Golden Mount (Wat Saket)
Golden Mount (Wat Saket) The Golden Mount - or Wat Saket - was constructed by King Rama I shortly after the founding of Bangkok. Built just outside the original city walls and intended as a burial site, the mount has many thousands of bodies interned here - most of them dating from Rama IIs rule w
Siam Niramit
Siam Niramit Open to the public each and every day, the 2,000 seat Siam Niramit, or the Enchanted Kingdom, is a state-of-the art theatre yielding one of the largest stage productions on the planet. The show, a captivating 80-minute adventure through the history and culture of Thailand in high-flyi
Rose Garden
Rose Garden The Rose Garden is a worthwhile day trip from the capital. Not a botanical garden as the name suggests (although there are roses in a well-maintained and beautiful garden), its a cultural center that provides a one-stop shop for learning and experiencing all things Thai. If you visit t
Bridge on the River Kwai
Bridge on the River Kwai Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province is home to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai and the beginning of the Thai-Burma Death Railway, both poignant reminders of the thousands of POWs and forced laborers who lost their lives during World War II.Made famous by the 1957 David Le
Chiang Dao Elephant Camp
Chiang Dao Elephant Camp The elephant training center at Chiang Dao combines training and jungle activities, with a one-on-one elephant encounter you’ll never forget. The Chiang Dao Elephant Camps crew of 32 elephants help log the surrounding teak forests and provide elephant rides through their n
Phang Nga Bay
Phang Nga Bay Phang Nga Bay is a classic Southeast Asian bay - bright jade water, limestone pinnacles and all. A large part of it has been protected as a national park. Notable islands in Phang Nga Bay include the so-called James Bond Island (its featured in The Man with the Golden Gun) and Koh P
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi Located in western Thailand, Kanchanaburi is the capital of the province of the same name. Built at the intersection of the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai Rivers, the area became known as the birthplace of the Buddhist monk Phrabhavanaviriyakhun, and a number of shrines were built in grottoes
Wat Umong
Wat Umong This Buddhist temple near Doi Suthep mountain is also known as the “Tunnel Temple,” both for its unique network of underground tunnels and its location in the forest. There is a large stupa to visit, as well as “talking trees,” which feature words of wisdom in both Thai and English. Monk
Railay Beach
Railay Beach Railay sits on a peninsula between the busy tourist centers of Krabi and Ao Nang, but because of its fairytale limestone cliffs, it’s only accessible by boat. The four interconnected beaches that make up Railay Beach (West Railay, East Railay, Phra Nang and Tonsai) have a distinctly b
Mae Kampong Village
Mae Kampong Village Tucked away in the forested hills just outside of Chiang Mai sits Mae Kampong Village, a high-altitude village founded more than 100 years ago as a tea orchard. Today, it’s still famous for producing pickled tea leaves, which in Northern Thailand are chewed much like betel nut.
Huay Tung Tao Lake
Huay Tung Tao Lake Beneath the shadow of Doi Suthep sits Huay Tung Tao Lake, a manmade reservoir popular as a swimming and picnicking area favored by locals and expats looking for a break from Chiang Mai. On a sunny day, it’s common to see groups of Thais sitting on the banks of the lake dining on
Hall of Opium Museum
Hall of Opium Museum Set at the intersection of Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar) known as the “Golden Triangle,” the Hall of Opium Museum seeks to inform its visitors about the history and effects of the opium seed. The Golden Triangle area is historically well-known for its role in the gro
Ao Luk
Ao Luk Located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Krabi, Ao Luk provides visitors a playground of outdoor adventures. 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, eco-tourists find abundant
Chalong Bay
Chalong Bay The cloudy waters surrounding Chalong Bay—Phuket’s main boat dock—make snorkeling and diving nearly impossible, but a majority of the area’s diving trips depart from this port, taking travelers to clearer seas. Visitors to this popular stop will find dozens of docked ships and may even
Baanchang Elephant Park
Baanchang Elephant Park Not all elephant parks in Thailand are created equal—in fact, the popular activity can sometimes lead to deplorable conditions for these gentle giants—but at Bannchang Elephant Park and Day Care, some 45 miles north of Chiang Mai in Mae Taeng, you can feel good about your v
Skytrain
Skytrain The kinetic city of Bangkok has plenty of transportation options. Whether it’s balancing aboard the back of a moto or relaxing in the air-conditioned comfort of a minibus with music blasting, this is a city that’s made to move. Travelers agree that the easiest, safest and cheapest way to
Siam Square
Siam Square Siam Square is often referred to by locals as the center of Bangkok due to its central BTS sky train sop. The area also has a way of just drawing people in as a major entertainment and shopping mecca for consumers looking to buy anything from designer jeans to knockoff watches. Its a p
MBK Center
MBK Center In a city full of posh shopping center, MBK Center (Ma Boon Khrong Center) is more than just your average shopping mall. It is eight stories high and contains 2000 shops and restaurants selling clothing, watches, shoes and electronics. Its enormity and reputation as a great place for a
Baipai Thai Cooking School
Baipai Thai Cooking School The Baipai Thai Cooking School in Bangkok provides a unique approach to Thai cooking that differs to 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
Khao San Road
Khao San Road Budget travelers the world over go to Khao San Road to eat delicious, cheap street food, stay in budget digs, shop at the souvenir stalls and hang out in its open-air bars. So legendary is this Thai street, it even has its own website! Only 20 minutes walk to the Grand Palace, Khao S
