Thailand is a land of amazing natural beauty and the home to a remarkable civilization. It is also a backpacking paradise. Prices are cheap, people are friendly and an established backpacking infrastructure is in place. Backpackers take buses everywhere and avoid organized tours. They take the cheapest buses, since they know the first-class ones rarely get there faster. They know to ask other travelers where to stay instead of consulting paid hawkers at the bus station.

Most backpacking trips through Thailand begin in Bangkok. It is a megacity full of congestion, pollution and confusion. It also contains amazing temples, bustling markets and festive people. The real backpacking adventure is outside the big city. Head north to the temple ruins of Ayuthaya and the temple complexes of Chiang Mai. Trek to Nakhon Pathom to see the tallest Buddhist monument in the world. Venture to the beaches of Ko Samui and Phuket.

Thailand is a relatively inexpensive place to travel, but you can still be cheated. It is common practice to charge foreigners more than locals. Thai businesspeople will do this if they think they can get away with it. If you let them know they can’t, you will be treated like any other customer. Learn the currency and count your change. Carry small denomination notes so you won’t need large amounts of change. Bargain for everything and learn what the locals pay. If all else fails, walk away. Merchants would rather charge you less than lose your business.

Backpacking can be a dirty business in Thailand. Proprietors of restaurants and food stalls don’t always put hygiene at the top of their list of priorities. Drink bottled beverages, eat at busy restaurants and wash your hands often. Only eat fruit that you can peel. Be wary of food from street stands unless you know it is fresh. You can catch a nasty stomach bug if you ignore hygiene. Always carry your own toilet paper. Sexually transmitted diseases are rampant in the Thai sex industry.

Get used to the fact that things do not run on time in Thailand. It is pointless to get angry that a bus is slow or a business is late to open. Public displays of anger are taboo, and blowing up will make people ignore you. Instead, enjoy the slower pace of life that backpacking in Thailand offers.

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