Bangkok & Krabi – From Temple Wonders to Tropical Relaxation

Following our unforgettable adventure through Vietnam and Cambodia, our journey continued with a morning flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok.

We arrived in the afternoon and checked into the Riva Arun Bangkok Hotel, perfectly located in the heart of the city. Our hotel had an incredible 270-degree view taking in three of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks – Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the Grand Palace.

And the view from the rooftop at night was simply spectacular. As darkness fell, the temples and Grand Palace illuminated the skyline across the Chao Phraya River, creating a magical scene that perfectly captured the atmosphere of Bangkok.

Bangkok – Temples, Canals & Tuk-Tuks

The following morning, our private guide met us at the hotel and, within minutes, we were across the road at the ferry port, boarding an express ferry across the Chao Phraya River to Wat Pho.

Wat Pho is one of Bangkok’s oldest temples and home to Thailand’s largest collection of Buddha images. Its most famous resident is the enormous 151-foot-long Reclining Buddha, covered in gold leaf. Seeing this incredible statue in person was quite something – and just the start of our day of exploring Bangkok’s remarkable temples.

From Wat Pho, we boarded our own private long-tail boat and headed along the Chao Phraya River before exploring the peaceful canals of Thonburi, often referred to as the “Venice of the East.”

Away from the hustle and bustle of central Bangkok, the canals offered a fascinating glimpse into another side of the city, with traditional homes, colourful temples and everyday life lining the waterways.

Our boat eventually brought us to Wat Arun – the Temple of Dawn. The temple's magnificent central Grand Prang rises around 80 metres into the sky and is decorated with millions of tiny pieces of shimmering Chinese porcelain and seashells.

It was every bit as impressive as we had imagined.

We had originally planned to visit the Grand Palace too, but with only one day in Bangkok, we decided to experience a little more of the city instead. A tuk-tuk ride through the busy streets was great fun, giving us a real taste of Bangkok, before we also tackled the city's incredibly efficient MRT underground system.

With the help of our guide, navigating it was surprisingly easy!

Our time in Bangkok was really just a taster, as the following day we flew south to Krabi for some much-needed relaxation after our action-packed two weeks travelling through Vietnam and Cambodia.

Krabi – Tropical Paradise at Dusit Thani

Arriving in Krabi felt like stepping into another world.

For the next seven days, we were staying at the 5-star Dusit Thani Beach Resort, and our first impression was simply… WOW!

Set in a stunning beachfront location surrounded by lush tropical gardens, it was exactly what we needed after our busy travels.

Our Club Deluxe Room overlooked the beautiful gardens, and we spent our first afternoon simply enjoying the hotel, exploring the grounds and relaxing on the beach.

The following day was deliberately slow-paced – enjoying the sunshine, discovering the surrounding area and, most importantly, doing very little!

But relaxation didn't last too long…

Sailing, Snorkelling & Bioluminescent Plankton

The next day we joined a 7-island sunset cruise aboard a traditional Siamese Junk boat, complete with sails.

With just 24 passengers on board, it was a wonderfully relaxed and friendly experience. We may have been considerably older than many of our fellow travellers, but everyone was so welcoming that we quickly felt part of the group.

Our adventure took us to Poda Island, Chicken Island, Tub Island, Railay Beach and Phra Nang Cave, with plenty of opportunities to swim, snorkel, paddleboard and kayak along the way.

But the highlight came after dark.

We jumped into the warm sea and swam amongst glowing bioluminescent plankton, watching the water sparkle around us with every movement.

It was one of those travel experiences that is almost impossible to describe – you simply have to experience it.

Maya Bay & The Phi Phi Islands

The following day was another adventure, this time by speedboat.

We headed to the famous Maya Bay, made world-famous by the film "The Beach", before continuing to the spectacular turquoise waters of Pileh Lagoon.

We also visited Viking Cave and Monkey Beach, where we watched wild monkeys from the safety of our boat, before heading to Bamboo Island (Koh Phai).

With its dazzling white sand and crystal-clear waters, it was the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of Thailand's Andaman Coast.

Another incredible day – and another set of memories to treasure.

In between all the adventures, we also discovered one of the great bargains of travelling in Thailand. After two weeks on the road, we had accumulated rather a lot of laundry! A local laundry service outside the hotel washed everything for just £2.50.

You can't argue with that!

Experiencing Loy Krathong

Our final night in Krabi gave us one of the most unexpected and memorable experiences of the entire trip.

It happened to be Loy Krathong, one of Thailand's most beautiful traditional festivals. Celebrated around the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, people traditionally release small, beautifully decorated floating baskets, or Krathongs, onto rivers, canals and lakes.

The Dusit Thani had organised its own celebration, with the hotel beautifully decorated and staff dressed in traditional Thai costumes.

We were even able to make our own flower baskets before placing them onto the stream flowing through the hotel grounds.

It was a wonderfully atmospheric way to spend our final evening in Thailand – and we felt incredibly lucky to experience such a special cultural celebration during our stay.

Until Next Time…

The following day, it was time to head home to the UK.

Looking back, our journey through North Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand had been an incredible combination of culture, history, adventure, incredible food, beautiful scenery and, finally, some well-earned relaxation on the beaches of Krabi.

From the bustling streets and magnificent temples of Bangkok, to peaceful canals, tropical islands, glowing plankton and the warm hospitality of Thailand, this was a journey filled with experiences that will stay with us for a very long time.

Three countries, countless unforgettable experiences and memories we will treasure forever.

And perhaps the best thing about travelling is knowing that there is always another adventure waiting around the corner…