Top 5 destinations in Thailand

Are you thinking of visiting Thailand this year? Whether it’s for a two week retreat or perhaps a month or more exploring the country, there are a few places that just shouldn’t be missed.

Here are our top 5 destinations in the land of smiles:

Bangkok

Being a major transport hub it’s likely you’ll start your adventure here and will know plenty about it when you were looking for flights to Bangkok. It’s not just worth a visit because it’s the capital but because of the life and excitement of this massive city. The hustle and bustle of BKK is mesmerising, whether it’s the crazy tuk tuk and moto taxi’s or the sheer volume of people filtering through the crowded streets and exciting shopping malls. We’ve lived here for nearly a year and have probably seen a fifth of the place!

Chiang Mai

Often referred to as the ‘second city’ Thailand’s northern capital is a far cry from Bangkok offering a far more relaxed vibe. The city is home to many weekly markets offering local crafts and a wide range of delicious food. It’s position in the mountains also means there’s plenty to do for the adventurous type including mountain biking, trekking, off-road driving, climbing and much more.

Lantern Festival Chiang Mai

Koh Phi Phi

This island offers the Thai party experience that you hear so much about. Very much a backpacker island with bars lined along the beach front and throughout the cobbled streets of the town. But it’s not all about drinking, the scenery is stunning and private long-tail boat trips are well worth taking to explore the surrounding islands, they’re cheap too!

Koh Tao

The home of scuba diving in Thailand. Koh Tao is very much a divers paradise and one of the best in SE Asia and known by divers world round. The whole island seems geared towards diving and it’s no wonder with fantastic dives sites surrounding the island. Koh Tao is also one the cheapest places to begin your underwater adventures with beginner courses (and more advanced for that matter) being incredibly cheap.

Koh Mak

If you’re looking for the true island getaway, somewhere peaceful and with little distractions (and other tourists) then Koh Mak is the place for you. The island has been in the same family for generations and development has been restricted which means you get untouched beaches, perfect crystal clear water and amazing greenery across the island. A true island escape…

Koh Mak

So there you have it, our top 5 places to visit in Thailand. These places allow you to see the excitement of the big cities, the beauty of the underwater world, party on the beach and have the perfect relaxation escape at the end. What more could you possibly want?

Transport in Thailand is fantastic so getting between these great destinations is easy and possible by cheap domestic flights or overland via public or tourist buses and minivans. Trains are also a great way to travel and give you a more comfortable ride with great views from your window.

Enjoy Thailand!