11 things not to miss in Thailand

Thailand has something for everyone and everyone is looking for something different in Thailand. I love Thailand for the old, the new, the unusual and of course the food!

When you come here there are some things that should not be missed. Take in some or all of these on your trip, but at the very least try something outside your comfort zone.

Temples

You will see temples or remnants of temples wherever you go here. Be prepared to remove your shoes to enter and some temples require specific clothing, like covered shoulders and knees. They are places of peace and beauty not to be missed, even if you only see one.

Elephants

Elephants are soulful beautiful creatures that are not always treated well. Countries, including Thailand are trying to change this. When you go see elephants make sure you are heading to an elephant sanctuary where elephants are treated good. A great place to start is in Chiang Mai at the Elephant Nature Park.

Nature

There are a lot of beautiful areas throughout Thailand. Head out for a nature walk, go for a multi day trek or take a boat ride in the many waterways.

Shopping

The street markets are a great place to get some unique and inexpensive items. When you do head to the markets, make sure you are buying items that are made in Thailand, instead of the cheap tourist stuff made in China. Make sure you check out the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, and the weekend night street market in Chiang Mai.

Thailand also has a large shopping mall culture, which is especially prevalent in Bangkok. There are malls for specific things, giant malls, uniquely designed malls and some really beautiful ones. Plus heading into an air-conditioned shopping mall is a nice reprieve to the humidity

The street food

I think Thailand has the best street food around. The shear variety and quality is amazing! Don’t be afraid to eat street food…just buy from the vendors with lines to be on the safe side.  It is super inexpensive to eat out for every meal here if you incorporate street food into a number of your dishes. Try everything you can and immerse yourself into the delicious food culture here.

Rooftop bars

This is mostly for Bangkok but it is a great way to see the skyline and enjoy some drinks while up in the clouds. You can head to the bar that was featured in The Hangover Part 2, go to super swanky ones, or be a bit more casual in others.

The coffee culture

There is a huge coffee culture in Thailand. I am not a coffee drinker, but I still love the culture here of adorable, gorgeous, and themed cafes. You also have choices on all variety of price ranges too. Check out as many of these places along your travels.

Beaches

As most people know, the beaches in Thailand are some of the most beautiful in the world. Great sand, warm water and gorgeous islands but you don’t have to head to an island to find them. You are spoiled for choice for which area and beaches to visit. I recommend you check out the time of year you are going to be there and decide which ones weather wise are going to be best…not all of them are on the same weather pattern.  

Snorkelling and diving

As with great beaches, great snorkelling and diving is a huge bonus. Koh Tao is one of the worlds top destinations to get your diving certificate, that has to tell you something. You’ll find a variety of sea life and even whale sharks if you time your trip right.

Tuk tuks

These decked out, fun rides are one of those things you gotta try when here. It is like the Black Cab when in London. Depending on when you hail one down, you can expect anything from disco lights, music or a nice chill open air ride around. Make sure you haggle the price before you get in and know roughly how much it should cost.

Motorbike Taxis

This is like jumping on a roller coaster and not really sure what is going to happen. LOL  Most prevalent in Bangkok, make sure you go with legal motorbike taxis (and yes, you can hire them from Uber). You also want to make sure they give you a helmet to wear, insist on it or go to another one. Motorbikes are a great way to get around the city fast. They are allowed to ride on the sidewalks, in between cars, and down the lines of the street. It definitely is freaky on your first ride, but once you ease into it, it is a great fast alternative to get around.

No matter what you end up doing here, you will have an amazing time. Thailand is a magical place…once you get use to the humidity. ha.

If you have any questions about your trip, please contact me and we can have a chat about it.