One of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, it’s no secret that Thailand is home to some truly spectacular places.
White sand beaches and palm trees are the first images that come to mind for many, but Thailand also encompasses tropical forests, mist-covered mountains and compelling ancient monuments. Here are some of the most beautiful places to see in this stunning country.
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| Grand Palace |
Ao Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park (Where to Stay)
Spanning 154 square miles, Ao Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park comprises a group of more than 40 islands and spectacular limestone cliffs that can only be reached by boat. One of Thailand’s most popular boat trip excursions, the park includes well-known destinations like Ko Panyi, a fishing village where houses are built on stilts over the water; and Ko Kan, which was the setting for the 1974 James Bond Film, The Man with the Golden Gun. The park also includes some of the largest remaining primary mangrove forests in Thailand, which provide shelter for numerous different bird species. There’s also Kao Kien, where you’ll find cliffs decorated with ancient wildlife paintings dating back thousands of years.
Grand Palace (Where to Stay)
The Grand Palace is among the most important and most visited sites in the country. Home to generations of Thai kings, the palace is now only used for special ceremonies and the grounds are open to visitors. Originally built in the 18th century when Siam’s capital was moved from Thonburi to Bangkok, additional buildings were added during the reigns of subsequent Thai monarchs. As a result, the various buildings found on the grounds represent an interesting mix of different Thai architectural styles over the years. Wat Phra Kaew is known as the most sacred site in the country, housing a famous 14th-century Emerald Buddha which was carved from a single block of jade.
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| Khao Sok National Park |
Kanchanaburi (Where to Stay)
Best-known for its dark Second World War past, modern Kanchanaburi town is a laid-back riverside retreat surrounded by green mountains and fertile sugarcane fields. Many guesthouses are built alongside or floating on the famous River Kwai, perfect places for lying back and lazily watching the sun set while sipping a Chang beer. The surrounding province of the same name spans seven national parks, making the town an excellent base for trekking into Thailand’s pristine wilderness. It’s easy to arrange treks to waterfalls, lakes, caves and other scenic natural sites.
Khao Sok National Park (Where to Stay)
Khao Sok National Park is a lush lowland jungle, filled with mountains, caves, waterfalls, and rare wildlife. Stretching over 249 square miles, Khao Sok National Park is believed to be more than 160 million years old. A network of simple dirt trails winds through the park, allowing visitors can walk amide tangled vines and rocky limestone cliffs while searching for wildlife. The park is home to macaques, guar, and Malaysian sun bears, as well as over 200 bird species. If you’re particularly lucky, you might glimpse wild elephants, tigers or leopards.
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| Ko Phi Phi |
Koh Lipe (Where to Stay)
Koh Lipe is one of Thailand’s many tropical fantasy islands, covered with shimmering white sands and bordered by clear waters that are home to abundant marine life. Barely known to tourists before the 1990s, Koh Lipe has seen rapid development in the last five years, but it remains much more untouched than neighboring islands like Phuket and Koh Phi Phi. With new hotels and restaurants opening steadily, it’s definitely an island to cross off your bucket list in case development continues at its current rate. Only accessible by boat, the island’s wide beaches are divided by low hills of verdant jungle.
Ko Phi Phi (Where to Stay)
Sadly, Ko Phi Phi is no longer the pristine paradise it once was when backpackers first “discovered” it more than twenty years ago; yet, even large scale tourism can’t tarnish this island’s radiant beauty. Ko Phi Phi is actually composed of six islands, although most of the action is concentrated on Phi Phi Don which is the only inhabited island. The island’s white sand beaches caress clear, calm bays, which are perfect for snorkeling, swimming, and scuba diving. Divers can expect to see sea horses, leopard sharks, turtles, and a variety of other underwater life. Of course, there’s also Maya Bay, a fairytale cove enclosed by cliffs, which was made famous by the 2000 movie, The Beach.
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