Thailand had been on my travel wish list for years, with its tropical islands, vibrant cities, warm hospitality, and world-famous cuisine calling my name from afar. When the chance finally came to visit with my mom, I carefully planned the trip myself using my travel industry experience and resources, creating our own custom itinerary through Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi instead of booking a package tour. It was the kind of journey I love most — thoughtfully designed, full of variety, and built around unforgettable experiences.
And before we had even arrived, the trip delivered its first magical surprise. When we boarded our Emirates flight from Dubai to Bangkok, we were expecting the usual long-haul coach experience. Instead, Emirates gave us a gift of a lifetime — upgrading both my mom and me to Business Class.
Suddenly our six-hour flight from DXB to BKK turned into a floating luxury lounge in the sky. Spacious seats that turned into beds, elegant meals served on real dishes, attentive service, and that wonderful feeling of being able to stretch out and truly relax above the clouds. My mom and I kept looking at each other like, “Is this really happening?” Honestly, I didn’t even want the flight to end.
Thailand had been on my travel wish list for years, and this trip was something I carefully planned myself using my travel agent skills and industry resources. Rather than booking a standard package tour, I crafted our own itinerary piece by piece. The plan was to experience several sides of Thailand — the lively capital Bangkok, and some of the country’s most beautiful tropical destinations: Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi.
In this post, I’ll focus on the beach part of our journey — the relaxing resorts, turquoise waters, and island scenery that make Thailand such a dream destination. Bangkok, with its temples, markets, and vibrant energy, deserves a story of its own, so I’ll save that for the next post.
For now, let’s head straight to the beaches.
Our first stop in Thailand was Phuket, and it couldn’t have been a more beautiful introduction to the islands. At Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort, we were welcomed by graceful Thai dancers, instantly setting a warm and magical tone for our stay. From the property, we caught our first glimpse of Phuket’s stunning coastline — turquoise water, soft sand, and lush green hills. And then came the most delightful surprise: a baby elephant happily playing on the beach, splashing by the shore. It felt like the perfect Thai postcard coming to life, and in that moment, we knew our island adventure had truly begun. 🏝️🐘
Phuket also came alive after sunset with its vibrant nightlife and irresistible Thai cuisine. The streets were full of energy, glowing with colorful lights, lively music, and the inviting aromas of street food and seaside restaurants. We enjoyed some of the most delicious Thai dishes — fragrant curries, fresh seafood, and perfectly balanced sweet and spicy flavors — making every evening as memorable as the beautiful beaches during the day.
The next morning we set out to explore Phuket in daylight and see more of the island beyond our resort. One of our stops was Kata Beach, a beautiful stretch of soft sand and clear turquoise water framed by gentle green hills. As we continued driving along the coast, we stopped at Karon Viewpoint, where the island unfolded beneath us in sweeping shades of blue and green. From here we could admire the stunning curves of three beaches – Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon – stretching along the coastline, one of those breathtaking views that truly captures the beauty of Phuket. We also noticed the ornate royal portraits and colorful flags displayed throughout the city, a reminder of the deep respect Thai people have for their monarchy.
After a lovely morning of exploring, we returned to our hotel to relax again by the beach and soak in more of the island’s tropical charm. As evening fell, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at the hotel restaurant, savoring a delicious plate of Pad Thai — the perfect mix of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors that made our first days in Thailand even more memorable. 🏝️
From Phuket we flew to Bangkok, and after our big-city adventures there, we continued on to our next beach destination — the beautiful island of Koh Samui. As the plane began descending, I managed to capture some amazing photos of the island from above — turquoise water, lush green hills, and tiny beaches scattered along the coastline. The arrival itself felt special. We landed at the charming open-air Samui Airport, the first tropical outdoor airport I had ever experienced. Instead of long terminals and crowded halls, there were palm trees, garden paths, and open pavilions — it felt more like stepping into a beach resort than arriving at an airport.
Our hotel at the time, Le Méridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa (now The Lamai Samui), was absolutely breathtaking. It was the kind of place you normally see in glossy travel magazines — elegant villas, tropical gardens, and views of the sea. To make it even better, our room had direct pool access, so we could step right from our terrace into the water. It felt like pure island luxury and the perfect setting for our Koh Samui escape. 🌴🏝️
That evening we took a walk just outside the hotel and were rewarded with postcard-perfect views of the sunset over the beach — the sky glowing in shades of gold and pink as the waves rolled gently onto the shore. It was the kind of peaceful island moment that instantly makes you fall in love with a place. 🌅🏝️
The next day was dedicated to exploring Koh Samui, and it became one of the most unforgettable days of the trip thanks to Mr. Ung’s Magical Safari Tour — something I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to see the island beyond the beaches. We were picked up from our hotel in a big black open-top ex-army jeep with a shaded roof, and from the moment we climbed aboard, it felt like a real adventure.
Our first stops included the famous Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks, followed by a visit to trained monkeys who skillfully gathered coconuts from the tops of towering palm trees — something I had never seen before. And we also watched a coconut-cracking and shaving demonstration; the fresh coconut water was most delicious in warm weather.
The day then became even more adventurous with an elephant ride through the tropical surroundings, followed by a chance to pet a tiger, which was honestly one of the scariest moments of my life. Standing that close to such a powerful animal was both thrilling and nerve-racking.
After all that excitement, we visited the fascinating Mummified Monk seated at Wat Khunaram before continuing on to Na Muang Waterfall, where we could relax and cool off. Then came the thrilling 4×4 climb into the mountains, with sweeping views over Koh Samui and the sea below.
We enjoyed a delicious Thai lunch at a scenic viewpoint restaurant before continuing to Mr. Tanim’s Magic Garden, filled with mysterious statues hidden in the jungle. We also visited a large hilltop Buddha temple before descending back down the mountain. By the time we returned to the hotel, we were tired, happy, and amazed by how much adventure Koh Samui had packed into one day. 🌴🚙🏝️
Back at our fabulous Le Méridien Koh Samui, the perfect ending to the day was a refreshing swim in the beautiful pool, followed later that evening by a magical lantern show in the hotel’s shallow pool. With glowing lights reflecting on the water and the tropical night air all around us, it felt truly special. It remains one of the most amazing hotels I have ever stayed in.
And before saying goodbye to Koh Samui, we took time to enjoy one last treat — exploring the island’s beautiful open-air airport once more, the perfect farewell to such a dreamy destination. 🌴✨
Bye-bye, beautiful Koh Samui! Hope to visit again really soon!
Read next… Last but certainly not least was the beautiful Krabi — a destination so stunning and memorable that it truly deserves a separate post of its own. With its dramatic limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, and laid-back tropical charm, Krabi was the perfect grand finale to our Thailand journey.
Happy traveling!
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