Bangkok to Bhutan: Water Adventures from Songkran to Trout Fishing

Songkran Festival in Bangkok – The World’s Largest Water Fight

As luck would have it, I managed to arrive in hot and humid Bangkok the day before Songkran, the Thai New Year or Thailand water festival. This is basically a two-to-three-day water fight. Squirt guns are readily available, but any means of dispensing water is fine. This is a popular tourist time, but the atmosphere and activities are worth it.

There are several places to enjoy water fights.

Best Songkran spots in Bangkok

The Siam Paragon – The largest and most tourist-friendly venue.

Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi Cowboy – I was drenched in a small street in Sukhumvit and enjoyed every minute of it. My shoes just dried.

Don’t worry about accommodations, Bangkok’s hotel infrastructure remains solid even after the recent earthquake. I personally inspected a few top hotels for comfort, amenities, and safety.

Flying to Bhutan - A Scenic, Skillful Arrival in Paro

Bangkok to Paro is just a 3-hour flight. It is well chronicled how difficult the Paro approach is, and only well-trained pilots fly this route. Druk airlines took me, and my one purpose, there and we landed safely in Paro. The April weather is typically dry, and temperatures are around 15 Celsius and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The one purpose? To catch a trout!!

Trout Fishing by the Paro River - A Bhutan Adventure

To really fish in Bhutan, one should explore different parts of the country and possibly even catch and release the golden mahseer, a fresh-water giant. I spent one half day by the Paro River with my guide and his friend and, we did catch some trout. They were not huge but using lures we landed 5 or 6 and enjoyed every minute of the scenery and comradery. It was a quick but rewarding Bhutan experience.

Beach Escape to Hua Hin - Coastal Calm After Urban Heat

Back to Suvarnabhumi Airport and a three-hour drive to Hua Hin, a beach town on the Gulf of Thailand. I’ve written about Hua Hin before, but it is a pleasant escape from Bangkok and a nice alternative to the better-known Thai beach spots like Phuket or Pattaya.

Top Hua Hin highlights:

• Night Market - Great for street food and local crafts.
• Phraya Nakhon Cave - A hidden gem with a royal pavilion.
• Elephant Sanctuary - A humane and educational visit.
• Delicious seafood and mango sticky rice - Some say the Hua Hin food is better than Bangkok with great seafood and readily accessible indoor/outdoor street restaurants. I’ll let you judge.
• Discover Hua Hin’s Fruit Gardens - Taste tropical fruits like mangosteen, rambutan, dragon fruit, longan, and durian straight from the trees

A Celebration of Water Across Asia

From splashing in Bangkok, to fishing in Bhutan, to swimming in Hua Hin, this journey shows how water connects us across cultures and geographies. Whether it’s squirt gun fights, riverside fishing, or beach lounging—water brings joy wherever it flows.