Beautiful nature, clean beaches, impressive religious buildings, cheap shopping and original local cuisine - this is not a complete list of reasons why tourists from all over the world visit the Kingdom of Thailand.
For a leisurely family vacation, the beach resorts of Samui, Hua Hin, Phuket and Krabi are suitable. The water and sand are clean, and the comfortable hotels offer their guests a special children's menu and entertainment programs. Lovers of various activities will also find things to do in Thailand. In the country, you can go water skiing, go to the mountains, go windsurfing and diving, hang gliding or play golf.
You can see animals in Thailand not only at the zoo. Snake and crocodile farms, Elephant Village, Butterfly Garden and Tiger Sanctuary all demonstrate that even wild animals can be friendly.
Thai cuisine is a mixture of Malaysian, Chinese, Burma and Laos culinary styles, and many dishes are spicy. In many hotels, Thai cuisine courses are held for everyone, which will allow you to enjoy the originality of Thai dishes upon returning home.
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What to see in Thailand?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
Historic city of Ayuthaya
At a distance of 70 kilometers from Bangkok is the historic city of Ayuthaya. There are many Buddhist temple complexes here, the largest of which are the monasteries of Wat Rachaburana and Wat Na Phra Meru. In the very center of the city is Vang Luang - the Grand Palace, where the royal family lived in the 13th century.
Historic city of Sukhothai
Since 1238, when a Khmer village was located in these places, the history of the ancient city of Sukhothai begins. The city flourished in the XIII-XIV centuries, when Sukhothai was the capital of the kingdom of the same name. The main local attraction is the Wat Mahathat temple and the huge Buddha statue located at Wat Si Chum.
Koh Samui
This beautiful place became popular in the 1990s when the first tourists arrived on Koh Samui. Since then, the island's attendance has only increased, which is not surprising, because there are about 30 beaches for every taste. So, for a family vacation, Chaweng Beach is perfect, and for surfers - Lamai. Other sights of Samui include Wat Khunaram, the Oceanarium, the Big Buddha statue and the funny Grandmother and Grandfather rock.
Phuket island
This is one of the most popular resorts in Thailand, it is located in the Andaman Sea off the west coast of the country. In addition to relaxing on well-equipped beaches, on the island of Phuket, tourists are attracted by historical and cultural attractions, wonderful diving sites, world-class golf courses, as well as inexpensive shopping.
Phang Nga Bay
In the northeast of Phuket is Phang Nga Bay, which is part of the national park. More than 100 picturesque islands located in the bay attract many tourists from all over the world to these places. Here you can see mangroves, canoe in the bay, and visit the water-built village of Ko Panyi.
James Bond Island (Ko Tapu)
The small limestone island of Ko-Tapu, located in Phang Nga Bay, is visited by almost every tourist in Thailand. This island gained its extraordinary popularity after the release of the film about the adventures of James Bond. A visit to Ko-Tapu is usually part of a tour of Phang Nga Bay.
Royal Palace in Bangkok
One of the most visited Thai attractions is the Royal Palace in Bangkok, also known as the Grand Palace. This vast complex of buildings is currently used by the royal family for ceremonies and state receptions.
Vimanmek Palace
A popular place in Bangkok is Vimanmek Palace. It is the largest building in the world built of teak wood without a single nail. Currently, the Vimanmek Palace has been turned into a museum, accessible to everyone who wants to see it. Photography and video filming are prohibited inside, and to visit this place you must dress in closed clothes.
White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
The unusually beautiful White Temple, as it is also called Wat Rong Khun, is located in the city of Chiang Rai in the north of the country. This building was conceived by the artist Chalermchay Kositpipat and brought to life at his own expense in 1997. The 2014 earthquake severely destroyed Wat Rong Khun, and in order to reconstruct the building, restoration work began at the temple.
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phrakeu)
The temple is located in the historic center of Bangkok. Inside Wat Phrakeu, as this place is called in Thai, there is a 66-centimeter statue of Buddha, carved in the 15th century from the solid mineral "jadeite". Inside, the temple is decorated with wall paintings, the windows and doors of the building are decorated with patterns, and the entrance is guarded by bronze lions.
Temple of Truth (Pattaya)
On the shores of the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by a park, is the Temple of Truth. Its height is 105 meters, construction began in 1981 and is still ongoing. The Temple of Truth is made of wood and decorated with carved sculptures and ornaments. The idea of such a construction belongs to the Thai entrepreneur Lek Viriyapan.
Sunrise Temple
One of the most beautiful temples in the capital is the Sunrise Temple. Thais call it Wat Arun, and this place has gained fame thanks to its colorful 79-meter pagoda, decorated with multi-colored porcelain and ceramic tiles. The date of construction of this impressive structure is not exactly known and dates back to the middle of the 19th century.
Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit)
The world's largest golden statue can be seen at Wat Traimit in the country's capital. The Golden Buddha, presumably made in the 13th century, weighs more than 5 tons. To ensure the preservation of the statue during the troubled wartime in the 18th century, the Buddha was covered with a layer of plaster. Only in 1957 it became known that the plaster statue, inconspicuous from the outside, was actually made of gold.
Temple of the Reclining Buddha in Bangkok
The Buddhist temple, located next to the Grand Palace in the center of Bangkok, has a special meaning for Thais. It was here, in the temple of the reclining Buddha, that General Chakri in 1782 proclaimed himself King Rama I. Wat Pho, as this place is called in Thai, was erected in the 12th century, making the temple the oldest in Thailand. The 46-meter Nirvana awaiting Buddha is the main attraction of Wat Pho.
Wat Chalong Temple
In the south of Phuket Island there is one of the most popular local temples - Wat Chalong. The exact date of the construction of this structure is unknown, and the first written mention of Wat Chalong dates back to 1837. In 1846, the temple received its royal status, but the main popularity of this place was brought by its abbot and physician Luang Pho Chem.
Wat Mahathat
In 1374, in ancient Ayuttia, the construction of the Wat Mahathat temple began, and already in 1767, military operations almost completely destroyed this structure. Many of the Buddha statues from this temple were smashed or tumbled to the ground. During the desolation of Wat Mahathat, one of the Buddha's heads was entwined with roots and in the process of growing the tree rose above the ground. Today, the head of the Buddha, entwined with roots, is considered one of the symbols of the city of Ayutthaya.
Bridge over the river Kwai
The railway bridge over the River Kwai was erected during World War II as part of the construction of a road between Thailand and Burma. All work was carried out by the forces of prisoners of war, and many people died at this construction site.In 1944, the bridge was bombed, but subsequently three destroyed sections were rebuilt. The popularity of the bridge on the River Kwai was brought by the 1957 Oscar-winning film.
Chatuchak Market
One of the most popular places in Thailand is the huge Bangkok Chatuchak Market. Here you can buy national clothes, paintings, dishes, glassware, ceramics, leather and metal, as well as antiques, silk and even animals. It is better to plan a visit to Chatuchak in the morning, but it would be good to leave valuables and large sums of money in the hotel safe for security reasons.
Floating market in Pattaya
A picturesque and rather noisy place is the floating market in Pattaya. This type of trade is traditional for Thais, but for tourists it will be a wonder. Both sellers and buyers can transact by sailing boats. The pavilions with goods are located on piles, and wooden flooring is used as sidewalks.
Bangkok National Museum
In 1874, the Bangkok National Museum was established, which is considered one of the richest museums in Southeast Asia. The three permanent exhibition galleries display household items, jewelry, weapons and ceramics, as well as national musical instruments and even vehicles. The museum welcomes visitors from Wednesday to Sunday.
Lumpini Park
At the beginning of the 20th century, King Rama VI issued a decree on the creation of the park. For Lumpini Park, as this place was later called, an area of 57 hectares was used, which was personally in the possession of the king. Now there are equipped places for tennis, treadmills, outdoor exercise equipment, playgrounds, a library, and from February to March in the park you can dance to the performance of a symphony orchestra.
Magic Buddha Garden on Koh Samui
In the very heart of Koh Samui, far from the noisy tourist centers of the island, the Magic Buddha Garden is located. This quiet place for meditation and seclusion began to be built in 1976 by a local resident Nim Thongsuk. The garden is decorated with Buddhist sculptures and gazebos for relaxation. It is quite difficult to get to the Magic Garden of Buddha on your own, so tourists are better off using the services of a guide to visit this place.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
About 240 hectares are occupied by the Nong Nooch tropical garden, located near Pattaya. In 1980, the garden was opened to the public. There are special areas for orchids, cacti, butterflies, birds, aquatic plants, bonsai and even flower pot installations. The children of the local elephant farm can dance, paint, play football, basketball and darts.
Snake farm in Pattaya
The most interesting thing that awaits guests of the snake farm in Pattaya after the main excursion is the tamer show. The snake trainer demonstrates to the visitors of the farm the complete obedience of his dangerous and poisonous pets. There is also a shop on the farm where you can profitably purchase snakeskin products.
Elephant village in Pattaya
In the 70s of the XX century, a private elephant sanctuary was created in Pattaya, where old or sick animals were determined. The Elephant Village is located not far from the city center, and the entrance price varies depending on the visit program. Here you can watch an amazing show performed by elephants, feed and ride them, as well as watch these huge animals swimming and feeding.
Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm
Not far from the center of Pattaya, you can visit a popular entertainment place among tourists - the Park of Millions of Years Stones and a crocodile farm, which are located on the same territory. The beautiful landscape of the park is highly regarded by lovers of beautiful photographs. And on the farm, you can feed the crocodiles or watch a fascinating show with their participation.
Siam Ocean World Aquarium in Bangkok
One of the largest aquariums in Southeast Asia is located in the Siam Paragon shopping center in Bangkok. Seven zones of the aquarium will tell visitors about the most amazing inhabitants of the aquatic space. Siam Ocean World offers glass bottom aquarium boat rides, fish feeding or scuba diving with an instructor.
Mini Siam
A complex of miniature landmarks around the world was built in Pattaya in 1986. Two parts of one park - Mini Siam and Mini Europe - are located near the city center. In one part of the park, the most significant sights of Thailand are presented, and in the second, tourists will be able to "visit" famous places in Africa, the USA, Russia, France and other countries.
Big Buddha in Phuket
The seated Buddha temple complex is one of the most notable landmarks in Phuket. From almost anywhere on the island, you can see the Big Buddha statue, as the Thais themselves call this structure. Here you can not only visit the operating temple, but also admire the beautiful panorama of the city spread out below.
Tarutau National Marine Park
In the south of Thailand, there is a group of 51 islands, united in 1974 in the Tarutau National Marine Park. There was once a prison on the islands, whose inhabitants became violent sea pirates in the 1940s. Nowadays Tarutau attracts nature and diving lovers here.
Khao Yai National Park
The first national park established in the Kingdom of Thailand. It was opened in 1962 in the north-east of the country and covers an area of more than 200 hectares. Tigers, bears, elephants, gibbons and wild pigs live here. For tourists, in addition to other entertainments, night safaris along Khao Yai are possible.
Similan archipelago
Since 1982, the islands of the Similan archipelago have been declared the territory of a national park. It is one of the best scuba diving sites in the world. The best time to visit the Similan Islands is from January to April, when the dry part of the year lasts. The most convenient way to get to the park is by boat from the port of Tap Lamu.
Railay Beach
In the province of Krabi, there is a peninsula separated by rocks from the rest of the land. Here are the Railay beaches, famous for their clean sand. These places are perfect for a leisurely family vacation. The most popular beaches in the area are Railay West and Pra Nang. You can also go snorkeling or rock climbing here.
Khao Kheow Zoo
The Khao Kheo Open Zoo is about 800 hectares and includes water bodies, pastures, lawns and natural jungle. About 8 thousand animals live here, and visitors are transported by special electric vehicles so that tourists can comfortably meet all the inhabitants of the zoo. In Khao Kheo, you can buy special food and feed the animals.
Jim Thompson House Museum
At the end of World War II, American Jim Thompson came to Thailand, where he decided to start producing and supplying silk to America and Europe. Thanks to his company, the country's silk industry began to revive. Today, Jim Thompson's home is a popular tourist destination. Here you can see a museum, a shop with samples of silk products and a collection of antiques.
Andaman sea
This semi-enclosed sea of the Indian Ocean is relatively shallow, and the water temperature fluctuates between 26-29 degrees Celsius. Such natural conditions make it an almost ideal holiday destination, especially during the dry and calm period from December to March. On the Andaman Sea there are such Thai resorts as Krabi, Phuket, Lanta and Phi Phi.
Ti Lo Su waterfall
Not far from the mountain village of Umpang, there is a very beautiful Thai waterfall Ti Lo Su, consisting of several cascades. Getting to the waterfall is quite difficult, but this does not stop those who want to see this picturesque place with their own eyes. During the rainy season, when Ti Lo Su is at its fullest, the route is closed here in order to guarantee the safety of tourists.
Erawan waterfall
Seven-cascade waterfall Erawan is located in the west of Thailand on the territory of the national park of the same name. On the first two cascades of Erawan, picnics are often held, but it is forbidden to carry food and drinks higher. A special route has been laid to inspect the waterfall, and several guest houses await tourists wishing to spend the night in the national park.
Walking Street
One of the most famous places in Pattaya is Walking Street. It is located in the central area of the city and offers its guests a wide variety of nightlife adventures: strip shows, discos or sex performances in go-go bars. Walking Street is quite safe, but it's better not to bring large sums of money here.
Tiffany show in Pattaya
In the northern part of Pattaya, there is a theater building where one of the most famous transvestite cabarets performs. The first performances of the Tiffany Show took place back in the 1970s, and since then the popularity of this place has grown all the time. Tickets for the daily evening Tiffany Shows are available at many of the city's hotels.
