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The Travel Exchange is a Whatsapp group where we focus on one country at a time, with a day or 2 dedicated to a different city. Members describe their personal experiences and tips. To join our next conversation send a message to PadovaTravels to get an invite to the group.
In September 2025, we started a conversation about Kosher travel to Thailand. After Phuket and Phi Phi, Bangkok and Chiang Mai – as well as Thailand in general, were discussed.
Below we tried to sum up thoughts and helpful links shared regarding food, accommodations and activities. Feel free to add your own experiences in the comments below.
How to plan your trip:
For anyone planning a trip-trying to figure out which cities to go to, here’s what you’ll find in Thailand
- Chaotic city life culture
- Thailand activities (tigers elephants atving ziplining etc etc), Markets, Culture
- Islands, beaches etc
Bangkok is the king for #1
Chang Mai is the king for #2 and definitely the best prices
Koh Samui is the king for #3 (with the exception of Island hopping I.e. Phi Phi, Phang Na Bay etc. – which are definitely the highlight of Thailand – Greater Phuket is the king)
That being said, example itinerary can be – Bangkok, Chang Mai, Koh Samui/Phuket (keep in mind flying in and out of Koh Samui is more limited and pricier so can throw a wrench in the routing). 1-2 days max in Bangkok (although NOT a must) just for some city life and train market/floating market. Bunch of days in Chiang Mai depending on how much activities you want to do. Then fly south to the beaches and spend how ever much time you feel necessary to chill in some of the most stunning beaches you might ever go to…
Example #2, go just to Phuket and you can 💯 knock out all “3”. (Albeit might not be “king”). Maybe 6-10 days…🤷♂️
P.s. there is the option of mixing and matching. 😜
Really all the cities have a lot of all the same stuff to offer (obviously except for beaches if you don’t go south) so don’t have to feel that left out by skipping certain ones.
Thailand might be one the most fun, kosher-ly convenient, all-inclusive, cheapest, exotic/luxury trip in the 🌏.
Another Sample Itinerary
- Fly to Bangkok Sunday tour the city do floating markets one day sleep over
- take Tuesday morning flight to Chaing mai, check into Thantara and do sticky waterfall ,and night safari,
- Wednesday wake up early to do hot air balloon or paramoter ,then private car visit to do, doi intanon national park and do Chaing mai night bazaar
- Thursday do elephant sanctuary, atv, white water rafting , with elephants on the river bank.
- Friday change to shangri la hotel and do tiger kingdom and zip line (monkey show)
- Motzie shabbas do the Saturday night market, Sunday fly to samui and chill until Wednesday
Additional Comments
- “You can do everything Phuket has to offer in all other cities. The best part about is Phi Phi – you should spend a lot of time there“
- “2 nights in Phi Phi I think is enough time“
- “Phuket is an awesome shabbos experience as well“
- “Get to Phuket on a Thursday and go to Phi Phi on Sunday is probably an ideal schedule“
- “10 days is enough time to cover Phuket Chaing Mia and Phi Phi“
- “If arriving Thursday, I would arrive in HKT (Phuket) stay there for Shabbos and then do either a Phi Phi day trip or 2 days in Phi Phi. By Tuesday/Wednesday fly to Chiang Mai spend more time there than in Phuket as there’s more to do.
Chiang Mai is up there if want to experience “Thailand” while it doesn’t have any beaches, the culture is there (you can go even further out to Pai To get even cooler vibe).
The markets there are much more authentic and way less touristy than Bangkok, Phuket or Koh Samui. Everything just feels more authentic, there’s actually Thailanders that live there and you won’t see more tourists than locals 😂 Activities there are definitely more quiet as well, And as mentioned, much cheaper. Highly recommend adding that to your trip.“
Chiang Mai
Food
Hotel
- The Empress Chiang Mai Hotel – “Very solid hotel like 3 min walk from Chabad.”
- “If your in chiang mai for a couple nights and Shabbos , it my be worth it to check out Thantara for weekday and Shangri la for Shabbos.”
- Shangri-La Chiang Mai – “The most popular place to stay near Chabad. 5 star. About $150 a night.”
Things to do
- Tiger Kingdom, Chiang Mai – “Pricey but most interactive Tiger experience based on my research.”
- Sticky Falls – “A really cool waterfall, It’s not actually sticky but has a lot of grip so you’re able to climb up the waterfall.”
- Baifern Thailand Chaing Mai Atv And White Water
- Doi Pui Viewpoint – “Has really nice views of the city and mountains. It’s right outside of Chiang Mai. Also a bunch of temples up there.”
- Rice Fields – “Asked a local driver to take us to rice fields and local village near Chiang Mai. It was very authentic as opposed to the other touristy activities there. Vietnam vibes. Guide can tell you it’s not the season which means its not harvest season when it turns golden, but it’s really nice even in August.“
- Bamboo rafting with elephants passing by was also cool.
- Kingkong Smile Zipline – Great zip lining place
- Long neck village – Some people seem to think it’s a tourist trap while others felt the children and houses felt authentic.
Useful Contacts
- Tour Guide Chiangmai – Great guide. And can plan your whole trip. With great pricing.
- Chiang Mai Driver/babysitter
- ישראל יהושע – This guy can do A to z
- Dimas Photographer
- My Tour
Bangkok
- China town in Bangkok is one of the craziest markets with live animals being grilled.
- Royal palace in Bangkok is really impressive
- “Bangkok restaurant is the best imo. Bangkok has milchig and fleishig in the chabad house plus a milchig cafe in a separate location in sukhumvit.“
- “We personally enjoyed Bangkok way more then Phuket for Shabbos.”
National Parks
- Doi Inthanon National Park – is a nice Park in Thailand but not worth the trip, It’s not actually that nice. There is mountains like 20 minutes away and further where all the activities are in, for example, zip lining and ATV, Elephant camps, snakes etc.
- Chiang Rai Area – is supposed to be really nice. There’s a Israeli tour company that offers a 4-day trip covering chaing Rai area, A couple other parks and more’off the beaten track’ I will try to find and post the info.
Suits
While some think buying a suit is a waste of money, others did have good experiences. The following tailers were recommended:
- Bespoker Bangkok – A few doors down from Chabad Bangkok
- His & Her Tailors House – Chiang Mai – Amazing tailor in Chiang Mai – Awesome service went in with 4 guys Friday afternoon an hour before Shabbos. He measured us and chose the design and it was ready Sunday morning.
- Raj Custom Clothes Thailand
Other
- For anyone renting a 🛵 there if you can get a IDP and somehow stamp the motorcycle license that can help you a lot. Don’t have to worry much about the police check points which DO exist. Obviously you are still subject to the “tourist bribe” the cops like.
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