Traveling over 20 hours to reach a destination may seem short, but I had only six days, and I was going to make the most of them. Thailand is a colorful country with a wealth of things to do, and I had to make the most of my short time there. We chose Bangkok as a city to get a taste of the culture, and even squeezed in a visit to Cambodia. Here is how I packed six days and two countries of adventure into one amazing trip.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Landing in Bangkok
We landed in Thailand at midnight, and the airport was still packed with travelers. The one thing I loved was how easy it was to get a ride to the hotel. Make sure you have the Grab App downloaded before you arrive so you can easily get a car.
We stayed at the Samala Hotel, which was a great base with accessible activities nearby. After a short nap, we headed to a massage at Nature Thai Massage. The one thing you will see everywhere is massages! A tip: book your treatments through Go Wabi. Go Wabi is an app that brings all self-care offerings in one place, making it easy to find what you are looking for with reviews.
The Old City and Chinatown
For lunch, we headed to Chinatown. One thing is, many restaurants do not open until the evening, it is more of a nighttime area, but we did manage to eat at the highly rated Hereduan Streetfood. I love places that are packed with locals, where you can find traditional Thai street food with amazing flavor.
After lunch, we headed to the old city for our free walking tour. The tour covered part of Chinatown and the markets. We wandered over to the area where many of the major temples stand, learning about Bangkok’s history. We got a glimpse of Wat Pho, which is where the huge reclining Buddha is, and the palace temple. It gave us a nice introduction to the city.
At night, we went to a rooftop to watch the sunset over Wat Arun. We went around the end of November, so the temple was lit up at night with a light show.
Finally, we closed out the night checking out some nightlife, including the Michelin star-rated Nusara. The cocktails were crafted for Thailand, with a cozy, inviting feel. To sit at the bar, you can just walk in, but you need reservations for the restaurant.
Day 2: A day with the Elephants
In Thailand, elephants are native to the area and are an integral part of daily life. There are domesticated and wild elephants, with those in need of rescue having dedicated sanctuaries. I took a partial-day tour at the Living Green Elephant Sanctuary in Chonburi. I wanted to make sure I was visiting an ethical sanctuary where elephants weren’t being exploited for tourism.
Living Green checked all the boxes. We fed them, learned about their individual stories, and watched them be elephants, without any riding or performances. If you’re considering an elephant experience in Thailand, please do your homework and choose a sanctuary that prioritizes the animals’ well-being.
Nighttime Shopping in Bangkok
After a lot of traffic, I made it back to Bangkok, and we headed right to the old town for a long boat tour to check out the sunset. We wanted to see the Big Buddha at night, and this was the perfect way to do it. You can catch the boat from Tha Tian Pier and negotiate the price.
Finally, we headed to ICONSIAM, which is way more than a mall. The basement is a whole Thai market with food and handmade goods; you could spend hours there. I managed to find things to bring home for myself and gifts for others. Make sure you negotiate, because not everything is a fixed price!
Day 3: Off to Cambodia
A flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, is just 45 minutes to an hour from Bangkok. We took a morning flight and were there by lunchtime. The main reason we wanted to visit Cambodia was Angkor Wat, the largest religious site in the world, but what we took away was amazing.
We stayed at The Community Hotel in Siem Reap, which was the perfect base for visiting the Angkor Archeological site. The hotel itself had everything you needed, so you didn’t have to leave, but we wanted to explore. Cambodia is extremely safe, and the people are out-of-this-world nice. We took a tuk-tuk for just $1 into town.
We started at the Made in Cambodia market, an artisan market run by locals with everything from gold jewelry to linen clothing. After some shopping, we headed to the touristy Pub Street with a bunch of Western-centered restaurants, shopping, and bars. Keep walking past Pub Street to the night market to shop for more items; the vendors were friendly but not aggressive.
Day 4: Angkor Archaeological Tour
The main reason I wanted to visit Cambodia was to see Angkor Wat, which is the largest religious temple in the world. You can choose either the sunrise or sunset tour, so we opted for the sunset. We booked the tour on Klook, and it was excellent from start to finish.
They picked us up right from our hotel, and everything was door-to-door service. Even though we went there in their cold season, it was still quite warm at about 85 degrees. What I loved was the cold herbal towels after each stop and endless water. The tour covered the main areas of the Angkor Archeological area, which can take several days to see. I loved the sunset view at the end.
After we got back to the hotel, we still had time, so we finished up with more shopping to spend our final Cambodian Riels. Fun tip, you actually do not need to exchange money because they take the dollar, and it is readily available for change too.
A tip: at Angkor Wat, several local photographers are outside. They will take you through the site and take pictures of you. Make sure you negotiate a fair price with them. Do not take the first price they quote.
Day 5: Back to Thailand to have our last full day
We took another early flight back to Bangkok on Bangkok Airways. Let me tell you, this was a short 45-minute flight, and they still served us a full meal. Loved that. The rest of the day was dedicated to shopping, because apparently, I still had room in my suitcase.
We went to Siam Center, a cluster of interconnected malls in the Siam area. It’s overwhelming in the best way. Each mall has its own vibe, from high-end luxury to local designers. I specifically sought out Gourmet Market in Siam Paragon for wellness items and teas, which make excellent gifts. I love bringing home wellness items and supplements from asian countries because they are top-tier.
In the middle of shopping, I stopped at a local nail salon for a $12 pedi and foot massage. Costing less than a fancy coffee back home, with amazing service, and looking at the other services, it’s quite affordable even if you want the more design-based nails.
For dinner, we went to Pier 21, where dishes start at $1 and are just as good as those at places charging ten times more. I really couldn’t decide what I wanted, so I got two meals. This is why I fell in love with Thailand: incredible quality without the markup.
The night ended at Tichuca, a rooftop bar with a beautiful view of Bangkok at night. At the top, you could see many other rooftop bars with lights flashing and people having a good time. At Tichuca, you have to prepay for a drink as admission, and there’s a spot to check your shopping bags.
Day 6: A Partial Day and Goodbye to Thailand
We had an evening flight back home, so that left enough time for a little more exploring. We ventured outside our hotel for breakfast and tried Breakfast Story, a cute café that takes its breakfast seriously, with a wide range of options.
After eating, we squeezed in one more Thai massage at Thai Thai Massage that we booked through Go Wabi, but you can also book through Klook. We couldn’t leave Thailand without making the most of massage opportunities, and this last one was the best of the trip.
Finally, we ended at Terminal 21 on the bottom floor to hit up Gourmet Market again for last-minute items we missed. We checked out other wellness convenience stores to stock up on supplements and Asian-based makeup items. I think I am good to go for at least 6 months!
Takeaways from this short yet fulfilling trip
- Research the areas you want to go to ahead of time. Thailand traffic gets crazy.
- Download apps like GoWabi and Grab
- Have a mix of planned activities and time to wander. Bangkok is a late city.
- Make sure you have covered shoulders and legs when you visit temples.
- Get an e-SIM card for your phone. Wifi is hard to find, and it’s easier to communicate with an e-SIM. I used JetPac.
Although 6 days was a short time to fly all the way to Thailand and Cambodia, I got just enough of a taste to leave me wanting more. This trip proved you can experience luxury for less in Southeast Asia. Between affordable massages, incredible street food, and budget-friendly accommodations, you get a lot of bang for your buck. The people were amazingly friendly, and I felt so welcome there. I can’t wait to come back and explore more.
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