Find out below if your trip to Thailand is best enjoyed in a package tour or solo travel!
Traveling to Thailand is like traveling to a country that flaunts a great deal of love for their culture and food. There are so many street foods to try like Satay and Green Curry, as well as iconic dishes like Pad Thai and Tom Yum Goong. It’s also home to thousands of beautiful temples like the White Temple in Chiang Rai, Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok, Wat Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, and many more. Of course, you can’t miss budget-friendly shopping streets in Bangkok like Chatuchak Weekend Market and Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin Night Market where you can find clothes and souvenirs that you can get for cheap. All of these barely scratch the surface of what this country has to offer!
But before heading on to Thailand, it’s better to plan out your destinations first so you can save time. And with that poses this important question — do you wanna go for a package tour where everything’s all set for you or do you wanna DIY your itinerary?
We know package tours are set itineraries arranged by a travel agency at your convenience since you won’t have to worry about transportation, accommodation, entrance tickets to attractions, and more at a given price. Solo travels, however, are more of a personalized, DIY type of itinerary that’s made by you, the traveler. If you can’t decide which type of trip you’d like to go for or want to try one or the other, read on to see how each differs and find out which one works best for you!
Package tours in Thailand
Photo Credit: @worachatsodsri on Unsplash
For you to get an idea of what package tours in Thailand look like, here are some common package tours that most travelers purchase:
Bangkok tour for USD 37.89 per person:
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Elephant Village
- Maeklong Railway Market
Phuket tour for USD 19.15 per person:
- Phuket Old Town
- Chalong Temple
- Big Buddha View Point
- Honey Farm
- Karon View Point
Chiang Mai tour for USD 40.35 per person:
- Chiang Mai Gate
- Tae Pae Gate
- Wat Chedi Luang
- 3 Kings Monument
- Wat Srisuphan Aram
- Ancient Lanna Arts Study Center
- Warorot Market
Krabi tour for USD 42.5 per person:
- Bamboo Island
- Monkey Beach
- Tonsai Bay
- Viking Cave
- Pi Leh Bay
- Loh Samah Bay
- Maya Beach
Pattaya tour for USD 137.09 per person:
- Silverlake Vineyard
- Khao Chi Chan
- Pattaya Floating Market
Prices start at USD 19 but they can go up to USD 137. Note that all these tours already include a tour guide, transportation, entrance tickets, necessary equipment, and sometimes, some snacks too. So, if you’re the type of traveler who wants to make sure to not miss any famous tourist attraction, availing a package tour might be the better choice for you.
Some package tours include flights, day tours, transportation, and accommodation at a given price which can go from USD 840 if you’re staying only for a few days up to USD 2,000 if you’re planning to stay for a week or more.
The cost of package tours in Thailand will depend on the choice of the tour you’ll make. One good thing to take note of here is that when you avail of package tours that include flights and accommodation, the travel agency will help you with the travel requirements that you’ll need to prepare and bring. They won’t do it for you, but they'll surely guide you through the tedious process.
Solo travel in Thailand
Photo Credit @cadop on Unsplash
Going solo with your family, friends, or just yourself during your trip to Thailand is not a bad idea as well. Getting to explore the country at your own pace is one of the best things about solo traveling. But just to give you a bit of a boost as you DIY your itinerary, here are some common tourist spots that should be on your go-to list during your trip:
- Wat Pho (entrance fee: USD 2.99)
- Wat Arun (entrance fee: USD 2.99)
- The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (entrance fee: USD 14.94)
- Rot Fai Market (no entrance fee)
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (no entrance fee)
While it’s all cool to get to visit all these common tourist spots, another good thing about solo traveling is that you get to research more on where you can go that are not usually part of package tours. We mean to say, hidden gems! Here are some of them according to other solo travel bloggers:
- Chiang Mai Night Market (no entrance fee)
- Koh Wai island (no entrance fee)
- Khao Luang National Park (entrance fee: USD 5.97 for adults and USD 2.99 for children)
- Koh Panyee fishing village (no entrance fee)
- Talu Island sea caves (no entrance fee)
Coming up with your own itinerary is not so bad, especially when you have all the freedom to choose where you want to go, eat, and stay all at your own time. You’ll experience the city more during your solo travel since you’re gonna have to use Thailand’s public transportation, talk about feeling like a local even just for a short while!
Now that we’ve given you an idea or two about package tours and solo travels in Thailand like destinations and prices, it’s now your turn to weigh the pros and cons of the two and come to a conclusion. Here are some guide questions to consider:
- What’s my budget for this trip?
- Do I want a fuss-free trip where everything is set up for me?
- Am I willing to come up with my itinerary which will include hidden gems in Thailand that are worth a visit?
- What’s more convenient for me and my family?
- What will my friends and I enjoy more?
Some may find package tours cheaper than going on a solo trip, and vice versa. It all comes down to what you’re willing to spend for a trip, who you’re traveling with, and what type of adventure you’re hoping to have. To give you an easier time to decide, let’s have a breakdown of the pros and cons.
Photo Credit: Streetwindy on Pexels
Package Tours in Thailand
Pros:
- Everything’s set and ready, you just have to be there
- You’ll have someone to guide you through preparing your travel documents and requirements
- It’s a practical choice since there’s one price already for all destinations which usually includes snacks and heavy meals too
- You have someone (agency) to ask for help from if ever you encounter a problem
- You get to meet other travelers since package tours are usually for groups
- You’ll definitely visit the country’s famous tourist attractions and highlights
- You’ll be able to maximize your visit since tours run on a tight schedule
Cons:
- Can be overpriced
- You’ll have no freedom to choose where to go
- You can’t explore as much since you’re following a schedule
- You have to do everything with your guide and group
Klook Tip: If you’re traveling with children or elderlies, we suggest going for a package tour so they won’t tire themselves with all the public transportation transfers which usually require a lot of walking.
Photo Credit: George Pak on Pexels
Solo Travel in Thailand
Pros:
- You hold your time so you have the freedom to travel wherever you want, whenever you want
- You can budget your money since you’ll decide what to ride and where to stay
- You can visit hidden gems since these are not usually part of package tours
- You can spend as much time as you want in attractions since you’re not following a schedule
- You can enjoy an intimate time with your family and friends more since it’s just you exploring and no other groups
Cons:
- It can get expensive since you’ll be paying for transportation to and from places and entrance fees may not have discounts unlike in package tours
- You’ll deal with issues and problems on your own
- You’ll have to research and prepare your travel documents and requirements on your own
- At some point, you might waste your time looking for places that are not easy to find or transportation since it’s not readily available unlike in package tours
And so, those are some pros and cons that you can think about as you decide which type of tour you’ll want to go for. Do you wanna try package tours or are you in for a solo travel type of trip? Make sure to choose whichever sparks joy in you as you make the most out of your time in Thailand and capture moments that you’ll surely want to look back to in the future!
Happy travels!
