A Guide to Traveling Southern Thailand // Tips for the Best Itinerary
A PEAK INTO HOW WE SPENT 2 WEEKS TRAVELING AROUND AND ISLAND HOPPING IN SOUTHERN THAILAND! I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW TIPS, GO INTO THE DETAILS, AND MENTION SOME “BESTS” FROM OUR CRAZY JOURNEY! HOPEFULLY THIS CAN BE A GUIDE TO YOUR OWN FUTURE TROPICAL ADVENTURES!
Southern Thailand really is a gem — island hopping, crystal clear turquoise water, gorgeous snorkeling, the yummiest food, the coolest places to stay, cheap transportation, the kindest people — it’s the best!
We had planned to spend a month in Thailand (which you can EASILY do + more), but ended up cutting our trip short due to the COVID-19 outbreak. These two weeks were still well spent and full of incredible experiences! We’ll definitely be back!
PHUKET > 6 DAYS
RAILAY > 3 DAYS
PHI PHI > 2 DAYS
KOH LANTA > 3 DAYS
I. PHUKET // 6 DAYS
WHERE WE STAYED:
We jumped on Airbnb and found the coolest bungalows in Rawai called the Coco Palace. This was right near Nai Harn beach, which is a gorgeous white sand beach that isn’t as touristy as the beaches up North (Patong, Karon, or Kata Noi). It also came with a fresh, homemade breakfast each morning.
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:
Kayak and snorkel off Yanui Beach
Motorbike around to explore (especially up to some view points - ie Panwa Viewpoint)
Spend a day at Nai Harn - wave bobbing + sun tanning
FOOD FOOD FOOD (more tips below)
Check out the markets! G-Market food stalls and the Sunday Old Town night Market are my faves! You’ll find a bunch of cool things for a great deal and eat the BEST food!
Walk through Old Town during the day as well, super cool architecture and shops!
Coffee - our faves were: YES Coffee and Campus Coffee Roasters
One nice sunset dinner at After Beach Bar (we mostly did budget food options - which are the YUMMIEST - but splurged one night for some epic views while dining).
II. RAILAY // 3 DAYS
WHERE WE STAYED:
Having been to Railay before, we settled with the same place that we stayed last time - Railay Princess Resort. It’s not on the main beach which has some pros and cons. Pros: it’s quiet, feels more private, and is cheaper. Cons: it’s a bit of a walk from where the ferry lets you off (aka the main beach), the east beach isn’t as pretty, and… that’s all actually haha! It’s a gorgeous property with two pools - a jungle-y one and an infinity pool on the roof with a view. The breakfast is included and delicious and all the staff is wonderful!
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:
Railay is SMALL - you walk everywhere and can easily explore!
Walk the main strip - lots of food, fun shops, and fresh fruit shakes! You can also check out ALL the excursions offered here (rock climbing, night kayaking, paddle boarding, boat tours, etc.).
Grab some kayaks at Sand Sea resort on the main beach front and head out for 2+ hours. We explored all the little limestone islands, paddled through sea caves, and climbed ropes hanging from stalactites jump into the water! SO SO SO fun!
Explore all the pathways, you’ll find some more secretive beaches and coves! Just watch out for the grabby monkeys… they like to steal your water bottles… and everything else.
Check out the “food boats” on Phra Nang Cave Beach
Hike INSIDE Bat Caves on the west side of Phra Nang Beach… it’s a little secretive and tricky to find, ask staff at your hotel to point you in the right direction! Beware, not for people with claustrophobia (that was tough for me, lots of moral support was needed haha). There is a SICK view at the top of the opening!
Another hike that’s more for the experience (and kinda for the view), is on your left when walking down the pathway to Phra Nang beach. You may see some brave souls using the ropes and vines to make their way up or down… yep, just go straight up!
For dinner, grab it to go and head to the main west beach. Put some towels down and watch the sunset illuminate the sky with SO many colors! Then, check your left after the sun goes down and watch millions of bats fill the sky way above as they fly out into the jungle!
Enjoy the night life - whether that’s watching fire dancers on the beach or wandering through the main strip to grab a Chang beer!
III. PHI PHI // 2 DAYS
WHERE WE STAYED:
We stayed at a cute beach front bungalow resort called Paradise Pearl. With our own little beach and restaurant, it was a great place to hang out for the day!
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:
SNORKLE SNORKLE SNORKLE - hire a private long tail boat near where you’re staying to boat you out to the different islands. This was an amazing experience! Avoid the tourist trap speed boats - this was cheaper and we could stop wherever we wanted for however long we wanted. It was awesome. Friends, the sea life here is UNBELIEVABLE. So many fish and colors, and we even swam with a small reef shark. Wild, so incredible! We spent 5 hours out snorkeling!
Enjoy the clearest water, float and cool off between tanning sessions on your white sand beach.
We walked from our bungalows into downtown Phi Phi for dinner one night - about 20 mins. There are tons of food options and a fun night market to explore as well!
IV. KOH LANTA // 3 DAYS
WHERE WE STAYED:
This might have been my favorite place we stayed - Alama Sea Village Resort - on the south end of Koh Lanta. It has gorgeous modern bungalows that overlook the ocean from the hillside. You can even enjoy the view while floating in the infinity pool!
THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:
Koh Lanta was by far the most chill place to visited! Everyone was incredibly laid back and it seemed a bit less touristy. A hidden gem, for sure!
We did lots of pool hangs, relaxing and soaking up the sun from our hillside perch.
Explore the jungle roads by motorbike (watch for monkey crossings)!
Our favorite beach was Bamboo Beach, it was a peaceful more private cove.
Head to the East side to explore the cute fishing town - lots of shops and restaurants. Just drive safely over the twisty, old mountain roads!
This is very much a “take it easy” kind of place. It was an awesome place to end our trip, although it ended abruptly, we were glad it was in such a peaceful place!
A FEW OTHER THINGS —
ALL THINGS FOOD + DRINK
Lots and lots of Thai Iced Tea ($75 cents)
Mango and Coconut shakes were my fave
Try iced Blue Butterfly Pea Tea - UH-MAZING!
Eat Banana Rhoti - the best kind of “pancake” you’ll ever have
Get some Mango & Sticky Rice - I could eat this EVERY. FREAKING. DAY.
Fave Noodles to try: Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Yum Woon Sen, and “Noodle Soup”
Fave Curries: Green Curry, Red Curry, and Massaman Curry
Fave Other Dishes: Pad Krapow (spicy basil chicken), Morning Glory (garlic + greens), and papaya salad (so yummy and fresh)
Want a quick refresher? Grab a lime Manao Soda from any convenience store!
TRANSPORTATION
We got motorbikes in the bigger towns: Phuket and Koh Lanta. It’s the best and cheapest way to get around - $8 bucks a day! Just DRIVE SAFELY - it’s an adjustment if you’re not used to that type of traffic OR driving on the left side of the road.
In places we didn’t get motorbikes, we either walked or used the “GRAB” app (basically Thailand’s version of Uber or Lyft). Most hotels can help you book transport as well!
Between islands, we took the local ferries. You can book them online ahead of time and just print the tickets out! PRO TIP: load the ferry and sit outside on the deck!! You can hang your feet off the edge, get that cool breeze, and not be cramped inside an overcrowded cabin!
A FEW TIPS
Buy snorkel gear there - SO cheap and will save you money over renting each time! We bought ours at Decathlon in Phuket for around $10 each.
Get up early - we woke up several time for sunrise beach walks, and basically had the WHOLE place to ourselves! It’s cooler, quieter, and pure magic!
Buy big bottles of cold water - not only do you need to stay hydrated, but holding a bottle of ice cold water did wonders in cooling us down during those hot days!
7-Eleven is life - Walking the hot streets mid-day? Need a cool break? Pop into a 7-Eleven and be hit with the most refreshing AC you’ve ever felt! I’ve never been into a 7-Eleven so many times!! Take these little pit stops to chill for a sec, grab a cheap cold drink, and hit the heat again!
Tiger fish swarming - sounds scarier than it is! Just know - when snorkeling, there are schools of striped yellow & black fish that are NOT shy and will swim all up in yo’ face!!! They don’t bite or do anything harmful really, but it definitely took some getting used to (and lots of screaming through my snorkel) to finally be a little more chill swimming with them!
Find the cheap food - try to avoid tourist traps! Yes, this is hard, and we definitely fell into some! Do your best to look for the local, small business eateries. Clues to finding them: family owned, not much english (if any) on the menus, and 30-50 Baht meals. SO YUMMY. The best food by far!
For super cheap stays - check out some hostels! We went with more medium priced bungalows and resorts (‘cuz hey, still so cheap)! BUT, there are even cheaper options - check out Hostel World to find some rad overnight places!
Free breakfasts - everywhere we stayed had breakfast included! Which was SO nice! Most places have fresh fruit, omelet stations, and coffee, along with a variety of other choices! This made starting the day so easy and FREE! Something to think about when choosing a place to stay.
Planning your day - we always tried to plan our day with thinking about the heat. The mornings are often cooler, so we would go do our adventure first thing: hike, snorkel, drive around, etc. Then, make sure we were near some type of water (beach or pool) for the afternoon so we could constantly be cooling off! Evenings were always good for town walks, avoiding the sun and day heat as much as possible for meandering!
take a peak at a couple phone pics from along the way! 👇🏻
A FEW MORE PHOTOS FROM THE TRIP
Andie and I swapped a few photos along the way so we could have some of Josiah and I and her and Mikal! The perks of traveling with another photographer, photo swaps for life! ;)
Phuket, Thailand Family Session // The Hills
Australian Blue Mountains Elopement // New South Wales
Downtown Belfast, Northern Ireland Couple Session // Bethany + Israel
ahhh, my heart just kept growing and growing with love for northern ireland! Then, I did this couples shoot in downtown belfast with these two lovely humans and the love grew even more!
These two were such champs showing me all the hidden gems as we explored all around the main square! I love them and their story and that they trusted me to capture them together for the first time that wasn’t “just selfies” haha! Also, can we just be like SHOOT DANG they are such babes!!!
we already know how much I love city photos and urban vibes, but belfast just filled my heart with all its cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture!
so, if you’re crushing on northern ireland too, and want to run around the city or the coast with your person, HIT ME UP!
SOME BELFAST GO-TO’S —
Established Coffee — a cute place to grab coffee
“Oh Donuts” — because YUM
Belfast Titanic Museum — an amazing experience
Giant’s Causeway — incredible landscape
Northern Ireland Wedding // Ruins Along the Coast
Wow, words for this day are hard. Mostly because there’s so much I want to say!
I mean, how can you go wrong with a beautiful, Northern Ireland wedding along the coast? AND doing your couple pics at old ruins??!!
Anyways, let’s start with this. Bethany and I grew up together, our friendship has survived a crazy transitional life, the terrible tween years, states apart + countries apart, and into new seasons of “adult-ing” alongside each other. When she asked me to be her bridesmaid AND photographer, I was so so so honored. This gave my storytelling a whole new level. One second I was full on snapping, and the next bawling my eyes out while reading a letter she wrote me. I walked down the aisle with a bouquet, and back with a camera. It was worth every second of running around in a flowy dress to capture the moments!
Bethany and Paddy got married in the most beautiful old, stone building along the Northern Ireland coast. The day was windy as heck, but I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard while dresses & hair flew in every direction during group photos! It was pure joy through every second. Their ceremony was so true to them, i doubt there was a single dry eye there (mine included)!
it may feel like a lot to scroll through, but it feels like a story book to me, from beginning to end. It’s the documentation of one of the greatest days!
The story of this day feels so full and close to my heart! From early morning granola & coffee, mirrors spread ALL over our airbnb, tearful father & daughter first looks, ear to ear smiles walking down the aisle, wind blown hair, frolicking around old ruins, allll the way to the Irish ceili dancing late into the night!
I love you both so much! Cheers to this new season of life!
xx
PS I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT MY SISTER WHO CRUSHED IT AT SECOND SHOOTING!!!!
venue // Orange Tree House, Northern Ireland, Greyabbey
florals // Flowers by Mee
dress // thrifted (she’s cool like that)
Skogafoss // Iceland Waterfall Couples session
majestic feels like an understatement for this Iceland waterfall. it was absolutely incredible and I could have stayed there all day just watching it and listening to its powerful force.
shooting with these two love bugs at the foot of something so beautiful was pure magic! we were soaked from the spray, but giddy as ever!
Icelandic Airplace Frolicking
Iceland, you are as beautiful as everyone says! these massive, open landscapes take your breath away (both because they are AMAZING, but also because it's windy as heck haha)! I would frolick on an Icelandic black sand beach or an abandon plane wreck any day!
