Everyone can find something to love in Thailand—from the mountains and beaches to vibrant cities, wildlife-rich national parks, and adorable towns. It even has some of the nicest streets in the world and is a vacation destination that many of people have on their bucket list. There is a lot to do in the Land of Smiles but our top four places are:
- Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is one of the oldest cities in Thailand and if you a history lover, then this UNESCO site is for you. Fly into Bangkok and then head on up to this town to explore vivid ruins while feeling like you are visiting Siam's golden age while climbing the stupas of Wat Yai Chai Mongkorn. If you need a break from Siam then check out the floating markets in the Old Portuguese and Old Dutch areas.
- Mae Hong Son Province
Found on the boarder of Myanmar / Burma, the mountainous and remote Northern Thai province is home to the Shan's (also known as Tai Long or Tai Yai) who make up Myanmar's largest minority race. The city of Pai is a huge draw due to beautiful architecture and nature like the hot springs, Pai canyon, waterfalls, and even tubing down the river or hiking the mountains. Here you will find a lot of people who live a laid-back life and love nature so you would not be surprised if I told you that it was once a hippie hotspot.
- Phuket Island
Pronounced Poo-k-et and not FuckIt, this is the largest island in the country and features quite a few different things to do depending on what you are looking for. The island is known for clubs, bars, a variety of restaurants, world class entertainment, go-karting, hiking, snorkeling, fishing, jet skiing, and it is one of the few places to feature ethical elephant interactions. If you are debating which area to focus on:- Patong: water sports and hedonistic nightlife
- Karon Beach: relaxing and chill
- Freedom Beach: take a boat to this beautiful island beach
- Kathu Beach: gorgeous views
- Krabi Province
Krabi Province is found in Southern Thailand and has a few islands that fall within it.- Koh Phi Phi: known as one of the most picturesque islands in Thailand
- Koh Lanta: slower way of life; long, sandy beaches; mangroves; laid back beach bars; Moken community (roughly 2-3,000 Austronesian people who live a semi-nomadic lifestyle)
- Railay: great for rock climbing
- Krabi Town: authentic Thai feeling
- Ao Nang: best beach resort
- Koh Rok & Koh Jum: generally not visited by tourists
