With idyllic beaches, turquoise waters, tropical jungles, buzzing cities, and electrifying nightlife, the places to visit in Thailand are on the bucket list of so many travelers around the globe. Be it the capital of Thailand, the party hub Pattaya, exotic Phi Phi Islands, or the spiritual Chiang Mai, the tourist places in Thailand never disappoint anyone.
Whether you are traveling with your beloved, family members, a group of single friends, or are a first-timer, these are the top places to explore in ‘The Land of Smiles’. We have put together a list of dazzling and wonderful places to visit in Thailand for a memorable holiday.
Here are the best places to visit in Thailand for an exotic vacation.
1. Krabi
For a relaxing vacation, visit Krabi as it is among the top places to visit in Thailand. This awe-inspiring place is perfect for honeymoon couples who want to escape the crowds and spend time in a peaceful environment. It is one of the oldest provinces in Thailand and is so beautiful that it might sweep you off your feet.
2. Ayutthaya
Fan of history? You will love Ayutthaya. Once the capital of Thailand back in the 14th century, this place now has the remnants of the kingdom that can be seen in the Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO site. And the giant reclining Buddha can be witnessed at the Wat Yat chai Mongkol along with hundreds of sitting Buddha statues around the temple covered in golden cloth.
3. Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is a beautiful island known mainly for its full moon parties on Haad Rin that attracts people from all around the globe. It is a mountainous jungle with the rest of it covered in coconut trees and white sand beaches. If you are an adventure lover, fishing, diving, and kiteboarding are some famous things to do here.
4. Hua Hin
Planning your holidays still and looking for a all round destination which can be full of entertainment, food, beach, art, culture and activities for children. Then look no further than Hua Hin which is approximately 2 hours drive from hustling and bustling capital of Bangkok.
Hua Hin is a favorite getaway for Bangkok people and why not? The lively beach life, peace, and turquoise waters are perfect to destress your mind and body. It is one of the best places to visit in Thailand for families and singles who just want to relax and rejuvenate themselves.
With pristine and calm beaches, the city has host of things to visit like visiting the largest waterfall in Thailand - Pala U waterfall, visit the hua hin railway station which is the most iconic train station in thailand. Wander over the marsh bueng bue wood board walk it gives us a ultimate experience with the surroundings.
Don't miss visiting the Phraya Nakhon cave, one of the most remarkable cave shrines in Thailand. Your visit can't end if you don't visit the weekend Cicada Night Market. Its a experience in itself.
5. Ko Samet
Koh Samet island is called the Paradise Island by the people of Pattaya because it is a white sand island and is located near Pattaya mainland. The astonishing white sand, beachfront, and crystal blue water of the island is the most attracting place which you will find here. You can sit here freely and enjoy the sightseeing and children playing all around.
6. Rayong
If you are curious to know why gemstones are so precious and how they look so amazing, you must visit this place while on your trip to Pattaya. Here you will get to know how much hard work does it take in cutting and polishing sapphire stones so that you can purchase it from the market. So do visit Chanthaburi Sapphire Mines and enjoy your trip.
7. Kanchanaburi
If you want to avoid the crowded temples and markets, then I’d recommend venturing about 3 hours outside the city of Bangkok to the peaceful yet historical province of Kanchanaburi. With its storied past, you can stop by the War Cemetery and the JEATH Museum, stroll along the famous Bridge over the River Kwai, and even board the Death Railway Train, which is known for its wild curving tracks and lush scenery.
Pro tip: If you want to, you can combine a trip to Kanchanaburi with a side stop at the Erawan National Park as both are fairly near each other.
8. Ko Lanta
Koh Lanta comprises of different islands off the shoreline of Krabi province, Thailand. There are multiple beaches in these islands and the best one is situated on the biggest island known as Ko Lanta Yai. This place is full of tourists all year around. It is also a great place to do some snorkeling and scuba diving.
Observe the coral reefs and sea kingdom from the depths of the sea, and if you are lucky you may come across some ray fishes and even whales. There are also the odds and ends of an ancient rainforest as well as plant life. The accommodation is also ample there. You can find bungalows as well as huts to stay.
Ao nang night market opens everyday from 5 PM to 11 PM, an open ground’s beverage garden with live music, surrounded by food stalls with variety of street vendors selling at an affordable price.
Maya Beach has been heralded as one of the most beautiful and gorgeous beaches in Thailand. Thousands of tourists flock every year to this beach and admire the visual beauty as this beach boasts of krast-studded water and soft sands.
This sublime beach was made famous through the hit movie of Leonardo DiCaprio - The Beach. You can enjoy this beach before sunrise and sunset. The beach is well-known for water sports like diving and snorkeling. Explore the huge sandstone cliffs and hidden lagoons.
Phra Nang Cave Beach is framed by limestone cliffs and blessed with clear, emerald waters and white sands. The beach can be reached by a longtail boat from Ao Nang. This gorgeous beach is located at the southern tip of Railay on the Andaman Coast.
You can enjoy the short trails near the beach that takes you through the caves and showcases the area’s landscape. The beach is popular for rock climbers who enjoy scaling massive limestone rocks. It will be fun trying fresh fruits from the floating vendors present there.
9. Ko Chang
Unlike other big sister islands of Phuket and Koh Samui, Koh Chang is a smaller island which is mostly unscathed from the tourists. This park is great for trekking and a great hub to other surrounding small islands. With passing time, its popularity is increasing and more local and foreign tourists are visiting it. Enjoy amazing cuisines of this island and make the most of your vacations.
10. Pai
In Thailand, Pai is one of the destinations where the tourist is more homogeneous. Virtually all are young western backpackers. Pai is a small town that earned the reputation of being the main destination of the hippies, artists and bohemians of Thailand. Then they began to arrive foreigners and in the town they appeared budget hostels, t-shirts and souvenir stores.
There are also shops of local and foreign hippies selling bracelets, paintings to what not. There is also plenty of Thai vegetarian food and small wooden cafes with foods of Thailand and a very careful decoration. Why do almost only backpackers go to Pai? Probably the main reason is the 750 curves of the road to cross to reach Pai from Chiang Mai. In addition, the city, culturally speaking, does not have much to offer more than a couple of small temples.
The people who usually go to Pai, normally have many days of traveling in Thailand and go with the calm, to relax and to make excursions in motorcycle from the town from time to time. Without a motorbike you can not do much. They say that Pai should get the rhythm, a pacific island-style rhythm, where minutes and hours lose importance.
Once you have a vehicle to move, you can visit the Pam Bok Waterfall because it is easy to bathe in and has rocks that look like slides that you can slide through. Another quite popular is the Mor Paeng Waterfall. The Pai Grand Canyon is a good place to go to do some excursions, especially in the afternoon.
The two most important temples are Wat Klang and Chedi Phra That Mae Yen. The first contains a fairly old Buddha image and a Mon-style pagoda. It is located in the center of town, where the night market is held. The second temple is on a small peak with nice views of the area. You will see it from many places in the town if you look at the mountain. The huge white Buddha is easy to find. There are 352 steps to climb.
The tourist attractions in Thailand welcome all kinds of travelers whether it is a family, a honeymoon couple, a bachelor, or a group of friends. It gives an opportunity to each traveler to explore whatever their point of interest is and have the time of their life. Food, shopping, spas, nightlife, islands, etc. are the highlights of the best places in Thailand that you can discover on a Thailand trip.
So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, take your loved ones, grab your passport, and visit Thailand for an exotic vacation that will leave an imprint on your mind forever.
