Thailand Travel Guide to Top Tourist Attractions
Popularly called the land of smiles, Thailand is a shining ruby in Southeast Asia. Thanks to a flourishing tourism industry, the country is well-developed and offers all types of modern conveniences--but it's also yet amply wild to provide off-the-beaten-track adventures and rare travel experiences. Whatever is your prime reason here, whether it's for the unmatched southern beaches or the northern mountains, or villages, Thailand can't possibly disappoint.
Cities such as Chiang Mai and Bangkok are bustling beehives of commerce and activity, but you haven't truly seen anything yet unless you've hiked in the beautifully winding mountain trails or enjoyed direct contact with elephants or dolphins or those daring cute monkeys always stealing your food and electronic items. Thailand's attractions vary but each will handsomely reward you with an unforgettable experience in a unique way.
For some serious dose of inspiration while planning your next trip, review my Thailand travel guide to find the top tourist attractions in Thailand.
1) Railay Beach. In Krabi province you'll find some of the country's most famous beaches, of which Railay tops this list as being the most breathtaking. Regarded by many fans as one of Thailand's best beaches, Railay promises turquoise-blue water, pretty white sand, and the strange impression that you've landed on a piece of paradise without your feet touching the sand.
A boat ride beginning from either Ao Nang or Krabi town will take you to the island, plus the sea journey on a traditional long-tail boat is as fabulous as the one used to reach the shores.
Though the beach may be the chief motivation for visiting the island, Railay also is a hot spot for rock-climbing, with karst peaks luring both novice and experienced adventurers, ready to tackle the soaring limestone cliffs.
Among the several other activities to do here, Railay is famous for its scuba diving and snorkeling, kayaking and ocean rafting. In addition, tourists could enroll in cooking classes as well as indulge in a pleasant massage.
Also, there's the tourist-oriented Diamond Cave which visitors can reach by a lovely trail with great views. Tours will accommodate anyone wanting to explore between periods of sunbathing.
2) The Grand Palace. If you spend any amount of time in Bangkok, you certainly can't overlook the Grand Palace, which is the city's top-ranking attraction for two main reasons: staggering historical importance and craftsmanship.
The grounds happen to be a real maze of ancient relics, temples, and royal halls, the most significant being Wat Phra Kaeo, which is believed to have a fragment of bone or hair belonging to the enlightened Buddha.
Allow many hours to do full justice to the Grand Palace. If you're inclined for additional walking after the palace tour, you could easily enjoy other chief landmarks close by. Both the well-known Wat Arun and Wat Po, the Temple of the Dawn, are under a 10-minute stroll away.
3) Sunday Walking Street. Every Thailand tourist anticipates cheap and tasty food, and that's precisely what they could find aplenty at Sunday Night Walking Street in Chiang Mai. Merchants sell all types of treats here, ranging from pad Thai, chicken satay, samosas, sweet roti, fried bananas to fresh fruit shakes, usually for under $2 each.
After satisfying your hunger, you can explore numerous stalls selling a fair selection of unique items like essential oils, incense, all-natural soaps, wall hangings, paintings, musical instruments, and more.
But know that the market always gets crowded each week, regardless when you're visiting. This is a must-do while in Chiang Mai, as well as an important part of experiencing Thailand.
Also, you can explore the Saturday Night Walking Street, Night Bazaar located on Chang Klan Road, or try the less touristy Warorot Market, close to Mae Ping River.
4) Wild Elephants at Khao Yai National Park. Since elephants are clearly revered in Thailand, tourists will find paintings and statues of them everywhere, including in many temples and royal palaces. But for getting the ultimate, exciting experience, nothing beats the opportunity to observe elephants carrying on in their usual habitat, of which Khao Yai National Park now provides.
Here, you'll stumble across elephants wandering near rivers, monkeys, exotic birds, and many other tropical animals. Also, the park is home to several waterfalls of which include the 150-meter-high Haew Narok, but the better known one is Haew Suwat, featuring in the Leonardo DiCaprio's movie, The Beach.
If a single day is not nearly enough to enjoy it all, tourists can camp out at the national park and rise pretty early to watch the sun rising above the lush landscape.
5) Doi Suthep. Probably the most famous wat found in Chiang Mai lies on Doi Suthep, a mountain that overlooks the country's second-biggest city. It's a major destination for devoted Buddhists and tourists coming from everywhere around the world. Doi Suthep is no less than a marvel of elaborate religious carvings, so stopping here means observing worship rituals, monks praying, and an opportunity for gazing out beyond the ever-growing city of Chiang Mai.
Be sure to have on yourself a water bottle and bring your best walking shoes, for you'll be climbing a rather steep staircase for ascending to the peak of the mountain where the temple stands. At the foot of the stairs, expect sellers to hawk from delicious local sweets to homemade items. A shop also sells masks, home furnishings, and elephant carvings.
You have the option for combining your journey to Doi Suthep with visits to Doi Pui, a little Hmong village located in the mountains. You'll come across the Bhubing Palace on your path to Doi Pui, and it's open to tourists.
