All posts by Thai Tour Guide Team

Northern Thailand Tours

One of the most fascinating areas to visit in the Land of Smiles is not where all the beautiful beaches and islands are that draw millions of tourists from all over the world to this country. No, for those who want to experience a little more than the usual touristic highlights, participating in Northern Thailand tours could be the greatest experience.

In general the people in this region are more laid-back and relaxed than elsewhere. They also are even more genuinely welcoming to strangers and are happy when others show an interest in their culture.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is without a doubt the most popular destination in the north of Thailand. Most people visit the old town of Chiang Mai, where so many temples and other cultural attractions can be enjoyed. It’s a great place to try a traditional Thai massage, enjoy eating healthy food and simply take it easy. The best time to go is between December and February, and then again in April when the famous Songkran festival takes place.

You will see plenty of temples like this in Chiang Mai during your northern Thailand tours

Chiang Rai

For those who enjoy adventurous northern Thailand tours, Chiang Rai might be a great choice. This region still is mostly visited by domestic tourists (people who live in other provinces of Thailand and come to travel here). The landscape is just beautiful and there are still many hilltribe people who you can visit who still live in their traditional ways.

This is also an area where you can find plenty of tea plantations that you can visit. Since the altitude is ideal for growing tea (around 1300 meters) you can get some really good teas here. It’s mostly the descendants of Chinese immigrants who are taking care of these plantations, and you get plenty of Oolong and green teas.
Chiang Rai Tea Plantation, which you can visit during a northern Thailand tour

Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son is probably the most popular choice for those who want to travel through northern Thailand independently. Rent a scooter or a car and explore the region.
Mae Hong Son_View.1

Pai

The small town of Pai is a little backpacker enclave located in Mae Hong Son province, and many young people come here to chill out for a while. During high season the feeling here can almost be a bit like on the famous Khao San road because there are so many tourists here, but outside the main walking street things get much more mellow. Which is great, because you can choose whether you want the busy walking street or the quiet and relaxed area around it.
Walking Street_02

The Best Northern Thailand Tours

There are many things that you can do in northern Thailand, and if you want to make the most out of your time here, why not plan ahead and talk with someone who knows the region?

Our personal tour guides in northern Thailand will be glad to help you plan your trips and custom-tailor a program according to your wishes and budget. Just contact us and let us know what you’re looking for and together we can work out a great itinerary for your trip into the uppermost regions of this beautiful country.

Honeymoon in Phuket

Celebrating the most beautiful time of your life on the most beautiful place on earth – what else could one wish for?  A honeymoon in Phuket is an experience you will forever remember.

There is so much to see and do on this beautiful Pearl of the South – you probably won’t even have enough time for all of it.

The pristine paradise beaches,

We can arrange your honeymoon in Phuket for you from A to Z. At the airport our representative will welcome you and accompany you with your private transport to your hotel. (If you want, we can arrange for a stretch limousine or other luxury vehicle for you).

We can help you chose the right hotel, so that you get to make the most out of your budget.

Just remember that pretty much everything is possible on this island.

One of the things you should definitely do while you are already here is to visit Phangna Bay – one of the most beautiful places on earth.

As far as dining is concerned, you have many choices – we do recommend the Diavolo Restaurant with it’s superb food and tasteful interior decoration, and the romantic atmosphere, plus a wide selection of wines.

As the perfect place for a romantic getaway, there are plenty of private spas and luxurious hotels with perfectly maintained swimming pools and adjacent cocktail bars. Take a sip and enjoy the sweet romance of love.

The Centara Villas with view over Karon beach are a beautiful choice of accomodation for your honeymoon in Phuket.

And of course there are many beautiful beaches for those who want to enjoy the sea, go snorkeling or even diving.

Riding an elephant is also possible here, beautifully dressed in expensive clothes. Or go for a romantic and adventorous sea kayaking experience by night where you get to enjoy the stars in the sky.

Another very romantic experience on the island would be to go for a trip with a traditional Chinese junk – the sunset dinner cruise June Bahtra will surely provide you with a very memorable and beautiful experience. The private atmosphere setting and a splendous five-course buffett dinner will make this an evening you will forever remember.

You could also include a speedboat trip to the beautiful and world-famous Koh Phi Phi islands where you get to enjoy one of the most stunning landscapes nature has ever created.

And if you want to truly find the most romantic resort on the island – the Trisara Resort might be just the right choice for your honeymoon in Phuket.

You surely want your love to last forever – what better way than to give this new chapter in your life – your marriage – such a memorable and beautiful beginning, as a sign and symbol of your deep love and joyous affection for your partner?

Where To Study Muay Thai in Thailand (Long-Term)

Do you want to study Muay Thai (Thai boxing) in Thailand?

And not just visit a two week course, but actually train for many months or even years?

There are Muay Thai camps in different parts of the country where this is possible, although many of them are only for Thai people, at least there is no one who can speak English.

But a couple of options for foreigners exist too.

One of the most popular choices is the Tiger Muay Thai camp in Phuket. As of now, the price for studying 6 months at the camp is 52,000 Baht. They offer accommodation also.

The cheapest rooms start at 6000 Baht per month. This is for a bed in a dorm room. If you want a private room, the cheapest price is 8000 Baht per month, and then there are other options up to 24,000 Baht per month for a really fancy place.

The camp started out many years ago as a small hobby project of a foreigner in Phuket, and then slowly and steadily grew into what is now one of Thailand’s largest Muay Thai camps for foreigners.

There are other options for training Muay Thai in Thailand too, like at the Island Muay Thai Camp on Koh Tao, or Santai Muay Thai in Chiang Mai.

Another option is the 301 Gym program:

There are in fact plenty of options in Phuket, another one being the Rawai Muay Thai Camp at Khao Lak.

Yet another option on Phuket is Sinbi Muay Thai, where many trainers have championship titles. This place is owned by Sinbi Taewong, who was a famous fighter.

Dragon Muay Thai is also located on Phuket. Three months of training cost 22000 Baht and they also have a Muay Thai shop where you can buy everything you need. The World Professional Muay Thai Federation proclaimed the gym as the Best Training Camp 2010.

Chang Muay Thai is also located in Phuket, at Kata Beach. Price for one month of training here is 6800 Baht.

If you can’t miss the full-moon parties, then don’t worry – even on Koh Phangnan there is a Muay Thai camp: Diamond Muay Thai. One month of unlimited training costs 10,000 Baht, and they probably have discounts for long-term students too.

It’s definitely hard to beat the beautiful natural surroundings and atmosphere of Koh Phangnan. You can see fighters trained at Diamond Muay Thai in their YouTube channel.

Koh Samui also has a Muay Thai camp: this is called the Lamai Muay Thai Camp, which is sanctioned by the World Muay Thai Council, and their monthly prices are 4000 to 6500 Baht. They opened in 1989 and are one of Thailand’s oldest foreign-operated Muay Thai camps. Both men and women train here, and they obviously have a long track-record of teaching people Muay Thai.

You can see a video of the Lamai Muay Thai camp here:

If you want to train in Pattaya, there is FairTex Muay Thai, and if you want to train with a champion fighter you can request that here – but be aware that it costs 3,300 Baht per hour!

So as you can see, there are many place where to study Muay Thai in Thailand. Even with all the places we’ve listed here, this isn’t by far a complete list, but it sure is a good starting point.

Chiang Mai Travel Tips Article

Looking for Chiang Mai travel tips? There’s an article in The Examiner that just shared some:

  • Bhubing Palace
  • Wat Chedi Liam
  • Uncle Jack’s museum at Wat Gate Ket Karem
  • Khum Chai Burirat house
  • The Old City Sunday Night Market
  • The Silver Ubosoth
  • Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

There are many interesting places to see in Chiang Mai, and no matter how often you’ve been there already, chances are there will always be something new to discover 🙂

Private Guide in Bangkok

Get A Private Guide in Bangkok

Bangkok, or Krung Thep as it is called in Thai, meaning The City of Angels (no, not that one), is a gem among eastern cities. As the most populous city in Thailand, it is among the world’s top tourist destinations. Named the “World’s Best City” by Travel + Leisure magazine three times in a row, it carries that title with pride, along with being the Guinness Book of Records holder of the longest place name in the world.

And that is only the beginning of the many mysteries held by this magical place.

golden mosaic Bangkok temple

But do you need a private guide in Bangkok? Sure, you could stick with the general tourist public and see the sites everyone sees, but a private guide can show you places few have seen and even fewer know. They will take you to the right cultural areas, markets and art centers and give you a face-to-face experience of the people and places.

Why go with the crowd?

Isn’t a vacation about meeting interesting places and people? Each private guide can tailor your Bangkok experience to exactly what you need and are looking for, without the pressure of a tour group. Old Siam is a thing of the past, yet you can still experience the style and taste of it through private tours.

And since Bangkok has its own unique style and religions, a private guide can help you avoid embarrassment. Remember that with other cultures come other customs and even dress codes. What may seem like normal attire in your own country could cause a riot or at the very least banning from certain public and religious places. Let your guide guide you.

Don’t return home having seen only your hotel room and whatever else regular tours try to pass off as a cultural experience. A private guide in Bangkok can even help you with your business trip, if your reason to visit this ancient kingdom is more business than pleasure. It may cost you a bit extra, but the prices private guides charge are nowhere near exorbitant, and worth every Baht.

Once you have chosen your private guide in Bangkok, sit down with him or her and plan your itinerary. There is so much to see, it is wise to plan a bit ahead. Do you prefer the nightlife? The arts? How about a spiritual or religious tour? Bangkok is the residence of the Emerald Buddha, so you can imagine the enlightening experience you could have, if so you choose.

Don’t succumb to the pressure and haste of tour groups. Have your own experience of this wonderful place through a private guide in Bangkok, and get to know the people face-to-face. You will see the city through the eyes of the natives, and that will make for a fully rounded travel experience. Life is too short to limit experiences to preset tours and places. And who knows, maybe you can even learn to pronounce the full name of the city some day.

Contact us now to book your private guide in Bangkok…

Thailand one of the most welcoming countries in the world

Which countries are the most open and welcoming to foreigners? This was the question that a recent article in the Washington Post was exploring.

Not surprisingly, Thailand ranked among the most welcoming countries of them all.

Not to toot our own horn – but I really think this is the reason why Thailand is such a popular tourist destination, even more so than the beautiful beaches.

We are really happy when foreign people come to our country and like to travel around here. Of course, we want people who appreciate our culture and country.

Many of our clients told us they love how friendly and kind Thai people are. I think actually that most people in the world are friendly and kind, but maybe our culture puts more emphasis on expressing it.

Asiatique The Riverfront Bangkok – A New, Popular Tourist Attraction by the Chao Phraya River

Asiatique is a relatively new and popular tourist attraction by the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok. It’s a place where you can spend a nice evening looking for souvenirs, fashion, enjoy some food and drinks and simply take in the lively and laid-back atmosphere.

asiatiquetheriverfront

 

This place used to be warehouses long time ago, but they renovated it and made it into a shopping & atmospheric entertainment area, which was done quite nicely. It also opens every day (not just on weekends like most other Bangkok night markets), and since it’s made mainly for international tourists, the area is quite clean, neat and organized (as opposed to the often charming, but also chaotic arrangements you find on markets which cater more to the locals).

Since it’s by the river, you often get a pleasantly cool breeze when you sit at one of the cafe’s or restaurants on the terrace, although the prices here are really high.

There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and small shops and stores. The prices aren’t cheap, but still reasonable and overall it’s a very nice and pleasant experience. It’s an attraction mainly for tourists from other countries, but Thai people come here too, particularly for the atmosphere and shopping of fashion. There’s a big ferris wheel too, which is a nice way of catching a glimpse over the city by the river.

 

 

asiatique1

 

This place is quite easy to navigate, so you can come on your own, or if you want with your own personal Thai tour guide.

There are plenty of clothing, fashion accessory and gift shops, and the style is kind of similar to the things you can find at the Terminal 21 fashion mall (although the selection is much smaller here than at Terminal 21).

asiatique2

The place opens around 5 p.m. and it’s best to be here after dark, because then the temperatures are not too hot. You can also get a foot massage here or enjoy a fish spa.

Foodwise, there are plenty of choices. If you’re looking for a great Thai food experience, this might not be the place, but lots of international choices from Japanese to Italian to Korean, steakhouses, seafood, and so on. The prices are a bit high for Bangkok standards, but then this is normal for tourist attractions. Or you try the lower-priced food court on the vicinity.

The famous Joe Louis Puppet Theatre can be found here to, as well as the Calypso show.

asiatique3

How to get there: You can take the boat shuttle service from Sathon Pier (BTS station Saphan Taksin), which operates daily from 4:30 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. We do not recommend going there by taxi (or leaving from there by taxi), as the traffic is often congested, and taxis waiting in front of Asiatique The Riverfront often charge inflated prices. If you want you can hire a private Bangkok tour guide for your visit here, or just go by yourself, it’s quite an easy attraction to explore on your own.

Visit an Orchid Farm in Bangkok

If you like flowers, you probably love orchids – they’re so amazingly beautiful, it’s hard to not be fascinated by them.

So why not visit an orchid farm in Bangkok? Here you can not just see plenty of beautiful orchids, but also learn more about them and buy them for a fraction of the price of what they cost in your own country.

beautiful orchids in a Bangkok orchid farm

 

The easiest way to visit an orchid farm in Bangkok is to get a personal tour guide who can bring you to the right place. Contact us to book your Bangkok guide now 🙂