Backpacking Holiday in Thailand

Backpacking has seen a revival again in recent years. It is a great way to spend a holiday, being able to travel from place to place on a low budget, working odd jobs here and there to finance your stay. Safety is always a concern, of course, but with a few handy tips – such as no hitchhiking – you are sure to have the holiday of a lifetime, particularly if you opt to go backpacking in Thailand.

Before going on a backpacking holiday, you should learn something about the country itself, of course. The Lonely Planet Guide for Thailand is a great place to start, as it will give you all the information you need about the country, local customs, things to do and not to do and some information about where to eat and stay on different budgets.

Thailand, as a guide, can be divided into five main regions:

• The North
• The North East
• Central Thailand
• The East
• The South

Each area has attractions and places that make them unique, so if at all possible, do try to visit all the different areas.

Whenever you decide to go on a backpacking holiday, it is important that you know how to behave yourself in your country of destination so as not to insult the local population. You may want to learn some essential words, such as hello, good-bye, please and thank you, as you will be using these words around the clock, of course.

Certain customs and traditions in Thailand are important to know. Firstly, a greeting is not done by shaking hands, but rather by putting the palms of your hands together. This is called a “wai” and if someone does it to you, please do it back unless it is a child. The Thais generally think foreigners are very ignorant of their culture, and the wai is always used with people who are of a higher social standing or of a higher age, this means that you should not return a wai to a child.

Another thing to remember is that the Thais take off their shoes before entering certain buildings. If you spot a pile of shoes next to a building that you want to enter, it will show an impressive level of respect if you do the same.

If you are engaging in a conversation with a Thai person, stay away from conversations about the monarchy or religion. If you have even the slightest negative view on the royal family or Buddhism, you will certainly not earn any brownie points and could even find yourself in a potentially sticky situation.

Entire books could be and have been written about Thailand and its customs and culture, and before going on a backpacking holiday in Thailand you should do a little bit of homework to make sure none of your behaviour is offensive. Learn some of the most commonly found words and ensure you behave in an appropriate manner, and you are guaranteed to have the backpacking holiday of a life time.