Thailanda thousand temples, Phuket's white sands and Thai massage for six hundred roubles

Phi Phi archipelago: 6 islands in the Andaman Sea between Phuket and Krabi. Main one—Phi Phi Don with Loh Dalum beach and viewpoint; uninhabited Phi Phi Leh—that's the Maya Bay from DiCaprio's film 'The Beach'. After a 4-year closure for ecosystem recovery, Maya Bay reopened in 2022 (with restrictions). Speed boat from Phuket—45 min, 1,500 THB. Best day—private boat itinerary without crowds.

Authentic Thai massage is not gentle kneading but 2 hours of active tissue work, yoga-like stretches and sen line manipulation. Price at a standard spa—800–1,200 THB (2 hours). Wat Pho in Bangkok—birthplace temple of Thai massage, with school and spa where students train (massage from 480 THB). On Samui—Tamarind Springs, on Phuket—Banyan Tree Spa (premium).

Temple of Dawn on the western bank of Chao Phraya, 5 minutes by ferry (4 THB) from Wat Pho. The central 70-metre prang is covered with millions of Chinese porcelain fragments. Ascent via very steep stairs (no lifts)—360° Bangkok views at the top. Best time—6:00–7:00 at dawn, before tourists arrive. Ticket 100 THB. Afterwards—boat back from Wat Arun pier.

Chatuchak (or JJ Market)—Southeast Asia's largest market: 15,000 stalls, 27 sections, open Friday evening and Sat–Sun only. Everything for sale: clothing, crafts, antiques, pets, Thai cuisine. Rod Fai Market (Train Night)—vintage and retro cars. Asiatique by Chao Phraya—open-air market with Ferris wheel. All best from 18:00 to 23:00.

Elephant Nature Park 60 km from Chiang Mai—ethical sanctuary for elephants rescued from tourist camps and logging. 80+ elephants; visitors help bathe, feed, observe. No riding—a core principle. Day visit 2,500 THB with lunch and transfer. Overnight—6,000 THB. Book 2–3 weeks ahead via elephantnaturepark.org.

Similan archipelago—national park in the Andaman Sea, 9 pristine islands with granite boulders and coral reefs. Open high season only (15 Oct – 15 May). Day tour from Khao Lak—3,500 THB (1-hour boat, 4 snorkelling spots, island lunch, park fees). 30m clarity, perfect visibility. Diving or 3–4 day liveaboard cruises—for serious divers.

Cooking school—3–4 hours: market visit for ingredients, herb explanation, cooking 4–5 dishes, lunch of your own making. Pad Thai, Tom Yum, Green Curry, Mango Sticky Rice—the classics. In Bangkok, top choices—Blue Elephant (from 3,296 THB), Silom Thai Cooking (from 1,000 THB). In Chiang Mai—Thai Farm Cooking School on an organic farm (1,300 THB). By the end—you'll have a year's worth of recipes.

Loy Krathong—Thailand's main festival, November (full moon of the 12th lunar month). Across the country, tiny leaf rafts—krathong—with flowers and candles are floated on water. In Chiang Mai, Yi Peng runs simultaneously—thousands of paper lanterns released into the sky at once. Registration for the main mass release—2–3 months ahead via cad.cnx.go.th. One of life's most beautiful evenings.

Tropical 'secret' beaches require a short trek or rented scooter. On Samui—Silver Beach on the east coast, access via Crystal Bay restaurant; on Phi Phi—Loh Moo Dee on the north side (20 min walk from pier). No hotels, bar loungers or water sports—just turquoise water. Bring food and water in advance.