Tag Archive for: backpacker

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Paid to Travel: The Life of a Thailand Tour Leader

Ever wondered what it is like as a Thailand tour leader? Spending your days travelling around Thailand, meeting new people, chilling on raft houses and cuddling monkeys? Now imagine what it would be like to get paid for doing it! But is being a tour leader in Thailand all fun and games? Read what Ultimate Thailand tour leaders, Hannah and Fiona have to say..

So what made you decide to travel to Thailand?

Hannah: I visited Koh Samui back in 2014 and immediately fell in love with what I saw. Thailand is so beautiful and I couldn’t wait to get back out here and see what else the country had in store.

Fiona: I grew up in Scotland and its such a small place I knew I wanted to get out and travel. I saved my money and went on a trip of a lifetime around Southeast Asia. Thailand was my favourite so after returning home for two months, I packed up and moved my life to Thailand. It’s been nearly 3 years and I’ve never looked back.

Has travelling/living abroad always been something you dreamt of doing?

Hannah: Since I travelled the East Coast of Australia at 18 I knew I wasn’t meant to live in the UK. I much prefer the lifestyle in a warm country. You don’t have to spend money to enjoy yourself because you can be outside and explore! I’ve always said I want to work to live, not live to work.

Fiona: I always knew I wanted to get out and explore the world but I never dreamed that I would be so lucky as to land this job and be paid to travel!

What inspired you to become a tour leader in Thailand?

Hannah: I had met a few tour guides whilst I was living in Koh Tao and, well, you’d be stupid not to feel a hint of jealousy! You get paid to travel, meet loads of cool people and get to know more about the country you work in and the locals. But above all I get to call paradise my home.

Fiona: I lived in Bangkok for two years and really enjoyed it. I met other tour guides and it seemed like such an amazing opportunity when I saw the job online I had to apply!

Life as a Thailand tour leader

What are the best parts about your job working for Ultimate Thailand? And the worst parts?

Hannah: Best part is by far the people you meet. We work with amazing Thai partners who are some of the most helpful, kind and truly fantastic people I’ve ever met. And then on top of that we meet a bunch of nutters every 2 weeks! We dance, we laugh, we hurt ourselves, we face fears and we become genuine pals! If I have to point out my least favourite part of the job, it is living out of a bag but that’s only to be honest about the not so luxury aspects of the role. Yeah sometimes I wish I could stay in one place for a week or so but as soon as a new group arrives, I’m all excited to get to know them and see how they will interpret the tour.

Fiona: There are so many best parts I couldn’t list them all. We meet amazing people, go to beautiful places and enjoy amazing activities every day! There are very few bad aspects but like Hannah said, it can be tiring living out a bag.

What does a typical day at work look like to you?

Hannah: Depends what day of the week it is!? If it’s a Monday – Wednesday it either looks like Bangkok with enough buckets and Buddhas to sink a ship! Or the panoramic sunsets in the serenity of Koh Phangan. If it’s Thursday – Friday it’s the most impressive scenery I’ve ever seen in Khao Sok national park. If it’s Saturday – Sunday it’s the picturesque party island of Phi Phi with its infamous beaches. Every day is different and that’s what I love about my job.
Fiona: Every day is different! People always ask if we get bored but we go party in fun places, see amazing sights and do so many fun activities. We never stop!

Meeting new people and enjoying this beautiful country together

As a tour leader you meet heaps of new people every month. How do you keep up the energy to interact with new travellers every day?

Hannah: Every group makes the tour a completely different experience. Each individual sees things so differently and we meet every personality under the sun, so as long as you enjoy meeting people and communication comes easy, what’s tiring about that?
Fiona: Hannah’s right. Its like hanging out with new friends all the time, having a laugh and enjoying Thailand.

What advice can you give someone thinking of travelling to Thailand solo?

Hannah: 1000000% absolutely do it! It will be the most self educating thing you’ll ever do. You can’t always wait for someone to hold your hand so cease the moment and get out there. You can be selfish about where and when you want to move or stay in any location. You’ll have dinner with people you would never normally acknowledge in the street and, not to sound too cheesy but, you’ll appreciate the little things so much more. It’s the best decision I ever made.
Fiona: Go for it. Best decision I ever made. It so scary flying out for the first time but the all new experiences, amazing new culture and the people you meet along the way make it so worth it.

Beautiful Thailand

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt working and living in a foreign country?

Hannah: I’d say I’ve learnt 2 big lessons whilst living out here. 1: The importance of having a strong support system back home. I don’t mean financially but when times get hard you naturally turn to your family and friends. I’m very fortunate to get encouraged and picked up whenever I need it. 2: I never was materialistic but this lifestyle makes those kind of things matter even less. I’ve learned to appreciate experiences rather than belongings.

Fiona: I have learned so much from being out here. You have to rely on yourself for everything and learning how other cultures do things can be so strange. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to not sweat the small stuff. Look at the big picture and enjoy life!

What is your best travel tip?

Hannah: Always carry an eye mask, a hoodie and face wipes/baby wipes.

Fiona: Be prepared for anything and always say ‘yes’! Join in for everything and you’ll have the time of your life.

What are your plans for the foreseeable future? What’s next on your bucket list?

Hannah: My list of countries I want to visit gets longer and longer every day. Next though I’m heading to Bali and visiting family in the Philippines, then home to Manchester for a couple of months. With a few extra £s in my bank I’m looking to explore New Zealand and fingers crossed, work for Ultimate Travel when they start the tours there! 🙂

Fiona: I’m not sure what I’m going to do next. I’m loving working with Ultimate Thailand at the moment and hopefully move on to their Oz tour or Southeast Asia tour when that kicks off!

Check out our 10 day Ultimate Thailand tour and get in touch for help organising your trip! Check out our videos for Ultimate Thailand and Ultimate Vietnam to see for yourself how amazing SE Asia is!

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20 Signs you’ve got the Travel Bug

Once you start to travel it can be difficult to stop! If you’re one of those people that is always dreaming of the next adventure, read this to find out if you have the travel bug!

1. Whenever anyone starts a story, it reminds you of that time you were travelling

Travel 💛 #travelstories #memories #myultimatemoment

A photo posted by Ultimate Travel (@ultimate.travel) on

2. You can say ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank you’ in 5 different languages

3. You’re jealous of anyone else who’s travelling when you’re not.

4. You have permanent flip flop tan marks on your feet

5. You’ve become a pro at packing

6. You’ve got long journeys nailed..a neck pillow, a good book, music and you’re good to go!

7. You can drink everyone under the table.. drinking every day for 6 months has increased your tolerance level quite a bit!

8. You’ve set yourself a goal of places you want to visit in the next year and you’re determined to tick them all off your list!

What’s next on your bucketlist? #regram @mariagalsgaard #travel #NewZealand #adventure #tour #gapyear #kiwi #NZ A photo posted by Ultimate Travel (@ultimate.travel) on

9. You’ve had a million casual jobs all over the world – You don’t care what you’re doing as long as you can save some $$ to travel!

10. Your address book is full of friends all over the world to visit

11. Your room is full of your travel photos from all over the world

12. You’ve stopped caring if anyone will travel with you – you know you’ll meet people along the way

13. Being late no longer bothers you..you’re still on Fiji time baby!

Amazing pic of @xxxbettyxxx horse riding on the beach in Bali! #travel #MyUltimateMoment #GapYear #UltimateAdventure #Bali #Indonesia #SEAsia #TravelSoutheastAsia #SoutheastAsia #adventure A photo posted by Ultimate Travel (@ultimate.travel) on

14. You don’t enjoy buying material things anymore – you know nothing can bring you more happiness than travel!

15. You’ve started cooking dishes you ate on your travels at home.

16. When you go home, you don’t bother buying a car or getting a steady job because you already know you’ll be on the next adventure soon!

17. You can sleep anywhere

18. Your passport is filling up with stamps & you can’t wait to fill the rest of the pages up!

19. Every time you look back on your travels you feel happy

Khao Sok National Park 😍 #regram #MyUltimateMoment #UltimateThailand #Thailand #travel #GapYear #adventure A photo posted by Ultimate Travel (@ultimate.travel) on

20. and you’re already planning the next trip!

Who agrees? #myultimatemoment #ultimate #adventure #gapyear #travel   A photo posted by Ultimate Travel (@ultimate.travel) on

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22 things you’ll never hear a backpacker say!

1. “Don’t worry, I’ll get the drinks in tonight! Who likes champagne?”

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2. “I can’t come out tonight. I’m catching up on sleep.”

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3. “Free food? No thanks, I’m not hungry.”

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4. “This bed is the comfiest”

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5. “That sunset last night was rubbish”

Sunsets will never get boring!

6. “I think I’ve travelled everywhere I want to..maybe I’ll just go home!”

7. “No goon for me thanks, I’m on the cocktails tonight.”

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8. “This wifi connection is better than at home!”

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9. “I’ll take the top bunk..it’s my fave!”

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10. “I’m so bored of going to the beach”

11. “Here, I have a spare power socket for your phone if you like?!”

12. “I’ve never been so pale in my life!”

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13. “That bucket at the full moon party didn’t even touch the sides!”

Drinking alcohol from buckets at the full moon party

14. “I wish this bus journey was longer!”

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15. “Have you got anything more expensive?”

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16. “I’ve decided to go alcohol free for 3 months.”

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17. “Here, take my camera..I don’t take any photos anyway!”

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18. “This beach party is pretty tame compared to a night out in (insert your hometown)”

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19. “I should have packed more..my backpack is pretty light”

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20. “I’m just going to unpack first, then I’ll meet you at the bar”

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21. “What’s a dropbear?”

22. “I can’t wait to go home”

Maya-bay-Thailand

Can you think of any more? Comment below!!

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