Advance planning

could be the key to a wonderful journey.  This is especially true if you intend to be at the steering wheel. Good preparation means knowing when you plan to go, having all the required information, getting your baggage and vehicle right.

First of all, you should look for information to decide where you want to go. We’ve made it easy for you. Just check out chapter 4 onwards in this book.

You have to think about the most appropriate time to travel. For instance, it is not the right time to travel out into the sea, jungles, and caves during rainy season or spring. If you choose the perfect timing, you would be taking a big step towards having a memorable trip.

• Rainy season: Avoid travelling to islands, jungles, and caves particularly in areas where there are heavy rains. There is always the risk of flash floods and mud slides rushing down the snaking road. Rainy season, mostly, comes first to the northeast and north regions, then the central and the south. In the south, it tends to be windy and rainy.

• Winter: Most tourists love to flee the hot weather and travel to the north and the northeast in winter. There, it is the best chance to experience fog and the cold weather. Flowers are in full bloom in winter. Pink Sakura or “Phya Sua Krong” always bloom in very cold weather. However, the blooming time depends on the weather. The earlier the winter comes, the faster it blossoms. Mostly, “Phya Sua Krong”
blooms between mid-December and mid-January. Even in winter time, the south often gets rains.

•  Summer: Most people may dream of wonderful beaches, jungles, and waterfalls. If you are a backpacker and love jungles, summer is the best time to explore the south. There is no shortage of water and the weather is cold in the night. The temperature is below 20 degrees Celsius. It is also interesting to go for a dive and enjoy the coral reefs since the sea is quite tranquil. But you should go before April because the monsoons start to come after that. Many islands with famous diving sites will be closed due to heavy winds and waves.

• Transitional period between the rainy and winter seasons: This is also a great time to travel. The rains have ceased and all nature is reviving. Tourist spots are fresh. You can get a better view of sea fog than in the winter months. But rain continues to fall throughout the south.
When you have made your decision regarding when and where to go, it also important to decide the length of your stay. The more time you have, the further you can travel and the longer you can spend in one place. However, irrespective of how much time you have, it is important to prepare your baggage, your car, and yourself.

Preparing yourself and your car

You should not be too nervous if you want to enjoy your trip. Get yourself physically ready, and also your travel stuff for your adventure.

Clothing: You should take only necessary clothes. Take your pajamas to make you feel comfortable. In addition, you should carry…
• Raincoat – You will have a chance to use it often as you can expect rains everywhere in Thailand.
• Windcheater – It can help protect you from sunlight too. Wearing a colorful windcheater will also make you look smart when taking a picture.
• Coat – The weather in Thailand is hot so you should take a coat along only when travelling in winter.
• Towel – If you stay in a camp or tent you should keep a towel. A light towel is better than a heavy one. The heavy towel will easily become damp and smell bad. “Pha Khao Ma” or thin bathing cloth is very popular among jungle-loving tourists because it is light and comfortable.
• Lingerie – You should have enough for the whole trip.

Personal belongings
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and comb
• Small pack of shampoo and liquid soap
• Body lotion
• Sun block
• Sanitary napkin (In addition to being useful for women during menstruation, it can be used in emergencies such as accidents, especially if you are far away from a hospital or town.)
• Cap and sunglasses
• Small umbrella
• Sleeping bag (If you are staying in a camp, you can rent it from any national park).
• Slippers

Tent: A tent for three persons is the perfect size because it won’t be too big, and would be easy to set up. You should bring a ground sheet too. It is multi-purpose. You can put the tent on the ground sheet or use it as a mat. Throw it in your trunk. It doesn’t take up much space.

Medicine: You should take along some necessary medicine such as paracetamol, muscle relaxant analgesic, medicine for stomachache, inhaler, balm, tincture, plaster, and bandage. You should put them in a small bag and keep it in a place where you can lay hands on it easily. Also add a small scissors and a pocket knife to the medicine bag.
You should also take some snack and water in your car in case you are hungry though it is very easy to find convenience stores at petrol stations along the road