Thailand Vacations: Best Places To Visit In Thailand 

Bangkok is a city buzzing with activities and interesting sights, from magnificent palaces and temples to the floating markets and colourful nightlife.

Many visitors begin their Thailand vacations in Bangkok, either on a short stopover before heading to other destinations in Thailand.

With many visitors choosing to stay longer to explore the amazing sights and treat themselves to a shopping bonanza in Bangkok.

No matter what your budget, Bangkok has an excellent choice of accommodation to choose from.

Kanchanaburi is an excellent spot for nature lovers.

A place were you can explore the beautiful scenery and historical sites.

These sites include HellFire Pass and the memorial museum, the Bridge on the River Kwai and the Death Railway.

Other activities and attractions located around Kanchanaburi include elephant trekking and bamboo rafting.

Or get up close and personal with the tigers at the Tiger Temple and explore the spectacular Erawan Falls National Park with its picturesque waterfalls and playful monkey’s.

The easiest way of getting to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok is by bus, travel time by bus is around 2 hours, give or take depending on traffic.

Many visitors see the sights of Kanchanaburi on a day trip from Bangkok, however to fully appreciate the natural beauty and see the many wonderful attractions it’s best to stay a couple of nights in one of the many affordable resorts or hotels in Kanchanaburi or treat yourself to a couple of nights on the river Kwai in a floating hotel.

Chiang Mai is loaded with interesting places, breathtaking scenery and literally hundreds of Buddhist Temples.

There is a range of interesting sights and things to do in and around Chiang Mai that are suitable for both family vacations or adventure travellers.

No vacation in Chiang Mai is complete without visiting some of the temples, as there are so many temples in Chiang Mai we decided to add some of our favorites that we found interesting.

Wat Phra That is one of the most sacred temples in Northern Thailand.

Within the Old City Walls of Chiang Mai you will find Wat Chedi Luang, this temple complex dates back over 600 years and is well worth a visit.

Located next to Wat Chedi Luang is another interesting temple called Wat Phan Tao, this temple is one of the few remaining wooden temples that you will find in Chiang Mai.

Some of the best activities you could include on a vacation in Chiang Mai are Zip Lining, trekking, mountain bike riding, white water rafting, river rafting and elephant trekking just to name a few.

Discover the best of Northern Thailand with a range of sightseeing tours and bike tours from Chiang Mai.

There are many hotels in Chiang Mai, we enjoyed a five night stay at the Ramling Lodge Hotel, a wonderful hotel in a central location.

Chiang Rai is located around 3 hours' drive north of Chiang Mai.

The main reason we travelled to Chiang Rai was to explore the Golden Triangle, combined with a visit to the impressive "White Temple" located on the outskirts of Town. The temple is also known as Wat Rong Khun.

If you are planning a Thailand Vacation, we recommend that you spend a couple of days in Chiang Rai, to explore the area and visit some amazing places and attractions on offer, in this area of Northern Thailand.

There are some pretty cool places to see right in Town, including the Chiang Rai Clock Tower, and the night bizarre. 

Resorts and Hotels in Chiang Rai are generally very affordable compared to other areas in Thailand. We enjoyed a two-night stay at the Baan Malai Guesthouse, which is situated in the centre of Town. 

The best time to visit Chiang Rai is from November to February, when the temperature is a little cooler. On our last trip, we travelled in April and believe me, it was hot, humid and incredibly sticky. The rainy season is from July through to October.

Pattaya has long been known for its very colourful nightlife. However there is much more to Pattaya then just the nightlife and it’s definitely worthy of a visit.

I must admit the beaches are not what we would call white sandy beaches.

Nevertheless there is an abundance of other activities, attractions and things to do on your Thailand vacations in Pattaya.

Below is just some of the attractions and things you can do when in Pattaya.

The Pattaya Floating Markets, Noong Nooch Tropical Garden, as well the kids favorite the Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm.

Naturally there is loads of water sports as well as a variety of adventure activities, golf courses and the shopping is great.

There is no shortage of resorts and hotels in Pattaya to stay.

We enjoyed our stay at the Siam Bayshore Resort located close to Walking Street.

If you’re looking for a quieter area in Pattaya for a family beach vacation or a romantic getaway the best spots are Jomtien Beach and Na Jomtien Beach.

Including Khao Lak in your Thailand vacation plans is a must. Situated in Phang Nga Province, Khao Lak is just over an hour’s drive north from Phuket International Airport. The nearby location make it easy for you to spend sometime in both Phuket and Khao Lak.

Many visitors are drawn to Khao Lak for its peaceful, unspoilt beaches and the impressive array of boutique hotels and spa resorts. While Khao Lak is perfect for relaxation, there is also plenty of attractions and things to do.

Over the years, we have visited Khao Lak several times. Some of the highlights of our time in Khao Lak have been a memorable and scenic day trip by speedboat to the beautiful Similan Islands.

Another was diving around the Similan Islands on board a live-aboard. It was such an incredible adventure; we even got a glimpse of a whale shark.

On our most recent trip to Khao Lak, we focused on eco adventures and booked an overnight tour to explore Koh Sok National Park, where we spent a couple of days immersed in nature.

We have also visited several Tsunami Memorial Sites and the Tsunami Museum in Khao Lak. The museum featured moving videos of the tsunami and its aftermath, providing a sobering reminder of the region’s history. 

While nightlife in Khao Lak is generally limited to beach bars and restaurants, we did enjoy the local version of Phuket’s Simon Cabaret Show at Mr Moo Moo Cabaret Show and Bar, which is a fun night out.

Hiring a car made getting around easy, and gave us the freedom to visit a variety of attractions in both Khao Lak and Phang Nga Province.

Our travels took us to many interesting sights, stunning scenery, and impressive temples. A standout was Wat Bang Riang.

Getting to Khao Lak from Phuket International Airport is straightforward. You can hire a car and drive yourself, or you can book an airport transfer.

Khao Lak is another fantastic destination nearby Phuket where you can enjoy a relaxing beach-side vacation in Thailand.

We stayed beachfront at the Khao Lak Diamond Beach Resort, which we found comfortable and had everything we needed. There are many beautiful resorts in Khao Lak to choose from. 

The Island of Koh Tao is another great destination we have explored on our Thailand vacations.

This small picturesque Island is located close to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand.

The waters surrounding Koh Tao is a divers paradise, but there's more to Koh Tao then just diving. 

One of the highlights to see while in Koh Tao is a daytrip to the island of Koh Nang Yuan. 

Koh Mak is a fantastic spot for relaxing Thailand vacations, and more so if you are in search for somewhere that so far hasn’t been overdeveloped or overrun with mass tourism.

The small, picturesque Island of Koh Mak is situated in the eastern Gulf of Thailand between the larger islands of Koh Chang and Ko Kut. 

Krabi is another top destination to keep in mind for your Thailand vacations.
It’s an ideal spot for adventure travellers, boasting some of the best areas for rock climbing in Thailand.

Krabi is much more laid back then Phuket making it a fantastic spot for family vacations or for those looking for a romantic getaway. 

Thailand vacations are incomplete without a visit to the spectacular islands of Ko Phi Phi which are easily accessible from both Krabi and Phuket.

Ko Phi Phi is where you can do as much or as little as you desire, chill out on the beach or get active and enjoy the many outdoor adventure activities and attractions or spend a few hours at Phi Phi Ley and take in the stunning sights of Maya Bay.

There is a fantastic range of hotels and resorts on Ko Phi Phi Don.

For those looking for a romantic vacation, you will find resorts and bungalows away from the main tourist area of Tonsai where you can get away from the crowds and enjoy that romantic getaway.

Aranyaprathet is situated on the eastern border of Thailand; it is one of the most used overland border crossings into Cambodia, especially for travellers who are looking to travel overland from Bangkok or for travellers entering into Thailand from Cambodia on route to Bangkok.

Many people use this border crossing to see the sights of Siem Reap and the Angkor Archaeological Park.

We will also include some travel tips for travellers who are looking to combine their Thailand vacations with a stopover in Cambodia.

One of our best tips is contact information for one of the best tuk tuk drivers in Siem Reap for all your transport around Siem Reap and the Angkor Archaeological Park.

Phuket is Thailand's largest Island, most visitors to Phuket stay in the main tourist area of Patong, however there are many beautiful areas around the Island which for many are never seen.

When travelling with kids, our favorite destination for our own Thailand vacations is Phuket.

Phuket not only boasts a fantastic range of family friendly resorts and hotels, beautiful offshore islands and beaches there is also a variety of fun and adventurous activities to keep the kids amused.