ACCESSIBLE THAILAND
THAILANDIA ACCESSIBILE
Why go to Thailand?
You must know that we are always undecided about our next destination. We love to travel, we love to go on adventures, visit new and old cities, admire royal palaces and stroll through tropical forests. We like to spend the day at the beach and maybe climb to the top of a skyscraper for dinner.
All this, however, always makes it difficult for us to choose our destination, because we can never decide what to see in a single trip.
After tight selections and careful choices, we decided (randomly) to go to Thailand!
In fact, in Thailand you can find ancient temples, skyscrapers, floating markets, white beaches, crystal clear seas and immense forests, all in one country.
Do you want to know if Thailand is also accessible? Read on below to discover some little secrets of accessible Thailand!
THAILAND OVERALL
Thailand is a very large state, but the most touristic routes are very well traveled and it will therefore be very easy to organize your vacation.
We now organize all our trips independently, very often booking hotels and transfers directly on site. This certainly increases the stress a bit and it is required a little of elasticity, but it will allow you to save a lot of money!
The great influx of tourism in recent years has meant that the accommodation facilities multiplied, so we have not found any difficulty in finding hotels, even with a few hours’ notice.
Another good thing about Thailand is that it is really cheap. We slept in 4 or 5 star hotels with € 50 or € 70 and there are excellent facilities for less than € 20.
In the wide range of facilities, you will certainly also find accessible facilities, especially in the main cities, without having to go up in price as often happens in other cities around the world.
Very often, however, accessibility is guaranteed by somewhat steep ramps and through the access of a secondary road with a bumpy floor, but all in all we found Thailand fairly accessible.
We have not found any specialized or equipped excursions or agencies for people with disabilities, but we have always managed to organize trips and visits without problems.
WHEN TO GO TO THAILAND
The climate of Thailand is a bit complicated because it depends on the area you want to visit, dividing into the southern part of the islands, the part of the coast and the more continental part up to the mountains in the north.
In general, Thailand has two seasons: a wet season between May and October and a dry season between November and April.
In fact, it would be more correct to say that there is a wet season and an even wetter season…
We went in February (one of the best moments to visit Thailand) and in any case in Bangkok the humidity was very high. Much better in the north, between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, while in the islands it depends a lot on the wind and the days.
If you go in the summer, be prepared for the monsoons and therefore heavy but short-lasting rains, often in the afternoon.
In any case, it is hot all year round and therefore a perfect destination if you are looking for a place in the sun at any time of the year
HOW TO MOVE AROUND THAILAND
Thailand is a fairly large country and in our opinion the best way to move from one city to another is still by plane.
A flight from Bangkok to the islands or Chiang Mai often costs a few tens of euros and takes only an hour.
Some have recommended the train, but it is considerably longer (even more than 10 hours), although you can enjoy the view along the way.
It is also possible to travel by bus, but given the very low cost of the plane and the duration of travel, we have always preferred to fly.
Different story for shorter journeys, such as between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, where we organized a car trip from Chiang Mai in a day that ended in Chiang Rai, so as to be able to combine travel with excursions.
We have organized all the transfers once you arrive in Thailand, since it is really full of travel agencies of all kinds and you will not struggle to organize excursions on the spot.
WHERE TO SLEEP IN THAILAND
One of the best thing in Thailand is the cost of hotels and resorts.
For around € 70-80 you can find truly magnificent 5-star hotels and if you want to save money we have found some great facilities for less than € 30 a night. Cleanliness is on average very good, as is the size of the rooms.
Even booking accommodations the day before, we never had a hard time finding an available facility within our budget.
If, on the other hand, you have already set your tour, I still recommend that you book the facilities a little in advance so as to avoid nasty last-minute surprises!
OUR TOUR
We were in Thailand only for 10 days, personally I would recommend at least 2 weeks, unless you want to see only a small part, or you just want to go to the beach.
BANGKOK
A truly fascinating city, huge and always alive, it has maintained a very strong personal identity, even if you can notice how fast it is changing.
The city is divided into many districts, it would take at least a week to see the whole city only.
Here are the neighborhoods we saw:
- the historic center where you can find the main temples, the royal palace and it is crossed by the river;
- the economic center, downtown of Bangkok, full of shopping malls, skyscrapers and commercial activities of all kinds. I recommend it if you want an afternoon of “tranquility” from the chaos of the city;
- China Town, has one of the most beautiful night markets in the city. Be prepared for traffic in this area, as when you get close to Chinatown, you’ll want to continue on foot.
WHAT TO SEE IN BANGKOK
The main attractions of Bangkok.
We thought of dividing Bangkok’s attractions according to the neighborhood, so that you can better organize your itinerary, without wasting time on long journeys.
In the historic center:
the Grand Royal Palace: it is truly huge and magnificent. Obviously crowded, so you’ll have to queue up a bit, but it’s definitely worth it. Tickets for attractions, palaces and temples never cost much, so in general I always recommend entering to visit the inside. If you want more information you can look HERE.
NOTE: it is not possible to enter the palace with tank tops or shorts. It is possible to buy clothes at the entrance, but I recommend that you always bring trousers and a shoulder cover in your backpack, because many temples require them to enter. Better not buy them every time…
- Inside the royal palace you will find Wat Phra Kaew: it is famous because inside you will find the famous Emerald Buddha
- Just outside the Royal Palace: Wat Pho another temple… with another Buddha, this time lying down! It is a truly huge statue, more than 45 meters long!!
- Wat Arun: this temple is located on the other side of the river and you will have to take the boat. In our opinion, one of the most beautiful temples in all of Bangkok, the whole area surrounding the temple is also very pretty.
Note: unfortunately the only access to get to the pier is through a market and you will find 4 or 5 steps along the way.
These are the main points of interest in the historic center. I recommend that you go here in the morning because many temples close in the early afternoon, so you risk not being able to visit everything in time.
Downtown
In this neighborhood you will find mainly shopping centers of all kinds. It is easy to get around thanks to the metro, so you can move around without problems. Unfortunately it does not reach the historic center.
The metro is also quite accessible: each stop is equipped with ramps and lifts. Unfortunately, however, throughout Bangkok, you will often find construction sites and works in progress that prevent access to the ramps, forcing you to get off the sidewalk or you will find the elevators out of order.
- Siam Square: is the central point of the economic district of the city
- Central World: shopping center
- Terminal 21: a curious themed shopping center, on each floor you will find a different setting: from ancient Rome to the streets of Japan.
- Lumphini Park: we weren’t able to visit this park, but it looks really nice.
In this district you will also find many hotels and, even if a little further from the center, you can move around with the metro.
China Town
I recommend you go especially in the evening for the night market and street food. At night it is filled with tourists and locals, looking for a place to eat. Street food is really delicious and very cheap and you will find something for everyone, of course mainly Chinese cuisine, but not only.
THE SURROUNDINGS OF BANGKOK
There are a couple of day trips around Bangkok that are definitely worth the effort.
AYUTTHAYA
Located about an hour’s drive north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of Thailand.
It is possible to visit the really impressive complex of temples and palaces. Many are in ruins, but the complex is really large. Therefore, I recommend that you visit only a few, starting with the one with the famous head inside the tree roots.
I was surprised by the accessibility of this complex. In fact, in the main buildings they have built walkways and small ramps that allow you to visit most of the structure without any problem even in a wheelchair.
If you own one, my advice is using a propeller for your wheelchair and who is with you take a bike on site.
THE FLOATING MARKET OF DAMNOEN SADUAK
There are several floating markets around Bangkok, but this is certainly the most famous.
It is located a couple of hours from Bangkok and it is better to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds of tourists.
Unfortunately we were unable to go due to our schedule but they told us that, as long as you can get on a boat, you can see everything without too many problems because everything is floating on the river!
But you will have to find a way to convince someone to take you and load you on a boat.
CHIANG MAI
Located in the north of Thailand, Chiang Mai will give you a corner of peace after the chaotic Bangkok. If you love nature, boat excursions and the quiet life, then you will love Chiang Mai.
You will certainly find temples and Buddhas here as well, so if you have come here in search of spirituality, you will certainly not struggle to find it!
WHAT TO DO IN CHIANG MAI
The city of Chiang Mai is quite small, it will take you a day or two to get around it. Probably the night market is the most characteristic and beautiful activity to do in the city.
The surroundings of Chiang Mai, on the other hand, are boundless and full of history, culture and outdoor activities.
So my advice is to organize day trips (which usually end around 5pm or 6pm) and then go to the night market in the evening.
THE SURROUNDINGS OF CHIANG MAI
Here are the main excursions that can be organized around Chiang Mai:
- visit to Doi Suthep-Pui National Park: it is located less than an hour from the city, it is truly immense and you can reach one of the highest points in Thailand. You can visit the temples in the area and venture inside the park.
- Elephant paradise: both here and in Chiang Rai it is possible to organize a visit to the elephant park. In several parks it is not possible to ride them, as they are protected and respected. But you can feed them and even bathe with them!
- Zip line adventure park: once you arrive in the city, go to a travel agency and ask for information about the best zip line adventure parks. You can literally jump into the middle of the forest and fly over the panorama.
- Quad and buggy ride: by now you will know that I am a bit reckless… well, you can also organize an excursion on a quad or buggy in the middle of the forest. Unfortunately we weren’t able to organize it due to time problems, but it must be a truly magnificent experience.
- Breakfast at The Giant Cafe: it’s a cafe literally built on a tree. One of the most beautiful and characteristic places we have visited. It is located along the road to Chiang Rai, so I recommend that you make a stop on the way to Chiang Rai. Among other things, the path through the forest to reach this place is truly breathtaking. Make sure your vehicle is suitable, because the road often has bumpy sections and slightly narrow and steep bends.
CHIANG RAI AND THE SURROUNDINGS
The city of Chiang Rai is very small and the beauty of this area is represented by its surroundings.
- The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun): Coming from Chiang Mai (about 20 minutes before Chiang Rai) you will find this magnificent all-white temple. Its sculptures of agonizing hands and bodies are a little creepy but it is certainly one of the most distinctive temples I have ever seen.
This temple can also be toured very well in a wheelchair because ramps have been added at each access!! - The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Seur Ten): a magnificent temple with magnificent colors. Unfortunately there are steps to enter, but I assure you that the interior is magnificent and if you can, it is really worth entering.
- The Black House: this famous attraction is not a temple, but a (somewhat macabre) museum. Personally we were not impressed and (always personally) I would not recommend you to go. It essentially consists of an agglomeration of black houses with stuffed dead animals or strange objects inside.
- Elephant Park: as soon as you arrive in the city you can go to one of the many local travel agencies and organize a half or full day trip to a elephant park. You won’t be able to ride them, but you can bath with them, look after them, feed them and have an unusual experience. For reasons of time we were unable to go so unfortunately I cannot tell you more about accessibility.
- A hot air balloon fair is organized annually around Chiang Rai, so I suggest you check and ask on the spot and go and see if you happen to be at the right time. It must be something truly incredible.
CHIANG RAI E DINTORNI
La città di Chiang Rai è davvero piccola e la bellezza di questa zona è rappresentata dai suoi dintorni.
- Il tempio bianco (Wat Rong Khun): arrivando da Chiang Mai (a circa 20 minuti prima di Chiang Rai) troverete questo magnifico tempio completamente bianco. Le sue sculture di mani e corpi agonizzanti sono un po’ inquietanti ma è sicuramente uno dei templi più caratteristici che abbia mai visto.
- Questo tempio si può girare benissimo anche in carrozzina perché sono state aggiunte delle rampe in ogni accesso!!
- Il tempio blu (Wat Rong Seur Ten): un tempio magnifico con dei colori magnifici. Purtroppo per entrare ci sono dei gradini, ma vi assicuro che l’interno è magnifico e se potete, vale davvero la pena entrare.
- The Black House: Questa famosa attrazione non è un tempio, ma un museo (un po’ macabro). Personalmente non ci ha colpiti e (sempre personalmente) non vi consiglierei di andare. Consiste essenzialmente in un agglomerato di casette nere con all’interno animali morti imbalsamati o oggetti strani.
- Parco degli elefanti: appena arrivati in città potete recarvi in una delle numerosissime agenzie di viaggio locali e organizzare una gita per mezza o l’intera giornata al parco degli elefanti. Non potrete cavalcarli, ma potrete fare il bagno con loro, accudirli, dar loro da mangiare e fare un’esperienza insolita. Per ragione di tempo non siamo riusciti ad andare quindi purtroppo non posso dirvi di più sull’accessibilità.
- Annualmente si organizza una fiera di Mongolfiere intorno a Chiang Rai, quindi vi consiglio di controllare e chiedere sul posto e andarla a vedere se capitate nel periodo giusto. Deve essere qualcosa di davvero incredibile.
THE SEASIDE IN THAILAND
Let’s now talk about the sea!
Thailand has truly magnificent sea and beaches, and the water has a perfect temperature.
But what is really worth seeing and what is really accessible?
Let’s start immediately with a premise, we have not found any resorts or beaches equipped with walkways or chairs that can take you in the water.
The beaches are all made up of sand, some are equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers for a fee but most are free.
THE BEACHES AND THE ISLANDS
What are the must-see beaches in Thailand?
I propose you a list of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, where you can not only admire white sands but also sea beds with wonderful coral reefs.
- Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Leh
Let’s start immediately from this magnificent beach. For some connoisseurs it is the famous beach of the film “The Beach” with Di Caprio. For some years now, access to tourists has been prohibited (unless you are staying directly on the island) because the very high number of visitors was endangering this wonder. You can still admire the view by approaching by sea. - Koh Tao: The island of Koh Tao is the ideal place for all snorkelers, it is the perfect place to see sea turtles. If you don’t have a diving license, you are in the right place to get it! Here are possibilities to take PADI courses.
The beaches of Phuket
- Patong Beach: certainly the most famous and lively.
- Kata Beach & Karon Beach: just as beautiful, but quieter. If you are with children or are looking for a more relaxing place, they are an excellent solution.
- Koh Chang
- Koh Phi Phi Don
HOW TO GET AROUND THE ISLANDS
Our advice is to move with local ferries and boats.
The ferries have fixed timetables, have really affordable prices and for those with disabilities or traveling with the family they are certainly the most comfortable and spacious means.
Local boats or speedboats are fun but in the case you are carrying luggage are somewhat impractical. They are also considerably more expensive!
WHERE TO SLEEP
We still slept in Phuket and then went on day trips to see the other islands.
However, if you have decided to spend more days between the islands, my advice is to divide the days in different locations to fully and peacefully enjoy the places. In fact, at peak times they are certainly more “busy” than in the morning or in the evening.
My advice is to stay a few days in Phuket and tour the surrounding islands and then move to the other islands such as Koh Tao so you can also tour the archipelagos.
CONCLUSIONS
All in all we found Thailand a fairly easy place to get around as it is very touristy and there are options for all tastes and budgets. We have booked many hotels “on the way” from one day to the next and have never found any difficulty.
In case anyone was wondering, we haven’t had any unpleasant experiences or encounters with regards to sex tourism, not even in Patong beach. It seemed to us in general a quiet and safe country.
I hope you enjoyed the article and made you want to visit this magnificent place. If you want to read all my other articles you can find them HERE
Write me without problems in case you need further information or for some curiosity.
See you soon and the next article!!
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