Places to Visit in Thailand

Although still busy with traffic, Thailand's northern capital has a completely different vibe than Bangkok.

Slightly cooler weather from the green hills and plenty of tourist activities keep visitors coming in growing numbers. A large community of entrepreneurs and artists have chosen to call Chiang Mai home, invariably attracted to that vibe and friendliness felt in the north.

Try to visit Chiang Mai on a weekend to take advantage of the walking street markets; each is held in a separate place on Saturday and Sunday. The nightlife in Chiang Mai isn't nearly as rambunctious as that in Bangkok or the islands, but there are options.

Getting to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is easy. Take the train if you have time to enjoy the countryside, otherwise, grab a cheap flight from NokAir.

Some Reasons to Visit Chiang Mai:

• Many temples
• Northern Thai, Lanna, and Burmese cultures
• Cheap shopping and night markets
• Cafes with local coffee and good restaurants
• Outdoor and adventure activities

The little riverside village of Pai was a sleepy refuge for "hippies" only a short while ago. Today, Pai is thriving with tourism, but some of the old hippie health culture remains.

Surrounded by mountains and green scenery, Pai enjoys fresher air than Chiang Mai, and life moves slower than in the big city. Oddly enough, nightlife for backpackers is better in Pai than in Chiang Mai!

If you're experienced enough, grab a motorbike in Chiang Mai, point it north, and enjoy a beautiful drive to Pai.

Some Reasons to Visit Pai:

• Fresh air and relaxation
• Waterfalls
• Friendly Lanna and northern culture
• Organic food, juices, yoga retreats, healthy lifestyle
• Good motorbiking in the area
• Backpacker nightlife

Although technically not an island, Railay feels like one. Surrounded by mountains and only accessible by small boat, Railay in Krabi is a major rock climbing destination in Southeast Asia.

Even if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, the limestone cliffs jutting from blue water provide unforgettable scenery often featured on Thailand postcards.

Some Reasons to Visit Railay:

• Rock Climbing
• Beautiful scenery
• White-sand beaches and small, hidden coves

Located only a short, two-hour train ride away from Bangkok, Ayutthaya was the ancient capital of Siam for 417 years before it was sacked by Burmese invaders and later moved to Bangkok.

Initially founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the numerous temple ruins scattered throughout the modern city. Loaded with archeology, Ayutthaya is probably the closest thing to an Angkor Wat that can be found in Thailand.

Some Reasons to Visit Ayutthaya:

• Archeology and ancient temple ruins
• Thai history and culture
• A famous tree that has grown around a Buddha statue's head

Located only two hours by bus from Bangkok and set on the famous River Kwai, Kanchanaburi is a great place to escape from the hustle in Bangkok.

Kanchanaburi has lots of World War II history. It's the home to the most famous bridge constructed as part of the "Death Railway" intended to connect Bangkok and Rangoon (now Yangon). The bridge was made famous in the movie, The Bridge Over the River Kwai, inspired by the novel.

Numerous museums and beautiful national parks with swimming under waterfalls make Kanchanaburi a hit with war history buffs and backpackers.

Some Reasons to Visit Kanchanaburi:

• World War II history
• Erawan National Park and Sai Yok National Park
• Taweechai Elephant Camp
• A quick escape from Bangkok​

Thailand is blessed with gorgeous islands of all sizes and temperaments in both the Andaman Sea (west side) and in the Gulf of Thailand.

Some islands have frequently raging beach parties, meanwhile, some islands are small and tranquil. Diving and snorkeling abound.​

Although islands aren't technically the best place for real cultural interaction — or cheap shopping — they're a requisite addition to any vacation in Thailand. But save the islands for last: once there you won't want to go anywhere else!

Some Reasons to Visit the Thai Islands:

• Beaches ranging from secluded to very busy
• Excellent snorkeling and diving
• Beach parties and backpacker nightlife
• Family-friendly beaches
• The Sanctuary health retreat on Koh Phangan

Although not the largest or oldest of the national parks in Thailand, Khao Sok is a memorable favorite for many visitors.

Officially declared the 22nd national park in Thailand on December 22, 1980, Khao Sok is a 739-square-kilometer nature refuge in the south of Thailand. The park is famous for floating bungalows and the picturesque lake.

With a little luck and timing, you may even catch a rare Rafflesia — the heaviest flower on earth — in bloom.

Some Reasons to Visit Khao Sok National Park:

• Rainforest scenery
• Limestone formations and a beautiful lake
• Rafflesia flowers
• Jungle trekking and river canoeing
• Waterfalls

Located in the very northwest corner of Thailand near the border of Burma (Myanmar), Mae Hong Son is a fairly quiet town mostly still off the tourist radar.

As Pai — located south of Mae Hong Son on Route 1095 — grows larger, Mae Hong Son becomes more of a popular alternative for travelers who want to escape the crowds.

The residents of Mae Hong Son are genuine and happy to show you around their green province.

Some Reasons to Visit Mae Hong Son:

• Caves and waterfalls
• Trekking
• Thai, Karen, and Burmese culture
• Escape tourists farther south

Chiang Rai, located just northeast of Chiang Mai, is an increasingly popular alternative to Chiang Mai for travelers interested in a little more Thai culture and fewer tourists.

Although Chiang Rai has its share of tourists and resident expats, numerous temples, museums, markets, and cultural centers offer a more genuine peek at Northern Thailand culture.

Some Reasons to Visit Chiang Rai:

• Peaceful temples
• Waterfalls and the national park
• The White Temple, an amazing piece of art
• The Black House (incorrectly called the "Black Temple")
• Night Bazaar eating and shopping

Isaan is a region consisting of 20 provinces in the very northeast of Thailand along the borders with Cambodia and Laos.

Although Isaan is the largest region in Thailand, tourism has yet to strike hard there as it has elsewhere in Thailand. Visitors to Isaan can still enjoy meeting locals who are happy to see visitors.

The local Isaan dialect is actually a derivative of the Lao language rather than Thai, although it is still written using the Thai alphabet.

Isaan is home to delicious dishes that are distinct from other famous Thai foods. Dishes are more often enjoyed with sticky rice (khao niaow).

Some Reasons to Visit Isan:

• Friendly people
• Famous food such as som tam (papaya salad) and laap (meat salad)
• Genuine culture
• Green countryside