Travel preparation Langkawi

There isn’t much you should consider before traveling to Malaysia. Enclosed you will find a few general tips about visas and the travel weather in Langkawi.

Visa Langkawi

Most western countries can travel visa free to Malaysia. Staying without a visa is possible for up to 90 days.

Officially, you need an exit ticket from Malaysia to get the permission of stay. We have been to Malaysia many times and have never been asked for an exit ticket. But if you want to have a ticket issued as proof to be on the safe side, you can do this for a small fee of 14 USD at Onwardticket.com. There you will receive a real reservation confirmation for an outbound flight for a period of 48 hours or 14 days, which will then be automatically canceled again.

Take a travel adapter with you!

In Malaysia you need a plug adapter to charge your devices! Only very few hotels offer a socket where the plugs from Europe (type C) also work. Especially in the cheap accommodations you will only find the type G sockets. The best thing to do is to get a worldwide socket adapter and never have to worry about such problems again.

Weather Langkawi

In terms of temperatures, you can travel to Langkawi all year round because it is always tropically warm. However, there is also a rainy season in Malaysia, where there are frequent rain showers. Although the weather is not particularly good in the rainy season, a trip can be attractive even then. For example, you can surf on Langkawi (more on that below) and there are far fewer tourists around.

The best time to travel to Langkawi is during the winter months from early December to early/mid April. During this time there is almost no rain and the temperatures are permanently tropically warm. It rains most in the months of September and October. If you have the opportunity, then avoid this time, as there can be a relatively large amount of precipitation.

On the other hand, due to climate change, the demarcation between rainy and dry seasons in Southeast Asia is no longer entirely clear. There is also more and more weather that is atypical for the respective season, with lots of sunshine in the monsoon season or rain in the dry season.

How to get to Langkawi

Langkawi is relatively easy to get to, whether you are coming from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia or Malaysia. Since Langkawi has both an airport and many transport connections, there are many ways to get there. The prices for flights to Langkawi are cheap.

Flights to Langkawi

The quickest and easiest way to reach Langkawi is by plane. Before Covid there were a number of direct flights from all over Asia, Qatar Airways even flew directly from Doha to Langkawi. Currently there are only domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and other airports in Malaysia, as well as a connection to Singapore. However, we are very much assuming that more and more direct flights to Langkawi will be included in the airlines’ flight schedules in the near future.

Domestic flights in Malaysia are very cheap. AirAsia often has the best deals. Other alternatives would be Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air.

–> Flights Kuala Lumpur – Langkawi
–> Flights Thailand – Langkawi
–> Flights Singapore – Langkawi
–> Flights Europe – Langkawi

Ferry to Langkawi

It is very easy to reach Langkawi if you are already in the area such as Penang. It is not far from Penang to Langkawi and you only have to take the bus to Perlis, from where the ferries to Langkawi start. There are many bus and train connections to Perlis, including from Kuala Lumpur and Thailand. You can find all the connections and timetables here and book them conveniently online…

Thailand to Langkawi

You can also easily reach Langkawi from Thailand. You have the option of continuing overland from Hat Yai to Perlis and covering the last few meters by ferry (tickets are available here).

The better and nicer alternative would be an island hopping tour from Phuket. There are ferry services from Phuket to Langkawi, which also make stops in Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, Koh Mook and Trang. You can easily buy the tickets in stages and stay in one place for as long as you like. Of course you can also skip some islands and destinations and continue directly. It is best to book the connections via 12go.asia – this way you can check all available connections and conveniently book the tickets online.

Also the other way, from Langkawi to Thailand is very easy to travel. The checkout and immigration process at Kuah Jetty is smooth and hassle free!

Getting around Langkawi

Getting around Langkawi is very easy. The best option for exploring the island is probably a scooter. In Langkawi there are also taxis on every corner, which are extremely cheap. If you don’t dare to get behind the wheel yourself, just take one of these. You can also simply order a taxi via Uber or Grab, which works very well in Malaysia. There is no bus service or similar means of transport like the Songthaews in Thailand on Langkawi, so the only way to get around is by taxi or your own scooter. You can rent a scooter from RM25 per day. The best thing to do is to ask your hotel whether they offer scooter rental.

Also rentalcars are a good option to get around Langkawi. The roads are in good condition and there is almost no traffic. All beaches and sights can be easily reached by car. We recommend rentalcars especially for families with kids. You can rent cheap cars on Langkawi here…

Langkawi Accommodation Guide

On Langkawi you will find accommodation in every price category. The central place on Langkawi is Pantai Cenang. Pantai Cenang is centrally located, the beach is very nice and there are also plenty of restaurants and night markets around. Personally, we find the other places on Langkawi a bit too remote, so look for accommodation in the center.

A recommended place to stay at Pentai Cenang is The Cottage. It is just a few meters from the beach and costs just $15 per night, depending on the season. The rooms are simply furnished, but clean and absolutely fine for the price. Also, the internet is surprisingly good. The hotel also offers a hostel dorm if the bungalow is too expensive for you. In the dorm you only pay $5 per night. However, depending on the season, the prices may vary slightly.

There is also a wide range of great resorts and luxury hotel chains at Pentai Cenang. Here you can find everything from simple accommodation right on the beach to resorts with pools.

The price level in terms of accommodation in Langkawi is rather low. There are many inexpensive hotels and bungalows, which offer a very good standard.

Places to visit Langkawi: Beaches, Attractions, Activities

Langkawi is a travel destination that surprises with an enormous variety of activities. There are wonderful nature parks, impressive viewpoints, fantastic beaches, a number of night markets, shopping malls and places to go out. In short, even the most ambitious tourist will never get bored on Langkawi. We have clearly listed all the beaches, sights and activities for you below.

Langkawi Beach Guide

We have often read on the internet that the beaches in Langkawi are not really good, so we traveled to the island without great expectations. Whoever spread the info on the internet has probably never been to Langkawi. We found the beaches on Langkawi very beautiful and also much more well-kept than many places in Thailand, for example. In addition, there are still many beaches on the tourist island of Langkawi that are hardly visited at all. In general, Langkawi is a wonderful beach destination and always worth a visit!

Pantai Cenang Beach

Pantai Cenang Beach is considered the main beach on the island, and the town offers the most accommodation and restaurants in one spot. The beach is beautiful and spacious, but always busy. The offer of activities ranges from banana boat rides to jet skiing and parasailing. In our opinion, the beach is a bit too busy, but luckily there are many other great beaches on Langkawi to discover.

At Pantai Cenang Beach you can see the sunset perfectly in the evening, as the sun disappears on this stretch of beach. The sunsets on Langkawi are a dream anyway!

Pantai Tengha Beach

Not far south of Pantai Cenang Beach is Pantai Tengha Beach. This is one of our favorite Langkawi beaches. Here you will also find some accommodation and restaurants. If you want to have it a little quieter, it is best to settle down in this area. The T-Star Cottage is a good value place to stay very close to the beach.

This section of the beach is also relatively well visited, but it is much quieter than at Pantai Cenang. If you follow the beach to the northern end, you will find a very relaxed section where you can relax and find peace.

Pasir Tengkorak (Sandy Skulls Beach)

Are you looking for a beach that is virtually uncrowded? Then you should visit Pasir Tengkorak Beach in the north of the island. The beach section is somewhat hidden and is not the largest, and there are also many stones in the water, which spoil the bathing fun a bit. But you will definitely find your peace here and can enjoy the day almost all alone on a beautiful beach in Langkawi.

Black Sand Beach

Also to the north is Black Sand Beach, so called because of its dark sand. But don’t expect a pitch-black sandy beach, because the name is a bit deceptive. You will only find a few black spots. Even if the beach is not pitch black, it is worth stopping here to take a souvenir photo.

Pantai Tanjung Rhu

Powder-fine white sandy beach, turquoise water, no jet skis or the like and not particularly crowded – welcome to Tanjung Rau Beach, the most beautiful beach on Langkawi! The beach is located in the very northeast of the island, from where you can also have a nice view of Koh Torutao National Park in Thailand on a clear day. It will take you around 40 minutes by scooter from Pantai Cenang, but it’s definitely worth it.

The beach is also home to two luxury hotels in close proximity to the beach, The Andaman and The Datai Resort. If you’re looking for a luxury vacation in Langkawi in a dream setting, then you’ve come to the right place if your budget allows… The prices of the two luxury resorts are quite high.

Langkawi Attractions

In addition to the beautiful beaches on Langkawi, there is also a lot to see and discover that will definitely keep you busy for a few days, or even a week. We will now present all the attractions on Langkawi that we have personally visited in more detail. At the end you will find more activities on Langkawi for an exciting stay.

Egale Square

The “Brown Eagle” is considered the symbol of Langkawi and has given the island its name. In the old Malay language, “Lang” means eagle and “kawi” means red-brown. You can find this 12 meter tall statue in Kuha, the main town of Langkawi, where ferries from the mainland dock. The entire Eagle Square Park is one large area where you will also find restaurants and souvenir shops. A visit to Langkawi’s landmark is a must! The best way to visit Eagle Square is on an island tour, so you can cover all the major sights on the southeast side of Langkawi in one day.

Kota Mahsuri

After visiting Eagle Square Park and heading back to Pantai Cenang, the Kota Mahsuri Museum is worth a stop if that interests you. Brief history: Mahsuri was a young woman and lived on Langkawi about 200 years ago. She was the wife of Wan Daru and was accused of conspiracy to commit adultery. Although she has repeatedly protested her innocence, her father-in-law Dato Karma, the then ruler of Langkawi’s old capital, Kampong Raja, had her executed. Years later, a memorial was erected here to honor the sad story of the young woman.

Oriental Village

Langkawi Oriental Village is a purpose-built tourist village built in the Oriental Muslim style. The village is located in the northwest of the island, where the cable car to the Langkawi Sky Bridge also goes up. In addition to countless souvenir shops and overpriced restaurants, you will also find a small lake here where you can watch lizards. The Oriental Village wasn’t our favorite because it just seemed too artificial.

So why are we introducing you to the Oriental Village? Here you can take really nice photos of the buildings and the village. Since it’s already crowded at 8 a.m., we advise you to come as early as possible. We were already at the Oriental Village at 6:30 am and had the village completely to ourselves. From here you can go straight up to the Skybridge to be able to take photos there without mass tourism.

Langkawi Skybridge & Cable Car

From the Oriental Village, a cable car takes you up the 700m high mountain where Langkawi’s famous Skybridge is located. Many believe that the Skybridge is Langkawi’s highest point, but it is not, but more on that later.

Once at the top, a 125m long skybridge awaits you, which is an architectural work of art. From the bridge you have a fascinating overview of the island of Langkawi. To get a usable photo without 1000 tourists in the motive, you should be one of the first in the morning.

Admission is RM85 for adults, which is just under €18. The price includes the ascent and descent with the cable car. Packages are also offered where you can also go to the Sky Dome and Sky Rex.

If you want to enter the Skybridge you have to pay again at the top: 6 Ringgit if you walk down (10-15 minutes), or 16 Ringgit for the Sky Glider (gondola on rails).

–> You can buy tickets for the Skybridge here…

Gunung Raja Viewpoint

Let’s come to our personal highlight among the attractions on Langkawi: Mount Gurung Raja. In contrast to the Skybridge, there is no cable car here, but a road up the mountain, so you can easily ride a scooter to the top. In the Viewtower you are 900m above sea level and you also get a fantastic 360° panoramic view that is simply spectacular.

Admission is also only a fraction of the Skybridge at RM10. The price includes free tea, which you can enjoy on the terrace. You can stay in the Viewtower for an hour before you have to leave it again. Visiting at sunset is highly recommended as this is where you get the best views. However, keep in mind that this is also the time when most visitors come and it can therefore get quite crowded. We therefore decided to visit at lunchtime and had the entire tower to ourselves. We actually wanted to visit the Gurung Raja again at sunset, but the long journey of 45 minutes prevented us from doing so.

Seven Wells Waterfall

On Langkawi you will find several waterfalls that are worth a visit. If you want to visit them all, you have to plan some time. We were only on the island for 5 days, so we just didn’t manage to explore everything on the island. If you are short on time, the best thing to do is visit the Seven Wells Waterfall, which is one of the most beautiful and popular and is located in close proximity to Langkawi Oriental Village.

The way to the waterfall alone is a little adventure, because on the way through the dense jungle you will always meet curious monkeys who want to see what you are doing there. The waterfall itself is quite beautiful, but in the dry season it carries almost no water and is therefore unspectacular.

Field of Burned Rice

The Field of Burned Rice on Langkawi itself is completely unspectacular as there is nothing to see except a field. However, many might be interested in the interesting story of the rice burning in 1821. Dato Karma Jaya, then supreme commander of Langkawi’s former capital Padang Matsirat, once had all the rice supplies on the island burned to starve out invading Siamese. But the plan went awry, because as a result of the rice burning, numerous islanders also died of starvation.

Wildlife Park: Langkawi Zoo

Especially with children, a visit to the Wildlife Park, or rather a zoo, where you can touch the animals, is recommended. This is also an option in bad weather. The wildlife park with a small lake and numerous exotic plants is home to various species of birds (including hornbills, parrots, cockatoos), but also snakes, spiders, monkeys and many other animals. Entry is RM20. You can buy the tickets here online…

Agrotechnology Park

At the edge of the jungle, more than 20 types of tropical fruit and numerous types of vegetables are grown on a spacious, hilly facility. Anyone who has always wanted to see a pineapple plant or a star fruit tree in person has come to the right place. Admission costs 15 ringgit per person and includes a 30-minute tour of the fruit plantations.

Lucky Temple

There are numerous Hindu and Buddhist temples on Langkawi. The proximity to Thailand and the high diversity of the island population has ensured that Langkawi is a multicultural destination. The Lucky Temple is one of the most beautiful temples on the island and can easily be reached by scooter. There is also a large golden Buddha statue on site, which makes a good photo opportunity.

Langkawi Things to Do

In addition to the regular attractions on the island, there are also a variety of sporting activities and excursions that make your stay on Langkawi an experience. Here we have listed some of the best things to do in Langkawi.

Langkawi Mangrove Tour

If you are tired of the beaches or the other sights on Langkawi, then we recommend you to take a mangrove tour and enjoy the nature of Langkawi. Most mangrove tours lead across the Kilim River in the geopark of the same name, into the estuary and out to sea. There is a lot to see and discover along the way, especially the bizarre rock formations and the white-tailed eagles are very nice to watch. The prices for the mangrove tour start at around 40$.

Jet Ski Island-Hopping

How about some fun on a jet ski island hopping tour? From our point of view it is an absolute highlight to explore the rock formations and the Andaman Sea around Langkawi by jet ski. Even if this trip is not cheap, it is definitely worth it! You can book the jet ski daytrip here…

Parasailing & Banana Boot

Especially at Pantai Cenang Beach, you will find many offers and you can either go banana boating or see Langkawi from above by parasailing. Definitely an experience for the adventurous, we tend not to be fans of such activities.

Payar Island

Around 30 km off the coast in Kuah, Payar is a small island that is excellent for snorkeling. Unfortunately we weren’t able to visit the island during our stay, but next time the island is at the top of the bucket list.

Surfing Langkawi

Langkawi is certainly not a second Bali or Siargao and is even inferior to Phuket when it comes to surfing. Nevertheless, with a bit of luck you can catch a few waves every now and then. Especially in the low season there are some surf spots on the west coast, which are especially suitable for absolute beginners. There is a small local surf scene that rents out boards and also offers surf lessons. So if you want to try surfing, then with a bit of luck Langkawi is the place for you.

The base camp is located in the Indiana Cafe at Pantai Cenang, which also has delicious food and cheap accommodation. Even non-surfers should definitely stop by here!

Langkawi Night Markets

We love markets, whether in Thailand, Malaysia or anywhere else in the world. At the local markets you can get very tasty and authentic street food, which is also very cheap. Thailand is already cheap, but in Langkawi it is again much cheaper. You can eat here from as little as RM2 and fill your stomach. Souvenirs, clothes and much more are also offered here. The highlight, however, are the dishes and the fruit shakes that you absolutely have to try!

Unfortunately, the night markets are not open every day, or not in the same place. So you have to be lucky and catch the right day of the week, or just follow the hustle and bustle of the market…

• Monday: Ulu Melaka Market, 17.30-22h, Location: Jalan Makam Mahsuri Lama, Ulu Melaka
• Tuesday: Kedawang Market, 17.30-22h, Location: Kedawang (Pantai Cenang)
• Wednesdays & Saturday: Kuah Night Market, 17.30-22h, Location: Kuah Town
• Thursday: Bohor Tempoyak Night Market, 17-22h, Location: Kampung Temoyong, Mukim Kedawang, Pantai Cenang
• Friday: Air Hangat Night Market, 17.30-22h, Location: Padang Lalang, Air Hangat, Langkawi
• Sunday: Padang Matsirat Night Market, 17.30-22h, Location: Kampung Raja, Mukim Padang Matsirat

It is better to check the current opening hours and locations again via Google Maps. Our last update was before the Covid pandemic.

Langkawi Video

Of course we also created a video about our Langkawi trip. We hope this video makes you want to visit Langkawi, it’s really worth it!

Langkawi Map

So that you can quickly find your way around Langkawi, we have created a detailed map for you, with which you can find the best beaches and sights straight away. We wish you a lot of fun!

Have you already been to Langkawi? Tell us about your favorite places. Leave us a comment below!

The post Places to Visit Langkawi – 25 Beaches & Things To Do appeared first on OnYourPath.

On an island where around 20,000 temples are said to be found, there is much more to discover and also far off the usual tourist beaten path: It is time to “refresh” the temple hit list with some new holy places here in temple guide for Bali.

Batuan

Restored in 1992, the millennia-old Batuan Temple features amazing sculptures. These include a sinister Bhoma head, giant elephants, a bull riding Wisnu and even a Siwa dancing on a skull bed. In addition, the village (Batuan) is famous for founding one of the three major schools of Balinese painting styles. Be sure to stop by, it’s worth it!

Gunung Kawi Sebatu

Many Balinese temples fall victim to their own tourist success, but not Gunung Kawi Sebatu! Dedicated to the god Wiesi, the temple is still an oasis of calm, full of green gardens, small ponds, colorful lotus flowers and bubbling springs. Despite the short driving time of around 20 minutes from Ubud, this wonderful temple is not yet known to mainstream travelers and is also a little insider tip. That may change in the near future, however, as the temple is slowly gaining popularity among guides specializing in central Bali. So stop by quickly before this true oasis near Ubud has disappeared!

Lempuyang

One of the oldest and most important temples in Bali is the Lempuyang Temple. Named after the mountain in the Karangasem highlands, Lempuyang Temple in Bali towers 1,175 meters above sea level, which can be reached by climbing 1,700 steps. The ascent is definitely an experience and worth the effort. The fascinating mountain and jungle landscape make this temple an unforgettable experience.

Update 2023: The Lempuyang Temple is absolutely no longer an insider tip as it has established itself as one of the Instagram spots in Bali. For photos at the Lempuyang Temple, you sometimes even have to queue for a long time.

Ling Gwan Kiong

“The Temple of the Three Dharmas”, Ling Gwan Kiong is known to locals as Klenteng, colloquially meaning “Chinese Temple”. Obviously, this is a typical Chinese temple, decorated with dragons and colored red and gold. The Tao Temple is located at the historic Buleleng Harbour, just off Jalan Erlangga in Singaraja. Visitors can expect murals, antique vases and ponds overgrown with lotus flowers.

Batu Ngaus

Batu Ngaus is the Tanha Lot Temple for insiders. Although the Pura Gede Luhur Batu Ngaus Temple is not much further south of the Tanah Lot Temple, it is probably the more complex and annoying approach via the Tanah Lot Bay Pass that spares the temple from too many visitors. The temple itself impresses with its solitude and a magnificent location directly on Mengening Beach, which is covered in black lava. Great sunsets, black sand and a unique, tranquil atmosphere make this temple the ultimate getaway.

Luhur Batukaru

Luhur Batukaru is dedicated to Maha Dewa, who is the guardian of Bali’s second highest volcano, Mt. Batukaru. Since the 11th century, the Luhur Batakaru has long been the state temple of Tabanan, which was once an independent kingdom. Located on the southern slopes of the volcano, Luhur Batukaru is an impressive temple. The climate there (the region is the wettest part of Bali) means that almost every inch of Luhur Batakaru is covered in greenery, while the resident cicadas, frogs and birds create a great atmosphere.

We hope that you liked our temple guide for Bali and that you were able to find some alternatives to the temples on the tourist paths. Attached is a map with the locations of all Bali temples mentioned here.

Have you already visited one of the temples mentioned here or can you give us more tips about the approximately 20,000 temples in Bali? Leave us a comment below!

The post Temple Bali Guide – 6 Amazing Places appeared first on OnYourPath.

The Best Travel Drone

There are many drone models on the market. We have tried out a number of manufacturers and flight models ourselves, but we can only advise everyone to invest a little more money. Cheap drones are usually not worth their money and are NOT suitable for travel. However, you do not always have to buy the most expensive models, as a rule, cheaper entry-level models and compact mini drones are sufficient for hobby pilots as well.

In the following sections, we will introduce you to the best travel drones in more detail and tell you which model is suitable for which purpose.

DJI Mavic

The DJI Mavic 3 represents the top product in DJI’s range. With the Mavic 3, masterpieces can be created at the highest level, but the dimensions of the camera drone are still perfectly acceptable for taking it with you everywhere. The Mavic 3 is by no means for everyone. This masterpiece of technology costs at least $2,000. So if you only want to take occasional snapshots when traveling, you should probably choose a drone of the DJI Mini series (see below).

However, if you are a professional and want to record videos at the highest level, then there is no way around the Mavic 3. We have attached the data of the Mavic 3 for you.

• Weight: 895g (Exceeds weight limit in many countries, requiring permits!)
• Dimensions: 221 × 96,3 × 90,3 mm (L×W×H)
• ca. 45 minutes flight time
• 40 MP Camera / 84° angle
• Apple ProRes 422 HQ
• Apple ProRes 422
• Apple ProRes 422 LT
• 5.1K: 5120×2700 with 24/25/30/48/50 fps
• DCI 4K: 4096×2160 with 24/25/30/48/50/60/120 fps
• 4K: 3840×2160 with 24/25/30/48/50/60/120 fps

–> More about the DJI Mavic 3

By the way, we don’t have a DJI Mavic 3 ourselves because it’s just too expensive for us.

DJI Mavic Mini

The DJI Mini series is ideal for travelers and is actually suitable for every purpose. Some of the mini models are also quite cheap, which also makes the purchase price reasonable for hobby pilots.

The big advantage of the DJI Mini models is the low weight and the very compact dimensions. This means that the drone can be flown legally almost anywhere and takes up very little space in your luggage.

In 2023, the DJI Mini will be available in 3 versions / model variants. The DJI Mini SE, The DJI Mini 2 and the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Depending on the model, you can take extremely good photos and videos with the Mini, which are definitely also suitable for professional use in the field of social media and on YouTube. We will now go into detail about the features of the individual models and when they are suitable:

DJI Mini SE

• 2,7K Video 30 FPS
• Full HD Video 60 FPS
• 12 MP Camera 83° angle
• 3 axis Gimbal
• Weight < 249g
• Dimensions: 138 × 81 × 58 mm (L×W×H)
• Airworthy up to wind speed 5
• Suitable for: hobby pilots – photo snapshots – Full HD recordings of all kinds

–> More about the DJI Mini SE

DJI Mini 2

• 4K Video 30 FPS
• 2,7K Video 60 FPS
• Full HD Video 60 FPS
• 12 MP Camera 83° angle
• 3 axis Gimbal
• Weight < 249g
• Dimensions: 138 × 81 × 58 mm (L×W×H)
• Airworthy up to wind speed 5
• Suitable for: Photo snapshots – Full HD recordings of all kinds – 2.7K recordings of all kinds – 4K cinematic recordings

–> More about the DJI Mini 2

DJI Mini 3 Pro

• 4K Video 60 FPS
• 2,7K Video 60 FPS
• Full HD Video 60 FPS
• Slow Motion Full HD 120 FPS
• 48 MP Camera 82,1° angle (incl. RAW)
• 3 axis Gimbal
• Weight < 249g
• Dimensions: 145 × 90 × 62 mm (L×W×H)
• Airworthy up to wind speed 5
• Suitable for: Photo snapshots – Full HD recordings of all kinds – 2.7K recordings of all kinds – 4K recordings of all kinds

–> More about the DJI Mini 3 Pro

We currently use the DJI Mini 2 for YouTube videos and pictures when we travel, because it represents an optimal compromise between price and performance and is also very compact (check our videos on our YouTube channel). If you currently want the best camera quality in a compact housing, you should choose the DJI Mini 3 Pro, which is the absolute top product among travel drones on the entire market!

Fimi X8 Mini

If you are looking for an alternative to DJI products and want to spend a little less money, the Fimi X8 Mini could be just the right travel drone for you. In terms of performance data, the Fimi X8 is on the same level as the Mini 2, but is a bit cheaper again. Camera-wise, the two models are nearly the same, but the X8 comes with better flight modes and path tracking. Even if we don’t currently have the drone in our portfolio, we plan to purchase it as an extension in the near future.

• 4K Video 30 FPS
• 12 MP Camera 80° angle
• 3 axis Gimbal
• Weight 258g Standard-Battery / 245g Pro-Battery
• Dimensions: 145 × 85 × 56 mm (L×W×H)
• Airworthy up to wind speed 5
• Good for: Photo snapshots – 4K and Full HD cinematic recordings

–> More about the Fimi X8 Mini

DJI Tello Ryze

The DJI Tello Ryze is a micro drone that many travelers are not aware of. Admittedly, the drone is by no means sufficient for filmmakers and YouTubers, but if you only want to take snapshots as a hobby, then this mini drone could be an option for you. Travel bloggers who only need a snapshot from the air every now and then could be really satisfied with the Tello.

The Ryze Tello is extremely compact and can be flown directly via a smartphone app without a remote control. The advantage is obvious: in the end you need almost no space in your suitcase. The handling of the Tello is also very easy and quick to learn.

In addition, the small drone is very quiet and can hardly be seen in the sky, which above all does not disturb your environment and thus also allows discreet flying. Since you do not have a large remote control in your hand, you will not attract attention when flying with this drone on the ground.

Unfortunately, the Tello does not have a gimbal, which makes it rather useless for video recordings. Photos can be taken wonderfully with the Tello, which are suitable for social media, websites and private use. In the end, however, they lack a higher resolution.

Another advantage is the extremely low price, the drone is available from around 100 dollar. This also makes a crash/loss manageable.

Unfortunately, the little Tello also has disadvantages. So it is not suitable for video recordings. In addition, the flight time is a bit short, you should definitely always have several batteries with you. Wind also causes problems for the small drone. Above all, gusts of wind near the ground are dangerous.

Attached you will find a small photo gallery with pictures that we shot with the DJI Tello Ryze on Koh Phi Phi in Thailand. If this image quality is sufficient for you, you can buy the Ryze Tello without risk!

–> You can buy the Tello in the DJI Shop – just type and search for “Tello”!

Best drone for travel vloggers

In our opinion, the best drone for travel vloggers is the DJI Mini 3 Pro. This drone only takes up little space in your luggage, but has enough camera power to take professional pictures and videos for YouTube, Instagram or other social networks. Even professionals are convinced of the new Mini 3 Pro and so this is the best drone for travel vloggers.

Drone Accessories for Travel

There are so many accessories for drones that it almost makes you dizzy. Much of it is unnecessary junk. However, there are also many gadgets that have a use and also ensure better recordings or enhanced fligh time. We warmly recommend the following accessories for traveling with a drone.

Drone Insurance

Drone insurance is required in many countries to be allowed to fly legally. Even if this is not required by law, you should definitely take out drone liability insurance voluntarily. This protects you from liability claims for personal injury and property damage, worldwide!

However, it is important that you comply with the drone laws of the respective country, because only then will the insurance take effect.

Taking a Drone on a Plane

In general, it is completely unproblematic to transport a drone on an airplane. The drone can either be carried in hand luggage or in checked luggage. Please note, however, that rechargeable batteries are not permitted in checked baggage and must be transported separately in hand baggage.

It is also particularly important to secure the drone against damage. Especially if you want to pack them in the suitcase, we recommend a waterproof drone case made of hard plastic. Only in this way is it 100% protected against damage. But even in hand luggage, a hard case is never a mistake!

Drone in carry on luggage

The best option is to transport the drone directly in your hand luggage. This protects it from theft and damage. You also have the batteries with you. Very strict airlines require the use of a fireproof battery bag. We definitely advise you to buy such a bag and always have it with you. This is how you avoid trouble at the airport. The so-called Lipo Bags only cost a few bucks anyway.

Obey Local Drone Laws

Especially when traveling with a drone, it is extremely important to know the drone laws of the destination country. While flying a drone is completely unproblematic in many regions, you can get into a lot of trouble, especially in authoritarian countries. There are a number of cases where extremely high fines up to long prison sentences have been imposed. Most of the time there is also the accusation of espionage, which is something really serious.

Therefore, always find out in advance about the drone laws of your holiday country and take care of compliance with them in advance. We have put together a few examples of current drone regulations in popular travel countries for you.

Note: All information has been thoroughly researched. In any case, always find out more on an official government websites or at you destination!

Launch Drone in a New Country – Preparation

If you want to start your drone in a new country, you should consider a few things before the first flight.

Calibrate Compass

In general, it is usually sufficient to calibrate the compass once, after which it is set correctly for a long time and no further action is required. The situation is different, however, if you fly to another country, since the values ​​can differ greatly here. If you fly from Europe to Asia or America, a calibration of the compass is essential to minimize safety hazards.

Check Your Environment

It is also fundamentally important that you familiarize yourself with the area before your first flight in a new country. Masts, airports, or restricted military areas can literally be around every corner and before you know it, you’re in for a lot of trouble. Therefore, find out about important state institutions, airports, etc. and where they are located.

Tip: Flying drones may be prohibited, especially on beaches or in national parks, as these often belong to the navy and are therefore military areas. You should also avoid temples, royal palaces and other government buildings. Drone pilots have encountered the most problems when flying in capital cities (no matter where in the world), but few problems have been reported in rural areas.

Proper Filming with the Drone

Although modern drones make it very easy to create video recordings, you should still be a little concerned with the manual settings and the right setup or image section when filming with the drone. Here are a few of our tips to help you take good pictures when traveling with a drone.

We hope that our guide on traveling with a drone was able to help you a little. As you have surely noticed, the topic is extremely extensive. The most important thing is that you practice a lot and familiarize yourself with your drone. This is the only way you can gain experience and the necessary confidence in handling the drone.

Do you have any additional information about traveling with drones? We look forward to any comments and additions in the comments section below!

The post Drone Travel Guide: 15 Things To Know appeared first on OnYourPath.

In this guide we give you tips on how to save money for a vacation, but also how to save a lot of money during your trips. In this way, you may be able to significantly extend your stay. Let’s start with our savings tips before your adventure starts.

Saving for Travel

Before you go on a trip, it is of course important to have a basic amount of money at your disposal. Accommodation, living expenses and flights to the destination must be covered before you can finally start. It is also important not to forget the running costs at home. It plays an important role whether you are only planning a short stay of 1-4 weeks or whether you want to travel longer. We will now explain both scenarios and the possibilities for cleverly implementing them in more detail.

Saving for a Short Trip

Traveling for a short time is the most common and easiest thing you can do. Employees in particular often cannot help themselves. The advantage is obvious: For a short trip, you hardly need to worry about your job and raising money shouldn’t usually be a problem either.

As an employee, a bonus, holiday or Christmas bonus is often enough and the big adventure can begin. Quickly hand in your vacation to the boss and off you go. Since you usually have between 25 and 30 days of vacation available in Europe, it is also not that difficult to travel for a month or even two months, as long as you plan your vacations on bridge days and public holidays. Overtime can also help to get the necessary money or be converted into free time.

Of course, it always depends to a certain extent on the mindset of your boss, but as a rule, many superiors understand their employees’ vacation requests. We ourselves worked for a company for a long time, where 4 weeks vacation was not a problem.

A particular advantage is that you continue to get your salary during your paid vacation and you are therefore also on the safe side financially… As you can see, a permanent job is a good background for traveling carefree and forgetting everything else.

But if you are a student, traveling may not be that easy… Then it is best to follow our tips for preparing for a long-term trip, even if you only plan to be on the road for a short time. Alternatively, it always makes sense to talk to your parents about your plans, they might support you in your project if you can tell them some good reasons why traveling would benefit your life and personality.

The experience you gain while traveling is definitely worth its weight in gold, it makes your personality more interesting, and it is not uncommon for applicants with travel experience to be highly regarded by HR managers, since they have also gained their own experience away from the university campus.

Tip: As a student, consider a semester abroad or an internship abroad. This often costs you nothing at all and is a great opportunity to further your private and professional/school education.

Save for Long-Term Travel

It is often long-term trips over several months that cause the greatest problems in financial terms. It will then no longer be possible to work and even the vacation days will hardly be enough to be on the road for several months. Quitting your job is often the only option, unless you are a student or can manage your own time as a freelancer/self-employed person.

Here we explain step by step how you can properly save a large sum of money and make your long-cherished dream of a long-term trip to Southeast Asia or around the world a reality.

Quit Your Job

Many people shy away from radical and definitive steps such as resigning. On the one hand, we can understand when you have built something up and enjoy your job. On the other hand, you will never get out of your routine and discover new things! Many employees have little joy in their job anyway and only stay in their employment out of laziness and fear – if that’s the case with you, then you should definitely not hesitate and change something in your life. In general, we have summarized several variants and options for you here in order to “properly” quit your job or to get free time for a nice long journey to self-discovery.

The most important step: Create a separate bank account!

For us, opening a completely separate account is the most important and first step to laying the foundation for your big journey. This newly created account is only for your travel savings and must be isolated from all other cash flow for now. In any case, the account must be free of charge, ideally it should even be with a bank other than your house bank and includes a credit card with which you can later withdraw money worldwide free of charge. This is the only way you can really separate your finances properly and have to overcome some hurdles to spend the money.

The free Revolut account with debit card is a great option to open such an account.

The opening of the account is particularly well done. All you have to do is download the app to your smartphone and use your cell phone camera to confirm your identity – that’s it! Zero paperwork!

Why to open a separate bank account?

• You can manage your budget away from running costs
• Nothing will be debited from this account (contracts etc.)
• The account balance corresponds to 100% of your future travel budget
• Every single amount that is paid in increases the travel fund and the motivation to save

Save a lot of Money for Travel – Tips

After you have opened your separate account, it is time to gradually fill it with money. First of all, you should transfer all your previous savings and free capacities to the newly opened account, as a kind of basis. If you don’t have any savings, that’s no problem either! Here we show you how you can really save large sums for travel relatively quickly.

Sell Your Car

The car is the biggest cost hog for most people. Insurance, tax, maintenance and upkeep costs for petrol all add up. It is not unusual for this to add up to several thousand dollars a year. Not even considering the depreciation! When you sell your car, you not only save a lot of money, but you can also free up a large sum immediately. If you really want to travel for a long time, there is probably no way around selling your car.

Cancel the Cell Phone Contract

The good old mobile phone contract – indispensable for many, but in our eyes often extremely expensive. Even small data packages cost a lot of money and many will probably pay between 50 and 100 dollars a month. If you now extrapolate that over the year, it comes to a good 600-1,200 dollars, which corresponds to your flight or the cost of living for several months in Southeast Asia… We therefore recommend that you cancel your contract at the next opportunity and get a prepaid card instead.

Party Less

In addition to the unpleasant consequences of alcohol consumption and the bad smoky air, it is above all the wallet that suffers from going out. No party starts for less than 50 dollars today, 50-150 dollars per weekend are quickly vanished! If you extrapolate that for the month or for the whole year, you can easily save around 5,000 dollars a year or even more if you are a regular clubgoer.

Cancel Other Contracts

Netflix, Spotify and other entertainment subscriptions are essential for most people nowadays, but once you’ve freed yourself from them, you won’t miss it. Why pay when you can get tons of videos and entertainment on demand for free on YouTube.

Unnecessary insurance (mobile phone insurance, legal protection) and home savings contracts are always worth considering to cancel. Just take a quick look at your account and look at the outgoing positions or debits that went to insurance companies that were never used and make a courageous decision to change something.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is an addiction and also extremely harmful! Stop it, save money and benefit from general well-being. Anyone who has normally smoked a pack a day saves around 2,750 dollars per year, which is extremely good for the travel budget.

Cook for Yourself Instead of Going to Restaurants

Admittedly, you can save yourself to death, but try to cook for yourself more often and go to the restaurant less. As convenient as eating out may be, you can save money by cooking yourself. Alternatively, you can simply go to your mom or friends more often.

Sell ​​Unused Things

Who does not know that? The expensive mountain bike hasn’t even seen the mountains yet, the DVD collection is gathering dust and you don’t have time for the game console anyway? Away with it! What you don’t use now and haven’t used for a while will only lose value.

The chances that you will ever seriously miss these things are slim. Make money from everything you can. This also includes books that have already been read, unnecessary furniture and decorative items, bicycles, sports equipment, hi-fi equipment and much more. The sooner you start decluttering and getting rid of old things, the sooner you will feel freer and the extra money in the account can increase your holiday budget enormously.

An unused mountain bike and a games console that hasn’t been switched on for months can add up to more than 700 dollars in your pocket in one fell swoop. A lot of money in Southeast Asia!

Of course, there are many other ways to save or to get money. Be creative, open a flea market stall or do whatever comes to your mind…

Save a Certain Percentage of Your Income

While you are still working before your trip, you now have to show iron-hard discipline and put as much as possible on the side. It is best to transfer a fixed monthly amount to your specially opened savings account. Every dollar you save now is available later on your travels and you can have a good time! Always keep this in mind and transfer as much money as possible from your Daily account to the Holiday account!

Prepare Properly for the Trip

In addition to the savings options already mentioned, you should also make sure you spend your money wisely. A number of expenses (such as flight & hotel) are unavoidable, but can be extremely influenced in your favor. From booking flights and hotels ahead of time to subletting the apartment, there are many starting points where just the right timing can save you good money!

Book in Time

Booking right on time is one of the most important ways to save money. If you book your flight too early, for example, there are no promotional offers yet, if you book too late, the cheapest seats are already sold out. The right booking time can also play a major role when booking a hotel. In general, you should always book accommodation well in advance if possible. This takes away a little flexibility from you, but protects you from nasty surprises. Accommodation is often quite expensive during the high season and is often fully booked. For example on Koh Samui in Thailand! If you want a hotel there over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you need to reserve well in advance.

In general, you should observe the following rule of thumb for the right booking time with regard to flights:

• Flights from Europe to Southeast Asia are cheapest around 19 weeks before departure.
• Flights from Europe to South Africa are cheapest on average 19 weeks before departure. The cheapest month to fly is May (approx. 683 dollars), the most expensive December (approx. 892 dollars).
• Flights from Europe to the USA are cheapest on average 25 weeks before departure. The cheapest month to fly is February (approx. 572 dollars), the most expensive July (approx. 982 dollars).
• Flights from Europe to the Caribbean/South America are cheapest on average one week before departure. The cheapest month to fly is January (approx. 717 dollars), the most expensive July (approx. 907 dollars).

Note: Due to the Covid crisis, these statistics may vary slightly.

Use Error Fares

Error fares are so-called price errors in the system of airlines, hotels and on booking sites. It is not uncommon for extremely cheap flights to be snagged for just a few euros. There is no guarantee that you will get this flight at this price, but the airlines often grant cheap prices out of goodwill and for reasons of customer loyalty.

If you want to profit from error fares, it is super important that you are fast. It is not uncommon for these to only be available for a few minutes or hours and then already booked out or corrected.

Avoid High Season

Another way to save a lot of money: Avoid the high/peak season. It is often enough to arrive a few days or weeks after New Year’s Eve or Christmas and you’re good. Cheaper accommodation and more relaxed prices in general then prevail again. Even when big events or national holidays are coming up, accommodation is fully booked in many countries and in popular locations.

Traveling in the off-season (rainy season in Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, etc.) can also have many advantages. Tourist traffic is much lower, prices are more relaxed and nature is particularly beautiful and green.

Rent or Cancel the Apartment

Subletting your own apartment is a good way to prepare for a long-term trip and also gives you the opportunity to earn a small income. It is best to search in advance on relevant platforms and in Facebook groups for interested parties. If you live in a flat share, you can offer your room. For very determined people who definitely want to stay away for a year or even longer, liquidating the apartment is also an option. This frees up your monthly budget and you can increase your holiday budget even further by selling furniture.

Even if it may be difficult for many: Maybe there is also the possibility to move in with the parents for a while? So you can put a lot of money aside in advance and store your belongings there during the duration of the trip.

Insurances

While we have previously recommended that you cancel unnecessary insurance, there is one you definitely need! International health insurance is elementary and protects you and your family from financial ruin if something should happen to you. Your local health insurance does not cover you abroad and if you have even the smallest injury or fall ill, everything has to be paid for in cash. A simple broken leg or a week-long hospital stay due to dengue fever can quickly add up to thousands of dollars.

Not to mention the cost should something worse happen to you! Quite a few travelers have already moved naively to foreign countries and in the end could not pay their medical bills or are now in debt due to medical emergencies.

Therefore, take out international health insurance for the entire travel period. From our own experience, we can recommend SafetyWing, which transparently presents its services and exclusions and is also quite cheap. Regardless of whether it is a short or long-term trip, SafetyWing offers the right insurance package.

Conclusion: Although you cannot initially save by taking out international health insurance – if bad things happen, you will be saved from financial ruin and can take care of your health without having to worry about financial matters!

Do a Medical Check-up Beforehand

As already mentioned, you have to pay for all medical bills abroad first. It’s all the more stupid if you get sick right at the beginning of your trip and then have to deal with it. It is therefore best to have a check-up done while you are still insured through your job. So you can be sure that you are not missing anything.

A visit to the dentist is advisable, as many foreign health insurance companies exclude exactly this. It may also be advisable for female travelers to go to the gynecologist you trust in advance.

Cheap Travel – Money Saving Tips When Traveling

If you have now saved your sum X and the journey begins, you can still turn many screws to extend your trip or stretch the budget for more luxury. With the following tips you can save a lot of money when traveling, you just have to know how!

Travel with Hand Luggage Only

Traveling with hand luggage saves money, especially when booking flights with low-cost airlines such as AirAsia. If you can reduce everything to 7kg and get it compressed to hand luggage size, you can save yourself the fees for extra luggage. There are now even a number of clever backpack solutions that have specialized in the needs of backpackers.

Take Snacks on the Plane

Another tip for flying with a low-cost airline – meals and drinks are almost always not included in the price and have to be bought on board, which is expensive. If you take precautions, you can save some money and also have a lot of delicious things with you. Before boarding you should pack your drinks and snacks in your backpack. It has already happened to us that the cabin crew forbade us to take our own drinks on board when boarding.

Travel Together

Traveling together and thus taking a hotel room together, renting a car or sharing other costs for transfers is extremely easy on the holiday budget. If you don’t have a travel buddy and you’re traveling alone, it can be worth looking out for travel partners in Facebook groups, possibly only for partial stages.

Even if that’s not your thing, it’s always worth being open and talking to people. For example, upon arrival at the airport, you can be on the lookout for other travelers who also want to take a taxi. Just ask if you want to share the vehicle – hardly anyone has anything against saving money. This can also work for tours. The more participants come together, the cheaper it gets. Just ask around in the area or at the hostel if anyone would like to join the next island trip.

Eat Like a Local

Local food is extremely cheap, especially in Southeast Asia. So eat like a local, visit the small restaurants and try new dishes more often. These often cost only a fraction of the Western cuisine and are also much tastier. It is also important that you do not necessarily go to a restaurant that is at the top of TripAdvisor or that is overcrowded with tourists. Here you can be sure that the price level has now adjusted to tourist demand.

Go Like a Local

Choosing the right means of transport on site also helps to save. Often the taxi is the most expensive option! Just look around at how the locals get from A to B. Use public transport, including unusual ones such as the river boats in Bangkok. Uber and Grab can also save money. The taxi apps show the prices very transparently and protect against rip-off.

If you want to cover longer distances by bus and train, then we recommend the 12Go booking platform in Southeast Asia. There you can easily compare the connecting routes and options and the prices are displayed transparently! Omio is ideal for bus and train routes in Europe and America.

Sleep Like a Local

Sleep Like a Local means that you don’t always have to stay in a 5 star hotel. A simple guest house or hostel usually does the trick and is also much cheaper. You can also choose more remote neighborhoods and places where few tourists otherwise get lost. The prices there are often much lower. But always keep in mind that more remote areas often require more expensive transport, which ultimately could not justify the savings.

Avoid the Tourist Areas – Or Sometimes Not!

Those who avoid tourist areas can often save. But it is sometimes also advisable to travel to a tourist area, as there is often an oversupply of accommodation and there is a real price war. For example, rooms on Phuket in the main town of Patong are particularly cheap, as the large number of hotels simply does not fill up. It is therefore best to search online in advance in several places around your destination for your next accommodation.

Compare Prices

A price comparison is never a mistake, both at home and when travelling. Before you accept the room rate in a hotel, it is worth comparing on hotel search engine. For flights it is always advisable to carry out a price comparison. On AirGuru you can automatically search multiple websites for the cheapest flight offers.

House-Sitting

House-sitting is the latest trend when it comes to staying in great places for free. If you’re open to doing specific jobs or looking after homes and estates, then housesitting is a great way for you to save money when you travel.

Couch-Surfing

Even if couch surfing is a little too personal for us, it can be a great way to make new friends and stay for free around the world. People who are open minded and still looking for a local adventure might well consider couch surfing.

Negotiate

When on holiday, the rule applies almost everywhere: negotiate! Especially on markets and in tourist areas, the prices are often three to ten times higher and negotiations are mandatory to even get a fair price. As a rule of thumb: You can actually bargain and haggle for everything (taxi, souvenirs, clothes) except for food. Haggling is also inappropriate in supermarkets or large shopping malls.

Earn Money While Traveling

Many adventurers and travelers, once on the move, want to extend their trip. But with a limited budget and no income, this is difficult to achieve. Here we explain how you can earn some money while traveling.

Work as a Freelancer

In many countries, especially in Southeast Asia, but also in America, you are not allowed to work, and certainly not with a tourist visa. So if you want to make money, you have few options. On the one hand, you could travel to a work and travel friendly country like Australia and earn money there for a while. On the other hand, it is always not a bad income if you rent out your apartment or similar in your home country.

You can also try your hand as a web worker. All you need is a laptop and an internet connection. For example, as a freelancer you can earn your money anywhere in the world. Various platforms offer payment if you write high-quality texts for customers, do translations or take on other activities on the Internet.

Here is an overview of the best sites for online jobs:

• Upwork
• Textbroker
• Facebook Group: Freelancer and Jobs

Cost for a Trip to…

After all the tips listed here about saving for your vacation itself, you are now wondering how much money you need to be able to start your adventure. That’s why we’ve put together a rough overview of the costs for a trip to the respective country as a “normal traveler” in this section. Normal traveler means you will definitely not be staying in luxury hotels, but neither are you staying in shared hostels.

Note: If you travel with two people, you can usually halve the cost of accommodation, excursions and local transport (except for domestic flights and entrance tickets, of course).

Do you have any other tips on saving for travel? Leave us a comment below!

The post Saving for Travel – Complete Guide with 27 Tips appeared first on OnYourPath.

And above all, what would a holiday be without souvenir photos? Whether for yourself, your family, your friends or social media, holiday photos are simply part of modern times. A photo can be taken quickly and easily, but the disappointment afterwards can also be great. Because in order to take really impressive photos on vacation, you should pay attention to a few points. In this article we explain the most important tips for travel photography and tell you which equipment you definitely need.

This guide is also ideal for influencers, bloggers and people who want to take good photos for social media. We also deal with the common formats from 2022 / 2023 and tell you how you can get even more attention on social networks with great travel pictures.

Travel Photography Equipment – Update 22/23

If you already have your equipment for travel pictures and videos, then simply skip this point. But if you are currently looking for a new camera, a smartphone, a drone or an action cam, then you will find our current top products for travel photography here.

Cameras for Travelers

We have been shooting with the Sony a6000 and the Sony SEL 10-18mm lens for several years. Since we mainly photograph landscapes, only the wide-angle lens came into question for us. A decision that we have not regretted to this day (despite the very high price of around €800 at the time).

If you are looking for an all-rounder lens, we can recommend the Sony SEL 16-70. Here you have a good wide angle, but also a considerable zoom range.

Since we have had the camera for many years and a lot is happening, especially in the field of photography, we would like to present the currently recommended technology here. We have put together a few current camera recommendations for the year 2023 for you here:

Action Cams for Travelers

Action cams are an absolute must when traveling these days. Not without good reason, because these cameras are extremely small, robust and the image quality is now simply unbelievably good. The small action cams can now also take photos. Action cams are the best choice for action videos, vlogs and other moving recordings. On many of our trips and excursions, we often only use the action cam for videos and photos.

Drones for Travelers

Now we come to the type of camera with which, without a doubt, the most impressive shots can be taken. Drones have become indispensable in travel photography and videography. The birdseye perspective allows to take extremely impressive images that would not be imaginable from the ground. Even areas that are difficult to access can be reached very easily with the camera drone and imaged effortlessly. We can recommend the following two drones to travelers in 2023 without hesitation.

Tip: If you need a little more image quality but don’t want to miss the compact dimensions, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is state-of-the-art. For hobby travelers and bloggers / vloggers who only want to fly the drone every now and then, the DJI Mini 2 should be completely sufficient and can also be easy on the wallet.

Taking Photos and Videos with your Smartphone

Smartphones are getting better and better, and not just in terms of performance. Even the cameras of the small devices no longer need to hide, because they now do an excellent job. 4K videos can now also be recorded with a decent FPS rate, so even for bloggers and influencers there is nothing wrong with taking travel shots with your smartphone. The pictures and videos taken there can also be shared extremely quickly on social networks, so everyone can take part in your trip.

According to test reports, the following smartphones currently offer the best camera:

Image & Video Formats

The right image format plays an important role, depending on the use. This is the only way you can perfectly stage your shots and avoid ugly picture edges. We have summarized all currently valid image and video formats for your travel recordings here.

Tip for bloggers: Depending on the website, design and image section, you can manually adjust the height of the image. In particularly long and image-heavy articles, we tend to use lower-height images in order to create a better overview.

Travel Photography Tips

Now that you know everything about the best technology and the right image format, we’ll tell you a few tips and tricks for travel photography. With just a few simple steps, you can turn a boring photo into an unforgettable and beautiful photo that will certainly have potential to go viral on social media. You should definitely consider the following points when creating your shots.

The Light

One of the the most important things in photography is the light. You can’t have a nice photo without the right light. It is not without reason that photographers often wait for hours just to take a single photo. For example, if you want to take a photo of the sunset or sunrise, the time plays an important role. Once the sun goes down, it’s far from over. The most beautiful light awaits you 30 minutes before or after sunset. At this hour, the sky also takes on picturesque colors that are simply stunning.

A good light also increases the quality of the shots. Good exposure plays an important role, especially with smartphone cameras. Also, if possible, you should never take pictures against the light, otherwise your pictures will simply not come out well.

Bad weather doesn’t mean bad photos

The weather doesn’t always play along. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t take nice photos. Bad weather is often a great way to create a different mood. The sun does not always have to shine on holiday pictures to get the perfect picture. Depending on the subject, cloudy days are often even more interesting.

The Foreground

One of the most important elements is the foreground. You can be on the most beautiful beach in the world, but without the right composition, it will look boring. Therefore, make sure that you get some variety in the picture. Of course, it always depends on the right composition, but the foreground is an important part, even if the actual focus should be on the background.

Even if there is no possibility of creating a foreground on site, we always try to find, for example, a stone or a branch that we can use for the picture. But it can also be a person. Don’t just stand your girlfriend/boyfriend down, let him/her sit on the floor with his/her back to the camera. Drinks and cocktails on tables or in the hand or other objects that match the motif are also popular.

Try a different angle

Many photographers are too lazy to move for a photo. So the rule is that you just pull out your camera, hold it straight and press the shutter button. This perspective often fits, but it is best to take 2-3 different pictures from different perspectives. Climb an elevation, or lie down on the ground and shoot as low as possible. The change in perspective can have extremely large effects on a successful image composition.

Underwater Shots

Underwater photography is one of the most difficult disciplines in travel photography. The poor lighting conditions, the one-sided ambient color and often boring underwater landscapes are the reasons for this. It is all the more important that you play with the motif underwater. The foreground can also significantly enhance a picture taken in the sea. Make sure you also have good lighting conditions, as this is the only way you can ultimately get the best quality out of your camera. Modern action cams often even have a dive mode, which makes it easier to take good pictures.

Capture Moods

A really good picture manages to captivate its viewer and create a mood. In travel photography, you often want to create a desire for a place or present it in a particularly unique way. This usually only succeeds by emphasizing the magnificence of the place with certain elements. So a picture in an empty cave can hardly inspire anyone. But if you place a person under a beam of light, the same cave suddenly becomes an Instagram hotspot.

For example, you can show the size of the place in the picture or create a mood. Enclosed you will find a small selection of our favorite travel photography images, which we think are extremely well done and all of which capture a wonderful atmosphere.

Drone Photography & Videography Tips

Aerial shots are often very impressive and new developments in the drone market have made them affordable for everyone. The beauty of a landscape can often only be fully captured with a drone. You should definitely observe the following tips for photo and video recordings with drones.

Camera Setup Tips

With the right settings on the camera or drone, you can also get a lot out of a picture and really master travel photography. The following tips on the recording settings can help you to take particularly good pictures when travelling.

Shoot in RAW mode: Almost every camera has a RAW mode, which means that the image is not processed in the camera. With JPEG recordings, the camera automatically determines the image and processes it somewhat. This is sufficient for normal photos, but if you want to edit the picture in depth afterwards, you will quickly reach the limits and lose a lot of quality. In RAW mode, however, you have a lot more leeway, which is particularly noticeable in image processing. Here you get the maximum out of the photo. However, the disadvantage of RAW files is that they are very large and cannot be used directly. Extensive processing is therefore always necessary.

Manual settings: Forget the automatic mode! Become master of your camera yourself. The biggest mistake is always and everywhere to take pictures in automatic mode. It’s better to practice and get to grips with your camera and shooting in manual mode. If you can set the exposure and aperture yourself, then you can get completely different photos that would never have been possible in automatic mode. In the end, only a little basic knowledge and then a lot of practice helps here. Just try it out, no master has fallen from the sky yet!

Post-Processing

Let’s be completely honest – it doesn’t work without post-processing! Polishing up the images is a must, especially in travel photography. This is the only way to display colors beautifully and get the most out of the image or video. There are very different approaches to image processing. While some try to get close to reality, others want to create particularly impressive images. With these in particular, you can get significantly more attention on social media channels. We can therefore recommend the following tips for image and video editing.

Image Editing

First you need the right image editing program. Everyone is familiar with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom and it is certainly the most powerful professional tool on the market. However, we do not use Adobe for our images, but what we believe to be much simpler yet very powerful software.

Luminar Neo is an image editing program that gives you an extremely large number of options and supports you in editing with artificial intelligence. In this way, you can easily save even extremely bad pictures or even make extensive changes. In this way, disturbing objects or people in the picture can be simply erased or the entire atmosphere can be changed by changing the sky.

We use Luminar Neo for almost all of our images and can recommend this program to all bloggers, influencers and also all users in the private sector. Luminar is available as a subscription or with a fairly cheap one-time payment. For just under $100 you get Luminar Neo permanently for 2 devices. Individual licenses are even cheaper.

The Luminar marketplace is particularly interesting, where you can buy new presets, sky textures or other functions and filters, and thus expand your toolbox step by step.

–> You can download and try Luminar NEO here for free!

Video Editing

Videos are becoming more and more important and especially the short reels in portrait format are the eye-catchers on social media. Drone shots in particular are ideal for breathtaking videos that will draw attention.

Nowadays, it is especially important to use short and fast cuts, hardly anyone watches videos that last minutes where nothing happens. The right accompanying music is also a decisive factor. In the world of social media, hits rotate almost weekly. If you then use these songs in your reels and videos, you often have a much better chance of appearing in the algorithms of TikTok, Insta & Co.

There are now many good programs for cutting videos. Final Cut Pro is very popular among Mac users, but it also costs a whopping 299.99 Dollars. From our point of view, however, it is not necessary to buy expensive editing programs, we have tested many alternatives and we particularly liked two options for video editing in the field of social media.

An example of a cloud-based solution would be Canva. The design program can only be used via the browser with an Internet connection, but offers an image and video editor. There are already many good templates as a starting point for your posts and reels. There is also an extensive sound, image and video database for pro users. Canva is one of our top choices when it comes to editing images and videos in the cloud.

If you also want to cut videos offline, you can use the free video editor CapCut. This is available for Windows, Mac OS and even mobile devices. It is also available as a browser version. CapCut also has an extensive music and sound database that can be used for the videos. CapCut can be synchronized with the TikTok account, which is very handy.

We’ve been using Final Cut Pro for a long time, but have now completely switched to CapCut and Canva as these options are cheaper or even free and can be used on any operating system.

–> Here you can join Canva for free

–> Hier kannst du CapCut kostenlos herunterladen

Useful Equipment & Travel Photography Accessories

There are different accessories for almost every situation. Whether it’s a flash, filters, lenses or batteries, you simply can’t have everything with you when travelling. Nevertheless, you should not get on the road without the most important accessories for travel photography. Here are our tips for the best accessories in the travel photography sector.

Tips for drone accessories: Over the years we have also been able to gain a lot of experience with the drone while traveling. So spare propellers are a good purchase, especially when going to less developed countries or remote islands. A fireproof Lipo-Bag is an advantage for transport on the plane, as it allows you to transport the batteries 100% safely in your hand luggage and avoids problems with airlines.

We hope that you liked our detailed guide about travel photography and, above all, that it was helpful. We have summarized all our experiences from more than 10 years of blogging. We wish you a lot of fun and lots of great pictures and videos on your travels!

What are your best travel photography tips? Leave us a comment below!

The post Travel Photography: Accessories, Cameras & Tips appeared first on OnYourPath.

Especially the colorful mix makes Koh Tao so unique. In addition to really beautiful, turquoise beaches and bays, impressive viewpoints and a relaxed nightlife, there are a number of opportunities for leisure and vacation activities, especially for backpackers and individual travelers. Even if you want peace and relaxation, Koh Tao is the place to be. There are secluded, very simple beach bungalows, as well as luxurious resorts on private bays.

In this guide we present you the best things to do in Koh Tao. Explore the best sights, beaches, viewpoints and activities on this amazing island. We wish you a lot of fun!

Koh Tao Weather

The climate on Koh Tao is tropically warm all year round and the temperature ranges between 23 and 32 degrees Celsius. The ideal travel time for Koh Tao is from the end of January to May, since statistically there is hardly any rain.

A trip to Koh Tao is also worthwhile in the other months of the year. Ideally, however, it is important to check the weather forecast beforehand, since the island is not nearly as beautiful in bad and cloudy weather as it is in sunshine.

How to Get to Koh Tao

The island of Koh Tao lies far in the Gulf of Thailand and can only be reached by ferry. There are several ways to do this. So you can take a ferry from the mainland from Chumphon and Surat Thani, with Chumphon being closer to Koh Tao. Surat Thani more recommended for arrivals to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.

In addition, it is of course possible to get to Koh Tao from the neighboring islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. From Bangkok, Lomprayah offers complete tickets on Khao San Road, which include transfer and bus ride to the pier as well as transport by ship. You can also book these in any travel agency or online. So you basically just hop on a minivan in Bangkok and off a ship on Koh Tao. By the way, there are NO ferries that go directly from the port in Bangkok to Koh Tao.

If you want to get to Koh Tao from Surat Thani Airport, you can buy tickets to Koh Tao directly in the arrival hall. There are also many travel agencies on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan that sell tickets for onward travel to Koh Tao.

Normally it is sufficient to reserve the tickets on site a few days in advance. However, since there can be bottlenecks, especially in the high season around Christmas and new year, it is always advisable to book your ferry tickets online well in advance. Visit 12go for bus, train and ferry tickets across Asia. The service has the advantage that you can easily check the timetable and connections. 12go is 100% reputable and usually only a little more expensive, but you have the comfort of a reserved ticket booking and can skip lines at the ticket counters.

Overview of routes and prices for getting to Koh Tao

Getting Around Koh Tao

Koh Tao is a very small island, only 7 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. That’s why it’s very easy to get around the island independently. Of course, the best way is by scooter, but it is also super easy to get to your destination on Koh Tao on foot and by bike. Vehicles can be hired anywhere on Koh Tao and don’t cost much.

During our visit to Koh Tao we had rented a dirt bike. It was great fun to drive around the island and also to take smaller trips into the jungle and on the mountain hills. However, we recommend absolute newcomers to take a bike or just walk.

Koh Tao Hotel Recommendations

On Koh Tao there is a variety of accommodation in every price range. Apart from a few luxury resorts, there are mainly hostels, beach bungalows and guest houses that can be found in large numbers on the island.

In the main town of Mae Haad, where the ferries dock, there are mainly guesthouses and hostels that offer cheap and good accommodation options. At Sairee Beach there are a number of beach bungalows almost directly on the beach. Small resorts and bungalows can also be found on any other bays and beaches on Koh Tao.

Sairee Beach can be considered the main place for tourists, where most of the accommodation can be found. In addition, there is the best infrastructure for tourists and the nightlife is extremely well developed. It feels like the entire backpacker scene is accommodated here. Mae Haad, on the other hand, has a lot less to offer, is quieter but no less rewarding. For example, it only takes you 4 minutes to get to Sairee Beach by scooter, or 15-20 minutes on foot.

The more remote spots like Mango Bay also offer beautiful resorts, as does Hin Wong Bay.

Baan Chalok in the south of the island is another place with quite good infrastructure and plenty of accommodation. There is always something going on here, but it is much quieter than on Sairee Beach. Chalok Bay is recommended for anyone looking for a healthy mix of rest, relaxation and entertainment.

Five star luxury resorts on Koh Tao can be found at Sairee Beach (Overthemoon Luxury Pool Villas) and at Ao Thai Og Bay (Jamahkiri Resort). Otherwise, there are many more 4 star houses distributed all over the island. The Dusit Buncha Resort as well as the Mango Bay Boutique Resort and the Charm Churee Village with 3.5 stars are particularly beautiful.

We ourselves stayed at the Au Aon Guesthouse on Koh Tao and can only warmly recommend this apartment / guesthouse. It is centrally located in the main town of Mae Haad, just a few meters from the ferry terminal. Restaurants, scooter rentals, laundries, etc. are also available in the immediate vicinity. The guest house itself has a pool and clean, spacious rooms with balcony.

If you prefer to stay beachfront in a beach bungalow, which we can understand, then we recommend Sairee Beach, especially as a young person or backpacker. The Koh Tao Cabana and the Palm Leaf Resort are particularly cool.

No matter where you decide to stay, on Koh Tao you can always get anywhere quickly and so the location of the accommodation really only plays a minor role in this case.

Information after Pandemic 2022: Some of the accommodations seem to have just been renovated or have not yet made their capacities available for online booking. According to the booking websites, all of the accommodations we recommend on Koh Tao are still available.

Things to Do in Koh Tao – Viewpoints & Activities

Although Koh Tao does not have a lot of sights to offer, the natural beauties are quite impressive. Above all, the viewpoints on Koh Tao are simply breathtaking and, for us, are among the most beautiful in Thailand. But that’s not all. In addition to diving, fishing and snorkeling, a small fitness unit in a local Muay Thai gym, yoga or hiking is always a good idea. We have summarized the best things to do in Koh Tao here: Explore the most beautiful Koh Tao viewpoints and other amazing places.

King Rama Monument

The King Rama Monument is located right on Sairee Beach and is easy to find. However, it is not really a special attraction.

Kuan Yim Shrine

The Kuan Yim Shrine is one of the most worth seeing temples on Koh Tao and is a bit off the beaten track on a hill. Anyone passing by is welcome to make a stop.

Chalok Viewpoint

The Chalok Bay Viewpoint is a small platform with cellphone towers. From there you have a great view of Chalok Bay.

West Coast Viewpoint

The West Coast Viewpoint is another viewpoint on Koh Tao from which you can see the north-west coast and Koh Nang Yuan. The viewpoint can be reached via a road, but the last stretch is a dirt track, which is very hard to ride with a scooter.

Mango Viewpoint

The Mango Viewpoint is THE viewpoint on Koh Tao and one of the most beautiful in Thailand. At the top there are huge rocks and a small bar. The bombastic viewpoint offers a panoramic view of Sairee Beach and is super easy to reach via the dirt road. Local “business people” charge an entrance fee for the viewpoint, you will not be able to avoid paying this.

There are several viewpoints on the hill, but they all offer more or less the same thing. The most beautiful is the Mango Viewpoint.

Nang Yuan Viewpoint

Who does not know this motif? A number of postcard motifs and advertising brochures were created from this viewpoint, which is located on the small neighboring island of Koh Nang Yuan. The way up is on foot through a small forest over several steps and rocks. Entry is 100 baht and at least at lunchtime, the big rock can get crowded. If you can, you should probably arrive to the viewpoint later, since most of the day tourists from Koh Samui will have already left by then.

John Suwan Viewpoint

For us, the John Suwan Viewpoint is definitely one of the 3 most beautiful in Thailand and offers a fascinating view of turquoise water and a dreamlike jungle landscape. The viewpoint is still an insider tip and lies a little bit hidden in the jungle. At the top you are often all alone and can enjoy the view of the tropical paradise undisturbed. Do not miss!

Muay Thai Training

Muay Thai is the national sport in Thailand and of course there is also a Muay Thai Gym on Koh Tao. If you drive the road from Mae Haad to Sairee Beach, you will find a Muay Thai camp on the right-hand side, where you can also just try out some training. The sessions can be paid for individually and take place twice a day. Private lessons are also possible. Generally a very good experience and opportunity to keep fit while on vacation. You don’t need any previous knowledge, the teachers are happy to teach you a few basics. Kickboxing professionals can also work out at the highest level.

Koh Tao Snorkeling

Koh Tao is considered a diver’s paradise and snorkeling is of course also extremely worthwhile. You can discover the underwater world at almost every bay on Koh Tao. Alternatively, you should hire a local longtail boat, in order to get to more remote snorkleing spots. The drivers will then take you to the most beautiful places around the island. The Japanese Garden at Koh Nang Yuan is particularly beautiful.

Renting a boat privately costs around 2,000 baht for a few hours, group trips can be booked cheaper.

Koh Tao Diving

It is extremely easy to do diving courses or tours on Koh Tao. There are dive centers offering diving tours literally on every corner. If you don’t have a diving license yet, it’s definitely worth getting this one here. Koh Tao is considered the Mecca for diving beginners and the prices for the courses are also very cheap in global comparison. It is not for nothing that Koh Tao is also called the divers’ island. You can book diving tours and courses here.

Fishing

Fishing tours and deep sea fishing are also available on Koh Tao. Just get information from one of the countless travel agencies on the island.

Climbing

Active vacationers on Koh Tao also have the opportunity to take a climbing course and climb the beautiful rock formations on the island. In addition to climbing tours in the forest, there are also options directly on the coast, which offer climbers a scenic view.

Daytrip to Nang Yuan Island

Nang Yuan Island is a highlight and is just a stone’s throw off the coast of Koh Tao. You can visit the island either by renting a longtail boat, by canoe or as part of a group tour. There is an entrance fee of 100 baht before entering.

On the island you can relax on the small but fine sandy beach and the adjacent sandbank, there is also a restaurant. Swimming in the turquoise shimmering water is pure fun. Don’t forget to bring your snorkel, there are also some colorful tropical fish to spot. The way up to the world-famous viewpoint can be reached via wooden footbridges.

Koh Tao Beaches

Hardly any other island in Thailand has such a large selection of beautiful sandy beaches and bays to offer. Koh Tao is the Mecca for snorkelers, divers and sunbathers and is, in our opinion, one of the most scenic destinations in all of Thailand. All about the best beaches in Koh Tao and how to get there, here.

Mae Haad Beach

Mae Haad Beach is the first beach you will encounter when you arrive on Koh Tao and is almost right next to the ferry docks. The small stretch isn’t the prettiest beach on Koh Tao but is quite passable. Directly behind it are several hotels and accommodations. Water taxis also depart from Mae Haad Beach to the secluded bays. Even if Mae Haad Beach is not the first choice, it is not bad and better than many other beaches in Thailand.

Sairee Beach

Sairee Beach is the most famous beach on Koh Tao and also the main tourist town on the island. Party tourists and backpackers in particular come here to enjoy life. Sairee Beach has it all! Beach bungalows, bars and a distinctive nightlife. The beach itself is beautiful and invites you to relax, the sunset is magnificent. If you’re a bit younger and want to live right in the middle of it all, then Sairee Beach is just the right spot for you, especially since it’s also quite beautiful.

Mango Bay

Mango Bay is a popular snorkeling spot on Koh Tao and is best reached by boat as you can avoid the bumpy roads to get there. When the weather and sea conditions are right, the bay shines in wonderful colors and the underwater visibility is very good.

Hin Wong Bay

Hin Wong Bay is also a popular snorkeling spot on Koh Tao and the rocks there are home to a number of sea creatures. If the weather is right, Hin Wong Bay is definitely a great place to explore the underwater world of Koh Tao.

Tanote Bay

Tanote Bay is an ideal place for all those who don’t want to go completely off the path, but are also looking for some peace and quiet. Day visitors mainly come to Tanote Bay to sunbathe, but things quiet down again in the evenings.

Aow Leuk Beach

The Aow Leuk Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Koh Tao and that is simply due to the harmonious overall picture. Beautiful palm trees, white sand and shimmering turquoise water are the hallmarks of Aow Leuk Beach. You can easily reach Ao Leuk Beach on Koh Tao by scooter or bicycle. Just be careful on the gravel road.

Sai Daeng Beach

There is a lot of construction going on at Sai Daeng Beach and a magnificently located resort is being built on the hill behind the beach. The beach itself is very beautiful and the offshore coral reef is also worth snorkeling.

Haad Tien Bay- Shark Bay

The so-called Shark Bay does not have its name for nothing and so there is a good chance that you will see one of the many harmless reef sharks here. Bring your snorkel and dare to swim with sharks… The beach itself is great for sunbathing and swimming is fun too if you’re not scared of sharks.

Taa Toh Yai Beach

Taa Toh Yai Beach is a very beautiful beach and offers great rock formations, a lot of tranquility and crystal clear water, which shimmers emerald green further out. Right on the bay you will also find a relaxed resort with bungalows and you can also get easily to Freedom Beach from here.

Freedom Beach

For a long time, Freedom Beach was considered an insider tip because it was somewhat hidden and could only be reached via a hidden path. Unfortunately, most travelers are now aware of the beautiful sandy beach and so it is now relatively crowded. The small beach offers wonderful palm trees, super clear water, fine sand and a beach bar, which offers a great view of the bay. From Taa Oh Yai Beach there is a small jetty around the rocks directly to Freedom Beach. The journey there is worth a visit in itself. The beach is closed at night.

Chalok Bay

Chalok Bay is a relatively popular stretch of beach and a good infrastructure has developed around the beach. There are many hotels, restaurants and bars, so the place is also suitable for all those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of Sairee Beach and still appreciate some entertainment. Swimming and relaxing at Chalok Bay is a dream as it is not too crowded and has a great ambience.

Sai Nuan Beach

Sai Nuan Beach are two great beach sections, which offer clear water and great rock formations. Snorkeling is particularly recommended here. There is also a beautiful resort on Sai Nuan Beach. Unfortunately, the path to the beach is very bumpy and only recommended for experienced scooter riders.

Koh Tao Nightlilfe

Koh Tao is a very laid back island. Except for Sairee Beach, there is little going on in the evening. But if you want to party, then head to Sairee Beach. In the early evening, travelers from all over the world gather on the beach for a sunset beer. After that, people usually go to one of the many restaurants to head into the nightlife afterwards. At Sairee Beach you will find more than enough opportunities to party until late at night.

Fire shows are performed on the beach itself, otherwise there is party hard in the many bars around town. The ultimate party spot is the Lotus Beach Bar. Every now and then special parties are held on Koh Tao, which are then announced and advertised on posters.

Koh Tao Restaurants

Self-catering is also a breeze on Koh Tao. On every street corner there are small Thai food restaurants, BBQ stands or street food shops where you can eat well and cheaply. We can particularly recommend the authentic Thai cuisine! If you like it a bit more familiar, you can take a closer look at the restaurant “The Whitening” in Mae Haad, where they serve delicious steaks.

The Porto Bello is also a restaurant recommendation and offers delicious Italian cuisine in the tropical ambience of Sairee Beach. If you prefer rustic cuisine for a change, you should definitely drop by Uschi’s Taste of Home, where there is a small menu with super delicious dishes. Taste of Home is very popular, especially among expats.

Safety Koh Tao

In general, we would classify Koh Tao as a safe travel destination. Pickpocketing is rare, as is violent assault. From time to time in beach bungalows are targeted by thieves, so always use the safe (preferably at the reception). We consider riding a scooter to be a dangerous activity for inexperienced people, as the bad roads often lead to accidents or damage on the motorbike.

In recent years there have been repeated violent attacks on tourists, sometimes resulting in death. The causes and the course of events have not been clearly clarified to this day. We therefore advise every visitor to avoid dark corners and lonely beaches at night. You should also behave respectfully on site and not provoke bar fights with locals.

Koh Tao Map

On the following map for Koh Tao you will find all listed beaches, sights, hotel tips and restaurants on Koh Tao. With this interactive map of things to do in Koh Tao it should be easy for you to discover the wonderful nature of the island.

A Perfect Day on Koh Tao

So that you don’t get overwhelmed by all the information overload, we’ve put together a small example of a perfect day on Koh Tao for you. Get inspired and enjoy your time in island paradise.

• Morning coffee or fruit shake at the roadside or a beach bar
• Excursion to John Suwan Viewpoint
• Chilling out at Freedom Beach
• Muay Thai session
• Dinner at a Thai restaurant
• Party at Sairee Beach

Have you already been to Koh Tao? What did you like the most? Leave us a comment below!

The post 28 Things To Do in Koh Tao: Beaches, Viewpoints, Activities appeared first on OnYourPath.

Travel preparation Step 1: six months left until the trip

You should start planning and preparing about 6 months in advance for a long-term trip. You will not believe this? We will now tell you exactly why you should start planning and organizing your trip so early. In this way you can also save money and avoid stress and hectic in the later preparation phase shortly before the start of your journey.

Check and refresh vaccinations

6 months before your trip starts, you should find out which vaccinations are required for the respective country or countries on your trip around the world. Especially in the times after the corona pandemic, there are many different regulations with regard to the vaccination status of travelers. While some countries no longer require any proof at all, in regions of the world you are on the safe side with 2 vaccinations. Still other destinations require a third vaccination in the form of a booster for entry.

But not only the vaccination against Covid plays a role. In any case, you should also have the vaccination status of the standard vaccinations (e.g. tetanus) checked by your doctor. They can also advise you which other vaccinations may be advantageous or even mandatory for your trip.

Since some vaccinations are so-called multiple vaccinations, you may need about 3 months for complete immunization. It therefore makes sense to deal with the topic about 6 months before you travel.

Cancel the apartment

Roughly speaking, it is usually worth terminating the rental contract for a travel duration of 3 months or more and spending the monthly rent on your trip. Alternatively, you can also sublet your apartment via AirBnB or otherwise during your absence. This way you can earn some money while traveling or cover the running costs.

Giving up your apartment is not absolutely necessary, you have to decide this point for yourself. It is also advisable from a financial point of view to check whether the effort is worth it for you personally or not… If you want to move around the world for a year or even longer, it is definitely worth terminating the contract and saving money!

However, you should also bear in mind that depending on the housing market, it can be quite difficult to find an apartment when you return. In this case, it would be good if you could stay with friends or your parents for a while after your return.

Create a savings plan

If you haven’t put any money aside for your long-term trip yet, then now is the best time to start. Set aside a large part of your monthly income, going to the limit of what you can handle. In the end, you don’t have to spend all your savings on your trip, but you have a good cushion that lets you sleep better at night.

For 6-8 months of travel you should have at least 6,000-8,000 $ on the side. However, it is also important to remember that with this budget you always have to spend wisely, even in Southeast Asia or Latin America.

Travel preparation Step 2: four months left until the trip

Around four months before the trip is the best time to save a lot of money when booking, last minute was yesterday and has hardly existed at least since Corona. Here we explain what you should book in advance as part of your long-term and world trip preparation.

Flight booking

As already mentioned, last minute bargains are a thing of the past. The best time to book flights is about 4 months before departure. It is important that you compare the flight prices with a flight search engine, this is the only way you can book the best flight deal. Which airline you choose depends of course on your preferences and the flight route. If you already have a lot of time and saving is a priority, it may also be worth considering flights from other cities than your nearest airport or booking open jaw flights with a stopover.

If you then want to get from country to country in a region (e.g. Southeast Asia) or need domestic flights, then a short-term flight booking is perfectly sufficient. The ticket prices in Southeast Asia and Co. are usually still extremely cheap 1-2 weeks before departure. So you don’t need to book flights for the entire itinerary 4 months in advance.

Tips for cheap flights:

• Airguru –> Long-distance and domestic flights
• Kiwi –> Unusual flight routes with stopovers to save money

Book accommodation

We have also had very good experiences with early booking when booking accommodation. If you’re lucky, you can still get a cheap price shortly beforehand, but you can usually get better deals if you book early. Find out whether there are holidays or other celebrations in the respective travel country in the month you want to travel, because prices usually rise extremely on these days. One of the biggest myths is that you get the cheapest price locally. That’s not true at all, on the contrary, at least in Southeast Asia. There, the walk-in price was significantly higher for every accommodation we stayed in than with an online booking via Agoda.

If you plan to stay in one place for a long time, then booking monthly through AirBnB or local Facebook groups and websites can be worthwhile.

If you want to travel permanently from place to place, then we only recommend booking the first accommodation after your arrival, you can then book all other hotels, hostels or rooms around 4-7 days before your onward journey.

We recommend the following platforms for booking accommodation:

• Agoda –> The best and largest booking site for Asia & Southeast Asia
• Booking –> The best booking site for Europe and Americas
• Hostelworld –> Ideal for hostels and cheap guest houses
• AirBnB –> Ideal for longer stays, homestays and apartments – unfortunately the platform is getting more and more a hotel booking website.

Apply or check passport

If you don’t have a passport yet, apply for one now. If you did one a few years ago, then check how long it is still valid. In many countries, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months BEYOND the intended length of stay in order to be able to apply for a visa. In the worst case, you will even be refused entry on site.

An example: If you want to stay in Thailand for 6 months, then your passport must be valid for 12 months at the time of entry. Six months validity for the period of stay and a further six months beyond the period of the planned stay.

Travel preparation Step 3: three months left

Slowly but surely your big journey is getting closer and closer. Now, as you prepare for your trip, it’s time to tackle the more tedious visa, financial, and insurance issues. We’ll now tell you everything you need to save yourself a lot of trouble during your stay abroad.

Apply for credit cards

One of the questions we get asked a lot is money. Many make the mistake of traveling with cash or just a conventional EC card on vacation. But that doesn’t work on long-term trips. EC cards from Europe are completely worthless abroad, they don’t work. Also, it’s definitely not a good idea to travel around with all your travel savings in your pocket. You should always have some cash with you, but no more than 200$ and an additional 50-100€.

The better and more practical solution are credit cards. Please also note that you will definitely need more than one credit card. We usually even recommend 3 different credit cards. The simple reason for this is that you can easily lose your card, it can be stolen or confiscated from a defective machine. With only one card you would now be completely helpless and broke. With your other backup cards you don’t have this problem and you can continue your journey without delay.

Since there are so many credit cards on the market, you can simply choose the one with the best conditions.

Revolut

Revolut is banking 2.0 and the app convinces with great functions. So you can manage your money in an extremely large number of currencies and also pay locally with them. So you save yourself the conversion fees. It is also possible to invest money in crypto, which could well suit the lifestyle of many travelers. The card and account are also 100% free, the bank is based in England and your deposits are protected against loss up to €100,000 via the EU. So, purely from the facts, everything speaks in favor of the card from Revolut!

Info & conditions

• Fee: free of charge
• Card: Visa
• Virtual Card: Yes
• Multi Currency: Yes
• Payment fees abroad: free of charge
• Withdraw fee abroad: 200€ / month free – after 2% of revenue

Click here to apply for the free Revolut card…

Apply for visa

Find out well in advance whether a visa is required for your chosen travel country or countries on your itinerary. As citizen of a developed country, you can enter many countries without a visa. In this case you will receive a temporary permit to stay. The duration varies by country, but in most cases it is between 30 and 90 days.

Only if you want to travel to countries that require a more complicated visa application is it advisable to start 3 months in advance. Even if you need several visas, you should work through the list in good time, as many embassies keep your passport for several weeks to issue a visa.

For travel destinations where you can go to the embassy in person and receive your visa immediately, it is usually sufficient to take care of it 1-2 weeks in advance.

If you want to have less stress with the visa, you can also put the issue in the hands of a visa agency like iVisa. They take care of everything for a small fee and the chances of a smooth process are much better. Some countries (e.g. Indonesia) require a local guarantor or inviter, a visa service also takes care of such things. We have had very good experiences with iVisa.

Travel insurance

Travel health insurance is mandatory! Under no circumstances should you travel abroad without it, because that would be simply irresponsible! In times of Covid-19, some countries even made international health insurance a condition of entry, so you will definitely not be able to avoid it. When preparing for a trip around the world, you should definitely look out for a suitable one.

A foreign health insurance does not cost a fortune and is available from just a few bucks per month.

Tip: SafetyWing is a worldwide travel insurance for travelers and digital nomads…

Now it’s getting serious: the last few weeks before departure

Are you looking forward to your trip? The most important things have already been done and from now on the time flies by. In the last few weeks before departure, however, you should definitely take care of a few small things to get off to a good start.

Cleaning out

The best thing to do is take a good look around your apartment and sell everything you no longer need. So you can kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand you muck out at home and at the same time you earn a nice pocket money that you can certainly use for your trip.

Even if you are giving up your apartment completely or storing your belongings, it is an advantage to have parted with some things in advance.

Download travel apps / set up offline maps

In order to be digitally up to date, you should ideally prepare your smartphone for the trip. Download the most important apps and put your phone in “travel mode”.

Google Maps: The most important app by far is Google Maps for finding your way around the world. Here you can also download offline maps and navigate anywhere using data. This has the advantage that you do not necessarily have to have an internet connection in the travel country.

XE Currency: The currency converter helps you deal with new currencies. The app can be used offline and you can convert the prices into your usual currency.

Google Translator: With the Google Translator you can nowadays translate or even communicate in several languages ​​very reliably. Be sure to download the languages ​​you might need on your trip offline. A corresponding function is available in the app.

Dropbox: Here you can store photos and videos in a cloud and retrieve them on any other device. If you ever lose your smartphone or it is stolen, at least you have saved the photos as a backup. We also advise you to keep copies of the most important documents there.

Bookmark OnYourPath: Last but not least, you should of course also bookmark our site. You can do this in your mobile browser, some even allow adding it to the home screen. You can use the reading bar (e.g. Safari browser or Opera) to save entire articles offline and read them without being online.

Safe copies of important travel documents

As already mentioned, we advise you to scan your most important documents and save them in a cloud (e.g. Dropbox). This way you can always access it if you lose it and, for example, it’s easier to apply for replacement documents. You should definitely save the following documents online:

• Passport
• Driver’s license
• International health insurance
• File with emergency numbers (e.g. hotlines to block credit cards etc.)

We hope to have helped you at least a little with these tips for long-term and around the world trip preparation. We wish you an unforgettable experience on your journey!

Do you have any other tips for preparing for a long-term trip around the world? We look forward to your additions in the comments section below!

The post Long-Term / Round the World Trip Preparation in 4 Simple Steps appeared first on OnYourPath.

This is certainly due to many reasons, but definitely also the bad image of the city in terms of reporting. At the beginning of our first trip to the Philippines, we also considered whether we wanted to visit Manila and even came to the decision to stay in the city for a 7 days. In the meantime, we have been to Manila several times since 2015 and 2021 and were able to experience the drastic changes for the better.

In this post we will show you the best things to do in Manila as well as useful tips about accommodation, dining and nightlife in Manila. We hope that you give Manila a chance after reading this guide and just experience the city for yourself.

Weather in Manila

In Manila it is warm all year round, the fresh wind from the sea is hardly noticeable between the dense high-rise buildings. The temperatures rarely drop below 25 degrees at night, but 20-35 degrees Celsius are considered normal. The climate in Manila can be divided into a rainy season and a dry season, with the rainy season falling between May and November. The heaviest rainfall can usually be expected between June and September.

Even in the rainy season, the temperatures do not drop, but then you can still count on 4 hours of sunshine per day. In my opinion, you can visit Manila all year round, but it is particularly recommended to visit outside of the rainy season.

How to get to Manila

Manila International Airport (Ninoy Aquino) is served by virtually all domestic airports. International flights from Europe usually make a stop in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok or Singapore. If you are traveling from the U.S. or Canada a stop-over in Hong Kong, Taipei or Seoul is very common. However there are also some direct flight connections to Honolulu, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto. Travelers from Australia can fly directly from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. There are also more than enough flight connections to the Philippines from many cities throughout Southeast Asia. Best place to compare ticket prices for flights to Manila is the flight search engine Airguru.

By land, a number of bus lines run to and from Manila to all parts of Luzon. Ferries also depart directly from the port of Manila and head for a number of islands in the south of the Philippines. Manila is the hub of the Philippines and accessible from anywhere. If you would like to book bus or ferry tickets in the Philippines, then we recommend the 12go.asia platform – there you will not only find a good overview of all connections, but you can also reserve the tickets inexpensively and easily in advance, which is on well-frequented routes definitely not a mistake.

Getting around Manila

In Manila itself, there are a number of options for getting from A to B. From taxis and pedicabs to jeepneys, buses and trains, the means of transport in Manila are diverse. All options here at a glance.

From our point of view, getting around with Grab is the safest and best option for tourists. In addition, you will not be ripped off and you will be sitting closed and air-conditioned car.

Hotels in Manila

There is a wide variety of accommodation and hotels in Manila. Unfortunately, these are not nearly as cheap as in Thailand. There are generally only 2 areas recommended for tourists: Makati, the modern city center and Ermita/Malate, where many of Manila’s attractions are in close proximity.

In terms of security, Makati and the area around the Green Belt is clearly ahead, the financial center is the model district. We have stayed in various hotels and areas during our many stays in Manila. The following hotels are recommended from personal experience in terms of location and facilities:

JMM Grand Suites Serviced Residences – This accommodation offers small but clean and modernly furnished private apartments as well as a magnificent view of the skyline of Makati City. A swimming pool and a fitness center can also be found in the condominium. The JMM Grand Suites is also suitable for longer stays.

St Giles Makati – The St Giles Makati is a very clean city hotel in a good and safe location at a reasonable price. The rooms are well equipped and the nightlife area “P Burgos Street” is only a stone’s throw away. From here you can also easily reach the shopping malls in Makati.

I’M Hotel Makati – Located directly across the street from St Giles, the I’M is a very good 5 star hotel. A special feature, however, is the glass infinity pool, which juts out over the street. In any case, the I’M Makati has already achieved fame on Instagram. The rooms are very nicely and clean, so this hotel is really a cool spot in Manila.

Belmont Hotel Manila – For those who want to stay close to the airport, the Belmont Hotel in Newport World Resorts is a real top choice. Manila Airport Terminal 3 can be reached on foot from here via the pedestrian bridge. In addition, the many shopping and nightlife options of Newport Mall are just around the corner. Newport World Resorts is a fully gated area and 100% security is guaranteed at all times of the day.

Things To Do in Manila – the best places to visit in Manila

Due to Manila’s unpopularity, few people know that Manila has a slew of great attractions to offer. In addition to modern shopping malls, churches, markets and buildings from Spanish colonial times are particularly attractive. In the following section we will introduce you to some of the best places to visit in Manila.

Manila Baywalk

The Manila Baywalk is considered a Manila landmark and is located in the Ermita neighborhood along Manila Bay. What to do there? Take a walk, look at the sea and relax. Unfortunately, during my visit in 2015, the bay was quite dirty and there were a number of homeless and drug junkies hanging around.

Update 2022: The government has completely renewed the Manila Baywalk, the once littered stone beach is no longer recognizable. Manila Baywalk is now a man-made sandy beach, which actually invites you to relax. However, we strongly advise against swimming in Manila Bay.

Intramuros

The Intramuros district near Ermita is one of the most beautiful and important sights in Manila. In addition to the Manila Cathedral, you will also find the historic Fort Santiago and many other old buildings in the Spanish colonial style. I can only recommend everyone to visit the Intramuros district in Manila and to stroll through the streets.

Cathedral of Manila & San Augustin

Manila Cathedral is located in the Spanish city fortress of Intramuros and is one of the most magnificent and important churches in Manila. A few hundred meters away is the Church of San Agustin, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1993 along with the baroque churches of Santa Maria, Paoay and Miag-ao.

Fuerza Santiago

Fort Santiago belongs on every visitor’s bucket list to Manila. The iconic site is an old Spanish fortress that has withstood several attacks and was built in 1571. The fortress has walls 22 meters high and eight meters thick. The entrance is 12 meters high. Located on the Pasig River, the fort was the Spanish government’s main defensive structure in the Philippines.

Santiago quickly became the main hub for the spice trade between Europe and the Americas for the next 333 years. Incidentally, the development of the Philippines goes back to the Portuguese seafarer Magellan, who opened up the spice routes to the west under the flag of the Spanish crown. The famous Manila galleons then regularly shuttled between Acapulco in Mexico and Santiago.

Fort Santiago has been the scene of fierce battles over the centuries. For example with the Chinese, the British and in World War II with the Japanese, who caused a terrible bloodbath.

The view of the Pasig River from Fort Santiago is beautiful, the houses have been painstakingly restored and the dungeons can still be seen in their original form. The Fuerza Santiago is a very historic place in Manila and definitely worth seeing!

Rizal Park

Named after national hero Jose Rizal, Rizal Park is the largest park in Manila. The park itself features food stalls, statues and a pond, as well as the Jose Rizal Monument. In addition, a huge replica of the Philippines map can be admired in the park.

Chinatown Manila

Although Chinatown in Manila can’t compete with that in Bangkok or other Asian metropolises, a short walk in the atmospheric district is definitely an experience. Chinatown in the Binondo district can be combined with a visit to the Divisoria Market and the Binondo Church. The Lucky 99 Mall is also not a bad place in Chinatown to immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the city.

Divisoria Market

The Divisoria Market is another highlight that Manila has to offer. Hardly any other market in Southeast Asia has fascinated and surprised me as much as this one. In addition to a number of street stalls and rows of shops in the market buildings, there are also many shopping malls in the area, which flow smoothly into the market. The rush is enormous, but you will hardly meet any tourists. Actually everything can be bought. From clothing and everyday objects to religious souvenirs and food. If you are in Manila, you must definitely visit the Divisoria Market, it is an amazing experience!

Binondo Church

Binondo Church in Manila is a very beautiful church located just a stone’s throw from Chinatown. The church is Basilica for Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the most holy Rosary. Many locals come here to pray.

Quiapo Church & Quiapo Market

The area around Quiapo is known all over the Philippines. This is due to the Quiapo Church, which houses the statue of the Black Nazarene, and the infamous Quiapo Market just beyond.

But first things first: The Festival of the Black Nazarene is a major religious festival in Manila, with a grand procession held annually on January 9th. During the procession, which lasts many hours, a black statue of Christ is carried through the streets of the Quiapo district from starting from Quiapo church. Hundreds of thousands to over a million barefoot worshipers take part in the procession. Many people hope that touching the statue will cure illnesses.

The Quiapo Market, on the other hand, is notorious for offering abortifacients to unintended pregnant women. Around the church there are also “service providers” who carry out abortions in backyards for little money and with questionable methods. The delicate thing about it: Abortions are illegal in the Philippines and, above all, not tolerated by the Catholic Church. Dead babies and fetuses are regularly placed in front of the church or in the square behind it.

We ourselves found it extremely interesting to get a glimpse into the sanctuary of the Quiapo Church in Manila and to see how much the Filipinos worship the black statue of Jesus. Even if the chilling stories of abortions stay in your head while strolling through the Quiapo Market, it is still a special experience!

SM Mall Asia

Located right on Manila Bay, SM Mall Asia is the city’s largest mall. There you will find several big brands, restaurants and everything you would expect from a modern mall. There’s even a full-size ice rink if you fancy skating in the tropics.

Resorts World Manila & Casino

Resorts World Manila is a hotel and resort complex with an attached casino. The complex also includes a number of condominiums and a shopping mall. Resorts World Manila offers a safe environment for dining and shopping. The site is right by Terminal 3 of Manila Airport, making it a good place to stay for the last (or first) 1-2 days in the Philippines. The Belmont Hotel mentioned above is also located here.

City of Dreams Casino

City of Dreams is also a casino and event center in Manila. So if you want to try your luck a bit, then you should do it here. Major events and concerts also regularly take place in the City of Dreams. You can find many luxury hotels and numerous opportunities for going out and shopping there as well.

Malacanan Palast

The Malacañan Palace is the official residence of the President of the Philippines. The palace is located on the northern bank of the Pasig River in the state capital of Manila and can also be visited as part of a guided tour. The Malacañan is the “White House” of the Philippines.

Escolta Street

Escolta Street is an old row of streets, which is often referred to as the oldest street in Manila. The houses are strongly reminiscent of the colonial style and so the area makes a good spot for Instagram. Chinatown and Binondo Church are also just around the corner.

Manila Ocean Park

Manila Ocean Park is a world-class aquarium in Manila and a good place to visit on a rainy day. The well-kept complex offers a variety of attractions such as an oceanarium, a shark tank, a sea lion show and much more. We haven’t visited the aquarium ourselves, but have only heard good things about it.

Greenbelt Park & Shopping Malls

Greenbelt Park is a recreation center in the heart of the financial and commercial district of Makati. Tens of posh hotels and shopping malls have settled around the green spots. The district is considered the safest and cleanest in the city and is practically THE shopping center in the entire Philippines. If you want to do some real shopping in the Philippines, then there is definitely no way around the mega malls on the Green Belt.

Manila Nightlife

Manila is a great place to party in the Philippines. The city is home to a number of good and hip nightclubs and discotheques, which cater to a diverse clientele of locals, holidaymakers and expats. The following discotheques in Manila are recommended and will still be open in 2022 after Covid-19:

• Royal Club Makati ( Makati daily 22:00-5:00h)
• ZZYZX (Ermita / Malate daily 22:00-6:00h)
• XYLO at the Palace (former Valkyrie Taguig Wed-Sat 22:00-4:00h)
• Topic Poblacion (Makati Wed-Sun 22:00h-5:00h)

P. Burgos Street: There is no tourist spot in Manila such as Khao San Road in Bangkok or Bui Vien Street in Saigon. P Burgos Street in Makati comes closest to the aforementioned locations. There is hardly any traffic along the small street and a number of restaurants and bars have settled here. At the same time, P. Burgos Street is also considered a red light district, but don’t worry, even if you are not looking for such offers, you will find more than enough serious options in this small street full of bars. By the way, P. Burgos Street is very safe because it is in the middle of the financial center of Makati.

Food & Drink in Manila

Finding something to eat 24 hours a day is no problem in Manila. There are restaurants, fast food chains and street food stands. Even if the street food culture in the Philippines is not nearly as well developed as in Thailand, there are always smaller stands with snacks on the roadside. But you shouldn’t expect elaborate cuisine.

The large fast-food chains are particularly popular among Filipinos. Jollibee, McDonalds, BurgerKing, Pizzahut, Army and Navy, Chowking and many other restaurants have branches in almost every major city. The offer ranges from burgers to pizza and pasta to Chinese-style cuisine and classic fried chicken. Among the fast food chains, we like Mang Inasal and Andoks the most as they offer solid Filipino cuisine.

On the streets of Manila there are also a number of smaller classic Filipino fast food restaurants and cafes as well as restaurants with foreign cuisine such as pizza and pasta. If you are a gourmet, you will also get your money’s worth in Manila, as there are several posh restaurants in Manila.

The shopping malls also offer large food courts where you can get everything your heart desires. In general, we think that the type of diet in the Philippines is quite unhealthy and in no way comparable to that in Thailand. But you definitely won’t starve.

Manila Bar Tip: Located on the 34th floor of the Pacific Skyloft in Sampaloc, the beauty of the view over Manila at the Roof Manila Bar is undeniable! The doors to the hip Skybar open at 8 p.m. every day except Sundays and Mondays. There are delicious drinks, finger food, good music, a hip atmosphere and an excellent view. What more do you want!?

Is Manila safe?

Safety is an extremely important issue for many travelers. Again and again one hears that the Philippines and especially Manila are very unsafe. Of course there are also dangerous districts in Manila, but they are in almost every major metropolis…

Nothing ever happened to us during our stays in Manila and the Philippines. Those who act with care and don’t show off are usually of no interest to thieves and robbers. As a precaution, it is advisable to leave the most important things in the hotel room. Walking alone through lonely alleys in Manila at night is not a good idea even then. Arguably, the greatest threat to security comes from theft and robbery. But that’s actually in every big city, be it Paris, Barcelona, ​​Berlin, Los Angeles or Manila.

The area around the Green Belt / Makati is generally very safe, you usually have nothing to fear here even at night and alone. The only important thing is that you don’t let yourself be unsettled and still enjoy the city confidently and carefree. Manila is definitely not a dangerous place, but in our opinion not as safe as Bangkok or Singapore, for example.

Manila Map

Attached you will find our constantly updated map with all places to visit in Manila at a glance.

Ideas for a perfect day in Manila

Here we have put together for you a day program with the best places to visit in Manila. The best way to get to the sights is by taxi or on foot. The starting point of the sightseeing tour is the JMM Grand Suites Hotel in Ermita.

Itinerary: Breakfast at a Cafe – Short walk along the Baywalk – Visit Intramuros + Sightseeing – Visit Divisoria Market + Chinatown – Quiapo Church – Shopping & Dinner in Makati.

Have you been to Manila yet? What are you favorite things to do in Manila? Please leave us a comment below!

The post Things To Do in Manila: 20 Places To Visit in Manila appeared first on OnYourPath.

About the author: Since I was born and grew up in South Tyrol, I know the region very well. In this article I would like to give you the best tips for your hiking holiday in South Tyrol. A number of the hikes and mountains presented here are in Ahrntal. The hiking region is still rather unknown among foreign tourists, but in my opinion South Tyrol shows its most beautiful side here…

Where to stay in South Tyrol

South Tyrol is a large region and there are accommodations in every price category. If you decide to go hiking in Ahrntal, I can recommend two excellent hotels.

The Hotel Adler is located in St. Johann and is run by a friend of mine. The rooms were recently renovated and impress with a mix of modern and traditional. The Hotel Adler is a good starting point for hiking in Ahrntal.

The Alpin Luxury Spa Schwarzenstein in Luttach is one of the most renowned hotels in South Tyrol and is particularly impressive due to the large wellness area and the quiet location in a dreamlike environment. In terms of pricing, however, the hotel is in a slightly higher category, but it is definitely one of the best in the region.

Dolomites Hiking: safety tips

One of the most important issues when hiking and especially in the mountains is safety. Of course, everyone wants to experience the breathtaking moments on the mountains, but many underestimate the dangers that lurk up there. Please inform yourself very thoroughly about hiking before you go. I’ll tell you some of the most important points when it comes to safety in the mountains of Trentino and the Dolomites.

Good footwear and appropriate clothing are a must have

It happens again and again that tourists go hiking with normal shoes and then injure themselves. When you are out and about in the mountains, good mountain boots are a must and indispensable. When buying, note that the mountain boots go over the ankle, this prevents buckling. You can get a strain or even worse injury very quickly on unpaved terrain. In the worst case, you have to be rescued by the mountain rescue service. It is better to invest in a good mountain boot and benefit from its quality for several years. The brand Salewa is particularly recommended for outdoor activities and hiking.

Also pack a change of clothes. After a strenuous hike you are sweaty and should therefore change your clothes immediately as soon as you take a longer break. At an altitude of over 2,000 meters, a cool wind can blow, even if it is 30 degrees in the valley. If you don’t change your clothes, you’ll catch a cold very quickly.

Also, don’t forget to pack a rain jacket. The weather can change quickly in the mountains and without a rain jacket you will get wet to the bones. I recommend the brands Jack Wolfskin or The North Face, these are among the best products for outdoor adventures in terms of quality.

When it comes to backpacks, you should also give some thought to the purchase. If you haven’t bought one yet, opt for a hiking backpack with good ventilation on the back so that you don’t sweat. My preferred hiking backpacks, with which I have always had good experiences and which I also use for travel, are those from Deuter. The backpacks are a bit higher in price, but convince with a good quality.

Check the weather!

Even if the weather is good in the morning and there are no clouds in the sky, check the weather forecast for the day. The weather in the Alps can change very quickly and the possible summer thunderstorms should not be underestimated. In addition, there are often lightning strikes in the mountains, which has caused many hikers to lose their lives. Thoroughly checking the weather forecast for your hiking route is therefore essential!

Inform yourself about your hiking route

The hiking trails in South Tyrol are generally very well signposted, so that beginners can always find the right path. However, from time to time the paths can split and this can lead to confusion. In this case, keep an eye out for other hikers and ask them for directions. In general, you should never set off without a hiking map unless you know the destination and the region very well.

If you are not sure where exactly the path leads, just turn around! It has often happened that even experienced hikers who grew up in the area got lost and couldn’t find their way back. If you get lost, call for help immediately.

Here you will find the most important emergency numbers for South Tyrol:

• 118 – General Emergency/Rescue (Europe)
• 115 – Fire Department
• 112 – Carabinieri

Hiking Dolomites & Trentino: Beginner routes

For the beginning I recommend you to try the easy hikes for the first time. Don’t overestimate yourself and don’t take any risks. Practice makes perfect, this principle also applies to hiking!

Ahrntal hiking: Klaussee – Steinhaus

Not a summit, but a beautiful mountain lake with a fantastic view of the mountain landscape in Ahrntal. The ascent to Klaussee is very easy, because you can take a shortcut with the “Clauberg” cable car and start from 1,600m above sea level. From the mountain station it takes about 90 minutes to Klaussee, where you can then take a break and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere.

The Klaussee at 2,162 m is not only one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the region, from here you also have an excellent view of the Zillertal peaks.

You can also reach the Klaussee by mountain bike. Just rent an eBike and cycle through the forest all the way to the top. The descent that follows is truly just the thing for adrenaline junkies. It’s best to cycle up via the valley run, this is the easiest way to get to the top. Alternatively, there is another forest path from St. Johann, which is hard to find. If you want to go this way, ask locals for the right direction.

Hiking Bruneck: Kronplatz – Furkelpass

Kronplatz is a ski area in Pustertal, in Brunico. While you can ski down the slopes in winter, the entire area around Kronplatz is ideal for hiking in summer. A very popular route, which is also particularly suitable for beginners, is the hike from Kronzplatz to the Furkelpass. The route is 3.7 km long and takes about 90 minutes at a slow pace. Since the difference in altitude is only 500m, children can easily manage this hiking route as well.

If hiking is too boring for you, there is also plenty of action, especially for adrenaline junkies. In addition to a downhill track, there is also the so-called Skyscraper on the Kronplatz, a huge swing that provides pure adrenaline.

Hiking South Tyrol: routes for experienced hikers

If you already have some experience and are in good shape, then I’ll show you my favorite peaks for advanced climbers. I myself am not a well-trained hiker with just below average fitness, but even I have no problems with the following hikes.

Hiking in Luttach: Wolfskofel

The 2,050m high Wolfskofel shines every morning in the full splendor of the rising sun. Luttach’s local mountain is “only” at 2,050m, but the ascent is a bit strenuous. As a complete beginner, you should avoid the Wolfskofel on the first day of hiking, as sore muscles are guaranteed. If you want to enjoy the wonderful view without to much effort, then I’ll give you a good tip: Drive by car to the “Großstahlhof”, from there a path leads to the Wolfskofel and you’ll save a lot of time. From here you should be able to climb the summit in about 60 minutes. If, on the other hand, you hike from Luttach or St. Johann, you should calculate about 3-4 hours for the ascent.

Hiking Göden: Grand Cir Peak

The ascent starts from the Passo Gardena in Val Gardena. The summit at 2,520m can already be seen from the starting point and the ascent is relatively short at around 50 minutes.

It’s a steep climb, but you don’t need to be very fit to get to the summit. Good shoes and, if necessary, a climbing helmet is an advantage. The Cir Peak is particularly popular and recommended at sunrise, as soon as everything is bathed in the golden light of the rising sun.

In order to be up in time for sunrise, you should start at 4 a.m. at the Passo Gardena. Around 5:15 a.m. the first rays of sun shine over Val Gardena, a view which you won’t forget for your lifetime.

South Tyrol high tours: Climb 3,000m mountains in Trentino and the Dolomites

South Tyrol has a number of mountains which are 3,000 meters above sea level. The ascent is sometimes very strenuous and only recommended for really good hikers. Since I personally haven’t climbed very many 3,000m peaks, I’ll just present my favorites, which even an experienced hiker with a little less fitness can manage.

Ahrntal hiking: Schwarzensteinhütte St. Johann

In total I made it to the Schwarzensteinhütte 5 times, twice to the Schwarzenstein Spitz and once to the Floit Spitz (same ascent), but the ascent is difficult and only suitable for very experienced hikers.

At 2,922m, the Schwarzensteinhütte is just below the 3,000m mark. However, if you want to climb the Spitz, then you are at 3,369 meters above sea level and you get a superlative panoramic view.

The ascent to the Schwarzenstein Spitz takes up to 9 hours, depending on how fit you are. It is not without risk and you should definitely have good equipment and a change of clothes with you. In any case, I also advise you to take a break at the Schwarzensteinhütte and recharge your batteries before you climb the summit. Also consider that you will need another 5-6 hours for the return, and that you should therefore leave by 4 a.m. at the latest. You also need a headlamp for the ascent, as it is still pitch black at this time.

Sleeping in the mountains of South Tyrol

You want to stay overnight on the amazing mountains and enjoy the sunrise directly at the peak? Then simply spend the night in one of the mountain huts, because there are a large number of them in all regions of South Tyrol. Many of the huts offer sleeping accommodation at over 2,000 m, e.g. B. the Sass Rigais Hütte in Gröden (2,300 m), or the Telemarkhütte in Val Gardena, from which you have a unique view of the surrounding mountains.

If that’s still not enough, the only option is the Schwarzensteinhütte in Ahrntal, which is 2,922 meters above sea level. A total of 30 beds are available here. Or do it like me and just grab a tent and a sleeping bag and spend the night in the wild under the starry sky of South Tyrol and look at the Milky Way over the 3 Peaks.

My summer in South Tyrol’s mountains

If you like this article so far, I would like to show you my video of my summer in South Tyrol and the most beautiful hikes. I hope you like some of the lesser-known “insider tips” among the hiking routes in South Tyrol and wish you lots of fun in the mountains and in nature of the Dolomites and Trentino.

Have you already been hiking the Dolomites? Leave us a comment with your favorite route below.

The post Trentino / Dolomites Hiking: Guides & Tips appeared first on OnYourPath.

It is also often said that you can only hate or love Bangkok. But what is absolutely true is that Bangkok is polarizing. Admittedly, those who are in Bangkok for the first time will feel overwhelmed after a few days and would like to leave as soon as possible. I was no different then. But now I know the city very well and have finally learned to love Bangkok. Believe me, you too will love Bangkok when you get to know Thailand’s capital for the first time.

This Bangkok guide is not (only) about the usual things to do, I will show you my personal favorite places in the entire city area. Get ready to get to know Bangkok from a completely different side, I wish you a lot of fun.

About the author: The author of this article with the best hidden gems in Bangkok lived in Bangkok for 3 months in addition to a number of tourist stays and got to know the city from a completely different side.

Getting to Bangkok – Do it like a local

It is relatively easy to get from the airport in Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to the city, as there are several options. The most convenient way is of course the taxi. If you like it more “authentic” and cheaper, you can take the bus connection from Bangkok Airport to the city. You simply need to follow the signs at the airport to the lower area of the airport grounds. From there, a free shuttle bus will take you to the bus terminal, from which a total of 12 bus lines go to the city.

Another option is the BRT (Skytrain), which is the fastest and most economical way to get to the city. The journey time is only around 20 minutes and costs between 15-45 baht. The problem here, however, is that the Skytrain only goes to the modern center and, depending on the location of your hotel, you may be forced to take a taxi or tuk tuk to cover the last few meters.

Stay away from the hustle and bustle of tourist areas

Admittedly, many people would hardly want to miss the comfort of a well-equipped hotel after a long flight. But if you want to live “authentically” and inexpensively in Bangkok, you can also find great options for a pleasant stay far away from the luxury hotels on Sukhumvit Road.

In my opinion, if you want to experience Bangkok from a completely different side, you should stay in a guesthouse or a typical Thai apartment. Inexpensive guesthouses are mainly found in the old town along Samsen Road Soi 1 and up. The laid-back neighborhood is not far from the tourist hustle and bustle of Khao San Road, but offers a completely different feel, more relaxed prices, and plenty of authentic Thai restaurants.

In the meantime, the area around Samsen Road is also becoming increasingly popular among travelers and more and more boutique hotels are settling here.

Chinatown is also ideal for people who would like to discover a different side of Bangkok. Most of the travelers choose to stay around Khao San Road or in the modern Sukhumvit area. Chinatown is often completely ignored. Above all, Chinatown Bangkok offers more than 1,000 opportunities for foodies to enjoy authentic street food in Thailand.

• Accommodation tip Old Town: V Varee Riverside
• Accommodation tip Chinatown: Pho Place Chinatown

Hidden Gems Bangkok: Things to do off the tourist track

Bangkok offers a wide range of things to do and quiet spots in the city where you can relax and not even believe you’re still in one of Southeast Asia’s largest cities. Above all, parks, temples and sights around the Chao Phraya River are among these spots. Here are some of my personal hidden gems in Bangkok.

Nature and Parks in Bangkok

Bangkok ist eine Großstadt mit rund 11 Millionen Einwohnern, deshalb wirst du vor allem eines finden, sobald du Bangkok betrittst: Hochhäuser, Plattenbauten und Beton. Entspannung zu finden ist in Bangkok schwer, so möchte man meinen. Doch falsch gedacht! Die Mega-City bietet extrem viele Grünflächen und sogar traumhafte Flussinseln, welche zur Flucht aus dem Großstadttrubel einladen.

Lumphini Park

In the middle of Bangkok there is a little world of its own, far away from the chaos and hectic traffic – Lumphini Park. Do you want to go jogging, pedal boat on the man-made lake, or just escape the everyday life of the city? Then you’ve come to the right place and can enjoy the unique tranquility and atmosphere of the park. Lumphini Park now charges 100 baht to enter, but I think it’s worth paying the price as it’s a great option for running or other sports too.

The Green Mile Lumphini

The Green Mile, which very few people know or have even visited, is a 1.4 km long bike route. It leads from Lumphini Park to Benjakiti Park on Sukhumvit Soi 10 past temples, mosques and wooden houses. The city and the busy streets are always there, but there is still a pleasant atmosphere here. The Green Mile is ideal for a walk or jog.

Airplane graveyard in the middle of the city

The airplane graveyard in Bangkok is of course not a classic tourist attraction, but it is definitely a great location for Instagram shots. Strictly speaking, it might even be illegal to enter the premises, in any case, access is at your own risk. Even after intensive research, I was unable to find out why and how the jets got onto the private property in the middle of the city. If you are looking for a little urban adventure away from the usual sights in Bangkok, you could definitely find it here.

Update 11/2022: It seems like the plane graveyard in Bangkok is history. The wrecks have all disappeared, there is only an empty green space on site.

Graffiti Park Bangkok

Street art is becoming more and more popular in Bangkok and there are already plenty spray-painted buildings in many parts of the city that show very impressive motifs. There has even been a street art festival in Bangkok since 2013. Part of it is also to look for the most beautiful street art parks and areas with a special city map. I chose Chalermla Park as it is easy to get to. Just take the BTS to the Ratchathewi station and you’ve reached the park. The graffiti on site is colorful and makes a good Instagram shot for sure.

Bang Krachao

You may have noticed Bang Krachao when you flew over Bangkok by plane. In the middle of the city there is a huge green area that catches your eye as soon as the approach to Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) begins. This is Bang Krachao, also known as Phra Phadaeng.

In Bang Krachao you will find, among other things, the Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market, where you can eat very cheaply and also rent bicycles. The Floating Market itself is not a real highlight, but the authentic atmosphere makes it so special, because almost no tourists come here.

A few kilometers southwest of the Floating Market is the Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park And Botanical Garden. The park is the green space you see from the air. With the bike, which you can rent at the Floating Market, you can quickly reach the park. Here you can easily spend a day and enjoy nature and tranquility. One of my personal highlights in Bangkok.

Ko Kret

The artificial island is located north of Bangkok and is considered the relaxation oasis par excellence. You can compare Ko Kret with Ban Krachao, but the focus here is on the cultural experience, because Koh Kret is considered the island of potters. It can get quite crowded on weekends, so a weekday visit is recommended.

Unfortunately, getting there is not that easy, as Ko Kret is located outside the center of Nonthaburi. The best way to explore Ko Kret itself is by bike, which you can rent at the entrance. The 5 km route around Ko Kret offers you a lot of green space, a great view of the Chao Phraya River and some beautiful temples and Buddha statues.

Ancient Siam

Just outside of town, in the Samut Prakan region, is a great themed world, Ancient Siam. Famous buildings from all over Thailand were recreated here in miniature form on a huge area. In total you will find over 230 sights on site, including entire replica cities such as Sukhothai.

Besides the many detailed temples, there are also several rivers, lakes and small parks where you can rest and enjoy the day. The entrance fee includes free bicycles or a ride on the train that takes you around the whole park. You can also rent a golf cart (150 baht/hour) and explore the park on your own.

Off to Bangkok Beach

No, that’s not a joke, there is beach in / near Bangkok. Although this is anything but nice and swimming is not recommended, almost no tourist gets lost in the area. Is it because of the somewhat complicated journey? Personally, I was traveling with a rental car, so getting there was hassle free.

What I can recommend is the Chulachomklao Fort & Mangrove Walk. Located almost entirely south of Bangkok, Phra Chulachomklao Fort was built in the reign of King Rama V to protect the country from invasion by European countries during the period of colonization. This fortress was used to fight against the enemies in the Franco-Siamese War in 1893 when the Kingdom of Siam faced invasion from two powerful countries; England and France.

Here you can visit a decommissioned warship from the Thai Navy and also visit a restaurant on the water and the mangrove forests. A real Bangkok insider tip!

Temples in Bangkok

Bangkok has countless temples, each more beautiful than the next. Even if many of the temples presented here are really no insider tip, they still belong on the list of every visitor to Bangkok. For those who keep coming back, I have also added a few insider tips that will definitely make it worth visiting again.

Wat Arun

Almost everyone who has ever been to Bangkok knows Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn. This is not only one of the most popular and most visited temples in Bangkok, but also one of the most beautiful. But many come to Wat Arun during the day and thus miss the real highlight. A insider tip is therefore to visit Wat Arun at sunset. Then the temple lights up in the red colors of the setting sun, which creates a very special atmosphere. When the sun has set, the Wat Arun is also atmospherically illuminated, which results in a dreamlike panorama against the backdrop of the Chao Phraya.

Tip: It is best to watch the sunset at Wat Arun on the opposite side of the river!

Wat Intharawihan

The 11 meter wide and 32 meter high golden Buddha is located not far from Khao San Road and in my opinion belongs to a very beautiful temple complex in Bangkok. Many of the temples in Bangkok are a bit overcrowded, but not Wat Intharawihan, which is one of the few unknown in the city. As Wat Intharawihan is located in the heart of the Old Town, it can also be easily reached on foot from all hotels in the Old Town and around Khao San Road.

Wat Saket

Another spectacular temple in the area around Khao San Road is Wat Saket, which can be seen from afar due to the golden chedi at a height of 79 meters. If you want a nice overview of Bangkok, you first have to climb the 318 steps to the “Golden Mount”. Once at the top you have a wonderful view over the city. Wat Saket is not an insider tip, but it is one of my favorite temples in Bangkok. The quiet location and the great view make a visit worthwhile again and again. It is also particularly great to see the temple illuminated majestically at night over the old town of Bangkok.

Wat Pho

Ok I admit it, the Wat Pho is not really one of the hidden gems in Bangkok. The temple, which houses a 45-meter, gilded, reclining Buddha, has achieved worldwide fame. Incidentally, the Wat Pho is considered the oldest temple in Bangkok, which makes it a magnet for tourists and Thais alike. The insider tip on the site, however, is the attached massage school.

In the past, but still today, the art of traditional Thai massage is taught in the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. At Wat Pho you can most likely get the best Thai massage in the entire country or even learn this fine art yourself. This is exactly why Wat Pho has made it into my list of Bangkok’s hidden gems!

Bangkok Foodies

Of course there are also countless restaurants and markets in Bangkok, but what really makes Bangkok special are the many street food stalls where you can eat very tasty food for a very reasonable price. I will come back to this later, but for the first time we start with what is probably the tastiest burger in the world!?

Burger art in Bangkok

There is a food truck in Bangkok called Daniel Thaiger that sells amazing burgers. You can check the actual location of this food truck on Daniel Thaiger’s Facebook page. I tried the burger myself and yes it’s true, these are just incredibly delicious! This example shows once again how varied Thailand and especially Bangkok can be.

The best Pad Thai in Thailand!

Pad Thai is the classic Thai food, especially for tourists. Thais generally rarely eat Pad Thai, and if they do, they only eat do at one spot in Bangkok. There is a restaurant in Bangkok’s old town that has the best Pad Thai in the country. Every night around 5pm, when Thip Samai (ผัดไทยทิพย์สมัย) opens its doors in Bangkok, street cooks heat up their woks to serve Pad Thai to hungry diners.

The dishes are freshly prepared in front of the guests and you can watch live how your Pad Thai is prepared. But beware! The Thip Samai is extremely popular and there are often long queues in front of the restaurant. So plan some time. By the way: Thip Samai ONLY serves Pad Thai Goong, i.e. with shrimp, as the original recipe calls for.

Chinatown Street Food

One of my Bangkok insider tips for authentic Thai street food is Chinatown at night. Chinatown is relatively large, but Yaowarat Road is known as the center. Besides some beautiful temples, most visitors come to Chinatown for the good food. Every night there are hundreds of small street restaurants and hawkers lining the sidewalks. Especially recommended is the T&K Seafood Chinatown, where you can get all kinds of Thai seafood.

Night markets in Bangkok

Bangkok is known for its night markets and that’s why I love the city. In total, there are over 40 night markets in Bangkok, which are very different from each other. From tourist markets to everyday markets to hipster and vintage markets, Bangkok has it all. But the most important thing is that you can get very tasty and cheap food everywhere.

Those who have never been to Thailand or Southeast Asia find it difficult to imagine visiting a market in Thailand. Here you don’t just buy necessary things like in Europe, for example, but eat, drink and have fun. In addition to street food and small restaurants, where you can watch the chefs at work, you will also find many souvenir shops, street artists and live bands that keep visitors entertained. A visit to a market in Bangkok is not only exciting but is a must for every visitor to Thailand.

Talad Rot Fai (Srinagarinda Train Night Market)

Talat Rotfai also known as Train Night Market, is a chain of night markets in Bangkok. Originally, the market was held near the Chatuchak Weekend Market at the State Railway of Thailand compound. However, the market has since moved to Srinagarindra Road, with another branch on Ratchadaphisek Road and a third on Prasoet Manu Kit Road.

The night market is open from Thursday to Sunday. The markets focus on antiques and vintage-style items, particularly clothing and home accessories, as well as a wide range of food and drink. The main market on Srinagarindra Road has been voted the most popular night market in Bangkok.

Siam Gypsy Junction

If you like vintage markets, then the best thing to do is visit the Siam Gypsy Junction Market, probably the best hipster vintage market in town. The market is right next to a railway line, so you can still take a cool snapshot with a train in the background. There are no mass-produced goods on the Siam Gipsy. Almost everything is old or made to look old or self-produced. This is exactly what makes the market so special and sets it apart from the competition.

Lan Luang Market

Located between the old and downtown areas, Lan Luang Market is an extension of the well-known Bobae Market. The Bobae Market is especially known for its cheap clothes. In almost no other market you can dress as cheaply as here. In the evening, around 5 p.m., the market really comes to life and countless food stalls are set up. It’s best to come by on an empty stomach, because it’s hard to just look and not treat yourself here.

Indy Market

A bit away from the center, in Thonburi, is the newest hipster market, the so-called Indy Market. Here you will find something of everything: lots of food stands, souvenirs, second-hand things and a number of small bars that invite you to linger. Since I lived not far from the Indy Market, I often went there on weekends. At the Indy Market you will mostly find locals, the prices are relaxed and significantly cheaper than in other markets.

Enjoy the evening in a rooftop bar

Bangkok is the city of sky bars. It is therefore advisable to end the evening at a rooftop bar. There are so many rooftop bars that it’s not a problem to keep discovering new gems. Personally, I really like Above Eleven Skybar on Sukhumvit Road Soi 11 as it offers a very relaxed atmosphere and is right in the center and also easily accessible by skytrain. Also highly recommended is the Octave Rooftop Lounge and Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 57, located on the rooftop of the Marriot Hotel. A dress code is usually required for rooftop bars in Bangkok, so dress properly.

Bangkok Map

Hidden gems Bangkok Map: I have attached an interactive map with all the sights and spots in Bangkok I mentioned here. I hope you enjoy exploring my insider tips for Bangkok and I would be happy to hear any suggestions about the article or your hidden gems in Bangkok in the comments section!

What are your hidden gems in Bangkok? Leave us a comment below!

The post Hidden Gems Bangkok: 20 Highlights for Insiders appeared first on OnYourPath.

This is clearly because one of the most impressive Unesco World Heritage Sites is located here, the Angkor Wat area. Even if the name Angkor Wat stands for an entire temple landscape, it is only one of more than 20 individual temple complexes, which together form an incomparable sight worth experiencing.

But not enough! In the immediate vicinity is also the impressive Tonle Sap, a huge lake, which made the region so livable in the days of Angkor Wat. Nowadays, the small, former colonial town of Siem Reap can also be described as a must see itself, as thousands of backpackers and holidaymakers from all over the world explore the area from there every year. Siem Reap itself offers an international airport, a distinctive backpacker district with a buzzling nightlife, many markets, beautiful colonial-style buildings, and a large number of accommodations for travelers.

Find out everything you can experience in Siem Reap and the surrounding area and which sights you should definitely not miss in Siem Reap with our tips for the best things to do in Siem Reap.

What is the best time to travel to Siem Reap?

The climate in Cambodia is tropical and the temperatures are warm all year round. Even in the coolest month of December, temperatures do not drop below 22°C. Cambodia’s rainy season runs from April to October, with most of the rainfall expected in the west. However, the downpours often only extend over the afternoon/evening hours. Incidentally, the best travel time for Cambodia is predicted from November to March, which also applies to the region around Siem Reap.

How to get to Siem Reap

Siem Reap can be reached in several ways. The most convenient way is via Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which is located only 8 kilometers from the city center. The airport is served by many destinations from surrounding countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore or Laos. Domestic flights are mainly available from Phnom Penh. If you are traveling from a neighboring country and do not yet have a visa for Cambodia in your passport, you can have a Visa-On-Arrival issued for a fee of USD 30. Alternatively, you can easily have an e-visa valid for 90 days issued online and save yourself the waiting time at the airport.

It is also possible to travel to Siem Reap by land, even if it is very exhausting. The roads in Cambodia are bad, even the shortest distances are long. It takes a good 4-5 hours to Phnom Penh, but the tickets are very cheap. If you want to drive from Thailand to Siem Rep via minivan, you should easily plan 10 hours or more (depending on your destination in Thailand).

When we wanted to take the bus from Koh Chang in Thailand to Siem Reap, a local travel agency even advised us not to do so, even though they missed out on selling a ticket. By the way, there is no train connection to Siem Reap.

The best way to book transfers by bus, minivan or taxi in Cambodia is via 12go. There you will get the best overview of travel times and transport options. We have used the service several times during our Asia trips.

Getting around Siem Reap

In Siem Reap itself, getting from around is super easy. In the city itself, everything is actually within walking distance, the trip to the temple complexes can be covered with a tuk tuk. Rides in the city cost something around 1-2 USD, if you want to hire a driver and tuk tuk for the whole day, you should plan between 15 and 25 USD. In addition, renting a bike is a good alternative to get around Siem Reap.

Hint: Don’t overpay the drivers! 10 USD is already a lot of money in Cambodia. Usual fares for one way short trips are 1 USD. Day trips should not cost more than 25-35 USD.

You can also get to downtown Siem Reap quickly and cheaply from the airport. In addition to the many free tuk tuk and taxi drivers, there are also official taxi stands where vehicles in different classes can be booked. A trip in a tuk tuk officially costs 3 USD for the 8 kilometers to the city center and 7 USD in an air-conditioned car.

Hint: Just keep left at the airport exit and walk past the screaming crowd. There you will find the official counters with the fixed prices mentioned above.

Hotels in Siem Reap

Siem Reap offers everything from simple backpacker accommodation to luxury resorts. The small town houses and guest houses right in the center are particularly popular. The French colonial style there has its very own charm and the entire nightlife as well as a number of markets and sights can be reached quickly on foot.

The area around Pub Street, Central Market Street and Pokambor Avenue along the river is particularly recommended for accommodation. Highly recommended is the Pub Street Private Pool Villa with super fast internet (15 Mbits is enormous for Cambodia). This accommodation offers a swimming pool and is also an ideal place to explore the city.

Also recommended is the Hotel de Ville right on the river with a beautiful rooftop pool and very well-kept rooms. The Old Market, Pub Street and other sights are just 200 meters from the Hotel de Ville. The price of around 80 euros per night (incl. airport transfer) is not a bargain, but it is okay for a 4-star hotel and the great location is definitely worth it!

By the way, you can book cheap hotels in Siem Reap via Agoda. The Asian counterpart to Booking (both belong to the same company) offers rooms in all price categories and the special deals are often even cheaper than booking on site!

Siem Reap Things To Do – In and around the city

In the heart of Siem Reap, around Pub Street area, all of life takes place. In addition to great markets and night markets, most of the restaurants and bars as well as a colonial-style city center can also be found there. There are also, most travel agencies located, so tours and excursions such as an ATV or enduro tour can also be booked. In the following sections we will introduce you to the most beautiful sights in Siem Reap in more detail.

Old Market – Phsar Chas

The Old Market is right in the heart of the city and just a few meters from Pub Street. The market hall offers everything you need to live and much more. Food, meat, fish and other foods are offered. Clothing stalls, jewelery shops, exchange offices and hairdressers can also be found inside. Life is thriving here and visitors who are in Southeast Asia for the first time will discover a lot of new things. For example, vendors simply sleep on the fish counter and right next to the fruit stand it can happen that there is a lot of activity in an open beauty salon. A typical Southeast Asian market!

A visit to the market is absolutely worth seeing and experiencing and you can easily spend several hours in the hall. Just stroll through and immerse yourself in the lives of the locals!

Angkor Night Bazaar

The Angkor Night Bazaar is by no means only open at night, but is ideal for all-day shopping. Shirts, dresses, shoes, bags, but also jewelry and mobile phones can be bought here. These are almost always counterfeit products, but some of them are really well made. Prices are way overstated without negotiation.

In general, amounts greater than a few US dollars should never be paid. Because you should never forget: around 50-100 US dollars is already a monthly salary in rural Cambodia.

Experience has shown that an extremely large number of products are even cheaper than those available in Thailand. Good negotiating skills are always required.

Art Center Night Market

The Art Center Night Market in Siem Reap is picturesquely situated on the river and is primarily a tourist market. In addition to the usual all sorts of things like shoes and shirts, there are artworks and souvenirs. The entire market and the prices are designed for tourists, so bargaining is a must! The Art Center Market in Siem Reap is purely a tourist market.

Pub Street

Pub Street is the center of nightlife in Siem Reap. Bars, clubs, restaurants and travel agencies have settled around the so-called backpacker district. There’s always something going on on Pub Street, whether it’s day or night.

Pub Street is one of the places in Siem Reap where you can always find entertainment 24 hours a day. It’s a great place to have a coffee during the day, eat out in the evening and enjoy a beer at night. In addition, the location is located so central that everyone will probably pass Pub Street at least once. Also, if you’re looking to party hard, then Pub Street and its Beer Gardens is the place to be for drunken socializing.

Colonial Downtown & Riverside

Siem Reap is a colonial city and so French buildings characterize the cityscape. Especially around the river and Pub Street there are some mansions and town houses in colonial style. Immerse yourself in a very special atmosphere when you stroll through the streets of the “old town”. Many great photo opportunities are included. The Hotel De Ville recommended above is also a beautiful old colonial building.

Siem Reap War Museum

The Siem Reap War Museum is just outside the city center about halfway to the airport and can be easily reached by tuk tuk for around USD 2-3. The war history of Cambodia is processed and presented in the museum. We ourselves had visited the museum without a guide, which was a big mistake. A visit to the museum is only worthwhile thanks to the reports of the tour guides, who can all tell first-hand about the country’s eventful past.

Landmine Museum

The Landmine Museum is also located outside of Siem Reap (about 20 km), but tuk tuk drivers are happy to offer their service for a few USD. In the small museum itself, the problems of the post-war period are illustrated and presented in a gruesome way, provided one is willing to read up on the subject in the museum or to use the audio guide. A visit to the Landmine Museum near Siem Reap is a must for anyone who is really interested in Cambodia’s eventful war history and wants to learn more about the background of the formerly heavily mined country!

Royal Gardens

The Royal Gardens in Siem Rap are located right in the heart of the city and can be easily reached either by tuk tuk or within a 10-minute walk through the city. The garden itself is beautifully landscaped and also houses a royal residence. However, particularly nice is the Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm Temple, which is located directly in the park and is a very popular shrine in Siem Reap. In addition to some tourists, it is mainly the locals who come here to make offerings to Buddha. It is best to buy flowers in front of the temple and donate them to the temple to get a little luck and blessings in life…

Phnom Krom

Phnom Krom is a 137 m high hill with a temple complex in the Angkor region, about 10 km southwest of Siem Reap on Tonle Sap Lake. What makes a visit here so worthwhile is the magnificent view of the entire surrounding plain and the lake. The temple ruins themselves are very beautiful. We can only recommend everyone to visit the Phnom Krom, because you can take really great pictures here.

Tonle Sap – Floating Villages

The Tonle Sap is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and also one of the most fish-rich inland waters on earth. No wonder entire families earn their living here and have built their villages directly on the water. A visit to the fishing villages is a popular excursion for tourists these days. Daytrips to Tonle Sap can be conveniently booked here.

Angkor Wat Siem Reap

Although the entire temple area is commonly known as Angkor Wat, this is just one of many temples. In the entire area, which costs an entrance fee, there are countless temples and buildings, which we would like to introduce to you roughly. A day ticket costs about 40 USD per person, which can be bought directly at the entrance to the park. If you want to save yourself the queue, you can already get your ticket for Angkor Wat online via Tiqets.com. The prices on the platform are often even cheaper than on site! There are also other ticket variants for several days or even a week, but in our opinion 1-3 days on the area are completely sufficient.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the most famous temple complex in the Angkor region of Cambodia. The temple is located near Siem Reap, about 20 km north of Tonle Sap Lake. A visit at sunrise is particularly popular, when there is a special atmosphere. The sun usually rises around 5 a.m., you should definitely be at the temple area some time before to not miss anything. Unfortunately, thousands of people have the same idea and so you don’t need to expect a quiet and lonely setting even in the early morning. After all, sunrise is a little more leisurely than at noon.

Bayon Tempel

Next to Angkor Wat, the Bayon is the best known and most impressive temple complex in Angkor – famous above all for its towers with meter-high faces carved from stone. Do not miss!

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is located about 1 kilometer north of Angkor Wat and is also an ornate temple worth seeing.

Preah Khan

The Buddhist temple complex Preah Khan is probably the relic of a provisional Angkor capital.

Banteay Kdei

Banteay Kdei is a monastic complex in Angkor built from the mid-12th to early 13th centuries under King Jayavarman VII. The construction is similar to Ta Prohm but less ornate and smaller.

Neak Pean

Neak Pean is an artificial island in the center of the North Baray, an artificial reservoir.

Srah Srang

The Srah Srang is a water reservoir measuring about 725 × 400 meters near the historical sites of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat.

Krol Ko

Krol Ko is a smaller Buddhist temple complex of the Angkor World Heritage Site and is only a few hundred meters north of the artificial island of Neak Pean.

Ta Prohm

Who does not know this motif!? Ta Prohm is an ancient temple and monastery surrounded by tropical trees. The motif is a symbol for many when they think of Angkor Wat and Cambodia.

Phnom Bakheng – Sunset Point

The pyramid temple Phnom Bakheng, dedicated to Shiva, is located on the hill of the same name between Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. The Khmer word “phnom” denotes a precipitously rising elevation. Since magnificent sunsets can be observed from there, a caravan of tourists moves to the Temple Mount every evening to enjoy the sunset with a magnificent view of the surrounding area and the temple complex. Even if the hike up the mountain at sunset is a real “tourist thing”, it is highly recommended that you do it once as the view is definitely worth it.

Baphuon

The Baphuon, a monumental temple mountain built in the mid-11th century in honor of the Hindu god Shiva, is one of the most important testimonies of the Angkorian period.

Terrace of the Elephants

The Terrace of the Elephants is located in Angkor Thom, west of Siem Reap. It lies west of the north-south street on the Great Square and thus delimits the palace grounds to the east.

Note: In and around Siem Reap and Angkor Wat there are at least 20 other complexes and temples. Of course we haven’t seen all of them ourselves and it would be too extensive to list them here. However, we have previously listed the most important and most beautiful buildings, which should also usually be on every bucket list during a visit to the area.

Siem Reap Nightlife

Since Siem Reap is a popular travel destination and a number of young holidaymakers come to Siem Reap in search of adventure in Southeast Asia, a lively nightlife has developed in the otherwise rather small town. Pubs, clubs and bars can mainly be found around the backpacker mile “Pub Street”. Night markets and restaurants complete the picture for evening activities. We briefly present the best meeting places for backpackers and party people here.

City Center & Night Markets

Downtown, around Sivatha Blvd and Pokambor Avenue along the river, most of the evening’s hustle and bustle takes place. The Night Market on Sivatha Blvd allows for shopping, and there are also a number of restaurants and bars within easy reach. The area is great to explore on foot. Opposite Pokambor Avenue, on the other side of the river is the Siem Reap Art Night Market, which also invites you to stroll. The crossings over the river and the entire area are atmospherically illuminated. A really great experience!

Pub Street, the backpacker & party district

If you like a little more action, Pub Street is the place for you. It’s not quite as wild here as on Khao San Road in Bangkok, but there are still enough party people to be found and the party goes on into the wee hours. Some bars on Pub Street are particularly popular, such as “Angkor What? Bar”, the “Temple Club”, or the after-hour “X-Bar” right at the intersection with Sok San Road. Also along Shivata Blvd. there are more bars and pubs.

Eating & Drinking in Siem Reap

In Siem Reap it is super easy to get delicious food of any kind. Whether it’s a small street food restaurant, an international restaurant chain or western restaurants, everything can be found in Siem Reap.

Restaurants around Pub Street

Around Pub Street and Sivatha Blvd, as well as in the small side streets, there are many restaurants for every taste.

Cafes

There are also many stylish coffee shops and bistros for a relaxed afternoon. Just keep an eye out around Pub Street and the side streets all the way to Phsar Chas.

Authentic Khmer restaurants

There are only a few really authentic Khmer restaurants for locals in the city center around Pub Street. If you want to go to such a “restaurant”, you should ask a tuk tuk driver about it or even better invite him directly to his favorite restaurant.

Is Siem Reap safe?

Since Siem Reap is a tourist hub, the city can be counted among the safer ones in Cambodia. Especially the area around Pub Street and other sights can be visited at any time of the day or night. However, special caution is always required. Don’t display valuables and avoid stumbling drunk late at night alone down deserted alleys.

It is also better to keep your distance from beggars and prostitutes, as they often circle you and rob you unnoticed. In addition, caution is definitely advised if you head towards Angkor Wat at sunrise. In the past, there were often violent attacks on tuk tuks and cyclists on the road through the lonely forest, but fortunately these times are probably over.

No money should be given to beggars and vendors around the temples. Also, beware of minor scams at sunrise in Angkor Wat. There it is not uncommon for beggars to pretend to be official employees of the facility and force tourists to obtain Buddha’s blessings on statues by donating money. It is not uncommon for visitors to be pushed into dark corners of the temple and asked to put 10-50 USD (a lot of money) at the feet of the statue. This can be intimidating for some tourists and seems to give scammers financial success as well. It is best to ignore these scammers and move on immediately.

Note: These experiences are from 2013. If you have any information about the current situation, we would be happy to hear about that in the comment section!

A perfect day in Siem Reap

So that you can enjoy your stay in Siem Reap to the maximum, we have put together a perfect day in the city and the surrounding area for you. It is best to rent a tuk tuk including a driver for the whole day (approx. 25 USD).

• Sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Exploring the temples in the area
• Visit to the Land Mine Museum
• Lunch in an authentic restaurant in the atmospheric old town
• Visit to Phsar Chas market
• Visit to a Buddhist temple in the city (Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm)
• Sunset at Phnom Bakheng Temple
• Dinner around PubStreet
• Visit to the Night Bazaar by the river
• Party until the early hours on the backpacker mile Pub Street.

Siem Reap Map

Attached you will find an interactive map with all the sights and things to do in Siem Reap.

Have you already been to Siem Reap ? What were your impressions of the city? Leave us a comment below!

The post Siem Reap Things To Do: 25 Spots & Activities appeared first on OnYourPath.

Preparation for the road trip from Phuket to Phang Nga

For us, the road trip to Phang Nga started in the popular tourist town of Patong. Of course, your trip could also start anywhere else on Phuket. The destination of the day trip is the Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park, which is picturesque on the coast of Khao Lak. In the case of this moto adventure, however, the journey is also the reward, as it passes beautiful, absolutely secluded sandy beaches and coasts in Phang Nga.

For the entire tour you should easily plan a whole day with sightseeing and breaks. Traffic in Thailand is quite slow, so you should take your time making stops to enjoy the beautiful scenery or even take a swim on one of the secluded beaches.

If you want to do a road trip for more than a day, you can also stay in an authentic bungalow on the cliffs in Lam Ru National Park or treat yourself to a night in a luxury resort in the nearby town of Khao Lak.

Important! Please pay close attention to the map. You have to turn at the right place to get on the beautiful route along the coast. If you drive according to navigation, you will use the country road to Khao Lak, which does not offer any scenic attractions.

Rent a scooter or car on Phuket

Even if you can theoretically take this trip by taxi from Phuket, a road trip is only really fun if you drive yourself. In general, we recommend a rental car or a motorbike for this long distance. If you feel more comfortable on scooters and prefer to drive an automatic, it is advisable to rent a maxi scooter with at least 300ccm. The long-distance Yamaha T-Max or Honda X-ADV models are even better.

Scooters of all brands and variations as well as the T-Max models from Yamaha are literally available on every corner in Phuket. Alternatively, you can also make online reservations via BikesBooking. You can rent a rental car easily and safely from international rental car companies, the airport in Phuket houses offices of all common rental companies such as Avis, Europcar and so on. But it’s best to compare the prices online in advance, on Rentalcars.com we have always been able to get the best price for the rental car via this price comparison website.

The journey is the reward – Driving from Phuket to Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park

As already mentioned several times, the tour starts in the tourist town of Patong. Already the first few kilometers along Patong Beach provide a magnificent view, which gets even better as soon as you go up the hills from Kalim Beach to Kamala. Already on the way from Patong to the Sarasin Bridge, which leads to the mainland, there are a number of viewpoints and wonderful beaches to discover.

If you don’t know them yet, you should definitely get up very early to be able to explore all the sights on the way until you leave Phuket. The total distance of 101 kilometers may not seem extremely long, but you should plan at least 2 hours WITHOUT STOPS. If you take breaks, explore the area or even go swimming, you can easily be on the road for 3-4 hours.

For those who already know Phuket, it is only interesting as soon as you leave Phuket behind over the Sarasin Bridge. After driving 3 kilometers on the mainland, turn left onto a small side road along the coast of Phang Nga, which provides access to miles of pristine sandy beaches and almost leads to Khao Lak. A first stop is near the fishing village of Khok Kloi, where a small trail leads to a beautiful, secluded and kilometer-long sandy beach.

If you want to have a beach in Thailand all to yourself, this is the place for you. So you probably only expect a few fishing boats and an old lady who is looking for shadow under the pine trees near the beach. People haven’t seen a foreigner that often in Phang Nga, so they gonna greet you in a friendly manner and with a typical Thai smile.

If you only left around noon, you should continue along the coastal road quite quickly after this stop in order to reach your destination before sunset. On the journey you can enjoy the beautiful nature to the left and right of the path. Just a few kilometers later, the next highlight awaits all adventurers. Natai Beach is also a wonderful beach and even has a small sign for a nice Instagram shot.

After another hour’s drive, the Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park is your next stop. Parking is possible on site, but beforehand, as in almost every national park in Thailand, an entrance fee has to be paid. The ticket costs 200 baht for foreigners, Thai citizens only pay 40 baht.

In the relatively small national park itself there is a viewpoint restaurant, parking lots, restrooms, a few bungalows and small villas for overnight stays and a small path along the coast down to the beach. The entire area is really beautiful and somehow the flora and fauna on site is less reminiscent of Thailand and more of the national parks on the coast of California.

The walk down to Khao Lak Beach, which offers clear water, great rock formations and a clean stretch of sand, is mandatory. In general, the entire area in the national park exudes peace and relaxation. A real insider tip in buzzling South Thailand!

After visiting the national park, you can possibly add a visit to nearby Khao Lak. There you can have a great coffee or dinner before heading back to Phuket.

If you want to get back faster to Phuket, you can opt for the route along the main road to the Sarasin Bridge. It’s not that impressive, but it’s efficient. Overall, we can recommend the road trip to everyone. Even people who have been to Phuket on vacation several times will get their money’s worth on this excursion. So embark on the adventure and dare the road trip to Phang Nga.

Have you ever explored the area around Phang Nga? Leave us a comment below!

The post Road Trip Phang Nga: 101 Kilometers of Beach & Nature appeared first on OnYourPath.

Follow us on a wonderful journey through Krabi and find out which highlights are just waiting to be discovered. By the way, at the end of the article you will find a detailed Krabi map with the locations of all sights, beaches & spots mentioned here. So let’s start with the Krabi things to do right now!

About the author: The author of this article has spent many months of his life in the Krabi region and experienced the region authentically like a local. In this article he shares his best experiences in Krabi.

How To Get To Krabi

Getting to Krabi is very easy. There is an international airport, which is served several times a day from Bangkok or destinations abroad. Flights to Krabi are available for a few bucks. Since a flight doesn’t really cost much more than a bus ticket, but the time saving is enormous, we recommend always to take a flight in order to get to Krabi.

You can also fly to Krabi from Chiang Mai and many other airports in Thailand. To find cheap tickets to Krabi, we recommend using flight search engines, where tickets with AirAsia, Bangkok Airways or Thai Airways can be booked cheaply.

If you want to get to Krabi overland, then bus and train or a combination of both is always an option. You can get to Krabi by long-distance bus from many cities in Thailand.

Especially from Phuket (Phuket Town bus stop) getting to Krabi by bus is cheap and quick. You can find an overview of the ticket prices and travel times for buses in Southeast Asia here…

Accommodation in Krabi

In the Krabi region there is a variety of accommodation to suit all tastes. However, small guest houses and apartments are much more common. Alternatively, there are some of the best luxury resorts in Thailand on the coast around Ao Nang.

It is best to book your accommodation for Krabi centrally in Krabi Town or in the tourist resort of Ao Nang. Both cities are ideal starting points for exploring the wonderful surroundings and nature of Krabi.

The price level in the province of Krabi is much more relaxed than on the popular holiday islands in Thailand. Even luxury hotels often only cost a third of the price on Phuket or Koh Samui.

The best way to book the cheapest rooms in Krabi is well in advance and online. On the booking site Agoda, the range of Hotels & Resorts in Krabi is very large and you can often find real bargains here!

Temples in the Krabi Region

Throughout Thailand there are a large number of temples, also called “Wat”. Many are simply places of prayer, while others are truly magnificent buildings and are also really worth seeing from a tourist point of view. Krabi is no exception and there are estimated to be hundreds of beautiful temples in the region. We would like to introduce you to three of the most beautiful temples in Krabi.

Tiger Cave Tempel

The Tiger Cave Temple, officially also called Wat Tham Suea, is no longer an insider tip, but it is certainly one of the most impressive temples in ALL of Thailand! On the site of Wat Tham Suea there are several buildings, a monastery, a sanctuary with the footprint of Buddha and a prayer cave, which gave the temple the nickname Tiger Cave.

A special highlight and absolute attraction is the golden Buddha statue on a roughly 600 meter high limestone cliff, which you climb up exactly 1,237 steps. The ascent in the tropical heat is murderous but definitely worth it. The view over the entire Krabi region is unique.

How to get there: By taxi from Krabi Town / Ao Nang – Alternatively, there is also a public baht bus.

Wat Kaew Korawaram Krabi Town

Located right in the heart of Krabi Town, Wat Kaew is a surprise. The really beautiful temple is often simply overlooked by visitors and is therefore hardly ever visited. In any case, the temple is a great spot for Instagram and the complex is very well maintained. So if you are in Krabi Town, you should definitely stop by Wat Kaew in the city center!

How to get there: By foot in Krabi Town or take a taxi or baht bus to Krabi Town from anywhere else in the region.

Wat Laem Sak

Wat Laem Sak is a real insider tip and guaranteed unknown among 99% of all tourists. The temple on the coast of Phang Nga Bay, which is still under construction, offers a magnificent view over the limestone formations in Phang Nga and the mangrove forests. A visit is particularly atmospheric in the evening. So if you want to immerse yourself in the “real” Thailand, then it’s worth a visit, because on the way you will pass small villages and some other sights such as the Than Bok Korani National Park.

How to get there: Ideally with your own vehicle / motorbike, otherwise expensive and complicated.

National Parks, Natural Pools & Hot Springs in Krabi

Very few visitors to Thailand even know that the Krabi region is home to so many beautiful springs, streams and natural pools. This is exactly why all the following spots can still be described as real insider tips. Find out more about the most beautiful natural wonders in Krabi in detail.

Than Bok Khorani National Park

The Than Bok Khorani National Park near Ao Luek is a small but fine national park that has a natural spring. The national park offers a forest, which is crossed by many small streams and rivers. The water is crystal clear and runs over several plateaus into small waterfalls. The highlight, however, is the natural pool in the middle of the park, which also has a beautiful cave in the back. Although swimming is allowed, locals advise against it, as a water spirit is said to be up to mischief in the pool and cave, pulling people down and making them disappear without a trace. According to stories, a number of children have already disappeared in this natural pool without a trace. Whether you believe in the ghost stories or not is entirely up to you – but you still get a queasy feeling when you take a bath.

How to get there: With your own vehicle / motorcycle, otherwise by taxi from Krabi or Ao Nang.

Tha Pom Klong Song Nam

Wow, the springs of Tha Pom Klong Song Nam are simply breathtaking and the nature around the wild river courses is beautiful. The entire area can be accessed via small bridges and footbridges, the pools and waterfalls invite you to take a dip in the cool water. The small national park is not far from Highway 4 in the direction of Krabi, if you drive a little further through the quiet and pristine area, you will reach Tha Lane Bay. The Tha Pom Klong Song Nam is definitely one of the most beautiful natural springs in all of Thailand.

How to get there: With your own vehicle / motorcycle from Highway 4 or via a local taxi driver.

Krabi Hot Stream Waterfall & Hot Springs

The Krabi Hot Springs are well outside of Krabi town and make a great day trip. A warm spring rises from the ground around the Krabi Hot Streams and empties into several pools and waterfalls. The hot springs attract locals in particular, as they are said to have healing powers. Even if the Hot Springs and the Hot Stream waterfall are much better visited than the two springs mentioned above, it is worth a visit because a bath is simply relaxing. Not far away is the real pearl of the region, the Emerald Pool Sra Morakot. More on that in the next section

How to get there: With your own vehicle / taxi or as part of a guided tour.

Emerald Pool / Sra Morakot

The Sra Morakot National Park is a real highlight and should knock even the most experienced Thailand traveler off their feet. On the 2.5-kilometer nature trail, you can admire a number of highlights such as the Sa Kaew (Crystal Pool), the Emerald Pool, the Sa Nam Phut (Blue Pool) or a natural shrine. It is highly recommended to bring swimwear, as the Emerald Pool is great for swimming. The water shimmers almost surreally in beautiful turquoise tones and there is also a natural slide. In my opinion, Sra Morakot National Park is one of the highlights in all of Thailand when it comes to natural beauty. A visit to the Emerald Pool can still surprise you even after a number of trips to Thailand.

How to get there: With your own vehicle or with guided tours from Ao Nang, Krabi or Koh Lanta.

Krabi Beaches

Although the beaches on Krabi’s mainland can hardly compete with the pearls on the islands, it is above all amazing landscape that the relatively unknown beaches on Phang Nga Bay offer. But also around Ao Nang, in the heart of the Andaman Sea, there are a number of magnificent bays and beaches, which we would like to introduce to you in more detail.

Tha Lane Bay + Beach

Tha Lane Bay in the north of Ao Nang is slightly elevated and offers a magnificent view of the bay of Phang Nga across to the island of Koh Yao Noi. The area is hardly developed for tourism, but there are some beach front resorts and restaurants with panoramic views, which make a trip or even several days in the area worthwhile. The beach bungalows and villas directly on Tha Lane Beach are particularly beautiful, which is very pristine and quiet, but definitely not one of the most beautiful in the region. Nevertheless, a visit to one of the Viewpoint restaurants is recommended… An experience that very few tourists will have!

How to get there: With your own vehicle / motorbike or taxi.

Tub Kaek Beach

Tub Kaek Beach, also in the north of Ao Nang, just south of Thalane Bay, is much more developed in terms of tourism but is still light years away from places like Ao Nang. Around Tub Kaek Beach there are some luxury resorts (e.g. the Anyavee), which guarantee their guests peace and seclusion. There is also a nature trail and a collection of beaches nearby. Tub Kaek Beach is definitely worth a visit from Ao Nang and Krabi Town!

How to get there: By scooter from Ao Nang through wonderful landscape past Nopparat Thara and Klong Muang Beach.

Klong Muang Beach

Peace, seclusion, a beautiful wide sandy beach and some world-class beachfront hotels can be found at Klong Muang Beach just north of Ao Nang. In addition to the Dusit Thani, you will also find the Sofitel Hotel and the Bliss Resort here. The small town also offers enough for evening entertainment or daily supplies. In general, Klong Muang Beach is recommended if you want to live a little away from the tourist crowds in Ao Nang. A small roadtrip with your scooter from Ao Nang is always worthwhile.

How to get there: With the scooter from Ao Nang past Nopparat Thara Beach.

Nopparat Thara Beach & Koh Liao, Koh Khao

Located right next to the famous Ao Nang Beach, Nopparat Thara Beach offers more privacy and tranquility than its well-known neighbor. Especially at the north end it’s just wonderful. In the small forest you can relax and the beach is only a few meters away. At low tide you can even walk to the offshore islands, at high tide a beautiful sandy beach awaits you. Anyone who is in Ao Nang should definitely head over to Nopparat Thara Beach!

How to get there: By scooter or tuk-tuk from Ao Nang, simply follow the main road north.

Monkey Trail & Pai Plong Beach

Pai Plong Beach, which also houses the Centara Grand Ao Nang, is a bit hidden directly in the south of Ao Nang Beach. From the southernmost tip of Ao Nang Beach, a small path, the so-called Monkey Trail, leads down over a rocky cliff to Pai Plong Beach. The beach is beautiful and invites you to relax, especially since there are significantly fewer people there than on the beach in Ao Nang. The walk across takes about 15 minutes, we didn’t see any monkeys on our ways. It is faster and more comfortable with one of the longtail boats from Ao Nang for a small fee.

How to get there: Walk the Monkey Trail or take a boat from Ao Nang Beach.

Ton Sai Beach

Enclosed by beautiful limestone cliffs lies the Railay Peninsula, which can only be reached by water. Ton Sai Beach has long been considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the region and it still offers an amazon landscape today. Though the Robinson Crusoe feel has been lost a little with the many on-site resorts, the beach is still a natural beauty. Railay Beach can be reached on foot from Ton Sai Beach via a path. Be sure to stop by as part of a trip to Railay!

How to get there: By boat from Ao Nang or Krabi.

Ao Phra Nang Beach & Cave

Also on the Railay Peninsula is Phra Nang Beach and the associated Phra Nang Cave. The area is particularly popular with climbers due to the steep limestone formations and offers plenty of space for activities. Snorkeling, swimming, rock climbing are all available in the area, making the beach a very popular day trip destination. It can get crowded around midday, but calm returns slowly in the evening. Overnight stays are also possible on site.

How to get there: With a day trip or by private boat to the Railay Peninsula and from there on foot in the direction of Phra Nang Beach.

Islands in Krabi

In the Andaman Sea around Krabi and in the Bay of Phang Nga there are several beautiful islands, which can be found on postcards worldwide. Many of the small islands are uninhabited, part of national parks or simply too small to stay overnight. Other islands, such as Koh Lanta, are quite large and offer enough variety for a complete vacation. We will now present the most beautiful islands and also a few insider tips for Krabi region in more detail.

Koh Pak Bia

Koh Pak Bia is a particularly small island located directly in Phang Nga Bay and is primarily a day trip destination. A number of trips can be made from Ao Nang, for example, by speedboat or longtail boat. The area is suitable for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing. So if you want to explore a small island with wonderful nature, you should definitely pay a visit to Koh Pak Bia.

How to get there: By boat from Ao Nang.

Koh Lao Lading

Koh Lao Lading is also a mini island in the Andaman Sea and offers a beautiful bay with a sandy beach. Snorkeling is especially fun near the rocks. A visit to Koh Lao Lading is best combined with a tour to Koh Hong.

How to get there: From Ao Nang by boat.

Koh Hong

Koh Hong is the pearl in the Bay of Phang Nga and one of the highlights when it comes to the island world around Krabi. Although the island is very popular with visitors, extreme attention is paid to the cleanliness of the national park. There is really no trash around. The Koh Hong Lagoon is great for swimming and can only be reached by boat. On the island itself there are two sandy beaches, which are beautiful. In the bay, which is enclosed by rocks, colorful schools of fish can be observed while snorkeling. A trip to Koh Hong is definitely a must in the Krabi region. We recommend hiring a private boat, though, so you can avoid the biggest crowds on the island. Ideally, you should negotiate a complete tour to Koh Hong, Koh Lao Lading and Koh Pak Bia with your skipper.

How to get there: By boat from Ao Nang or with guided tours.

Koh Phi Phi & Maya Bay

Who doesn’t know the Phi Phi Islands? The famous film set is the main attraction for tourists around Phuket and Krabi. On Koh Phi Phi Don there are great beaches, a number of backpacker accommodations and remote beach bungalows. In my opinion, it is not worth staying in the main town of TonSai, but rather staying in one of the beach bungalows in the north of the island or on Long Beach or Loh Moo Dee Beach. There is much less going on there and the beaches are simply terrific.

A special highlight on Koh Phi Phi is of course the famous Phi Phi Viewpoint from where you can see Tonsai Beach and Loh Dalam Bay. In the evening there is always something going on at the beach bars around Loh Dalam Bay. The Reggae Bar in Tonsai, where visitors can duel in the Muay Thai (Thai boxing) ring, is particularly iconic.

A must-do is, of course, a trip by longtail boat to Koh Phi Phi Lee, where “The Beach” or Maya Bay is located. Even if the spot from the movie “The Beach” is considered to be overcrowded nowadays, it is somehow a must on a trip to southern Thailand to set foot on this beach. By the way, on the way to Maya Bay you pass the Pileh Lagoon, which is one of the most beautiful lagoons in Thailand and invites you to splash around and snorkel.

How to get there: By ferry from Phuket or Krabi. Then by longtail boat to the bays and beaches.

Koh Poda

Poda Island is just off the coast of Ao Nang and is a good destination for a day trip with swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling. There are even some monkeys living on the island itself, which are quite cheeky and have made it their main task to steal food from tourists. In my opinion, Koh Poda itself is beautiful, there are many colorful fish on the beach and snorkeling is fun in the area around the rocks. Tip: In the low season there are significantly less tourists and the island can be enjoyed much better.

How to get there: By longtail boat from Ao Nang.

Chicken Island & Tup Island

Chicken Island and Tup Island are not far from Koh Poda and are also great destinations for a day trip. The sandbank at Tup Island in particular is a great photo opportunity and is always worth a visit. Ideally, you plan a daytrip to Koh Poda, Chicken Island and Tup Island in one day.

How to get there: By longtail boat from Ao Nang.

Koh Sriboya

Koh Sriboya is an island in the Krabi region that is definitely not on the path of most tourists. The fisherman and farmer island is something for everyone who just wants to relax. There isn’t much to do on the island other than observe the simple island life of the Thais, do some kayaking or take a trip to an offshore island. The best place to sleep is in one of the beach bungalows. The beaches themselves are not the most beautiful, but they are natural and authentic.

Ho to get there: Take the passenger/motorbike ferry from the mainland.

Koh Pu & Koh Jum

Koh Jum and Koh Pu are still considered insider tips in the Andaman Sea. The beaches are mostly quiet, you will look in vain for the hustle and bustle of parties. Koh Jum mainly attracts backpackers and individual travelers. On the island you can find both simple beach huts for less than 15 bucks a night and luxurious resorts. Nature is beautiful, life is easy and the water around the island is very clear. On the southwest coast, most resorts and beach bungalows are found on the beautiful beaches.

How to get there: Koh Jum can be reached by ferry from Krabi, Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi.

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is one of the most visited islands in the Andaman Sea around Krabi. The Muslim island does not offer any glaring nightlife, but instead a lot of nature, beautiful beach bungalows and a number of rustic beach and reggae bars. The main town of Baan Saladan in the north is mainly used as a landing point for ferries and is not really suitable for living, although there are a number of cheap guest houses there. Much nicer is the southern part of the island around the beaches of Klong Khong, Klong Nin and Klong Hin and the wonderful bays around Bamboo Bay.

A special highlight is the national park at the southernmost end of the island. There you will find a beautiful park, a powdered sugar sandy beach and a cliff with a lighthouse, which makes for a great Instagram spot.

If you are adventurous, you can take your own scooter to the northeastern part of the island or to Koh Lanta Noi and immerse yourself in the original island life of the locals. By the way, Klong Khong Beach is one of the coolest beaches to find a beach bungalow. Also in the evening there is always something to do in the many small beach bars.

How to get there: By ferry from Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, Krabi and some other islands or overland by minivan or taxi transfer.

Places in the Krabi Region

Although Krabi is a very large region, there are only a few notable towns in the area. Krabi Town is the largest city in the province, Ao Nang is the busiest tourist spot and the Railay Peninsula is a popular retreat for holidaymakers of all persuasions. We have summarized here briefly and concisely what you can experience at each location.

Be Like a Local in Krabi Town

At first, the author of the article could not make friends with Krabi Town. That’s no wonder because at first glance, the small town doesn’t really have much to offer. But if you delve a little deeper into the charming place, you can experience a lot here and get to know southern Thailand authentically. In addition to a visit to Wat Kaew in the heart of the city, a trip to the Tiger Cave Temple is of course always an option. However, it is much more exciting to spend a day like a “local” in Krabi Town.

The area around the Vogue Shopping Center in particular is the hub of the provincial city. There you can relax comfortably in cafes, stroll through the local department store or go to the popular weekend market at Saturdays and Sundays. As an insider tip, we can also recommend a visit to the bakery ร้านโรตีข้างห้างโวค, which is known throughout Krabi for its delicious sweets. You will find this when you come out of the Vogue Shopping Center on the right hand side directly at the intersection of Maharaj10 and Maharaj Alley. The local food market is also interesting. The Maharat Food Market is almost exclusively visited by locals during the day and is an experience itself for every Thailand vacationer.

As evening falls over Krabi Town, a wonderful food market takes place every night on the riverfront near Pak Nam Pier, offering delicious street food, freshly caught seafood and fantastic Thai food. Afterwards you can end the evening in one of the small bars along the waterfront or in the city.

How to get there: By land or by ferry from various islands in the Andaman Sea.

Ao Nang

Ao Nang is the tourist spot in Krabi region and offers full catering. Beach, bars, night life, restaurants all can be found in Ao Nang. The excellent location and proximity to Railay Beach and the offshore islands such as Koh Poda make the town particularly interesting for a stay. In our opinion, Ao Nang is a tourist spot, but not nearly as mainstream and turbulent as, for example, Patong on Phuket. Ao Nang Beach isn’t the quietest or prettiest beach in the area, but it’s still a good place to relax. Beautiful Pai Plong Beach is within walking distance from Ao Nang.

Renting a scooter is also a great way to go to nearby beaches such as Klong Muang Beach. A trip to Tiger Cave or, for example, to Koh Hong is also hassle free from Ao Nang. Anyone who stays in Ao Nang can be sure that there are enough activities available for several days or even weeks. There is also always something to do in the evening – street food, restaurants, bars and even shopping opportunities are plentiful in Ao Nang.

Another tip is dining with panoramic views. Ao Nang Hilltop is a wonderful Thai restaurant with impressive views over the Ao Nang countryside and is a must-visit. Especially at sunset it is extremely atmospheric there.

How to get there: By land from Krabi or via Krabi Airport.

Railay Beach Halbinsel

The peninsula around Railay is a completely different world compared to Ao Nang. The area can only be reached by water, so things are much more leisurely here. Nevertheless, everything is offered on site. Restaurants, tattoo studios, beach bungalows but also luxury resorts have settled in this wonderful corner of this world. Tonsai Beach can even be reached by land, as can Phra Nang Beach.

The Railay Peninsula is a great place to relax or indulge in activities such as climbing and snorkeling. In the evening there is always entertainment in the many restaurants and bars. A trip to the Railay Viewpoint and the Princess Lagoon (see below) is particularly recommended.

How to get there: By longtail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi.

Railay Viewpoint & Princess Lagoon

A visit to the Railay Viewpoint and the Princess Lagoon is also highly recommended. Good shoes are definitely recommended for this excursion! The ascent from the foot of Phra Nang Beach through the jungle over the cliffs with flip flops is quite dangerous. Once at the top, you will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the bays of the Railay Peninsula.

If you have already climbed the Viewpoint, it is definitely worth making a detour to the Princess Lagoon as well. The lake, which is surrounded by limestone rocks, even invites you to swim. But be aware, depending on the season, the water can be cloudy and muddy…

The entire trip should take at least 60 minutes or more! The best pictures are taken at high tide when both bays are filled with emerald water.

How to get there: On foot from Railay Beach.

Krabi Map – All spots at a Glance

Attached you will find our interactive Krabi map with all listed places in the region. We wish you a lot of fun exploring Krabi and hope that you liked our proposals for things to do in Krabi.

Which things to do in Krabi can you recommend? Please leave us a comment!

The post Krabi Things To Do: 26 Spots, Activities & Real Insider Tips appeared first on OnYourPath.