If you are not barefoot then you are overdressed here in the land of beautiful beaches. Eat….Beach…Repeat becomes your incontestable plan for the day. Palm trees, sea breeze, cerulean waters, sounds of tidal waves, salty hair, sandy toes, sun kissed body and your euphoric soul.
Many a times in the rut of the civilized city life, we become oblivious how we get sucked into the nastiness of ego, opinions, judgments, fears, anger and frustration, the unfulfilled desires, the burden of relationships, the narcissistic desire to look good anywhere and all the time, pervasive guilt, personal validation, perpetual duality and wearing facades to a world with unforgiving cold-hearted audience…all this weighing us down amplified by our own ambitions. Here where the sea meets the sky, we don’t find answers to the lingering questions but the questions themselves become so inconsequential and what blooms on the sandy soil from that insignificance is a certain stillness of the soul. In that silencing and stillness, a joy beyond measure.
A wise mystic once said, what we suffer is our memory and our intelligence. Sometimes our best selves is in shredding the backpack of memories and become barefoot. The high tidal waves melt away all our melancholy and this is why we feel so refreshed, rejuvenated and refueled after a beach vacation.
Thailand is pretty as a picture and this place must get into your bucket list. There is a happy ending here that doesn’t have to come from the notorious red light streets, alcohol shindigs, smoky jollos but from the picturesque beaches, limestone cliffs, cerulean waters, refreshing coconut water, aromatic flavorsome food and therapeutic oils.
Travel Planning
Plans are adaptable to the number of days we have for travel. Skipping the populous Bangkok and Pattaya in plan so as to transport directly into the paradise of Thailand – Krabi, Koh Samui and Phuket.
3 days: Krabi – Do 4 islands tour, Phi Phi islands tour and spend a day in Ao nang beach and Railay.
5 days: 3 days in Krabi ( 4 islands day tour, Phi Phi islands day tour and spend a day in Ao nang beach and Railay)+ 2 days in Phuket spending in Patong beach and a free day in Spa/Shopping
7 days: 5 days Krabi ( 4 islands day tour, Phi Phi islands day tour, James Bond Island day tour, 1 day in Ao nang beach and Railay, 1 day Spa/shopping) + 2 days in Phuket (at Patong beach)
10 days: 5 days Krabi ( 4 islands day tour, Phi Phi islands day tour, James Bond Island day tour, 1 day in Ao nang beach and Railay, 1 day Spa/shopping) + 2 days in Phuket (at Patong beach) + 3 days in Koh Samui ( 1 day at Lamai beach, 1 day at Chaweng/Coral cove beach, 1 day free)
12 days: 7 days Krabi ( Do 4 islands day tour, Phi Phi islands day tour, James Bond Island day tour, 1 day in Ao nang beach, 1 day at Nopparat thara beach, 1 day at Railay, 1 day Spa/shopping) 3 days in Koh Samui ( 1 day at Lamai beach, 1 day at Chaweng/Coral cove beach and temple visits, 1 day free) + 2 days in Phuket (at Patong beach)
Travel tips within Thailand
Best time to travel is Nov to December. When most countries are hit with gloomy and wet weather, it is best time to scoot somewhere sunny, soirée and yet surreal.
Most countries have facility for visa on arrival. To save time e-visa can be obtained too to save time on arrival. Kindly check for details in your local country VFS. Indians have visa on arrival facility. Visa fees is excused at time but please check in VFS before planning the trip.
Currency exchange can be easily done in airports. If need to be done in local markets, note that some currencies are not accepted easily. This issue was there with Indian currency. USD and Euros are more easily accepted. Hence if traveling from India, better to either take sufficient money in Thailand Bhat currency or cash can be withdrawn using your Indian debit card that works internationally. A small service charge will be debited for cash withdrawal. Also note the international chains and high end restaurants/hotels do accept international debit and credit cards
You can buy an local SIM card which is available easily in local markets or at airport for ease of communication.
Eat local and thai food is very healthy, rich is herbs and spices, activates every sense within you in a very therapeutic way. It is sensible to eat local as its more fresh, easily available, aids your body to adapt to local climate more easily, cheaper and an opportunity to get beyond your comfort food.
Airport transfers can be booked online here or with hotel. Usually hotels will get local operators to call you or reach out to you for arranging pick up and drop.
In Krabi all tours can be booked on Klook or with any local tour operators. Do negotiate the prices when booking with local tour operators who are available in local markets in Ao-nang area. The tours cover door-to-door where they pick you up from hotel, finish the tour and drop you back. The Krabi-Koh Samui and Koh-Samui-Phuket transfers can also be booked on Klook or with local operators. By Bus + Ferry typically Krabi to Koh Samui takes 8 to 9 hours and Koh Samui to Phuket by Ferry + Bus takes 11 hours. If you want to avoid hassles of local commute with long transits along the route on road + want to save time, just fly from Krabi to Koh Samui and from Koh Samui to Phuket.
Irrespective of gender and age, indulge in spa treats when in Thailand. Many fly here for therapy and treatments for various physical and mental ailments. It is not only relaxing but therapeutic. T
Travel light, shop your beach wear here as its a great bargain. Also do not forget to shop for home spa essentials to carry back home for yourself and to gift. Oils, body butter, scrubs, serum, muscle relaxers, herbs for nasal blocks/sinus/migraine and a lot of chic boutiques with hand made products.
Recommended itinerary
Let us look into the 12 days itinerary in detail to give ample time for exploration, relaxation and rejuvenation.
Day-1: Krabi: Land in Phuket and transfer to Krabi – Ao Nang. Relax at Ao Nang beach
Day-2: Krabi: 4 Islands Tour
On this tour, you will see many spots some of the famous Indian movie songs were shot. Phranang Cave beach is featured in Kaho Na Pyar hain title song, Baaghi 2 – Sab Tera song, Housefull 2 songs, 7 aum arivu tamil movie song and many more movies.
Phranang Cave Beach 
Phranang Cave 
Along 4 Islands tour trail 
Tup Island 
Poda Island 
Poda Island 
Chicken Island 
Chicken Island 
Along 4 Islands tour trail
Day-3: Krabi: Nopparat Thara
Nopparat Thara beach 
Low tide walk deep in ocean at Nopparat Thara beach
Day-4: Krabi: James Bond Island Tour
Monkey Cave 
Monkey Cave 
Sleeping Buddha in Monkey Cave 
Lot Cave 
Canoeing in Lot Cave 
Lot Cave 
James Bond Island 
James Bond Island 
James Bond Island
Day-5: Krabi: Phi Phi Islands Tour
Bamboo Island beach 
Viking Cave 
Phi Phi ley 
Phi Phi ley 
Phi Phi Ley 
May Bay 
Maya Bay 
Monkey Beach 
Phi Phi Don 
Piley 
Snorkeling in Phi Phi Islands
Day-6: Krabi: Railay
Railay Beach
Day-7: Krabi: Free day in Ao-nang – Spa and Shopping
Ao nang beach 
Ao nang beach 
Ao nang in Long tail boat
Day-8: Koh Samui: Transfer to Koh Samui and relax the evening.
Day-9: Koh Samui – Lamai Beach
Day-10: Koh Samui: Temples visit and relax at Chaweng/Coral cove beach
Big Buddha temple 
Wai Plai Laem 
Wai Plai Laem 
Wai Plai Laem 
Wai Plai Laem
Day-11: Phuket: Transfer from Koh Samui to Phuket. Relax the evening.
Day-12: Phuket: Party at Patong beach
Patong beach 
Patong beach water colors
Fantastic,no words to say world is so beautiful really you all lucky I am so delighted to see pics thanks Anu
Fantastic no words to say world is so beautiful . You all are really lucky to see this beautiful place Anu . I am really delighted and vlfelt as if I have visited so nicely narrated thanks
Finally got around to reading it! And as expected Archi, it didn’t disappoint. The photos are mind blowing. The water is exactly the shade you describe it to be- cerulean. You have made me want to go to Thailand. We are just talking about doing south east Asia in 2022. X
Picturesque,scenic, as usual well captured in pictures ,words and feelings…Anu can actually smell the ocean…
Beautiful. Mother Nature is awesome and seems like this place is a must go to unwind your stress and simply enjoy the natural beauty.
Very well written.
Wow! Captured Nature’s beauty perfectly in pictures and words..
Yes, what a beautiful country Thailand is. Shallow and clean beaches, blue waters, nice hospitality, the country has been made for tourism. Thanks for this blog and our conversation, we had a great five days in Thailand.
Noting below our itinerary in case it helps others.
Day 1 – Landed in Bangkok, roamed around the streets, the night markets, the nightlife centres
Day 2 – Went to Ayuthayya and saw the Marvel city of ruins
Day 3 – Took a flight to Krabi and spent time at Aonang and Raylay beaches, took a night Kayaking from Raylay and saw the bioluminescence … Slightly expensive, but totally worth it
Day 4 – Took an early bird tour to Four Islands and Phi Phi, did a dive at Blue Lagoon and some snorkelling at Bamboo Island, saw a bit of coral and a lot of colourful fishes, was a good experience
Day 5 – Took a shuttle to Phuket and did some jet skiing and parasailing at Patong Beach
Thanks a lot Naren ..