Beaches, Boxing, and Bangkok Nights: Thrilling new Experiences in Thailand!

 

My husband and I saw in 2025 in style on our first trip to vibrant Thailand! We visited beautiful island beaches, marvelled at golden temples, trained in martial arts, met elephants, and partied in tuk-tuks and on Bangkok rooftops.

This is the third post in a series inspired by my recent honeymoon trip, where we opted for maximum adventure with short “taster” visits to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Our Thailand leg of the trip was focused on enjoying a more relaxed pace, discovering some of the country’s spectacular beaches and islands, and celebrating Christmas and New Year. We explored islands in the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Koh Yao Yai, and Koh Phi Phi Don), spent time in Krabi on the Southern mainland, and saw in the New Year in Bangkok.

 

We had many different experiences: staying in a fabulous island resort for Christmas, complete with a balcony overlooking the ocean and an outdoor bathtub. Then we moved to a cozy beachside bungalow on Koh Phi Phi Don, taking boat trips every day, and finally, a high-rise glitzy hotel, with interior design by Parisian couturier, Christian Lacroix, as a base for touring the sites of Bangkok.

 

 

It was a wild ride! Here are some of my favourite new experiences in Thailand…

 

First Christmas in a warm climate

Christmas 2024 was a world away from what I’m used to. Back home, my Christmas Day usually follows a similar comforting rhythm: waking up at a family member’s house, walking the dog in the freezing cold, eating croissants, opening gifts around the tree, taking an afternoon stroll, then tucking into turkey with all the trimmings, and finally cosying up with a festive film. I normally spend the day in my vintage red-and-white 1950s jumper and Santa hat, changing into something glitzy for the big meal.

 

 

Needless to say, Christmas Day in Thailand was very different – in the best way! I woke up with my husband in our beautiful traditional Thai hotel room, sunlight streaming in through the patio doors. We arranged our gifts around an orchid on the balcony table and unwrapped them in our silk hotel robes. To save space, we brought only small presents and printed photos of larger gifts to reveal on the day – a great solution!

 

 

After sneaking a snack to the friendly resort cats, we headed to the spectacular breakfast buffet, lounging on reclining beds that overlooked the ocean. In-house musicians played Christmas tunes on traditional Thai instruments, dressed in Santa hats and red outfits. I filled my plate with tropical fruits, grabbed a bowl of Thai curry, and sipped iced Thai coffee, all while listening to “Dave Cooks the Turkey” by Canadian comedian, Stuart McLean on shared headphones, a cherished tradition from home.

 

 

Later, I donned a festive red bikini and my Cyberdog Christmas-print shrug. We spent the day soaking up the sun, swimming in the Andaman Sea, joining in some resort activities, and walking along the beach to a bar for beers at sunset. That night, we snuggled up to watch Die Hard and ordered room service — I had a burger, one of the first Western meals I’d had in weeks.

 

 

As someone who usually loves Christmas, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel being so far from home and the usual traditions. But the resort went above and beyond to create a festive atmosphere, despite being on a mostly Muslim island. There were decorated trees, watermelon carvings of Santa, and an overall sense of celebration. We brought some favourite chocolates from home and video-called family, but also embraced the differences and the beauty of being somewhere completely new. It wasn’t a typical Christmas, but it was special in its own right and I was happy with the compromises we made.

 

 

Training in Muay Thai

In the spirit of embracing new experiences, I took my first Muay Thai training session – on Christmas Day, no less! Our resort offered classes twice daily in a beautiful open-air gym space. There were just four of us in the session (most other guests, quite sensibly, opted for cocktails by the pool), which meant we had plenty of one-on-one attention from the expert trainers.

 

It was intense. I was sweating more than I ever have in my life, but the focus required to land each punch or kick correctly as the trainer shouted coded combos like “ONE!”, “TWO!”, “ONE-TWO-FOUR!”, and the chaotic “TEN – GO!”, somehow kept me going far longer than I expected.

 

 

We practised a mix of drills, sparring (I found it very hard not to apologise every time I made contact!), and conditioning, including a round of taking hits to the stomach. There aren’t many years (hopefully!) when I’ll be able to say, “I got punched in the gut on Christmas Day.”

I loved the challenge and ended up going back for more classes over the next two days. Now I’m hunting for beginner-friendly Muay Thai training in London and hoping to fit it around my dance schedule!

 

 

Paradise Beaches

No offence to Cornwall or Southern California – you’re both stunning, but Thailand’s beaches were on another level. Think towering limestone cliffs, lush jungle vegetation, powdery white sand, brilliant blue water, and endless views of scattered tropical islands… all with cocktail service on standby.

 

 

One of our favourite spots was Railay Beach near Krabi on the southern mainland. Accessible only by boat, it’s tucked into a secluded cove surrounded by dramatic cliffs, including one known as Chicken Rock (guess what that looks like). I was completely charmed watching tiny crabs blow bubbles up through the wet sand as the tide went out.

 

Of course, we also visited Maya Beach, made famous by The Beach film, while staying in the Phi Phi Islands. Now a protected national park, it’s a shallow-water nursery for baby sharks, so I happily admired it from the sand! The beach really was worth the hype: the sand was dazzling white, and the sea shimmered in every shade of turquoise and blue imaginable.

 

We visited as part of a private day-long boat tour. After paddling in the shallows of Maya Beach, our skipper ferried us to a deeper part of the bay for a swim. It was surreal to look back at the beach we’d just walked on — though I admit, knowing there were sharks nearby made my swim slightly more cautious than usual!

 

Speaking of wildlife, we visted Monkey Beach while in the Phi Phi Islands and had a run in with the feisty residents! This was my first time seeing monkeys in the wild, and it was quite the experience to watch them playing and confidently chasing each other over a sheer cliff face.  I witnessed something hilarious that sounds like a movie skit: a bather left their belongings on the sand to go for a swim, and an opportunistic monkey took the opportunity to try on their sunhat! It was clearly way too big and the monkey freaked out when it suddenly couldn’t see, and leaped about trying to get free! Eventually, we’d outstayed our welcome and we were chased back to our boat by a scrawking, angry larger male. On to the next beautiful beach!

 

 

Default Modes of Transport: Longtail Boats & Tuk-Tuks!

On this trip, we swapped London’s tube and double-decker buses for longtail boats and neon-lit tuk-tuks! In many of the places we visited, longtail boats weren’t optional: two of our hotels could only be reached by water! These elegant wooden boats offered a slower, more scenic pace than (literal) speedboats. A full-day tour around the Phi Phi islands gave us plenty of time to get our sea legs and soak up the views from the water.

 

Curious about their origin, we did a little digging and discovered that while the design is iconic, longtail boats are a relatively modern invention. Most use what’s essentially a repurposed lawnmower engine for propulsion, which keeps them affordable for locals to run as small businesses. But they’re definitely not eco-friendly: noisy, smoky, and constantly idling on the beaches. Someone really needs to invent a clean, electric alternative that’s just as accessible!

 

This trip also introduced me to one of my new favourite transport experiences: the tuk-tuk. By the time we reached Bangkok, we were tuk-tuk veterans, zipping through traffic, weaving around buses, and even speeding down the wrong side of the road on occasion. To be fair, we were never late…

 

 

Our first tuk-tuk ride was in Krabi. We’d spent several evenings watching these souped-up vehicles blast past the seafront, music thumping, passengers dancing and singing with joy. So, we decided to make our own party. We hadn’t found a local Goth scene in Southeast Asia (please point me to one if it exists!), so my husband surprised me by booking a 30-minute ride where we could connect to the tuk-tuk’s massive Bluetooth speakers and we DJed our own mini Goth club night.

 

We set off through the balmy Krabi night, blasting a full spread of Bauhaus, Ministry, VNV Nation, Das Ich, Light Asylum, 3Teeth, Matt Hart, Rammstein, and, of course, Vengaboys. We sang along, danced in our seats, and turned our little party on wheels into one of the most unexpected and delightful nights of the trip!

Meeting Elephants

One of the most memorable and moving days of our trip was spent at an elephant sanctuary near Krabi, where we gave these gentle giants a full spa day.

 

Our experience began with feeding. The elephants delicately plucked sugarcane sticks from our hands with their trunks, inspecting each piece before popping it into their mouths. If one didn’t meet the quality threshold, it was casually dropped to the ground in favour of the next. It was astonishing how precise and expressive their trunks were – like extra limbs with decisive opinions!

 

Each elephant had their own personality and backstory. I especially loved a friendly young female named Jasmine and a wise, 60-year-old matriarch. Many had been rescued from exploitative “Elephant Experience” attractions, where they were forced to give rides to tourists. Some bore the physical consequences: back and leg injuries from carrying heavy loads and years spent in ankle chains. Later in our trip, we sadly saw a working elephant hired out for rides outside a temple in Ayutthaya. It was a harsh reminder that this still happens – and that the power to end it lies with tourists making informed choices.

 

One of the most magical parts of the day was walking with the elephants down to the river. Despite their size, their footsteps were completely silent, their enormous feet padding along the path. We walked alongside them, our hands resting gently on their flanks, and watched as they found the perfect spot for a drink.

 

Then came the messy part: the mud bath. We slathered red clay all over their backs and heads, which they clearly loved — a few even flopped down to enjoy it more fully! Afterwards, they waded into the river to rinse off, and we joined them in the shallows to scrub them clean with stiff brushes. I hope I earned a five-star review!

 

It felt like we were truly guests in their space, interacting on their terms. No coercion, no pressure, just mutual curiosity. They were massive but gentle, thoughtful in their movements, and full of quiet presence. A truly unforgettable experience.

Unusual Markets

While staying in Bangkok, we visited two of the city’s most unique shopping experiences: one floating on boats, and another, quite literally, on active train tracks!

 

 

The floating market was charming. Shoppers are ferried around narrow waterways in longboats, the pilots expertly manoeuvring between the stalls lining the water’s edge. Occasionally, cheeky stallholders would reach out with giant hooks to reel us in! We sampled the famous coconut ice cream and fresh mango sticky rice, while mostly steering clear of the more touristy trinket stands.

 

 

The train market, however, was something else entirely. Originally a long-standing street market, it was bisected by a new railway line linking the suburbs with downtown Bangkok. But instead of moving, the stallholders adapted.

 

 

Now, they line either side of the tracks, with customers walking directly along the rails to browse. When a train approaches, awnings retract, goods are pulled back, and everyone quickly shuffles to safety, all within seconds. I’d expected a bit of a squeeze but the train was just centimetres from my face! Exhilarating and slightly terrifying.

 

 

New Year on a Bangkok Rooftop

I usually spend New Year’s Eve at a small but perfectly formed house party, so a rooftop bash on the 20th floor of our swanky Bangkok hotel was a whole new world!

New Year’s Eve is a big celebration in Thailand, and the excitement in the city was palpable. We had fun getting ready: I’d packed a special pink sequin dress to mark the occasion, and wore heels for the first time in weeks! We kicked off the evening with cocktails at the hotel’s 15th-floor bar before heading up to the rooftop to join the festivities.

 

There were two party zones: one with a DJ and two live drummers jamming along, situated on a platform over the infinity pool, and another with a bigger crowd and full dancefloor. Both had positive party vibes, and the energy built steadily as midnight approached.

 

When the countdown ended, the sky exploded in a riot of fireworks. We enjoyed a smooch, danced to euphoric pop beats, and eventually made our way back to our room for a soak in our bath overlooking the Bangkok skyline. A pretty epic start to 2025!

 

New Year Temple Visits

New Year’s Day in Thailand is traditionally marked by temple visits, and I decided to embrace the custom with a solo adventure to explore some of Bangkok’s most iconic Buddhist temples.

 

Compared to the ancient ruins we’d visited in Cambodia, these temples were dazzling, full of gold embellishments and porcelain-tiled splendour. I focused on two major sites: Wat Arun and Wat Phra, both located on opposite banks of the Chao Phraya River.

 

I loved learning more about Buddhism, including accidentally joining the wrong line and ending up receiving a string bracelet and being blessed by a monk! At Wat Phra, I was awed by the giant golden Reclining Buddha, especially the intricate mother-of-pearl inlay on the soles of his feet. And at Wat Arun, I was enchanted by the hundreds of figures decorating its towering spires.

 

 

One of my favourite details was seeing so many locals dressed in traditional Thai outfits, taking photos among the temple architecture. Groups of young people, some with professional photographers, were carefully posing in the best light. It was heartening to see such visible pride in local culture: a beautiful reminder of how deeply tradition is still a part of modern Thai life.

 

 

It’s a bit of a cliche to say, but my first trip to Thailand was magical. The landscapes were breathtaking, the people warm and welcoming, and I haven’t even mentioned the incredible food! As a long-time fan of Thai cuisine, I can’t quite claim it as a “new experience,” but rest assured, I pigged out appropriately. While we slowed the pace compared to earlier parts of our honeymoon trip, we still found space for adventure, connection, and celebration. I’m already dreaming of a return visit, especially to explore the North. Watch this space!

 

Reflecting on our whirlwind honeymoon, we’ve both been deeply inspired by our first visit to Southeast Asia. The awe-inspiring temples, lush natural beauty, nourishing food, and kind locals who so generously shared their culture with us, all contributed to an unforgettable experience. We returned home feeling recharged, reflective, and wildly grateful – for the adventures, the people we met, and the memories we made.

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