¿Cómo es posible visitar las costas de dos océanos en solo 21 días?

Therefore, we began preparing for the trip half a year in advance: by booking air tickets and hotels in advance, we were able to get significant discounts and benefits. Moreover, traveling in a group of like-minded individuals is usually cheaper. After all, renting boats, cars, or buses on-site is more economical for everyone involved.

Cost estimate: approximately 12,000 guilders per person (flight Kiev-Bangkok-Kiev, stays in 4 different hotels, individual insurance).

Personal budget: varies depending on individual needs, but on average, it amounts to around 5,000–6,000 rubles per person.

Itinerary: Bangkok – Phuket – Phi Phi Islands – Krabi – Samui – Bangkok.

Duration:

3 weeks, in February 2012.

1. Bangkok

Our choice fell on the legendary Kaosan Road, so popular among backpackers from around the world. Fashion-conscious European tourists often stop here for a few days to exchange news, plan their next adventures, and then set off in search of their own “paradise islands”. Kaosan Road truly resembles a space station or, as Garland described it in the famous book *The Beach*, an ideal “decompression chamber”. It’s an excellent place to meet many people from different countries and practice your languages skills. But be careful: here, being a tourist isn’t considered a special privilege at all.

What to see: Nearby are the Royal Palace, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and the Temple of the Rising Sun. You should also take a boat tour along the city canals to experience the local lifestyle up close. Don’t forget to watch the sunset from the roof of the Baiyoke Sky Tower.

What to do: Try fresh-squeezed mandarin orange juice, update your summer wardrobe by buying Ray Ban sunglasses or Paul Smith shirts for just 100–150 baht each, and make some new friends here.

2. PhuketPhuket is Thailand’s most popular tourist destination after Pattaya. It’s quickly becoming a popular spot for mass tourism, but those who seek unique experiences may not find it to their liking. Nevertheless, we still recommend including it in the itinerary. There are many breathtakingly beautiful places here, and finding them is not difficult at all.

What to see: If you rent a minibus, you can visit all the beaches on the island in one day. You should also pay a visit to the Great Buddha and write your wishes on a stone slab that will later be buried in the temple foundation. For a contrast, explore Bangla Road – a place filled with lies, deception, and provocation.

What to do: Enjoy some refreshing fruit drinks, ride a motorcycle along the island’s winding roads, and take amazing photos at all the scenic spots – but only if you have decent driving skills, of course!

3. Phi Phi IslandsPhi Phi Islands are a tiny, idyllic paradise for divers and party enthusiasts. Russian-speaking tourists usually only visit them on one-day excursions. However, Phi Phi is a place with a truly unique atmosphere. If you stay in the center of the islands, you’ll experience how the beach turns into a huge party venue at night – with drums, fire shows, and dances that last until dawn. For a more peaceful experience, go to the other side of the islands.

What to see: Take a boat trip to the neighboring islands of Bamboo and Mosquito to see that the sea can be even brighter than the sky and the sand even whiter than flour. Also, visit Maya Bay – the very same place where the movie *The Beach* was filmed. Although it’s now crowded with tourists, you might still be able to catch the authentic local atmosphere there.

What to do: Try freshly caught and grilled marine fish right at your eyes, take a walk along the jungle trails, or enjoy some other local delicacies.

4. Krabi

Krabi is a relaxed and leisurely place. If you want to experience more excitement, it’s better to stay in Ao Nang, where there are shops, restaurants, and bars – as well as the famous rocks from *Avatar*. Apparently, James Cameron saw his vision of Pandora for the first time here.

What to see: Take a taxi boat to Cape Rayleigh, where you can find Phranang Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you stay there until evening, you’ll be able to watch the sunset in its soft shades of pink and orange. In the surrounding mountains, there’s also a magical Buddhist garden, and on the coast you can find golden pagodas.

What to try: Enjoy spa treatments using natural oils during the day, and in the evening, taste some delicious mochitos for just 50 baht each. Also, try the local cuisine, especially the delicacies available at the night market.

5. SamuiSamui is arguably the perfect coconut island. Once it was a refuge for hippies, but now it’s gradually being integrated into modern society. Surprisingly, it still retains its relaxed and casual atmosphere.

What to see: It’s impossible to see all of Samui’s attractions even in a week. The island is home to a high concentration of Buddhist temples, which, according to the locals, protect the area from storms and tsunamis. In the mountains, there’s also a magical Buddhist garden, and on the coast you can find numerous golden pagodas.

What to try: Enjoy spa treatments with natural oils in the day, and in the evening, taste some delicious mochitos for just 50 baht each. Also, sample the local cuisine, especially the dishes available at the night market.

Entertainment, tours, and attractions in Thailand86 km north of Bangkok lies Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam and a modern historical park featuring ruins of ancient temples and the remains of the Bang Pa In palace. West of Bangkok, near the town of Nakhon Pathom, lies the world’s largest Buddha statue, the 127-meter-tall Prat Phatom Chedi. Near the city of Khanchanaburi are the infamous bridge over the Kwai River and the “Road of Death”, both built by prisoners of war during World War II. In the vicinity is also the famous cultural center “Rose Garden”, one of the best ethnographic exhibits in the country, as well as the Samphran Zoo and Elephant Conservation Area.Northern Thailand has yet to be extensively explored by tourists. However, it is the birthplace of Thai civilization and is home to tropical forests, stunning waterfalls, vibrant national festivals, numerous ancient cities and temples. For example, in Chiang Mai and its surroundings there are approximately 300 temples and historical sites, such as Wat Prasing, Wat Chiang Man (the oldest monastery in the region), Prat Satang Man with its ancient Buddha statues, and Wat Pradoi Suthep, a sacred site located on a mountain peak 16 km northwest of Chiang Mai.

Not far away is the mysterious city of Maehongson, with its temple Wat Chong Kham and ancient murals. In the markets of Maehongson, you can find interesting traditional souvenirs from Laos or Burma, as well as works by artisans from Thailand’s northern tribes.

North-east of Chiang Mai lies the city of Chiang Rai, known for its beautiful natural scenery and numerous Buddhist temples. Nearby, on the banks of the Mekong River, lies another ancient capital, Chiang Sen, famous for its temples and the rich Museum of Ethnology. Just across the border from Chiang Rai is the renowned “Golden Triangle”, a mountainous forest area where the borders of Thailand, Burma, and Laos meet – the cradle of Thai civilization where the first independent Thai states emerged thousands of years ago.

In the Namtok Pa Siya Forest Park, there is a six-step waterfall with the same name. In the Tham Pla Park, you can find the unique “Fish Cave”, where billions of colorful fish live in the underground streams, and a small cave containing a huge number of snails of various colors and sizes. The national park Nam Tok Me Surin is famous for its 100-meter-tall Me Surin waterfall and the Nam Lot Cave with its spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

The historical Sukhotai Reserve covers an area of 70 square kilometers along the left bank of the Yom River and preserves more than a hundred half-destroyed buildings from this ancient capital, including the famous Wat Si Chum Temple with its statue of the sitting Buddha. 33 km north of Bangkok lies the Muang Boran Park, which recreates the entire territory of the ancient kingdom, including its most famous historical sites.

In Samut Prakarn, there is the world’s largest crocodile farm, along with its own zoo and Museum of Dinosaurs. Chiang Mai and its surrounding areas are home to many indigenous tribes and ethnic groups, whose unique cultures have remained virtually untouched by modern civilization until the 20th century. One of the most mysterious tribes in this region is the Karen people. For them, women with long necks and large ears represent the epitome of beauty. Therefore, girls in this tribe begin wearing copper coils around their necks at a very young age, adding more coils as they grow up.

Perhaps only in Thailand is it possible to visit a wildlife reserve, a massage salon (offering various types of massages), watch exciting shows with elephants, snakes, and crocodiles, and at the same time admire ancient temples and pagodas. Moreover, there are many other exciting activities to enjoy, such as diving, fishing, and dancing until dawn under the open sky.