I’ve traveled quite a bit across India, Goa in peak December crowds, Spiti on a budget with shaky bus rides, even those endless Delhi airport layovers where time moves slower than luggage belts, but Thailand was my first international trip. And I won’t lie, the “first time outside India” feeling hits differently. It’s not just excitement. It’s also small doubts you don’t really talk about – Thailand visa for Indians, foreign currency exchange, immigration forms, flights, accommodation, all of it sitting in your head at once.
This trip wasn’t planned like a polished itinerary. It was more like an old promise between me and two college friends who had now settled into jobs, deadlines, and different cities. We used to say, “Someday we’ll do an international trip.” That “someday” finally turned into April 2026 when we somehow aligned our leaves around the Songkran festival 2026. No overthinking. Just a decision: we go for Songkran.
Flights And The Booking Struggle
The hardest part came earlier than expected. I was specifically checking flights from Mumbai, and the prices were behaving like a stock chart. The timings were odd too, we were searching for last-minute tickets and didn’t want one of those exhausting 18-hour layovers just to save a few thousand rupees.
We even briefly considered Thailand tour packages just to avoid the headache, but kept that option for later, we wanted to plan it ourselves and make it a bit more fun. That’s when I came across the Akbar Travels flight page, and honestly, that’s where things finally started to feel simpler. The process wasn’t complicated, the website was easy to navigate, and most importantly, I actually found cheap flights to Bangkok that worked for both our budget and schedule.
Landing Into Songkran Energy
We landed in Bangkok on 8th April 2026. The city already felt awake in a slightly different way, preparation for the Songkran festival in Thailand was visible everywhere. Water guns in shops, plastic shields, tourists walking around slightly confused, locals calmly going about things.
The first two days weren’t chaos yet. It was more like a build-up. We explored temples, walked through markets, and tried to mentally prepare for what everyone kept calling “the biggest water fight in the world.” We decided to book stay at one of the best hotels in Bangkok so we wouldn’t miss any of the Songkran festivities.
When we visited Wat Pho, it was the first moment I felt the contrast that tourism in Thailand is known for. Calm temple courtyards, monks moving slowly, and tourists like us trying not to be loud. On the same day, one small hiccup happened at the Grand Palace. I showed up in shorts, thinking it would be fine. It wasn’t. I got politely turned away. There are cover-ups right outside, so it got sorted in 10 minutes, but it was a quick reminder that Thailand tourism isn’t just beaches and parties, it still has structure and respect built into daily life.
Songkran Begins
By 11th April, things started shifting. The streets were no longer just busy; they were preparing to become battlegrounds. And once the Songkran festival 2026 officially kicked in, it was exactly what people say and more.
Water guns everywhere. Buckets being filled from ice-cold tubs. Strangers waiting at corners just to drench you. We were three friends moving together through Khao San Road, but at one point we genuinely lost each other in the crowd. Then somehow, all three of us ended up near a 7-Eleven like it was pre-decided. That became our unofficial checkpoint for the rest of the day.
What most people don’t talk about is the calm side of the festival. One morning of 13th April we visited a temple during the beginning of Songkran festival period. It was almost the opposite of the streets. Locals were dressed traditionally, pouring water gently over Buddha statues. We even saw sand pagodas being made in temple courtyards.
Overall, the experience of Songkran 2026 was very different. It kind of broke that one-sided image I had of Thailand being just about parties and nightlife.
Island Escape
Mid-festivities, we took a short break from Bangkok and visited the famous island Koh Samui. It wasn’t part of the plan, so I quickly checked Akbar Travels flight website for options, which helped me find good deals on flights online without much hassle. This quick trip helped us reset a bit, cleaner air, quieter beaches, and a much slower pace compared to Bangkok.
Back in Thailand, my favorite parts weren’t always the big moments. It was walking through local markets, pointing at food we couldn’t pronounce, and just trying things. Pad Thai was our safe zone, but we ended up repeating mango sticky rice and coconut ice cream way too often.
Souvenir shopping was predictable but fun, fridge magnets, handmade soaps and yes, elephant pants.
Leaving With Something More
By 14th April, when we were heading back, the trip didn’t feel like a checklist anymore. It felt like something lived properly, not just planned.
Songkran 2026 gave us a picture of Thailand we never saw on our feeds. The century-old traditions of the Thai New Year, beautiful beaches, amazing food and people full of warmth all made my first-ever international trip memorable for a lifetime. I will definitely visit Thailand again, as there is still much more to discover.