Heading to Northern Thailand and want to experience the food scene? You’re in the right place! These traditional Northern Thai dishes are sure to get your tastebuds working! Which one will you try first?
Bangkok’s Grand Palace is a wonder to behold but can be overwhelming to navigate. We break down what you need to know to make your trip as enjoyable as possible!
Best Bangkok Hostels. Voted By Travellers! Khao San Road Hostels, Party Hostels, Hostels for Solo Travellers, Families, Couples & Hostels with Pools!
Thailand will reinstate the Test & Go Scheme on 1st February. We answer all your questions about Test & Go in the simplest way possible!
Are you interested in Thailand’s Samui Plus scheme? This allows fully vaccinated, international travellers to visit the three most popular islands without needing to complete a lengthy state quarantine!
Martial arts are as much about physical strength as they are about mental discipline. Step up your fighting game with these books about Muay Thai.
On 1st July 2021, Thailand opened up its borders to vaccinated international travellers without the need for quarantine. They call it the “Phuket Sandbox”.
With Maya Bay reopening in 2022, we take a look at the reasons it closed as well as the new restrictions in place to protect this stunning bay…
Desperate to get your hands on the Special Tourist Visa to Thailand? Here are the 10 cheapest quarantine packages offered by hotels in Bangkok.
Are you heading to Thailand on the Samui Plus Scheme? If so, you’ll be required to stay in a Samui Extra Plus hotel for the first week. In this article we delve into the 12 designated hotels to help you choose!
Starting with Phuket on 1st July, Thailand is reopening the country in stages. In less than two weeks vaccinated travellers will be able to land on Thailand’s shores without having to quarantine. In this article, we’ll look at the Thailand reopening timeline as it stands, and what we know so far about the entry requirements for travellers.
Thailand is home to almost 70 million people. And every year (pre-COVID), almost 40 million tourists, travellers and backpackers make …
Forget all the other bullsh*t lists, if you want the honest truth about the best places to visit in Thailand and the ones to avoid, read this guide before you travel!
If you’ve been to Thailand, you’ll know that the Thai beer market is dominated by three big names: Singha, Chang …
99 of the most useful Thai words and phrases that I picked up whilst living in Thailand that can be used in daily life to make interactions easier.
You’ve probably heard that Thailand’s floating markets are a tourist trap… but is that true? We deep dive into the history of floating markets, discuss which ones are the most authentic and top tips for visiting!
The abandoned Batman nightclub in Pattaya is an urban explorer’s dream. This former disco is set in a multi-storey building and lies waiting to be explored…
Thai chili is a staple of the cuisine and really packs a punch! There are as many as 79 different types of Thai pepper and all bring a different taste element to a dish.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of 1st July 2021, Thailand is no longer processing Special Tourist Visas. International visitors to Thailand are …
Thailand Special Tourist Visa – How Do I Get Me One? Read More »
Muay Thai, also known as Thai Boxing, is the national sport of Thailand. It has a long standing history, dating back centuries. Learn about where is came from and how it has evolved into the combat sport we know today.
Thailand is a country of diverse natural environments. Dense wet jungles, lofty mountain peaks, as well as a mix of …
Search for the best beaches in Thailand and you’ll be inundated with articles aimed at folks on their two-week vacation. …
10 Best Beaches in Thailand – You May Not Have Heard Of! Read More »
The Thonglor area in Bangkok is quickly becoming the city’s trendiest place to be. This swanky modern hood has everything from hipster coffee shops to speakeasy bars, you’re sure to find somewhere to while away an evening (or two)!
Snorkeling in Koh Tao is often overshadowed by more popular adventure activity, scuba diving. However, for a very backpacker friendly price, how does snorkelling compare in terms of wildlife spotting and overall enjoyability?
Looking for a truly ethical elephant experience? Head to BEES elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai and lead by example to change the animal tourism industry in Thailand! Read about what an average day spent at BEES is like and also more about the great work they are doing to care for retired elephants.
Bangkok is one of Southeast Asia’s craziest cities. With so much to do in the Thai capital and many backpackers debating how long to spend there, planning your visit can be confusing. Never fear, we are here to help you with out with our ultimate Bangkok itinerary for backpackers! Plan your trip today!
Looking for a place to stay in Koh Tao but not sure where to start? We’ve rounded up the best hostels on the island to help you choose your ideal place to stay!
Interested in training Muay Thai in Koh Samui? We chat with the owner of Punch It Gym to discover everything you need to know before booking that flight!
Railay is a world class destination for avid rock climbers and enthusiastic beginners. South East Asia Ambassadors Ellie and Will headed out for the day with Climbing School Real Rocks to see whether this destination is worth the hype!
If the prospect of exploring mysterious caves, observing monkeys (and possibly bears) in their natural habitat, splashing in the warm water of an absurdly blue lake, and resting your head beneath a rustic bungalow sounds like a weekend well spent, consider booking a three day tour package at Khao Sok National Park!
Chiang Mai, Thailand is a great base for planning treks into the nearby jungle-clad mountains. Hilltribe villages, waterfalls, hot springs, tropical flora and fauna and more exciting adventures await!
Doi Inthanon National Park is one of the highlights of Northern Thailand. We tell you when to go, what to pack and review one of the best tours that runs…
A Fabulous List of the Best Phuket Hostels in Each Area of the Island! From Party Hostels to Instagrammable Vintage Delights + Hostels with Swimming Pools!
Looking for the Best Hostels in Koh Phangan, Thailand? Whether you want to go to the Full Moon Party or get into a Half Moon Pose at any of the amazing yoga studios – this article is for you!
Ultimate Guide to Koh Tao Diving 2018, a MUST READ before you go! From how to choose a dive school to prices, courses and dive sites. Feel confident with this detailed guide…
Looking for the Best Hostels in Chiang Mai? Take it right from the Horse’s Mouth! These Hostels were voted for by travellers who visited the city recently!
Whether you’re looking for a beach holiday, a spiritual retreat, to go trekking in the jungle, to get up in …
Thailand Itinerary 2 Weeks – To Suit All Your Personalities! Read More »
Not everyone’s idea of fun, Bangkok’s Train Graveyard is a delight to Urban Explorers! We capture images of rusting train corpses before getting kicked out!
‘Pai, Pai, Pai, you should go to Pai.’ Pai is the much hyped corner of Northern Thailand, famed for it’s epic landscapes, fun bars and hippy lifestyle. But how does it hold up under the cynical gaze of this thirty-something…
Want to be an English Teacher in Thailand? What’s the Salary? Do you need a degree? ALL Questions Answered in The Ultimate Guide to Teaching in Thailand!
If you’re currently researching a visit to Erawan National Park, nearby Kanchanaburi, then read this honest article before making your decision – you just might save yourself few dollars by doing so!
Khao San Road is the most slagged-off street in SE Asia! One Girl Urges you to look beyond the sleaze & hedonism at this unique slice of backpacker history!
For 4 months this summer starting June 1st, Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi will close to tourists. Authorities in the Philippines are discussing a 6-month closure for Boracay Island. Is a closure necessary to protect these natural beauty spots and where should be next?
Underwater, I felt like I had discovered a whole new world. A world that relaxed me and made my over-active mind feel at ease. For once I wasn’t thinking about our future travel plans or my to-do list. I was living in the moment.
One traveller visits Wat Rakhang (Temple of Bells) in Bangkok and receives a cultural lesson in the Buddhist ritual of animal release. Every day hundreds of creatures; turtles, eels, snails, birds and other animals are captured in cages, purchased by locals and then released back into the wild in order to gain merit.
Have you ever revisited a place only to find it completely transformed? This is how I felt recently upon revisiting …
Lost in Chiang Mai: A Personal View of How the City Has Changed in 5 Years Read More »
Nan, located in the most eastern part of Northern Thailand in the valley of its namesake river, is a charming little town with a historical center. Surrounded by the spectacular misty mountains of Doi Phu Kha National Park bordering Laos, Nan is a place where you will find many old temples and teak wooden houses, where foreigner tourists are rare and people still enjoy the traditional slow lifestyle of the Northern Thai people.
The popular island of Koh Samui is often disregarded by backpackers as a ‘tourist trap’. Artist Kai A. explains why there’s much more to the island than meet the eye, from terracotta temples to Chinese shrines, crystal beaches and the Muslim call to prayer. This island is a hotbed for creative types…
To me, this temple represents a new frontier in religious architecture. It’s a man-made wonder. This is my experience, and why I believe Wat Phra Sorn Kaew will be an ancient wonder of the world in 1,000 years.
It’s no secret that the drive from Chiang Mai to Pai is a daunting one. It’s a steep and winding road that will make you feel every single one of its 762 turns along the notorious Route 1095. I just didn’t think I would lose my sanity over it!
With over 300 Buddhist temples dotted all around Chiang Mai, you’re sure to be ‘wat-ed’ out quite quickly! So what if you only have a few days to explore this beautiful Northern city? Here’s our pick of ‘what’ wats you definitely shouldn’t miss out on, even if you’re tight on time…
Sophie and I had arrived at Tiger Muay Thai and MMA training camp for a month of Thai boxing. Based in Chalong, a 15-minute bus ride out of Phuket Town, the camp boasts an impressive area of boxing rings, training areas and equipment — impressive, and scary as hell!
The Northern Insight Meditation Centre of Wat Ram Poeng is nestled on the secluded edges of Chiang Mai, surrounded by woods, just on the outskirts of the Old City. These days, its reputation as a Vipassana retreat has spread worldwide, resulting in thousands of meditators enrolling in search of enlightenment.
Watch our video filmed at a night market in Mae Sot to learn a few Thai phrases to use when ordering food. Earn smiles from the locals and maybe a bit of discount on your purchases too! From how to ask for your meal not spicy, without MSG, or tell the waiter you’re vegetarian, to how to order a beer, with or without ice, or your fruit shake without sugar – these useful Thai phrases will help you kin dee (eat well) in Thailand!
In the heart of Chiang Mai’s Old Quarter, I stumbled upon an intriguing hole in a wall which led me to the derelict shell of an Abandoned Women’s Prison… Cell blocks with paint peeling off the walls, an old dining hall where a solitary bowl sits reminding us of the hundreds of prisoners that used to eat here and a dusty visitors room are all that’s left of this penitentiary of the past.
The Mae Hong Son Loop is lauded as one of the best motorbiking routes in the world and boasts a whopping 1864 bends in a route of 650km! Two gung-ho backpackers (with pink helmets, little biking experience and no map) undertake the three-day journey from Chiang Mai to Mae Chaem, Mae Hong Son, Soppong, Pai and back to Chiang Mai… with lots of adventures along the way!
Anyone with an interest in Urban Exploration (Urbex for short) has their personal bucket list. Having scoured the many pages …
The Aeroplane Graveyard, Bangkok – Where Planes Go When They Die… Read More »
Last week, we were invited to stay at Suan Sati Yoga Retreat in San Sai, near Chiang Mai, Thailand. Suan Sati (which means ‘mindfulness garden’) has only been open six months, yet the place is attracting many backpackers to come and enjoy meditation, yoga and a vegan diet in beautiful surroundings. Is it the cheap price that’s the draw for thrifty backpackers – or is it something else?
Today, Pad Thai is a popular street food dish in many parts of the country and it’s on every menu in Thai restaurants that cater to farangs (foreigners). Popular as it is, how many of you actually know the fascinating history behind the dish?
Most backpackers flying into the city of Bangkok make a bee-line for one place: the infamous Khao San Road. But if you’re looking to discover a different side to Thailand than buckets of red bull and loud music, have a read about the following areas. From hipster chic hoods, to parts of the city that are more reminiscent of Thai village life than a cosmopolitan metropolis, here are a few of our favourite Bangkok neighbourhoods…
As people gear up for the world’s biggest water fight, if you’re secretly dreading it and are wondering if it’s okay to book yourself a posh hotel, buy lots of beer and avoid the next three – five days, then read this guide on how to survive Songkran, and make up your mind…
Central Thailand has two popular UNESCO World Heritages sites, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, both the homes of former ruling dynasties in the history of Thailand. Both sites, on the face of it are pretty similar and both are close to the well-trodden train route between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. So, if you have to pick only one, which should you check out?
Exploring waterfalls is one of the best ways to get in touch with nature in Thailand. Trekking up through the dense jungle along a small winding dirt track, in 90 percent humidity and the 35 degree tropical heat. Top it all off by jumping into a deep pool of cloudy blue water coloured by dissolved limestone, swim amongst the nibbling fish and lay back listening to the jungle sounds all around. Heaven!
Are you headed to Chiang Mai in search of adventure? If you want to swim in a river, hike in a forest and spot Thai wildlife, check out these off-the-beaten-track National Parks that few tourists visit. You’ll have to drive yourself or hire a private driver to get to these destinations, as they’re so rarely on visitors’ itineraries, but the journey to get there is worth it we promise!
Kaila Krayewski is a Canadian expat living on the tropical island of Koh Phangan, Thailand. She tells us about her life on the island and some important lessons she’s learned along the way…
This might come as a surprise even for experienced surfers, but surfing in Thailand does exist! Just a little more 5 years ago people would barely know that waves that hit the west coast of Thailand are actually surfable. But today the surfing culture is developing rapidly. So where is the best place to surf?
What the hell is going on in Chiang Mai, Thailand? The sheer number of coffee shops in Chiang Mai is enough to overwhelm even a seasoned coffee enthusiast like myself. I thought I’d seen everything, but this took the cake! It’s easy to see why this place is referred to as the Coffee Capital of Southeast Asia…
Is it still worth visiting Koh Phangan if you’re not interested in the Full Moon Party? We caught up with Israeli expat, Sharon, who runs the popular website, phanganist.com, to find out more about what the island has to offer, from yoga to Muay Thai, and learn about how the reputation of Koh Phangan has changed in recent years…
Every year, the beautiful northern capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai, plays host to a unique event called The Fruit Winter. A festival that’s the brainchild of US life coach and therapist, Conor McMillen, that inspires people to eat raw fruit and vegetables and practise healthy living. Traveller, Martin Higgins explains his own experience and why his body and mind thank him for keeping up his annual habit of wintering in Chiang Mai…
Thais are social people – very social. And you should not miss a chance to spend a night out with a group of newfound Thai friends. It will be fun, educating, and probably a lot more memorable than heading to another Irish pub with fellow international backpackers. But what to wear, what to order to drink and who pays the bill? Here’s our advice…
Forget about tacky souvenirs – beautifully jewellery crafted by your very own hands is a magnificent keepsake of your travels. Nobody else in the world will have a piece the same as yours, and when people ask about that unique pendant they’ve never seen before, you can proudly say that you made it yourself in tropical Chiang Mai!
There’s the old cliché that backpackers travel to ‘find themselves’. In South East Asia, particularly Thailand, many travelers like to experiment with yoga and meditation in an attempt to still their mind and discover what it is that they really want out of life. We meet local Thai native, Bhud, owner of the Xhale Yoga School, located in the beautiful Pai Valley to find out more about daily life on a meditation retreat…
On May 22nd the Thai Army announced that they had taken over control of the country through a military coup. The two biggest questions that everyone has been asking since then are, “What does this really mean for my upcoming trip to Thailand? And is it true that 7-11s are actually closing?” Our Bangkok Ambassador, Chase Berenson gives us the lowdown on how life in Thailand has been affected by the political situation…
Thailand is known throughout the world for its home-grown sports, most famously Muay Thai, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find sports that are more familiar to backpackers. We’re talking about football, a sport that is hard not to love. Bangkok expat (and our ambassador) Chase Brenson tells us all about why taking in a game while in Thailand is a well worth it cultural experience!
Living and traveling abroad can be an experience of a lifetime, and the experiences to be had can teach you much more about reality than you’d ever learn in a classroom. From traveling solo to learning to live alone, one of our Ambassadors, Eliza, shares 10 things she’s learned from spending the past two years living and teaching in Thailand.
Flying into Bangkok as your first destination on your backpacking adventure? Are you worried about the political protests affecting your trip? S.E.A Backpacker Ambassadors, Charla Hughes and Chase Berenson are two travellers turned expats who are now living in Bangkok and have given us a lowdown on the current situation from their point of view, major rally sites to avoid and tips for travellers on how to stay safe in the city!
Home to the notorious monthly Full Moon Party, it’s no shock that Koh Phangan has somewhat of a dodgy reputation. The truth however, is that this island is special and offers far more than it is given credit for. It’s creative, eclectic, underground, spiritual, artistic; it’s got a great, free-flowing vibe; a tight community that integrates both expats, locals, and travellers who keep coming back. We introduce you to the often overlooked dynamism of Koh Phangan.
Bangkok! It’s the gateway to Asia – often the first place we touch down when we arrive, and most likely, the last before we go back home again. But how well do we know it, really? It’s an absolutely sprawling metropolis, after all, with the kind of 24-hour nightlife where everything’s on offer, from your standard friendly Irish Bar to…well, you know. Everything else. Many of us only touch the surface, dipping our toes in as far as Khao San Road and then calling it quits, which is a shame, because when the sun goes down and it’s time to hit the town Bangkok has a lot to offer!
How can travel inspire us and guide us without a heavy dose of time for ourselves in the mix? How can we welcome in new insight, or perspectives, or desires if we do not give them time to marinate and become fully flavoured? Recently we discovered the Kailash Akhara Centre by Dharma Inc the perfect location in which to add some essential ‘YOU time’ into your travel plans.
Sip milky iced tea while listening to melodic jazz from a street café. Haggle over homemade batik at a Malay fabric shop. Just a few reasons, says travel journalist Leigh-Anne Hunter, to ditch the beach for a day and wander through Phuket’s fascinating, but little-seen Old Quarter…
You always hear about the trekking, the night markets, the cooking courses and the street stalls of Chiang Mai, but take a second look and you’ll see so much more in this northern Thai town. Want to get away from the crowd at the Sunday Walking Street or blaring reggae and hip hop beats of Babylon Bar? Guest writer, Alana Morgan, takes a very different look at one of Thailand’s most popular cities…
The island of Koh Phangan in southern Thailand is notorious for the Full Moon Party and a hedonistic destination for young backpackers! However, there’s so much more to the island than meets the eye. In recent years, it has become a hub for yoga and spirituality and draws thousands of ‘soul-searching’ travellers who are looking for more than just buckets and beaches. After the New Year’s Eve celebrations died down this year, we made our way to Agama Yoga on the beautiful West coast of the island to meet the founder of Agama Yoga School, Swami Vivekananda Saraswati. We discuss yin and yang, the laws of karma, tantric sex, God and reincarnation!
A glo-paint smeared body, bucket in each hand and a night of dancing and debauchery? A perfect palm-fringed, white sandy beach, waves lapping into shore as you sip a fresh coconut juice? Or perhaps, it’s the chaos of Bangkok; the colourful markets, bustling streets and glitzy shopping malls? What does Thailand mean to you? Here we present to you a different side of Thailand, a quirky side and 10 unexpected and unusual places that are often overlooked by backpackers…
As conversations between backpackers begin to include Ayurvedic buzzwords such as “dosha”, “five elements” and – heaven forbid – “fasting”, we catch up with an Ayurvedic practitioner, to unscramble the mystery of this ancient Eastern tradition of medicine…
Waking up to bright blue skies, turquoise waters and a day of teaching wide-eyed backpackers to discover a whole new world… is this the job of dreams? So what is it really like getting paid to live in paradise? Here, we compare a regular day in the life of a Western office worker alongside a regular day in the life of Ludo, a dive instructor at Big Blue Diving, Koh Tao, Thailand…
Here at South East Asia Backpacker magazine, the team love to squeeze an adventure into our schedules and what could be better than flying through the rainforest on a Sunday afternoon? Seven of us took on the challenge, and were transformed from a group of quivering wrecks into a bunch of screaming daredevils.
Writer, blogger and lover of all things ‘travel’, Neil Barnes retells a fiery tale of adventure, nightlife and drunken decisions… Whilst enjoying the splendours of the beautiful island of Koh Phangan in South Thailand and sampling the delights of cheap Sam Song rum served in a sandcastle bucket, Neil made potentially the stupidest decision he’s ever made. Whether it was the Red Bull or just the buzz of travelling he’ll never know… Would you make the same mistake?
Would you like to give something back whilst you travel? Sometimes it is not all about seeing the Top 10 sights in a country, but about staying put for a while and finding out more about how your visit can help the local community. Jessica Simmonds from Scotland decided to take time out of her gap year to volunteer for three months in Thailand. She chose Lanta Animal Welfare, (LAW) a non-profit organisation based on Koh Lanta, Thailand, which takes care of the large population of stray dogs and cats on the island. Her experience was fun, rewarding and most of all valuable to the local area…
Regarded by many travellers as the most dangerous vehicle on the road, motorbikes, if treated with respect, can also be the most fun! (Don’t tell your mum we said that) There is nothing better than riding in the beautiful countryside, with the wind on your face and the sun shining, free to go wherever the road takes you… It is without doubt one of the best ways to get off the beaten track and away from other tourists as fast as possible! Here are a few tips that will help you get the most out of your experience and most of all stay safe and in one piece…
Just five hours north from Chiang Mai, is the smaller, less touristy city of Chiang Rai. Many travellers arrive here on a northward journey from Chiang Mai to Laos and are already feeling ‘templed out’ by the 300+ temples that make up the ancient walled city of Thailand’s cultural capital. However, there is just one more experience that awaits the culture vultures amongst you! And we promise this one is worth a look! Dubbed the ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’ of architecture, the White Temple and the Black House will conjure a clashing of emotions. One dark, mysterious and almost sadistic, the other white, ethereal and other-worldly, these two opposing buildings couldn’t be more different…
As the World’s largest exporter of rice, Thailand’s country and culture revolves around this tiny pearly grain. Paddy fields dominate over half of all the arable land area and consume over 50% of the country’s labour force. Rice can also be found throughout the Thai menu, in all it’s forms and varieties. The most common type of rice grown in Thailand is Jasmine rice, known locally as ‘Hom Mali’ and it is in a paddy field full of the crop that my story begins! 20-year old student Laura Davies, on a three-month internship with S.E.A Backpacker Magazine, spends the day in a rice field learning about Asia’s most important grain…
This month, we celebrate the 2nd Birthday of S.E.A Backpacker Magazine. Boy oh boy, do they grow up fast! It only seems like yesterday that the very small and very nervous S.E.A Backpacker team set off on a preliminary trip to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan to tell people about our vision and look for sponsors to help us get off the ground. Pressed T-shirts and sweaty hands, we knocked on doors of bars, restaurants, dive schools and hostels with a basic mock-up that two years later has grown into the magazine you are reading now!
As darkness falls on the popular beaches of South Thailand nocturnal creatures to come out and play. The fire dancers take centre stage silencing audiences with their danger defiant moves. Much later, backpackers can be seen trying their luck at this dangerous sport with most deadliest of all fire dancing apparatus… the flaming skipping rope! Would you try your luck?
Big ones, fat ones, curly ones, straight ones. Noodles are a national treasure in Thailand and there are enough different types of noodle, ways of preparing them and dressing them, that you could probably eat a different kind every day for the entire year. So how do you eat yours?