If you have spent any time on Instagram in the recent past, there is no doubt you have seen the famous and beautiful beaches of Thailand. Images of brightly colored boats, moored in impossibly aqua waters flood the Thailand social media feeds. And truthfully, you would be forgiven if you thought that is all Thailand has to offer. But this country is as diverse as they come – read on to find out about some of our other favorite areas of the Thailand!
No matter where you come from you will almost certainly have to pass through Bangkok at some point on any trip to Thailand. It is a huge city (9 million people!) and can be dirty, overwhelming and exhausting – but it is also chock-full of beautiful temples, unique markets and great food. In such a sprawling metropolis it can be hard see it all, so we suggest taking the city in small bites. Do a little research to find out the area of town you want to be in – Khao San Road, Riverside and Sukhumvit are our top choices. We suggest 2-4 days in Bangkok – depending on if you plan to take any day trips out of the city – which you should! Bangkok has some amazing temples and they get busy, so show up early and be patient. Our favorite temples were Wat Pho, Wat Arun and The Royal Palace. There are also a ton of cool markets – food markets, night markets and the very pretty Pak Khlong Tlat (flower market). If markets are your thing, consider taking a little day trip to see the Maeklong Railway Market (the train chugs right through the market) and the floating market of Damneon Saduak. If you choose to stay in the city you will find that it is full of things to do -have fancy drinks on a rooftop bar, spend your pennies at a shiny (and air conditioned!) shopping mall, cheer on your favorite contender at muay thai fight, eat your fill of delicious street food and DO NOT miss a thai massage.
If the bright lights of Bangkok aren’t your thing, then check out Chaing Mai – a gem of a city situated in Thailand’s northern region. It is recognized as the spiritual capital of the country and is full of beautiful, unique temples. From the Lanna style Wat Chedi Luang, to the mountain top temple of Wat Doi Suthep. You better be hungry if you head to Chaing Mai (and Thailand in general) because it is a food lovers paradise. There are plenty of of good restaurants in Chaing Mai but you will find the best food on the streets! The street food stalls are incredible and if you can’t find something you like at one of these stalls, you clearly don’t like food. There are about 897 different kinds of meat on a stick (pretty sure that’s the exact number! LOL), every kind of curry you could think of, plus allllllll the desserts! One of our favorite areas was Nimmanhaemin Road, with it’s delicious food vendors, great shops and lively bars. If shopping and eating is your thing (how could it not be?) you have to check out the Saturday Night Bazaar, it’s a HUGE shopping and eating space where you can wander around ’til your heart’s content. Some parts are covered and others spill out into the street so just prepare to get lost among the stalls. We recommend spending 2-3 days in Chaing Mai – even thoguh it is packed full of sites, it’s a slower paced city and you will want to kick up your feet and relax! Get a Thai massage, take a cooking class or visit an elephant sanctuary.
Chiang Mai’s chill little sister has to be Chiang Rai. About a 3 hour drive from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is much smaller and sleepier but still worth a look. The biggest draws here are some of the most unique temples in Thailand – The White Temple and the Blue Temple. While Chaing Rai is a little more off the tourist track, the temples still get busy – especially the White Temple – so go as early as you can for the best experience. Once you have had your fill of the temples make sure to check out Baan Dam – the Black House. It is a very unique and slightly bizarre site. The passion project of a Thai architect and collector who has created a space full of both typical and fanciful Thai buildings and filled them with his extensive collection of animal skins and horns and other oddities. We recommend 1-2 days in Chaing Rai to see everything at a relaxing pace.
This is just a snapshot of Thailand beyond the islands. Some other great spots to visit are:
Ayuttaha – About 80 km outside of Bangkok, it is the old capital of Siam and a great spot for temple lovers. Don’t miss the Wat Phra Mahthat for mini Angkor Wat vibes.
Sukhothai – This is a lovely province located southeast of Chaing Mai. It was the first capital city in Thailand and the last remaining example of the “Sukhotai” architectural style. Stroll around the Sukhothai Historical Park to take it all in.
Elephant Sanctuary – There are a lot of these around Thailand and especially in Chaing Mai and a day spent at one can be incredible. But do your research, many still carry out unethical practices like riding the elephants. We loved our experience at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary.
We really enjoyed our time traveling around Thailand to experience all of the amazing things this country has to offer. From elephants to temples to the amazing street food, it’s an experience like no other. It’s the perfect country for anyone’s introduction into South East Asia! Have you visited Thailand? What was your favorite part? Tell us below!
