The Top 15 Most Beautiful Places in Thailand
It’s a wonderful country with beautiful nature, islands, history, culture, wildlife, tasty food, and much more. I’ve compiled this list of 15 incredible locations to visit in Thailand to help you plan your trip. Some are pretty normal, but most will ensure you have a varied schedule and see what this great country offers.
- Lopburi
Lopburi is an old city that has existed for at least 3,500 years. Tourists may know it best today for the large number of monkeys who live in Prang Sam Yod, also called the Monkey Temple. It’s like a scene from Mowgli, but macaques live in the temple instead of the Orangutans and King Louie. Even once a year, there is a celebration where long tables with food to feed monkeys are set up.
- White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
The famous Chalermchai Kositpipat built a fascinating temple. It is also called Wat Rong Khun. It could be an old temple, but it was built only a few years ago. Even so, it’s still worth going because the building is a work of art unlike anything else. One of the most famous places for tourists to visit in Chiang Rai is the White Temple.
- Elephant Nature Park
If you are going to Chiang Mai, plan a day trip or an overnight stay at Elephant Nature Park. It is one of the most ethical preserves in the world, and they have saved Thai elephants from tree cutting, shows, and other harmful situations. When you get close to these beautiful animals, you can see how happy they are to walk around the Elephant Nature Park independently.
- Thi Lo Su Waterfall
During the rainy period, when the water flow is at its highest, it is the best time to go to Thi Lo Su. But you should know that the waterfall is far from people and takes a long time. So, if you don’t have enough time to see the whole country, I suggest you visit other places in Thailand.
- Ayutthaya
One of the most pleasant day trips from Bangkok is to Ayutthaya, one of my favorite places to go in Thailand. The churches are beautiful; seeing them is like going back in time. Here is also where the famous Buddha’s head cut into a tree can be seen. Ayutthaya was also Siam’s second central city.
- Railway Market
The train market has gone global because of Instagram and other social media. But I can promise you it’s more than just a place to take a shot for Instagram. There are many train markets, but the Maeklong Train Market is the most well-known.
People live along the train tracks and sell flowers, vegetables, and other things. You should hang out with the locals instead of just coming here to photograph the train as it passes the market. Visiting this place and learning about how people live there daily is interesting.
- Maya Bay
Maya Bay is one of the most well-known places in Thailand. After the trip movie, The Beach by Leonardo di Caprio came out in the early 2000s; tourists went there more than anywhere else. Since then, it has become among the most famous tourist spots in the country.
- Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon National Park, the largest mountain in the country, is another excellent place to visit in the province of Chiang Mai. It’s beautiful, with amazing views and green, animal- and plant-filled nature.
- Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok is a different national park you should take advantage of, especially if you’re going around southern Thailand. Here, you’ll find nature in its purest form and a wide range of animals. Imagine enormous karsts made of limestone, old bamboo woods, and a beautiful lake that will take your breath away. It is best to go to Khao Sok from November to April when it is dry.
- Pai
Pai is a small town in the highlands of northern Thailand that has become a home for backpackers. Even though the wildlife around Pai is beautiful, many backpackers come here over the party scene and laid-back atmosphere.
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
There are local markets all over the world, but the floating markets in Thailand are something special. The Damnoen Saduak is among the most famous water markets, and it’s easy to get there from Bangkok.
- Railay Beach
This is the most well-known and best beach in Thailand. I love Railay Beach, and although it can get busy, it’s still lovely to sit in the sand and look at the rock karsts. From Krabi or Ao Nang, it’s easy to get here by boat. You can also stay at a hotel right next to Railay Beach.
- Phanom Rung
This is one of Thailand’s most impressive Khmer buildings. From the 10th to the 13th centuries, it was built in the style of Angkor as a Hindu temple to Shiva. The Hindu gods Vishnu and Shiva and scenes from the Ramayana are carved into the walls of the inner refuge.
- Hong Islands
If you’re going to Krabi or Phuket, you must go to Hong Islands. You can visit some of the world’s most beautiful beaches on these islands and see old rock karsts and lush nature. You can go to the Hong Islands by renting a private boat or taking a group tour from several places in Krabi and Phuket. There are daily boat tours, and they often stop at more than one island.
- Mae-Jam Rice terraces
Asia is known for its beautiful rice terraces, and Mae-Jam may be the best place in Thailand to see them. Mae Jam is in the province of Chiang Mai. I recommend going there for a day trip to the city, or even better, spending overnight with a local family and having a homestay experience.
