The best travel itinerary for 5 weeks in Thailand

My trip began in Bangkok - a city that either overwhelms you or immediately captures your heart. For me, the second applied. Thailand's capital is chaotic, hot and crowded, but at the same time fascinating and full of life. You must have seen this city once.

I spent three days (two nights) here, which gave enough time to get a good first impression. I had also booked the first two nights in advance and stayed in X hostel. This hostel is packed with Dutch people, so decide for yourself if you feel like it ;). Highlights were a visit to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, where you can find the famous reclining Buddha. I also took the well-known Co van Kessel bicycle tour and strolled through Chinatown and along the famous Khao San Road. Bangkok is also the place to get acquainted with Thai cuisine: street food on every street corner, from Pad Thai to mango sticky rice.

From Bangkok, I took the sleeper train to the north. The train leaves late afternoon and I arrived around 05:00 in the morning in Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the north. This city is a lot quieter than Bangkok and is located in the middle of a mountainous, green region. The atmosphere is relaxed, the people are friendly and there are dozens of temples to explore. Among others, I visited Wat Phra Singh and the hilltop Wat Doi Suthep - with stunning views of the city. We were here during sunrise. This is very worthwhile. I also took a cooking class, one of the most enjoyable experiences of my trip.

After four days in Chiang Mai, I left for Pai, a small hippie village in the mountains. The route there (about three hours in the minivan with endless curves) is notorious, but it's worth it. You can also make this trip by scooter, but unfortunately there were no scooters available during my stay. Pai is small, relaxed and surrounded by nature. Think waterfalls, hot springs, rice fields and viewpoints like Pai Canyon. The atmosphere is wonderfully laid-back and I found it a nice place to unwind. There is a bit of an island/hippie vibe. I swapped hostel life here for a while for a nice AirBnb including breakfast with three nice girls I met in Bangkok.

After the north, it was time for sun, sea and beach. I left my tour group behind and took a cab back to Chiang Mai and flew from there to Krabi. I had booked two nights in Krabi, but found the atmosphere so unpleasant that I went straight to Railay Beach. Krabi felt like Majorca. A big strip with big white hotels and there was nowhere to get authentic Thai food. So off I went! So I went by boat to Railay Beach. Although officially part of the mainland, this peninsula is only accessible by boat and feels like an island. The limestone cliffs surrounding Railay are breathtaking and attract many rock climbers. I stuck to hiking, swimming and mostly enjoying the view. Railay is compact but extremely atmospheric - I stayed there for three nights in an insane hostel: Blanco Hideout. This was the nicest and most beautiful hostel of the whole trip. On Railay beach you can unwind, but there are also many boat tours to book. You can also climb on this island. Something for everyone.

I then traveled on to Ko Lanta, an island that is often overlooked but absolutely worth a visit. A lot quieter than, say, Phi Phi or Phuket, Ko Lanta offers long beaches, good eateries and a relaxed vibe. Here I loved renting a scooter and exploring the island. Among other things, I visited Mu Ko Lanta National Park and enjoyed quiet evenings at the beach. Ko Lanta was one of my favorite places in Thailand - not too crowded, not too touristy, just right. Just keep in mind that there is very little to do here in the evening. You don't really have bars or nightclubs. You really come here for your peace and quiet. I almost forgot I was backpacking here. That could also be because I had booked a ridiculously cheap luxury resort with travel companion Julie (whom I had also met in Bangkok) haha ;). After all, it was my vacation too, lol.

Many travelers combine their southern itinerary with a visit to Khao Sok National Park. This park is known for the impressive Cheow Lan Lake, limestone mountains and adventurous jungle treks. Although it sounds beautiful, I chose to skip this stop. I've done similar jungle treks in Suriname before, including overnight stays in nature and boat rides through pristine areas. The experience would probably have been less novel for me, and besides, a visit to Khao Sok quickly takes two to three days. I chose to spend that time differently, but for those who have never experienced such a nature tour, it is definitely recommended. All the travelers I spoke to were enthusiastic.

After Ko Lanta, I took the ferry towards the east coast of Thailand. First I stopped on Koh Samui - the largest island in the eastern archipelago. Although Koh Samui is quite touristy, it is also versatile. I stayed in the south of the island, slightly quieter than the famous beaches in the north. Highlights were a visit to the Wat Plai Laem temple and a day trip to Pig Island.

After a few days on Koh Samui, I continued on to Koh Tao. This island is known as one of the best places in the world to learn to dive - and for good reason. The underwater world is beautiful, with colorful coral reefs, tropical fish and regular visibility of 20 meters. Although I didn't dive, I did go snorkeling and visited Shark Bay, Ao Leuk and the viewpoint on Koh Nang Yuan - a small island next to Koh Tao. This was without a doubt one of the most beautiful views of the entire trip.

After weeks of traveling, nature, culture and relaxation, it was time to return to where it all began: Bangkok. I took a sleeper boat back. Just fine! I used these last days to ease off, buy some last souvenirs, and immerse myself in the city's atmosphere one last time. I ate street food one last time, had a Thai massage, and looked back on a trip that was perfectly balanced.

Then finally, an additional tip. During my trip, I booked all boats, train trips and bus tickets through 12go.asia. This website is really fantastic. Everything I needed to get around Asia easily and efficiently was conveniently in one place.

What I found particularly useful was that you can immediately see what options are available for each route, including departure times, prices, travel time and reviews from other travelers. This allowed me to compare well and make the choice that best fit my schedule and budget. The booking confirmations came quickly and often I could also just show an e-ticket on my phone - ideal!

In addition, it is nice that you can arrange everything in English, which is not always obvious with local transportation companies. And should anything go wrong, there is a good help desk available!