Thailand
Thailand is a perfect vacation destination: you will find dreamy sandy beaches with the best conditions for exploring the underwater world, vast national parks with impressive biodiversity, magnificent temples and historic buildings as well as exciting cities like Bangkok, where tradition meets contemporary life. In Thailand, a vacation is as varied as it is unforgettable.
Discover the highlights of this versatile country!
Activities in Thailand
Attractions in Thailand
Highlights
Buddhist temple complex near Chiang Mai
The Grand Palace is one of the most visited attractions in Bangkok.
Sukhothai, the "cradle of Thailand“, was the first capital of the Siamese kingdom and was founded ...
Waterfall over seven levels in Si Nakharin National Park
Thailand's beautiful islands - a paradise for beach vacationers
When people think of Thailand, they usually first associate the country with a relaxing beach vacation. This is not surprising, because on the many islands of Thailand there are numerous sandy beaches, picturesque bays and turquoise sea. Whether you prefer to just lie lazily in the sun, explore the underwater world while diving, or discover the coasts on one of the traditional longtail boats, Thailand's islands offer a variety of activities for sea lovers.
One of Thailand's most famous islands is Phuket, where tourists from all over the world flock. In addition to swimming and snorkeling, you can also participate in the colorful nightlife. The island of Krabi with its impressive limestone cliffs, the archipelago of Koh Phi Phi with the famous Maya Bay, known from the movie The Beach and since then one of the main attractions, or the somewhat less frequented island of Koh Lanta are also popular destinations for a dream beach vacation.
Photo: preto_perola, Adobe Stock
Turbulent city life in Bangkok
If you travel to Thailand, you should definitely pay a visit to the capital Bangkok. Here, tradition meets contemporary life: the city is diverse and exciting, old temples meet newly built skyscrapers, and next to noisy city hustle and bustle there are places of peace and meditation.
One of the most popular sights of the city is the Grand Palace with its vast and impressive grounds. The central structure was built as early as 1782 and served as the residence of the kings of Siam for 150 years. Especially the temple with the famous Emerald Buddha should not be missed. No less famous is the gilded Buddha in the temple Wat Pho, which impresses with a height of 15 meters, as well as the temple Wat Arun, which is located directly on the river and offers an almost magical sight.
For those who love colorful city life and shopping trips, there are plenty of opportunities in Bangkok to stock up on souvenirs. Especially worthwhile is a visit to the Khao San Road, whose lively hustle and bustle with the many small stores and restaurants inspire.
Don't miss the market in Chatuchak - with over 10,000 stalls it is one of the largest in Asia! Clothes and accessories, souvenirs, antiques, plants, household appliances or furniture as well as books and live animals - here you can really find everything you can imagine. In addition to the lively Chatuchak Market, Bangkok's Floating Markets are of course also an event. Merchants on wooden boats offer a mixture of colorful fruits, Thai street food and other goods.
Thailand's diverse national parks
But beyond beach vacations and bustling city life, Thailand has a lot to offer nature lovers. With over 130 national parks - both on land and at sea - you'll have plenty of opportunity to marvel at the region's extraordinary flora and fauna.
Particularly recommended is Khao Yai National Park, the oldest in the country and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to exciting nature, especially around the fantastically located Heo Suwat waterfall, there are a variety of different animals to discover here. On a 50-kilometer-long network of trails, you will encounter elephants, various species of monkeys and numerous bird species.
If you want to go high up, you should consider a trip to Doi Inthanon National Park. After all, you can hike to the "roof of Thailand" here - or you can simply drive up with a scooter or take the car. However, the way up to the 2,565-meter summit of Doi Inthanon is at least as beautiful as the view from there - so it's worth taking a slow option to the top.
Winner of the Green Destinations Story Award 2023: Vibrant Community in Huay Pu Keng
Photo: cascoly2, Adobe Stock
Thailand is home to numerous tribes that often feel the downside of mass tourism: They are considered an attraction, but can hardly generate income from tourism. But there are attempts to improve the situation of these ethnic groups.
In Huay Pu Keng, the approach of community-based tourism is put into practice: members of the Kayan tribe live in a small village, whose women often wear heavy rings around their necks, thus visually lengthening them. The mountain village is considered a popular destination for vacationers - in contrast to other places of this kind, however, the Kayan themselves determine what they offer tourists in the village and keep the income for their own community. Visitors can spend the night here as well as take part in various workshops - for example, they get an insight into the filigree handicrafts of the inhabitants.
Insider Tip: The Sukhothai Historical Park
In addition to a fantastic and varied landscape, dream beaches and exciting city life, Thailand is of course also known for its magnificent temples. If you can't get enough of them, a trip to the Sukhothai Historical Park is worthwhile. Somewhat less known than Ayutthaya, there are no less impressive temple ruins from the former kingdom of Sukhothai.
Around the old city walls there are nearly 200 temple ruins and enormous Buddha statues, the oldest of which date back to the 13th century. The history park is absolutely worth seeing and is part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage. Especially worthwhile: In the temple complex Wat Mahathat, a large festival is held every year at the full moon in November.
Since the entire area of the park is very large, it is worth renting a scooter or a bicycle. This way, you can get around faster than on foot, but still fully enjoy the views of the ruins.
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