Thailand may be one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations but there’s so much more to the ‘land of smiles’ than much-loved Phuket and Bangkok.
Explore a little further and you’ll find remote villages, incredible food, welcoming locals and captivating landscapes.
1. Island hopping
There are hundreds of islands dotted around Thailand’s coastline, each with its own special appeal and unique experiences.
The west coast is renowned for colourful coral, giant manta rays and a handful of islands, such as Koh Racha, which remain almost untouched.
Over on the other side, the Gulf of Thailand enjoys consistently sunny weather, crystal-clear water and spectacular coral reef for diving and snorkeling.
2. Delicious cuisine
Thai street food is cheap and irresistible – the aroma of chicken satay skewers, Pad Thai, Tom Yum Goong and coconut sticky rice will have you hooked.
The seaside resort of Hua Hin is known for having the best seafood, whereas the night markets scattered throughout Thailand such as Thong Sala’s in Koh Pha Ngan will have you coming back again and again for everything from tasty seafood, noodles and banana pancakes to refreshing fruit smoothies.
So that you can recreate your favourite dishes when you return home, head to Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School which has English-speaking teachers who will show you all the tips and tricks for creating traditional Thai food.
3. An intriguing past
Thailand is rich in history and heritage. Just two hours north of Bangkok you’ll find the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient ruins of Ayutthaya that belonged to the Kingdom of Siam, one of the wealthiest cities in the east.
Head to Chiang Mai to explore some of the magnificent temples (there are 300 to choose from), and while there take a tour of Wian Kum Kam, the ‘underground’ city that is still being excavated.
4. Adventure and activities
Explore Thailand’s countryside on a bicycle tour, go mountain biking through jungles, head to Railay Beach on Krabi island for some of Thailand’s best rock climbing, or scuba dive in the pristine region of Khao Lak which is home to some of the most immaculate reefs in the world.
For something really different try a Muay Thai boxing class at SuperproSumai in Koh Samui where you’ll get to train with real Muay Thai fighters.
Whether it’s soft adventure or extreme sports like hang gliding and cliff diving, you’ll find it in Thailand.
5. Exotic wildlife
Take a boat trip to the Similan Islands to see crab eating monkeys, an elephant trek through the world’s oldest evergreen rainforest at Khao Sok National Park, or if you’re travelling with kids don’t miss the Owner for a Day Elephant program in Chiang Mai where they can help bath an elephant in the river and learn all about the beautiful creatures.
6. Set sail
Don’t leave Thailand without some sort of boating experience.
Take a yacht tour and spend the day snorkeling and diving off the boat, head out on a traditional longtail boat tour, spend a relaxing day visiting the rural countryside on a bamboo raft, or board the oriental yacht Suwan Macha for three days of leisurely bliss.
7. Festivals and events
Each month Thailand celebrates a variety of festivals.
Plan your holiday to coincide with Yi-Peng, a full moon festival, to see thousands of paper sky-lanterns released into the sky above Chiang Mai.
Don’t forget to make a wish!
Creative Concierge your insider tips to selling Thailand
- For more information visit Creative Holidays agent website
- Find out more about Thailand in Creative Holidays’ Thailand Brochure
