Splash Jungle Water Park's exhilarating rides–including Boomerango and the Superbowl–and the six-level wave pool attract hundreds of visitors to this coastal Phuket destination every day. Themed rides give a nod to the ancient Mayans, lush landscapes of Turkey, old-world architecture of Northern Europe, and the culture and colors of Africa.
While Krabi might bring to mind images of idyllic beaches, Ao Luk is more about the jungle, especially within Than Bok Khorani National Park. Here, you’ll find trails, waterfalls, caves, mangrove forests, and the swimmable Bok Khorani pond. The park also contains a series of small islands popular for kayaking, snorkeling, and diving.
An acrobatic, dramatic journey through Thai history and culture, performed in a 1,740-seat theater, the Siam Niramit Phuket stage show is a visual feast. Around 100 performers in gorgeous, ever-changing costumes explore ancient kingdoms, Buddhist hell, traditional festivals, and more, backed by epic effects and sumptuous sets.
Situated on the slopes of Doi Suthep, the Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium is Thailand’s oldest zoo and a favorite with visiting families. Hundreds of species are represented between the zoological park and its aquarium, including a pair of giant pandas. The aquarium’s 436-foot-long (133-meter-long) aquatic tunnel ranks among the longest in the world.
With hot spring pools flowing through landscaped grounds in graceful cascades, Wareerak Hot Spring Spa (formally, Wareerak Hot Spring & Wellness is a serene haven for relaxation. Available treatments range from hot-stone massage to Thai traditional medicine at the day spa or check in for a multi-day detox, yoga, or wellness retreat.
Amid the rolling peaks of the Daen Lao Rang mountains, Doi Mae Salong is the gateway to some of Northern Thailand’s most scenic landscapes. The village of Mae Salong is known for its rich Chinese heritage, while the surrounding highlands abound with jungle-clad slopes, hillside tea plantations, and ethnic minority villages.
Set amid the hills and rice paddies of Northern Thailand, the village of Baan Thong Luang is home to four hill tribe groups including the Karen tribe, known for wearing brass rings designed to elongate their necks. The village was established as a cultural preservation project in 2005 to help maintain the traditions of ancient hill tribes.
On the Nan River in the north of Thailand, Phitsanulok sits against a landscape of mountains, rice fields, and forests— a place that was home to a settlement of Khmer people in the 10th century. Centuries later, the capital of the Sukhothai kingdom moved here, and the Ayutthaya kingdom later declared it as its capital too.
Set in the 3,000-seat Palace of the Elephants Theater at the Thai-themed Phuket FantaSea amusement park, the family-friendly Fantasy of a Kingdom stage show presents a mythical tale that blends traditional Thai dance, music, and costumes with colorful special effects, magical illusions, and pyrotechnics. As well as watching the show, you can explore a shopping street and feast on Thai cuisine at two buffet restaurants.
Home to a collection of more than 2,000 teddy bears spread across 13 different themed zones, the Pattaya Teddy Bear Museum (also known as Teddy Island) is exactly what it sounds like. Unlike at traditional toy museums, though, where exhibits are kept behind glass, here visitors are free to pose with the bears. There’s a well-equipped gift store, too.
The private Tweechol Botanic Garden, founded in 1997, encompasses 114 acres (46 hectares) of manicured gardens, lakes with paddleboats, bike trails, and playful topiaries, making it one of the largest gardens in Thailand. A standout of the collection are the 107 varieties of palm trees from around the world. The petting zoo is popular with young visitors.
Chiang Mai’s original 3D art museum, Art in Paradise Chiang Mai, features different categories of optical illusion artwork designed by South Korean artists. The illustrations are interactive, designed for visitors to “step inside” them and feel like a part of the art. In addition to Thai and Lanna, Art in Paradise offers underwater, zoo, dinosaurs, surrealism, classic artwork, and Egyptian categories.
Spend an evening watching Thailand’s national sport—Muay Thai, aka Thai kickboxing—at Thapae Stadium, one of the top spots in Chiang Mai to catch a few matches. Nearly every day of the week, the stadium puts on several show fights and traditional matches featuring a range of fighters, both men and women.
Covering 8 acres (3 hectares) of downtown Hua Hin, Vana Nava Water Jungle is one of Thailand’s largest water parks. In addition to around 20 slides and rides, some of which will thrill even adults, the park has a kids’ zone, food options, massage stations, and retail outlets. The adventure area features a ropes course, surf simulator, and climbing wall.
Wat Thaton, a sprawling Buddhist temple complex located in the forested hills near Thailand’s border with Myanmar, sits overlooking the village of Ban Thaton and the Mae Kok River. The complex of pagodas, temples, stupas, and shrines is built on nine levels, offering stunning views over the surrounding countryside.
According to local legend, the founder of Chiang Mai had a vision for the city on the hill that Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong sits atop. In addition to offering panoramic views, the Lanna-style temple is home to a 14th-century golden stupa.
The Saturday and Sunday Walking Street Markets rank among the most popular in Chiang Mai, attracting tourists and locals who come to bargain for handicrafts, local products, herbs, and souvenirs; socialize; or fill up on Northern Thai street-food favorites. Buskers often set up to sing traditional Northern Thai songs or play local instruments.
Often considered one of the best shopping malls in the world, ICONSIAM (Icon Siam Mall) is home to more than 7,000 stores, covering everything from high fashion and homeware to herbal remedies. It’s perched on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, and you can enjoy sweeping views of the Bangkok body of water from one of the many bars and restaurants on its upper decks.
History buffs won’t want to miss the Chiang Mai National Museum, which houses an impressive collection of Lanna artifacts from throughout Northern Thailand. The museum is divided into six sections covering topics such as ancient settlements in Chiang Mai, geography and ecology, the Lanna Kingdom, Lanna fine art, and life in modern Chiang Mai.
The Bangkok NANTA Theatre stages NANTA shows, a non-verbal comedy musical that originated in South Korea. Nanta means 'to strike relentlessly' in Korean, and this instrumental performance, which uses a kitchen as a backdrop, uses everything from knives to traditional water drums to create a raucous show.
Mu Ko Lanta National Park covers an area of 83 square miles (134 square kilometers). Encompassing a range of popular, well-maintained diving spots, the area is a rewarding place to explore for those willing or eager to get off the beaten track.
Every Saturday and Sunday, a road in east Phuket comes to life with the sights, sounds, and smells of Thai culture. At Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market, you’ll find fragrant street food stalls offering everything from pad thai to papaya salad, and local artisans selling hand-crafted souvenirs.
Located in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Mae Sa Waterfall consists of eight tiers that cascade over rocks in the midst of the jungle. A well-worn path leads from the lowest fall to the highest, and each tier is marked by a sign. Since the individual falls are not that high or fast-moving, they are ideal—and popular—for swimming.
Discovering minority culture is a highlight of many visits to Chiang Mai, and Ban Hmong Mae Sa Mai village, located within Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, lets travelers do that with ease. Just an hour’s drive from downtown Chiang Mai, it’s home to people from the Hmong minority, an ethnic group with origins in southern China. Many villagers still wear traditional costumes.
The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden conducts research to conserve Thailand’s extensive natural plant resources. Visitors can walk through an indoor southern Thai forest, see the country’s largest public display of orchids (more than 400 species), and stroll footpaths past azaleas, rhododendrons, and many other flowering plants.
Perched in the highlands near Chiang Rai, the Choui Fong Tea Plantation has been producing some of Thailand’s highest quality teas for decades. Benefitting from the rich soil and climate of the region, the plantation grows a variety of teas that are handpicked and then blended by tea specialists from Taiwan.
A surfing hotspot in Thailand’s landlocked capital, Flow House Bangkok is an urban beach club that defies nature by creating ocean waves. As well as attracting surfers and bodyboarders with the FlowRider®, the club is a one-stop destination for drinking, dining, and even soaking up panoramic views of Bangkok.
The Baipai Thai Cooking School in Bangkok provides a unique approach to Thai cooking that differs from most other classes across Thailand. Using a hands-on teaching method, it offers a home-style learning environment and teaches dishes not usually covered by other cooking schools for tourists.
Opening its doors in 2012, the Phuket Botanic Garden offers a collection of rare and exotic plants, with everything from tropical palms to colorful orchids, presented over a series of 12 landscaped gardens. Highlights of the small garden include the paddy field and the koi pond, where visitors can purchase pellets and feed the fish.
Chaweng Beach (Hat Chaweng) is Koh Samui’s longest, and perhaps loveliest, beach. A clear blue-green sea, palm trees, coral reefs, and a lively nightlife scene come together to create a laid-back party vibe at Chaweng, the second-biggest resort hub on the island. Ideal for swimming and water sports, the 3-mile (5-kilometer) crescent of white sand is bookended by rocky headlands.
