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Our Top 10 Favorite Places to Visit in Thailand

Ah, Thailand, the Land of Smiles. A place with a permanent Instagram filter. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most visited countries in the world. There’s so much to see in this beautiful country: beaches, mountains, temples, forests, wildlife, you name it – Thailand has it.

With so much so many tourists flooding in and Teaching English in Thailand being so popular, we thought we’d give you a list of places, based on our experience, you have to see while you’re there.

Khao Sok National Park

The Khao Sok National Park is located in Surat Thani province of southern Thailand. It covers a natural rain forest, lakes and rivers as well as limestone cliffs. It’s blessed with beautiful flora and an array of wild animals. In a country so packed with tourists and beach resorts, Khao Sok sheds a completely different aura to the Thailand that most tourists know. 

Khao Sok National park, Thailand.

A paradise in the middle of the forest.

Naturally the park itself is filled with activities, hiking trails and viewpoints. There’s so much to do in this park, one can go bird watching, try spotting some wildlife, paddle on the lake, see some waterfalls and there’s an array of bungalows for one to stay in.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is usually used as base for travelers looking to explore the stunning hills of the surrounding areas, the beautiful cultural artifacts and monuments. It’s such a stunning part of the country which offers so much culture and life. This is a region of Thailand that still has so many remains from its history of being the religious and cultural center.

Wat Phra, Chiang mai., Thailand.

A historical golden monument.

Bangkok

What is there to say about Bangkok that hasn’t been said already ? It’s the economic, cultural and financial hub of Thailand. Even with it’s bustling city vibe, there’s still so much soul and authenticity in this interesting metropolis. Bangkok has a really special feeling to it, no matter who you are, what you like, it has something for you.

Bangkok coffee shop, Thailand.

A retro bar in Khaosan road.

You’ll never run out of activities in this city, beautiful palaces and temples, breathtaking canals, gorgeous rooftop bars, incredible food markets, it’s all here.

Night flea market in Bangkok, Thailand.

Stunning colours at the night market.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Built in 2008 to honor his majesty.

This is a small delightful city in the Chiang Rai Province, which is in the northern part of Thailand. It’s usually used by backpackers as a base to explore the more remote areas of the province and to travel neighboring countries.

The city is near the borders of Laos and Myanmar, which makes it a city rich in diversity. The Wat Rong Khun (pictured below) is a must see temple, with its modern looking white design.

White temple, Chiang rai, Thailand.

Arguably one of the most easily recognized temples in Thailand.

Ayutthaya

Just 50 miles north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya is is very historical city in Thailand, it was an unrivaled international trading post for more than 3 centuries until it was attacked by the Burmese people. The ancient city has old ruins that form part of what is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is obviously a huge draw for tourism, but one can still get a sense of being isolated while exploring this once great region.

Autthaya, Thailand

A place of spiritual healing.

Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is in the beautiful province of the same name. It’s a very laid back part of the country, with waterfalls, swimming spots and national parks in abundance. Tourists often visit this city to get away from the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities in the country.

Due to its landscape and aura, you’re more likely to find riverside backpackers than you will five-star resorts. There are many museums in the town, but the most visited place is “the bridge over the river Kwai” (pictured below) which was made famous by the Hollywood movie of the same name, which was filmed there.

bridge over the river Kwai, Thailand

The bridge over the river Kwai.

Thai Islands

White sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, cocktails flowing all day and candle lit restaurants. That is just some of the things to expect on the Thai islands.

Thai Islands are probably the biggest draw to this magnificent country. Thailand has so many Islands, each with such different settings and vibes. Whether you looking to party till the early hours of the morning, be on a quite romantic getaway, taste some of the most delicious Thai food or just go diving and snorkeling, there’s an island for every mood.

Similan Islands, Thailand.

It’s hard to imagine a more dreamy place.

Doi Inthanon National Park

This is a stunning part of the country, less then 40 miles from Chiang Mai, the park includes some fascinating waterfalls and obviously the Doi Inthanon mountain, which is the highest peak in the country (8,415 ft). The park also ranks in second for bird species in Thailand.

The park was built in 1972 in order to preserve the area while also making it accessible for tourists. The Mae Klang Falls and Wachiratan Falls are 2 of the most visited falls in the park.

Doi inthanon national park, Thailand.

Reaches a peak of 12, 000 people climbing to the top on New years Day.

Hat Yai

There’s something very distinct and special about Hat Yai, there aren’t many towns in the world that can blend modern buildings and local markets with such ease and authenticity. The city itself is very synonymous with shopping, with so many malls, markets and department stores, both foreigners and locals flock here to do their shopping.

The other attractions include the Khlong Hae floating market, where vendors sell their delicious Thai food off of their boats.

 

Khlong Hae floating market, Hat Yai, Thailand.

A colorful market with divine food.

Phraya Nakhon Cave

This is one of the most mystical yet beautiful places in all of Thailand, but it takes a little dedication to get there, hence why not many people have seen it. There’s a few steps to get through before you reach the cave.

First is to drive to the small beach village of Bang Pu, the hike into the cave starts at Leam Sala Beach, theres two options to get to this beach, either taking a 30 min hike over a hill or taking a boat around the cape. Once you are there, you climb 430m of uneven steps that take you right into the cave. When you reach the cave, you will be blessed with one of the most breathtaking scenes you’ll ever see.

If you’re doing our TESOL course and orientation in Thailand, this is only a short drive away and you’ll find many of your course-mates will make the trip out here on one of the weekend breaks. It’s well worth it, take it from us!

Phraya Nakhon cave, thailand.

Nothing like it in the world.

Make ‘the land of Smiles’ your new home

Fully immerse yourself with the Thai culture by teaching English in Thailand. This is easily one of the most beautiful countries on the planet and with our program you get to live and travel here. Not only that, you also get paid considerably well. Checkout our video below to see what teaching English in Thailand is like with TravelBud:

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About Ntobeko Ntombela

Ntobeko is TravelBud's marketing intern and is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Digital Marketing. Read more about him and other TravelBud authors.

He handles TravelBud's social media, blog writing and general content creation. Check out the inspiring stories he's created on the TravelBud Instagram page, featuring TravelBud alumni and their incredible experiences teaching and volunteering abroad.

He's done a fair bit of travel in his life, having explored Thailand, the UK, Italy, France and Germany.

His favorite place so far? That would be Rome, Italy but coming in a close second, thanks to a few memorable nights out, would be Phuket, Thailand.

Filed under  Thailand • Travel 

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