Many of us think of Thailand as a place for gap year teenagers to find themselves, backpack in tow- but if you ask us, Thailand is a perfect honeymoon destination; and people seem to agree, as it’s an increasingly popular location for newlyweds to head to as their first holiday.
With gorgeous beaches, cosmopolitan cities and a rich culture, Thailand is the perfect place to celebrate your love with different places that work for every couple.
Whether it’s hand-held walks on the beach in Phuket, exploring religious sites in Chiang Mai or enjoying the city life in Bangkok, Thailand is the ideal honeymoon destination.
When to go to Thailand
The Thailand climate isn’t particularly variable, so luckily there aren’t any particular times to avoid, but the best time to travel is between November and March, during the cool and dry season so you’re neither soaked in rain or sweat.
The Best Places in Thailand to Honeymoon
Thailand is a vast country with hundreds of different popular locations, but to be clear, we’re not talking boozy full moon beach parties (unless that’s what you’re looking for), we’re talking about beautiful settings and luxurious romance.
Our favourite places for honeymoons are Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. A range of history, beach and city, each one of these places has something for everyone.
Phuket Honeymoon
Phuket is renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful beach destinations with gorgeous glittering seas and glowing white sands – everything needed for the perfect romance.
Enjoy the different beaches, head to the northern side of the island for secluded coves, check out the lively towns and top it all off with a stunning sunset next to your loved one. What more could we want?
UK to Phuket flight time: You can typically fly from the UK to Phuket with one stop along the way and a flight time of about 12 hours.
Best Phuket Honeymoon Hotels
The Surin Phuket
At the Surin Phuket, you can discover the beauty and charm of Phuket whilst enjoying a stay in a delightful suite, all set within a tropical coconut grove, just a stone’s throw from the beach.
Don’t miss out on the peaceful setting of The Surin Spa for a couple’s treatment, in harmony with the natural surroundings. Each spa cottage has double treatment beds and is surrounded by huge granite boulders and lush jungle foliage.
Amanpuri Hotel
Overlooking its very own beach and the turquoise Andaman Sea, Amanpuri is a tranquil haven on the west coast of Phuket, perfect for blissful romance.
One of the most exclusive resorts in Southeast Asia, it’s home to 40 gorgeous private villas. You can share a romantic moment on the resort’s iconic stone steps at sunset and lounge by your private pool all day.
Amanpuri’s 40 wood-panelled guest Pavilions all boast king-size beds, large bathrooms and spacious outdoor areas for lounging and dining with your partner.
The Pavilions Phuket
With gorgeously intimate and romantic private villas, The Pavilions Phuket is the perfect secluded paradise for couples seeking luxury and sanctuary.
Nestled within a hilltop retreat, honeymooners can get away from everyday life and experience a dreamy break full of peace and love.
The Pavilions Phuket is renowned for being a haven of tranquility and looks over the stunning sands of Layan Beach, just a short five minute drive away.
Koh Samui Honeymoon
Beautifully idyllic beaches and breezy palm trees make Koh Samui an idyllic setting for a romantic honeymoon. Full of gorgeous spas and romantic restaurants on the beach, Koh Samui is one of the most beautiful islands in the Gulf of Thailand.
If you’re looking for something a bit more lively, Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach has a more cosmopolitan atmosphere if you want to get out of the hotel.
You can fly to Koh Samui with one stop, taking about 16 hours, or you can take the ferry from the mainland.
Koh Samui Honeymoon Resorts
Six Senses Samui
Six Senses Samui is set on a headland with glorious panoramas out to the Gulf of Thailand. The resort is made up of 66 secluded luxury villas with pure white walls which complement authentic Thai decor– think bamboo screens and thatched roofs.
The various pool villas have a large private deck surrounding the pool, complete with comfortable daybeds – ideal for long lazy days lounging with your other half and private al fresco dining experiences.
The resort also features a sensational palm-fringed main infinity pool where newlyweds can enjoy colorful sunsets dipping over the ocean beyond.
The Ritz-Carlton
Situated on Thailand’s second-largest island, the recently opened Ritz-Carlton introduces sanctuary and luxury among white sand beaches and the emerald waters of the Gulf of Thailand, perfect for relaxing in the company of your brand new spouse.
175 exquisite suites and pool villas echo local architectural aesthetics, welcoming the island environment inside.
Samujana
Samujana in Koh Samui has as an international reputation for stunning villas with mesmerising ocean panoramas and five-star service, so you can celebrate your newlywed status in style.
Each luxurious villa has a private infinity pool with a breathtaking panorama of the ocean and access to a secluded and intimate beach, perfect for stolen moments with your loved one.
Samujana also has an array of private, in-villa wellbeing activities such as yoga, pilates and chakra balancing meditation, so you can chill out with your partner in beautiful surroundings.
The Tongsai Bay
Eco-conscious honeymooners will love The Tongsai Bay in Koh Samui; eco certified tiles surround each pool and bathtub on the villa terraces, recycled wood is used for flooring, doors and walls and artificial wood was used to replace the wooden railings on the terrace.
Other eco-friendly elements include drinking straws made from lemongrass and coral-friendly sunscreen, so you can do good while feeling good!
Chiang Mai Honeymoon
Chiang Mai fits the couple looking for a cultural adventure. With gorgeous temples, palaces and museums, you can spend your days taking in their beauty with your partner.
Our highlights are the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar and the Wat Tham Chiang Dao Cave system, both perfect for exploring history and local culture whilst keeping a romantic twinkle.
The best way to get to Chiang Mai is to fly to Bangkok then take a connecting flight to Chiang Mai, but you can also take the bus or train if you’re conscious of budget.
Best Chiang Mai Honeymoon Hotels
137 Pillars House
Originally the home of the Borneo Trading Company, 137 Pillars House has been gorgeously restored but still evokes a beautifully romantic old-world charm and elegance.
The range of 30 stunning suites, all set in beautiful tropical gardens perfect for a romantic walk, offer something for every couple.
There’s also access to a 25 metre infinity pool, so you can lounge after a day of exploring the sites.
Bangkok Honeymoon
Bangkok is perfect for honeymooners looking for a more adventurous action-packed trip. Full of gorgeous cultural sites, markets and fantastic nightlife, you won’t be bored.
Take a romantic dinner cruise or visit the floating markets, whatever you do, you won’t regret going to Bangkok.
You can fly to Bangkok from the UK direct or with a stop, which will take around 14 hours.
Best Bangkok Honeymoon Hotels
The Siam Bangkok
The Siam, which describes itself as a full-service urban resort, is a private 39-room luxury retreat located in Bangkok’s royal Dusit district, perfect for a luxurious city retreat with your loved one.
The location on the Chao Praya River is key to the experience at The Siam and offers a quintessential Thai cultural immersion like no other, creating a beautiful romantic setting.
The hotel is the only luxury property in the unspoiled historic district, which is largely unpopulated by tourists the kingdom’s premier urban resort. You and your partner can relish the exclusivity of staying in one of the Orient’s most distinctive destinations.
What to do on Honeymoon in Thailand
Most Thailand honeymoons will understandably feature a lot of beach time – the delightfully warm waters off the coast teem with colourful marine life, the views are absolutely gorgeous, restaurants serve mouthwatering fresh seafood, and there is a myriad of boat cruises you can take to explore hidden bays, deserted islands and mysterious caves.
Phuket and Koh Samui are the big names, popular with yoga-fans, partygoers and sunseekers, but there is also a host of other, lesser-known islands worth checking out too, with regular boat services between them. You’ll find a stunning range of accommodation in Thailand to choose from, including rustic beach huts, glamorous hotels for those iconic honeymoon experiences, and locally-owned guesthouses where you’ll get an authentic vibe and can save money for exploring and eating out.
Many honeymooners decide to spend a couple of days in Bangkok before connecting with flights to the islands. There are many fantastic cultural attractions to discover in one of the hubs of southeast Asia, and it’s definitely worth making time in your itinerary.
If you’re planning a honeymoon in Thailand, Tinggly has a selection of fun experiences, romantic, relaxing and adventurous, that you can try out, whenever you can tear yourselves away from the beach that is!
Boat and Bike Tour of Bangkok
Bangkok is sometimes known as the ‘Venice of the East’ and while we wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s quite that beautiful, certainly river tours here are a great way to get see key landmarks, and get a feel for the vibrant riverside culture. We love this guided tour because it combines some fun cycling, through the bustling Chinatown district and the greenbelt area outside the city, with a traditional longboat ride which is one of Bangkok’s must-dos, to see homes built on stilts and fishermen casting their nets.
Scuba Diving in Phuket
Phuket is one of the world’s best places to learn how to scuba dive – thousands of people come here every year to do just that. We like this Phuket diving experience because firstly your instructors are fully PADI-qualified so you have that peace of mind, and secondly the dive site is known for its visibility, weak currents, and the amount of marine life there. You might encounter stingrays, octopi, seahorses, turtles and even the occasional shark! This dive is the first step in getting full accreditation so it’s perfect for beginners, and it’s also available all year-round.
Overnight Boat Trip in Phi Phi Islands
Overnight boat trip in Phi Phi islands
Exploring the stunning Phi Phi islands, and visiting the area made famous in the Leonardo Di Caprio movie ‘The Beach,’ is another must-do for many honeymoon itineraries in Thailand. Now it is true that because this place is so, so popular that it gets very busy, but what makes this experience really stand out as far as we’re concerned is because it’s one of the few tours that involve an overnight stay on the boat itself. So after a day of sightseeing, including to the spectacular Viking Caves, you have a BBQ feast prepared for you on the beach by the crew, and then you can even try swimming in the moonlight, which is just so romantic. Then breakfast on the boat before more touring on the way back. An ideal Thailand experience for honeymooners.
Spa Experience in Ko Samui
Thai massages are world-famous, and in our opinion this is one of the best you could hope to get. The spa perches on a clifftop overlooking the Gulf of Thailand so the views are picture-perfect. As you walk in, the tranquil ambience overtakes you, with palm trees swaying gently in the breeze and the harmonious tinkling of waterfalls in the distance. This Koh Samui spa package includes an exfoliating herbal steam, along with a massage from a trained therapist, finishing with a choice of either a foot or face massage. You’ll emerge feeling cleansed, reinvigorated and totally relaxed.
Boat Trip to James Bond Island
Boat trip to James Bond Island
Okay it’s true that unless you’re familiar with the James Bond movie from the 70s, ‘The Man with the Golden Gun,’ then you’re probably not going to realise the significance of this massive outcrop of rock in Phang Nga Bay (it was the bad guy’s hideout) but getting up close is truly mindblowing. The gigantic limestone island is the centrepiece of the bay, which has more than 100 different islands in it, and it is a truly dramatic sight. The tour also features several stops, including ‘Monkey Cave’ to see the famous reclining Buddha statue, a floating village where you can have lunch, Thalu Island and a chance to swim under a waterfall. A fab day out with lots of essential sightseeing.
Thailand is one of the iconic honeymoon destinations – the memories you’ll make there will stay with you forever. Plus you’ll return to work with a golden tan and a totally laidback attitude.
