Beautiful Places in Thailand

Known For : Rock Climbing in Railey Tham Phra Nang Cave View Point and Lagoon

Accessible just by boat, this peninsula of limestone crags is a beautiful destination for a laid-back rest in the middle of your Thailand holiday. An absolute best for rock climbers, Railay is a one-of-a-kind spot for active diving, kayaking, and rock climbing, as well as just relaxing at your resort. It has tranquil white sand beaches where you can just laze around if you're not the adventurous kind.

Best Time: November to March

3 Railay (Rai Leh) Attractions

Standing at 250 meters, this limestone waterfall flows down from Huai Klotho into the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Thi Lo Su Waterfall is claimed to be the largest and the highest waterfall and one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. Along with the reserves and national parks, it forms Thailand's most extensive wildlife haven and Southeast Asia's top virgin forest. You can also take a rubber boat trip or a cave survey.

Known For : Nightlife in Phi Phi Island Maya Bay Koh Phi Phi Leh

Phi Phi consists of a group of six islands. Only 40 km away from Phuket, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh are the two most famous islands of the six. With their pristine waters and vibrant parties, these islands are a wonderful way to spend a few days in Thailand. Phi Phi Islands became famous after the 2000 Hollywood flick 'The Beach', which was shot in Ko Phi Phi Le. It's striking cliffs, white sand beaches with jungles all around, and clear blue waters make it one of the most beautiful places to visit in Thailand.

Best Time: Throughout the year

24 Phi Phi Islands Attractions

Explore this prehistoric and one of the most extensive caves in Thailand for a magical and immersive experience. The Tham Lot cave is located in Pang Mapha District, northern Thailand, known for the Nam Lang River flowing through the cave. Besides the magnificent stalactites, bats, and swifts, people also visit Tham lot for the Column Cavern, Doll Cave, Ancient clay pottery, and Coffin Cave with carved teak wood coffins.

Also known as the Grand Canyon of Thailand, Sam Phan Bok is a rock reef in the River Mekong and one of the most beautiful places. Nestled between majestic cliffs on both sides, it is a wonder of nature, created by the erosion of the swirling water in the Mekong River, making more than 3,000 holes or Bok, the most popular being the Arch bridge-shaped stone cliffs. The best time to visit is during the dry season, revealing the large rocky hill in the middle of the Mekong River.

The Grand Palace, the residence of royals for several generations, is a beautiful place to visit in Thailand. Often mistaken for a single structure, it is a group of numerous buildings, halls, pavilion sets, grounds, lawns, and courtyards. It also houses one of the holiest Buddhist temples, Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile.

Rightly termed as ‘Thailand’s best-hidden secret’, ‘the most beautiful place you would have never heard of’ and ‘the place that offers the best sunrise view in all of Thailand’, Phu Chi Fah is a mountainous area and a national park which is located in the Toeng County of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Just next to the border of Laos, these mountain ranges boast of offering sights of one of the most beautiful sunrises you will ever see in all your life.

The White Temple, also renowned as Wat Rong Khun, is the most popular attraction in Chiang Rai. It is a privately owned art exhibit in the form of a temple, beautifully depicting the Buddhist teachings of karma, hell, heaven, and earthly sins. An architectural wonder in its own right, this temple is filled with many Buddhist elements in its architecture, mirror decorations, and ornate reliefs, making it one of the popular and beautiful places in Thailand.

Khao Sok National Park is located in the Phanom district of Thailand, on the mainland between Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, and Koh Samui. It is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Rich and diverse in flora and fauna, the park is one of the best places to witness rare species such as the Rafflesia flower, hornbill birds, gibbons, and tigers. Punctuated by limestone cliffs, mountains, splendid sandstone, and mudstone rocks, this is the wettest part of Thailand.

Ang Thong National Marine Park is a protected archipelago of 42 islands and an exotic tropical paradise situated in the Gulf of Thailand. With unusually spectacular scenery, the Marine Park features limestone mountains, thick jungles, white-sand beaches, waterfalls, surreal lakes, unexplored caves, and small hikes leading up to breathtaking viewpoints. The serenity of these islands is so captivating that one of the island’s lakes – Lake Emerald – was featured in the movie ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo Dicaprio.

The Doi Inthanon National Park is situated at the top of Doi Inthanonmountain. It is famous for its spectacular views, waterfalls, hiking trails, sunrise/sunset points, and quaint villages. It is one of the best places for birdwatching in Thailand, with more than 350 different bird species here. It also has a campsite. Called imaginatively as the “Roof of Thailand,” this park is visited by many tourists who are amazed to find the montane farms and quaint villages inside the rain forest. 

This is the national park of the highest waterfall in Thailand and resembles the three-headed elephant, Erawan. It is a beautiful forest with 7 layers of waterfalls, bridges, and many rocks. Many of the waterfalls have tranquil and serene pools where you can enjoy a swim.

Known For : Elephant Trekking Waterfalls in Koh Chang

Koh Chang is one of the most beautiful islands of Thailand, with pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, great for snorkeling and diving. There are also some breathtaking mountains and jungles where hiking is very popular. All in all, Koh Chang is an idyllic destination for a backpacker looking for adventure and parties in equal amounts.

Best Time: November to March

10 Koh Chang Attractions

Situated around 60 Km west off the coast of Khao Lak and originally a part of the Mu Ko Surin National Park, the Surin Islands comprises a group of Five Islands. These islands are namely Ko Surin Nuea, Ko Surin Tai, Ko Ri, Ko Kai and Ko Klang. Known for dense forests with beaches surrounded by corals, Surin Islands is most visited by snorkelers, nature lovers, and wildlife photographers hoping to indulge in diving, snorkeling game fishing, and hiking. It is a haven for people looking for a quiet refuge.

The tranquil island of Koh Yao Noi is the sister island of Koh Yao Yai, located in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, west of Phuket. It is an ideal getaway for the traveler who seeks solitude under the sun and sand. Far from maddening crowds, Koh Yao Noi is your place to relax and rejuvenate without any fuss or frills. It is ideal for the couple who wishes for some precious moments of togetherness or for someone who wants to take a break and introspect on the worldly ways.

Known For : Koh Nang Yuan Hike to John Suwan Viewpoint Sairee Beach

Koh Tao is an island in the Chumphon Archipelago group of islands in the southeastern part of Thailand. It is largely popular for scuba diving and snorkeling as it has some of the best and cheapest diving spots in the world. The island is also known for its pristine white sand beaches, lantern-lit restaurants, delicious food, and he abundant sea turtles residing on its shores.

Best Time: December to September

25 Koh Tao Attractions

Known For : Full Moon Party Haad Rin Snorkeling in Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan is an island that is part of the Chumphon Archipelago, located between the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Accessible easily from the mainland at Surat Thani via ferry or boat, the island does not have an airport of its own. Boats and ferries are also available from Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Koh Phangan is world famous for its full moon and half moon parties, and it peaks in tourist numbers during these events. In contrast to the wild parties, the northern part of the island is more relaxed, housing many family resorts and quirky and fun cafes and restaurants.

Best Time: June to September, December to February

30 Koh Phangan Attractions

Known For : Sukhothai Historical Park Ramkhamhaeng National Park Loy Krathong Festival

Sukhothai is home to approximately 190 ancient sites and temple ruins. It is known to mark the beginning of the Thai civilisation. Most of the monuments and ruins are restored at the Sukhothai Historical Park, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best Time: November to February

4 Sukhothai Attractions

Known For : Ban Vichayen Phra Prang Sam Yot King Narai's Palace

Lopburi is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, located around 150 kilometers from Bangkok city, which takes around 2.5 hours. It is a city that houses historic ruins and artifacts, which play a major role in Thailand's culture. It is famous for monkeys, architectural remains of the Khmer Empire, rock climbing, and sunflower fields. Unlike other tourist cities, Lopburi has a very laid-back atmosphere, and it rarely experiences any influx of tourists.

Best Time: November to April

9 Lopburi Attractions

Known For : Snorkelling and Scuba Diving in Koh Lipe Trash Hero Island tours in Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is one of the islands of the Tarutao Marine National Park. The vast coral reefs and gorgeous white sand beaches attract beach lovers and scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts every year. Pak Bara Pier in the Satun region is the closest pier to Koh Lipe, with speedboats and ferries available regularly.

Best Time: November to March

17 Koh Lipe Attractions

Known For : Ayutthaya Historical Park Wat Mahathat Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Ayutthaya, short for Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, is a small city in Thailand containing archaeological sites like temples, monasteries, palaces, etc. It lies just 80 kilometers north of Bangkok and is an ideal destination for a day trip from Bangkok. It is a beautiful city oozing history and culture and a UNESCO world heritage site. It derives its name from the Sanskrit word for the place Ayodhya of Ramayana, the birthplace of Lord Ram.

Best Time: November to February

58 Ayutthaya Attractions