Days traveling: | |
Average per day: | |
excluding
and
Flights
:
Luxury activities
|
Thailand |
|
$
$
$
$
($35.85 per day)
Affordable (between US$25 and US$50 per day)
|
|
35 entries for Thailand |
I couldn't leave Pai without visiting the Tham Lod Cave, which had been recommended to me several times. You go into the cave accompanied by a local guide who shows you the different rock formations. A tour in a (very precarious) bamboo raft was also included, which was definitely the highlight of the visit for me.
Food
|
Breakfast |
฿27.00
$0.81
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x2) |
฿34.00
$1.02
|
Tourist attractions
|
Tour to "Tham Lod Cave" (lunch included) |
฿450.00
$13.50
|
Food
|
Snacks |
฿40.00
$1.20
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Wat Pa Tam Wua (Buddhist monastery) |
฿100.00
$3.00
|
TOTAL | ฿651.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $19.53 |
Today I went on a full-day tour that covered most of the touristy stuff around Pai. Because we're on the dry season, some of the destinations where pretty underwhelming: the waterfall had no water, and the rice fields were just dirt fields. However the hot springs were a nice surprise (they weren't so hot) and the Pai Canyon was amazing for sunset.
Food
|
Breakfast at "Canary Guesthouse" |
฿125.00
$3.75
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x4) |
฿64.00
$1.92
|
Tourist attractions
|
Full-day tour (lunch included) |
฿500.00
$15.00
|
Food
|
Savory snacks at "Pai Night Market" |
฿20.00
$0.60
|
Food
|
Khao Soi at "Pai Night Market" |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
Food
|
Fruit at "Pai Night Market" |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
Accomodation
|
Canary Guesthouse |
฿140.00
$4.20
|
TOTAL | ฿929.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $27.86 |
Today might have been my laziest day so far. I spent most it just lounging at the hostel, doing some writing, catching up with some errands, and working on the website (link in bio, check it out!).
Food
|
Breakfast at "Canary Guesthouse" |
฿125.00
$3.75
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water |
฿13.00
$0.39
|
Food
|
Savory snacks at "Pai Night Market" |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
Food
|
Khao Soi at "Pai Night Market" |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
Food
|
Mango smoothie |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
Alcohol
|
Cocktail |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
Accomodation
|
Canary Guesthouse |
฿140.00
$4.20
|
TOTAL | ฿458.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $13.74 |
Pai was described to me as a small town with island vibes, just without the beach. Confusing description, I thought, but now that I'm here, I totally get what they meant. There's not much to do in Pai, so time seems almost not-existent. Most people just chill, going from the pool to the bar, and then back to the pool.
Food
|
Breakfast at "Big's Little Cafe" |
฿130.00
$3.90
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x3) |
฿40.00
$1.20
|
Others
|
Pen |
฿10.00
$0.30
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Pen's Kitchen" |
฿90.00
$2.70
|
Entertainment
|
Entrance fee to "Fluid Swimming Pool" |
฿80.00
$2.40
|
Groceries
|
Toiletry restock |
฿52.00
$1.56
|
Food
|
Mango sticky rice |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
Food
|
Savory snacks at "Pai Night Market" |
฿20.00
$0.60
|
Accomodation
|
Canary Guesthouse |
฿140.00
$4.20
|
TOTAL | ฿592.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $17.76 |
Chiang Mai's Old City is a perfect 1.6km (1mi) square, surrounded by a moat wall, although little of the wall still remains. After spending a day mostly eating and drinking coffee, I took my evening bus to my next destination: the small town of Pai.
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in hostel) |
฿0.00
$0.00
|
Food
|
Coffee at "Into The Woods" |
฿75.00
$2.25
|
Food
|
Coffee at "Akha Ama Coffee" |
฿60.00
$1.80
|
Food
|
Minced pork basil at "Siri Wattana Market" |
฿45.00
$1.35
|
Food
|
Sweet snacks at "Siri Wattana Market" |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
Food
|
Savory snacks at "Siri Wattana Market" |
฿20.00
$0.60
|
Urban transport
|
Songthaew (semi-private taxi) to hostel |
฿30.00
$0.90
|
Urban transport
|
Songthaew to bus terminal |
฿50.00
$1.50
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Pai |
฿150.00
$4.50
|
Food
|
Dinner (street food) |
฿260.00
$7.80
|
Alcohol
|
Beers |
฿270.00
$8.10
|
Accomodation
|
Canary Guesthouse |
฿140.00
$4.20
|
TOTAL | ฿1,130.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $33.89 |
There are hundreds of Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, however several of them don't get even close to the definition of the word. After lots of research I found @elephantnaturepark, which not only rescues and homes dozens of elephants, but also works with local businesses to convince them to stop elephant riding and to become elephant sanctuaries. I spent my day feeding, walking, bathing, and playing in the mud with these gigantic and beautiful creatures. Definitely one of the best days of my trip so far 🐘.
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in hostel) |
฿0.00
$0.00
|
Luxury activities
|
Elephant sanctuary at "Elephant Trails" |
฿2,500.00
$74.99
|
Food
|
Khao Soi at "Khao Soi Muslim Noodles" |
฿70.00
$2.10
|
Food
|
Coffee and pastry at "Khagee" |
฿295.00
$8.85
|
Groceries
|
Toiletry restock |
฿70.00
$2.10
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Chiang Mai Night Bazaar" |
฿134.00
$4.02
|
Accomodation
|
D-Well Hostel |
฿290.00
$8.70
|
TOTAL | ฿3,359.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $100.75 |
Street food markets are the soul of Asian food culture. A trip to southeast Asia is not complete without a visit to a local food market. Try a bit of everything: exotic fruits, spicy dishes, local desserts, etc. A strong stomach is recommended.
Food
|
Breakfast at "Kiet Ocha Khao Man Kai" |
฿90.00
$2.70
|
Food
|
Rice sweet |
฿10.00
$0.30
|
Groceries
|
Toiletry restock |
฿65.50
$1.96
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Wat Buppharam" |
฿20.00
$0.60
|
Food
|
Iced coffee |
฿60.00
$1.80
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Coconut Shell" |
฿100.00
$3.00
|
Food
|
Snacks at "Pratu Chiang Mai Night Market" |
฿130.00
$3.90
|
Accomodation
|
D-Well Hostel |
฿290.00
$8.70
|
TOTAL | ฿765.50 |
TOTAL (USD) | $22.96 |