand Book – you can purchase it here on Amazon (as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases).

Two weeks in Thailand

It’s been just over 3 years since the beginning of an amazing couple of years of travel in my life. From doing a football stadium tour of Europe, up until spending 2 weeks at the theme parks in Orlando, days before the world went into lockdown. At the beginning of all this was the 2 weeks I spent exploring Thailand with my partner back in February 2018.

Thailand’s popularity has grown massively in recent years and what was once solely a haven for backpackers and nomads alike, is now often thought of as holiday destination for families. Whether you are looking to visit Thailand with nothing but a map and the money in your pocket or are looking for a well-planned, luxury holiday, Thailand offers plenty to make it an unforgettable adventure. On our Thailand adventure, we wanted to combine a good mix of culture, nature and relaxation (this was a holiday after all!). 

There’s only one way to travel in Thailand – a tuk-tuk!

I’m going to split the recap of our trip into 3 individual posts, focusing on each area of Thailand we stayed in as each were so different from one another, but for now, below is just an overview of where we visited and what we did there. Hopefully this can serve as useful inspiration for anyone planning their trip to Thailand (when the world is back to normal of course!).

Bangkok

We spent 4 nights in Bangkok and made it our initial stop on our adventure. Bangkok is really easy to fly in and out of with regular flights from across the globe, we flew from Manchester, with a short stopover in Dubai along the way. We were really eager to visit Bangkok as it is one of the most renowned cities in the world and has much to see and do.

Bangkok is easily the craziest city I’ve ever visited! From the bustling markets packed with people and animals, the chaos on the streets with thousands of Tuk-Tuks at rush hour to the tranquillity and serenity of the temples scattered around the city, it’s hard not to be awed by the contrasting environments. Seeing something as simple as seeing a group of monks walking down the street makes Bangkok is a fantastic destination to grasp the culture of Thailand first-hand.

The colourful street markets of Bangkok

Khao Lak

After a hectic 4 nights in Bangkok, we travelled south west to Khao Lak. Khao Lak is a series a villages in the Takua Pa District and is around an hour and half’s drive from Phuket. Khao Lak is the coastal area which was hit hardest by the Indian Ocean tsunami back in 2004. Whilst it’s infrastructure and economy have recovered, there are still stark reminders in the Khao Lak of the devastation and destruction the tsunami caused in the region.

During our time at Khao Lak, we visited the local national park, went on a snorkelling excursion to the Similan Islands and even visited a sea turtle sanctuary. The resting and relaxation we had in Khao Lak was a welcome break from the chaos we’d just come from in Bangkok! 

The Similan Islands are amazing for snorkelling!

Ko Lanta

We rounded our Thailand adventure off with a further 5 nights in Ko Lanta, an island off the west coast of Thailand. Ko Lanta is a tiny little island, only 25km long by 6km wide and was the most stripped back of all places we visited in Thailand, with very few paved roads and limited commercial development. 

Due to its small size and lack of development, the island is only accessible via ferries at the northern tip of the island. Despite its size, we found so much to do on Ko Lanta! From exploring a mangrove forest via long-tail boat to getting attacked by a monkey over a pack of Pringles (funny story which I will try to explain in more detail!), Ko Lanta was again a nice change of pace from the two other places we visited. 

Keep hold of your Pringles!

Like I mentioned above, I will be going into more depth on each individual location with specific posts for each, providing tips and things to do to make your next trip to Thailand as unforgettable as ours!

Have you visited Thailand before, or are you thinking about visiting once the pandemic is over? Let me know in the comments!

Life is short and the world is wide

Over the last couple of years I’ve been fortunate to travel to some amazing places. I plan to write some in-depth travelogues to inspire your next trip (once COVID has passed of course), but for now, I just want to give a brief overview of some of my favourite destinations and adventures I’ve been lucky enough to experience.

Thailand

Way back in February of 2018, my partner and I spent 2 weeks exploring Thailand. We started with 4 nights in the crazy city of Bangkok. We then flew south to Khao Lak for 5 nights, before finishing our adventure on the sleepy island of Ko Lanta for a further 5 nights. 

Whilst we only visited a few locations in Thailand, but we got a great glimpse into the culture and beauty it has to offer. From visiting some of the amazing temples to the tropical jungles, we did so much in our time there. It was our first trip to Asia but we had such a good time in Thailand that it won’t be our last!

New York City

We visited New York in November of 2018 and were fortunate enough to be there for Thanksgiving which was a perfect time to go as we got to celebrate Thanksgiving in America, see the madness of New York on Black Friday and see things transition over ready for Christmas.

New York City really is a unique city with SO much to do, we were there for a week and our NYC bucket list was only 50% complete! The Thanksgiving day parade was amazing to witness, even with the sub-zero temperatures and heaving crowds of people. 

Canada

I had always dreamed of visiting Canada and in September 2019 my dream came true! We flew out to Vancouver and spent a few nights there before hiring a car and driving through the Canadian Rockies before flying back to the UK from Calgary.

I can’t even begin to explain how picturesque the Rockies are, with every view literally looking like a postcard. The stereotype of Canadians being the nicest people couldn’t have been more true either – the people we met out there were so friendly and helpful. Out of everywhere I have visited, Canada is definitely where I could see myself living in the future.

Universal & Walt Disney World Florida

Back in March 2020, we visited Universal Studios and Walt Disney World Florida. Again this was somewhere I had always wanted to visit and being such a popular destination I had high expectations, but the magic of Disney and Universal managed to exceed them!

Universal surprised me just how good it actually was and it is undoubtedly a MUST if you are a Harry Potter fan. The scale of Disney is pretty overwhelming with the resort being 40 square miles in size, meaning there is so much to do no matter what your favourite Disney film is.

We were also super lucky with our timings as the day after we flew home, the parks were shut due to COVID. Talk about getting home before the 12th chime of midnight strikes!

That’s a brief snapshot of some of the amazing places I’ve been fortuitous to visit over the past 3 years and like I said, I plan to write some in depth posts for each of these which will hopefully help someone in planning their next trip. 

Why Normandy is a History Lovers Paradise – Part 2

One of the best war sites to visit in Normandy is Pointe Du Hoc, located about 45 minutes away from the coastal town of Arromanches which we were staying in. Pointe Du Hoc is a lookout, which was used by German forces during the D-Day landings and now comprises of remaining part-destroyed turrets and bunkers. Pointe Du Hoc was initially the intended location for the opening beach-storming sequence to Saving Private Ryan, however they opted for Omaha beach instead.

There is so much to explore at Pointe Du Hoc, from the giant craters which have scarred the landscape to the numerous bunkers dotted around. Some of the bunkers are amazingly still well intact and can be explored – just remember to take a torch! There is a nice memorial as well located on the very edge of one of the cliffs which really does looking striking, backing onto the sea behind it.

 

It’s not only World War 2 history which Normandy has in abundance, Bayeux is home to one of the oldest (and possibly longest?!) stories in the world! Bayeux is of course home to the famous Bayeux tapestry, an embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres long, depicting the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings. This was something I definitely wanted to see whilst I had the opportunity and it was a fantastic experience.

You get given headphones to listen to as you walk around the tapestry, and honestly, the story is so immersive! The tapestry itself is magnificent and is in pristine condition considering how old it is! Sadly you aren’t allowed to take pictures of the Bayeux tapestry, as the flashes could hasten degradation of the cloth.

Bayeux itself is a beautiful city with a lot of history, evident in the magnificent cathedral, watermills and old cobbled streets. It was lovely sitting out in the sun enjoying a beer watching the day go by without a care in the world.

Normandy has so much more to offer than just cider and cheese, and as you can tell, you’ll come back well educated! Have you visited Normandy before? Let me know in the comments!

Why Normandy is a History Lovers Paradise – Part 1

So last month I visited Normandy in the north of France for a week, for yet another holiday this year! Normandy is infamous for its history, cider and cheese, and having visited a number of times when I was younger I was looking forward to going back to really appreciate and learn about the history (and drink the cider!).

If you are a history lover, or love learning about new places, Normandy offers all of this in abundance. Normandy is home to some of the most famous beaches in the world – the D-Day landing beaches. D-Day was the allied invasion of Normandy during the second World War and the key to liberating Europe from Nazi control. 

Today the five beaches; Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword and Utah are stretches of golden sand and picturesque landscapes, however 70 years ago it was a very different story. Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed as a result of the battle of Normandy and it is clear to see the devastation left behind. There are numerous cemeteries and museums scattered all around, showing how significant the battle of Normandy was in history. 

We stayed in the coastal town of Arromanches, remembered historically for its place in the Normandy landings and in particular as the place where a Mulberry harbour artificial port was installed. The artificial port allowed the disembarkation of 9,000 tons of material per day following D-Day. There are some remnants of the Mulberry Harbour still present surrounding Arromanches, and there are even some pieces on the beach which you can go and explore. 

Nowadays Arromanches is a popular spot for tourists and there are several restaurants and bars in the town, as well as a number of different museums and souvenir shops. 

At the very top of Arromanches is the fantastic 360 degree cinema, which lets you experience 20 minutes of unseen D-Day footage with full surround sound in a very unforgettable way. I would highly recommend visiting the 360 degree cinema if you ever happen to be over that side of Normandy as it really is a great experience, and does an especially a good of a job of explaining the importance of the infamous Mulberry Harbour.

Just 20 minutes away from Arromanches is the Normandy American Cemetary. The Normandy American Cemetery honours American troops who died in Europe during World War 2 and is situated overlooking Omaha beach, one of the D-Day landing beaches. The Normandy American Cemetery is actually where there opening scene of Saving Private Ryan was filmed. The Cemetery is such a humbling place to visit – there are over 9,500 individual memorials, and the rows and rows of white crosses really does make you realise how lucky you are.