What We’d Do Differently on a Return Trip to Thailand

Thailand was one of the most incredible trips we’ve ever taken. We packed a lot into 16 days and truly felt like we experienced the highlights — from temples and elephants to jungles and beaches. But like any trip, once you get home and reflect, you start to think about what you’d tweak next time.

Here are the key things we’d think about on a future trip.

Take a Day Trip to Ayutthaya Instead of Revisiting Bangkok

We enjoyed visiting the temples in Bangkok, especially the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, but if we returned, we’d probably trade that day for the experience we missed last time.

We’d take a day trip to the ancient city of Ayutthaya and nearby Lopburi — often nicknamed Monkey City.

Ayutthaya was once the capital of Thailand and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with temple ruins and towering Buddha statues wrapped in tree roots. It looks absolutely fascinating and very different from modern Bangkok. Lopburi, on the other hand, is known for its population of macaques that roam freely through the town and temple grounds.

We were torn between Bangkok and Ayutthaya on this trip, so I’d love to see what we missed. This would be completely different from modern Bangkok and would be a great way to add historical depth to the trip without needing another flight.

Spend More Time at Khao Sok National Park

If there’s one place we’d unquestionably stay longer next time, it’s Khao Sok National Park.

We only spent one full day there, and that simply wasn’t enough. The jungle scenery, limestone cliffs, and peaceful atmosphere made it one of the most memorable parts of our trip. Next time we’d plan to stay at least 4 nights, allowing for 3 full days.

We’d prioritize taking a guided jungle hike to Ton Kloi Waterfall and a visit to Elephant Hills near Khao Sok National Park. We’ve already done a full-day Cheow Lan Lake tour, but given how mind-blowing it was, we wouldn’t mind a repeat. We’d also consider a night safari.

Our experiences in Khao Sok National Park and Krabi were somewhat similar in that they were both water focused and we got to see a lot of limestone cliffs. We were in awe of both areas, but Khao Sok National Park felt more unreal and out of this world.

Skip a Return to Krabi

We absolutely loved our time in Krabi. The scenery around Railay Beach and Phang Nga Bay was breathtaking, and visiting James Bond Island was a fantastic experience.

But now that we’ve seen those iconic spots, we probably wouldn’t prioritize returning there on our next trip — unless we were traveling with friends or family who had never been.

Instead, we’d shift those days to places we want to explore more deeply, especially the jungle and northern regions.

Krabi will always be a beloved memory. We feel like we spent enough time there to really see the majority of what it has to offer. We’ll come back after we’ve seen everything else in the world.

A Revisit to Elephants — Just a Different Park

Spending a day with elephants was one of the highlights of our trip, and we’d definitely do it again.

We visited Elephant Nature Park, which is one of the most well-known ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.

Next time, we’d visit the Elephant Hills park, located in the Khao Sok region. It also focuses on ethical, observation-based interactions and is frequently recommended by travelers.

The Golden Triangle

This is one area we didn’t visit but heard many great things about.

The Golden Triangle is where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet along the Mekong River. Historically, it was known for opium production, but today it’s a cultural and historical destination.

Things we’d want to see in this area include the Chiang Rai White Temple, hill tribe villages, Mekong River viewpoints, and scenic mountain landscapes.

This would pair naturally with time in northern Thailand, especially with a repeat visit to Chiang Mai.

Drive the Full Mae Hong Son Loop instead of the Samoeng Loop

We actually considered doing this on our first trip, but we just didn’t have enough time.

As much as we loved our guided tours in Chiang Mai, we really really loved the day we spent driving the Samoeng Loop. For a return trip to Chiang Mai, we’d skip the formal tours and focus on doing the 3-day Mae Hong Son Loop.

The Mae Hong Son Loop is a famous multi-day drive through the mountains of northern Thailand, typically completed in 3–4 days. It includes winding roads, waterfalls, caves, hot springs, and small mountain towns.

Typical stops include Pai, Mae Hong Son, Doi Inthanon area, and mountain viewpoints and waterfalls.

It seems like the perfect mix of adventure and flexibility — and a great way to experience the countryside at our own pace.

We’d Add a Stop in Singapore

Since we already connected through Singapore on our flights, we’d strongly consider turning that layover into a short stay.

On our last trip, we spent several hours in the Singapore Airport, and that alone was pretty amazing. English is the primary working language in Singapore, which makes it very easy for travelers. It is a more modern country and has a higher cost of living, so for our purposes, one day, or even a longer layover, would be sufficient for us.

Some of the top quick-hit experiences we’d consider are the Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, and Merlion Park.

Revised Itinerary

This revised itinerary would take about the same number of days as our last trip. It would include:

• 4 travel days (2 from the U.S. to Thailand, and 2 from Thailand to the U.S.)
• 2 nights in Bangkok (with a day trip to Ayutthaya and Lopburi Monkey City
• 3 nights doing the Mae Hong Son Loop (starting and ending in Chiang Mai)
• 2 nights in the Golden Triangle (based in Chiang Rai)
• 4 nights in Khao Sok National Park
• 1 night in Singapore

Whatever itinerary you choose, Thailand is an incredibly rewarding destination.

Up Next: Visiting Saguaro National Park

The Thailand series of this website is officially at an end. The next series will detail a return to Arizona, this time with the kids! Continue reading to learn what to expect when visiting Saguaro National Park. The towering cacti and wildlife were surprisingly beautiful.

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