Some of you might already be thinking about where to go this summer. Thailand is good to travel all year round, even during the summer time.  Here is our guide to choose which island that suit your needs for the next summer holiday. Many advantages of traveling to Thailand during summer holiday include less tourists, price friendly for hotel and flight.  Traveling can easily book the flight and accommodations with no hassle or advance booking.  Moreover, when it is less crowded you can enjoy the surroundings even more. Here are some tips of where you can visit in Thailand during your summer holiday. Koh Samui – Koh Phangan – Koh Tao These 3 islands on the gulf of Thailand are the best during the summer time. The water is crystal clear and the sun always shines. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are neighboring islands that can be easily traveled to each other. In fact, these three islands are good to visit until end of September. Samui – Eco friendly island Samui island has a smaller size than Phuket but yet is packed with an abundance of amazingly beautiful beaches and a fun city lifestyle. Since Samui is a pioneer in environmentally friendly tourism and green initiatives, the island offers local charms together with the sustainable esthetic. At Baan Ma Prow or Coconut Museum, you can experience the vestire of coconut trees.  Getting your hands on by learning how to make Thai dessert with coconut sugar or see how coconut oil is made. There are also many wellness centers and spas scattered around the island. Koh Phangan – Wellness island Koh Phangan has a more laid back atmosphere and is a popular destination for backpackers, dropouts and yogis as well as individual travellers and luxury vacationers. The island had been famous for its full moon party but the charms of this island are still waiting to be discovered. Variety of tranquil beaches and authentic fisherman villages can still be found here. The island also attracts healthy adventure travelers as many yoga and wellness retreats are located here. Hiking on the island is also possible from an easy hike to Than Sadet Waterfall to more adventure trails to Khao Ra. The island also offers many activities such as kitesurfing, zipline, fishing trips or taking it easy at the evening street markets.  With only 20 minutes from Samui on a speed boat, you will reach Koh Phagan. The ferry from Surathani is also available and it takes about 2 ½ hours. Koh  Tao – Diving paradise Koh Tao is just a small island that is renowned for its scuba diving.  Koh Tao is excellent for a quiet pace of lifestyle with not much of a nightlife scene like in Koh Samui or Koh Phangan. The island is still rich with nature, especially marine life. Diving lovers can enjoy scuba diving, free diving, skin diving or simply enjoy the beautiful beaches. We also recommend a small hike to many viewpoints on the island such as John-Suwan Viewpoint or High Rock Viewpoint.  The island has a good mix of accommodation to offer, from the more budget-friendly bungalow to the luxurious resort. Both Ferry and SpeedBoat connect Koh Samui and Koh Phagan to Koh Tao Island in around 1 – 2 hours. Depending on how fast you want to reach the island, the options are yours.  Phuket – Thailand’s new surfing destination Phuket is a surfing heaven for summer holiday. The best time is from May to October, which is the low season. Despite some rainy days, travelers can still enjoy the colorful vibe on this island until September. Kata is the best-known surfing beach. Beginner to advanced surfers will enjoy the waves here at any tide level, but conditions are best at mid-tide. Other beaches that are good for surfing are Nai harn, Kalim, Surin, Bang Tao and Nai Yang beach. Different beaches provide different character of waves that are suitable for both calmer and advanced wave riders.  Koh Mai Ton Or Mai ton island is an understated paradise with only 15 minutes from Phuket by speedboat. The island is hidden on the Andaman sea side, making it summer friendly during August and September. The island is small but with a large and quiet beach and a green hill as a backdrop. It’s fantastic for a day trip and an ideal lunch spot.   Rayong – Koh Samed Samed is a weekend getaway for the local Thais. Located in Rayong which is only 2 hours from Bangkok. To get to Koh Samed is easy, travelers can take a speed boat from Ban Phe pier that takes only 15 to 30 min depending on which side of the island you want to travel to. The island is perfect for family, couples or even backpackers. Since different beaches in Koh Samed are unique, you can find calm and quiet beaches or a more vibrant and fun atmosphere. Moreover, accommodations are variant. Travelers can easily find one that suits the budget and lifestyle such as wooden bangalore, a small hip hotel or even a 5 star resort. During June and July is the low season for the island but you can expect sunshine and clear water. 

Text: Anders Pihl and TAT Bangkok is one of Thailand’s most vibrant cities. You will never get dull in the city that never sleeps. After the awakening of the pandemic, Bangkok came back to life with so many new things happening. This is definitely one of the reasons why Bangkok retains “The Best City” according to DestinAsian magazine’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards.  Travelers are familiar with major tourist attractions in Bangkok including historical or religious sites such as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram (Phra Kaew), Wat Pho, Temple of dawn (Wat Arun),Grand palace and shopping centers as well as Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the world’s largest outdoor markets.  But Bangkok has more new things to offer. Here is our guide to what you can do in Bangkok that you may not know before. 1. City run Bangkok’s morning is already filled with life. Food stalls begin to set up and Bangkokians are out for their exercise.  Benjakitti Park has a new large and impressive section resembling a natural wetland, a wonderful place for a morning jog. Unlike other public parks, this park is a unique blend of modern, minimalist and naturalistic. You can walk, run or bike on a bike lane path made especially for the riders. The highlights include a nearly two-kilometer long skywalk criss crossing path with a lovely view of wetland encouraging you to keep walking and explore. The park is just 15 minutes’ walk from BTS Asok station and Sukhumvit station of the MRT underground.  2. Thrifting and vintage markets For vintage lovers either it is art, furniture or clothes, Bangkok is your heaven. Many people are familiar with shopping at ChatuChak (JJ) weekend market. Few are aware that in Zone 5 and 6 are where you can find vintage T-shirts, jeans, bags, army gear and even handmade re-new clothes. If you are looking for arts and antiques, then head over to Zone 26.  From Monday to Sunday there is a new shopping spot just opposite to Chatuchak market called Red building or Tuek Dang (Bangsue Junction). This air conditioning flea market is an ideal for all sorts of second hand items whether they are antiques or vintage things. You can find home décor, furniture, old books, and vintage clothes & accessories or even collectibles toys.  Just a little bit outside the city center is Patthavikorn Market where one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  Here is where you can get a thrill from digging into a mountain of random products and picking out something to your liking. It could be clothes, cassette tape, used auto parts, kitchenware, Buddhist amulets, classic film cameras or old comic books. 3. Get lost in the metro forest   Just a little bit outskirt of Bangkok,  20 minutes drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport lies PTT Forest Station. A natural green wasteland has been rehabilitated for the city of Bangkok and is used as a learning center. Even though it was established in 2015 by PTT, Thailand’s state-owned oil and gas behemoth as part of their reforestation, it is still hidden to most foreign travelers.  Visitors are welcomed to stroll down the  floating wooden walkway through the property that offers a canopy view of the beautiful forest. Metro Forest is where diverse types of trees native to Bangkok can be found.  4. Bangkok’s new green park As part of the projects to celebrate 250 years of Bangkok, the city just opened Chong Nonsi canal park, the first canal park in Thailand. It will have a total distance of 9 kilometers on both sides when the project completes in August 2022.  It aims to bring people and the canal closer together like in the past. Bangkok has also been known as “East Venice” as the city life was surrounded by many of these small canals. The canal park resembles Bangkok as it once was but with a modern touch.  A zigzagging elevated path connecting Chong Nonsi Skywalk to the linear park is a beautiful greenery sight  particularly when it’s lit up at night. Easy getting there by taking BTS to Chong Nonsi station.  Another new green project in town is The Chao Phraya Sky Park, the first garden bridge park that connects Bangkok with its sister city Thonburi. The bridge is a beautiful pedestrian walkway, approximately 280 meters long. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of the river and surroundings. It is also a charming space for an afternoon or evening stroll.  5. High on cafe hopping  Digital nomad or not, Bangkok is welcoming you for a cup of coffee at various cafés around town. We recommend Piccolo Vicolo Cafe, a 50-year-old shophouse that’s decorated with wooden vintage decor and some greenery tucked away in a little alley in Ratchathewi area close  to MBK mall. A couple of unconventional signature drinks are a must try on the menu.   Thailand’s first cacao-centric bistro, 31 Degrees is another recommended café located in Sathorn. Here you can try Thailand’s origin cacao beans, sourced from their own estate in the north and growers across the country, allowing  you to explore the varying flavors of the region. This place is not only for travelers with a sweet tooth but the bistro also offers organic light food as well.  Cannabis restaurants and cafés are also new exciting things happening in Bangkok. This is due to more relaxed government policies on the use of cannabis in the food and cosmetics industries. Parts of the plant containing less than 0.2% thc, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, could legally be used in cosmetics and food. If you’re hooked up on the new trend, head to Highland Café. You find not only delicious desserts but they also serve  international and Thai food with a touch of cannabis.  6. New Taksin Area – the luxurious vibe If you are looking for stylish riverside hotels in the new area, look no longer than the south of the Takin bridge. The Four Seasons at Chao Phraya River is located in this neighborhood with...