7 Reasons Why Thailand Is The World's Best Backpacker Destination

Just what is it that makes Thailand so popular with backpackers? Massive parties, beaches, ancient temples, stunning waterfalls, cheap prices and much more...

1. Tropical Beaches

Michael Reed / Via Flickr: michaelglenreed

Thailand's beaches are world famous. They are not always as pristine as some places, but they are plentiful and the sun is usually out.

To find the best beaches you need to be adventurous like Leonardo Di Caprio did in the film The Beach.

Thai beaches in busy touristy places like Phuket are crowded, so hire a local fishing boat to find the deserted paradise coves and islets.

Choose west facing beaches for amazing sunsets.

2. Thai New Year

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The most popular and fun time of the year is the Thai New Year celebrations known as Songkran.

This is basically the biggest water fight in the world as the whole country takes part for 3 days of shooting, blasting and soaking with ice cool water.

It is a welcome respite from the searing heat in early to mid April. The reason why water is such an important part of the celebration is because this is the beginning of the rainy season.

My first day ever in Thailand was with my (far too big) backpack. I had no idea what Songkran was or even that it was Thai New Year. I was dropped off from a pick up truck who had taken us from the Malaysian border, then immediately squirted with water pistols and soaked with little buckets of water.

Around 15 years later and this year I was ready and full armed. Chiang Mai is the place to be because everyone circles the Old City which is a moat, this means an endless water supply. High recommended!

3. Unique Festivals

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Thailand has some wonderful festivals, some are localized events such as the beautiful flower festival in Chiang Mai in February.

Some festivals are national including the amazing Loi Krathong festival which includes letting off lanterns at night. This takes place early November and is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

This Buddhist festival is a celebration which lasts for a few days and also includes parades, a beauty pageant and most importantly floating baskets with candles in.

Loy Krathong means something very similar to "floating baskets". These baskets are let go in the river and each carry a dream of a Thai person. It is a beautiful way to experience the positive thinking attitude of the Thai people.

4. Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangan

richroundtheworld / Via Flickr: richroundtheworld

The full moon parties are now a Thai institution. Love them or hate them, almost every single backpacker has been to a full moon party on Koh Phangan.

Imagine 10,000+ 17 to 25 year olds let loose on a beach where booze comes in cheap buckets and everyone is up for the party. Heaven for some, hell for others.

Most people have a great time, dancing and drinking the night away. There are fire dancers and the sound systems battle to be the loudest.

My fiancee went earlier this year for the first time and loved it, although she said she saw that plenty of youngsters had drank a little too much. I visited many years ago and once was enough for me.

A good way to test if a party is good is too see if people are still dancing when the sun comes up. As you can see the beach is still fairly full of revellers the next morning.

5. Beautiful Temples

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There are thousands and thousands of beautiful Buddhist temples all over Thailand. They are a must see, especially when visiting the main touring areas of Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

In Bangkok you can take a river cruise boat and hop on and off at different temples and other historical buildings, including golden Buddhas. We went in March though and the heat was very intense.

A couple of hours north of temple filled Chian Mai is Chiang Rai, home of the best temple I have ever seen. The famous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) has single handedly put Chiang Rai on the map.

I was lucky to see it before it was damaged in a recent earthquake. I have been back since and it is still a majestic sight and worth a visit. The main spire is now broken and a building behind the main one in the photo is also damaged.

6. Amazing Waterfalls

uscenes.com / Via Uscenes

The south of Thailand features wonderful beaches, but the north has plenty to offer as well. Besides lush jungle which is great for trekking, there are loads of fantastic waterfalls.

Waterfalls are very common and can be spectacular, such as the one in this photo I recently took at the base of Doi Inthanon (Doi means mountain).

Many times you can also swim in pools at the base of waterfalls. The best time of the year for this is during the rainy season (May to October) when the water is more plentiful.

7. Low Prices and Easy Travel

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Thailand has a great infrastructure for backpackers. It is easy to get around and there is always someone around to point you in the right direction.

Sometimes you need to haggle, but on the whole the Thais are very nice people. This is why the county has the nickname LOS (Land of Smiles). Thais really appreciate good manners, so learn a few phrases like "thank you" and do the customary bow with palms together when receiving a product or service. This will earn you a warm smile.

There are hundreds of great value backpacker hostels. You can stay in a dormitory room if you wish to meet other backpackers for 150 Baht (about $5), or rent a beachfront bungalow in Koh Phangan for as little as 250 Baht.

Accommodation is great value and plentiful. Often backpacker hostels have common areas and it is really easy to get chatting to other backpackers. This makes the experience all the better as you collect friends along the way.

Travel agents are everywhere in the main tourist areas. They will help you book bus tickets and day tours (such as the one pictured when we went to the zoo in Phuket). If going off the beaten track you will need to be more patient, I find a kind of sign language eventually gets me what I want (must look rather odd).

8. Exotic Food

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We couldn't end without mentioning the spicy Thai cuisine. Often too hot to handle, but always full of flavor.

In the south you will recognize classics like red and green curry. In the north there are more rustic flavors from dishes such as Jungle Curry. Be adventurous, especially with freshly made, cheap street food.

The general rule when choosing what to eat it the redder it is the hotter it is. There have been times when my whole mouth has turned red with the burning of spicy food. If this happens enjoy a creamy and delicious Thai iced milk tea.

The best way to end a spicy meal is with something creamy to sooth your taste buds and some exotic fruit. The photo you see is the very simple but utterly amazing Mango Sticky Rice. Sliced, sweet mango with sticky rice, covered with sweetened coconut milk... Heavenly, just like most of Thailand.