Thailand has so many beautiful destinations, crystal clear beaches to the south, while the north is full of a lush mountainous jungle. Need a hand in picking the best places to visit in Thailand? These are cities, towns and islands not to be missed for that perfect Thailand itinerary!

Here are four destinations I believe should be on everyone’s Thailand “must see” list!

 

Snorkel/Dive/Hike Koh Tao Island A.K.A Turtle Island

Koh Tao, AKA Turtle Island is a well-known destination, mostly catering to the backpacking crowd, but it definitely has something for everyone. Unfortunately, turtles don’t swim the waters of Koh Tao anymore – keep reading through and I’ll tell you where to find them!

Koh Tao is a popular diving destination. Why? Two reasons:

1. The price. It is an extremely low cost (in comparison to other diving locations around the globe) to get your diving certification here, and complete “fun dives” that don’t break the bank.
2. The low cost doesn’t mean you sacrifice beautiful marine life though – marine life is abundant once you get below the surface. Even whale sharks are spotted at “Sail Rock”. One whale shark eluded me though as during my dives around Koh Tao it was just out of visibility!

Making sure you’re being educated and guided in a safe and competent way is really important while learning to dive, and I never felt like safety was compromised with New Way Diving. Even though I experienced a burst low-pressure hose in my buoyancy vest (BCD) during one of my dives, it was handled calmly and efficiently.

If you don’t feel like being submerged under water for extended periods, there are also plenty of amazing snorkeling spots around Koh Tao as well! To visit a handful of the best in a single day, an organized snorkel trip of Koh Tao like this one is a great idea.

If you’re looking to hike, Koh Tao Lighthouse trek is a challenging and exhausting, yet rewarding hike. If you’re up for a long hike (allow six hours or so), visiting this unique attraction with many incredible viewpoints along the way is a perfect way to explore another side of this well-known island.

You can also browse various snorkel and scuba diving on Koh Tao online – there’s plenty on offer.

 

Dive Phi Phi Island

While Koh Tao is a great cost-effective destination to get certified and hone your diving skills, Phi Phi Island holds the title for my favorite diving location. Diving around the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh is incredible. Visibility stretches as far as the light penetrates the clear waters. Marine life is outstanding here. Lionfish, turtles, leopard and whale sharks, black tip reef sharks and octopus are just a few of the many you can find here. Plus, for the more advanced divers out there, swimming through dark caves is possible in this area, and it’s exhilarating!

For other activities, Phi Phi Leh’s Maya Bay is a stunning sight. The crowds during mid-day only go to show how beautiful the bay is. In order to beat the crowds to Maya Bay and see some beautiful sights along the way, check out my post on Phi Phi’s Early Bird Tour.

Phi Phi Don is the inhabited island of the two and has great sights as well. Hire a kayak from Loh Dalam Bay and visit one of the more secluded beaches in the area. Sunset is great from one of two popular lookouts on Phi Phi Don Island. For more detailed directions to these lookouts, this post covers that much more in-depth.

Please note: Due to overtourism, Maya Bay on Phi Phi Island is currently closed. You can read about an important lesson for every traveler.

 

Explore Beautiful Pai

One of my all-time favorite Thailand places to see. A very backpacker-oriented town and full of character. A few hours north of Chiang Rai along a winding road of 762 bends, the motion sickness-inducing journey is well worth the effort to visit this sleepy town.

Pai’s night bazaar is one of my favorite night markets I’ve ever been to. It holds an array of unique food and beautiful souvenirs. A few beers in I spent a little bit more money than I anticipated, but have no sober regrets! During the day, Pai has amazing geological features. From waterfalls dotted around the town, to massive gouges in the earth in the form of “The Land Split” and “Pai Canyon”, explore.

For an extra incentive to visit Pai, hire a motorbike and drive the 90 minutes to Tham Lod Cave. While the ride itself is stunning with knockout views along the way as well as Pang Mapha Lookout, Tham Lod Cave stole my heart with its unique tour. To visit Tham Lod Cave you need a “Lantern Guide”. This relatively weak lamp dimly illuminates as you’re led through each cavern. The third and final cavern even requires a bamboo boat ride!

You can find all the information on things to do in Pai, Thailand here.

 

Explore Chiang Rai

If you’re on your way to visit Pai, chances are you’ll be able to sneak in Chiang Rai along the way (buses to Pai leave from Chiang Rai). However, this small city makes it onto this must-see list totally on its own merit.

The most famous image of Chiang Rai would have to be Wat Rong Khun, or The White Temple. While painted pure white, not just the main temple, but in fact, the entire complex’s structures are coated with little chunks of mirrors. On a sunny day, imagine a glistening mosaic in every direction. It’s so beautiful.

Khun Korn Waterfall is a close second in Chiang Rai sight’s not to miss. Hiring a motorbike is the best way to visit this stunning geological feature. While the waterfall, all 70 meters of it, is a great sight in itself, the drive to the waterfall is equally as stunning. Lush jungle, smooth and curvy roads that have very little traffic and make for beautiful views. Go for a swim if you dare! The chilly water will wake you right up!

A mention of Chiang Rai wouldn’t be complete without talking about the night bazaar/market. So many foods, including the northern Thailand specialty Spicey Sausage! You can also find strange cuisine here, such as glow warms and bugs almost the size of your palm!

 

Best Thailand Destinations – Conclusion

In my opinion, no list of such a beautiful country will ever be fully comprehensive. There is just too much to see, and there’s always something more. These four towns, islands and cities make up my personal “Best Thailand Destinations”, and time permitting, none should be missed. I’m sure most lists would vary slightly if you’ve been to Thailand, I’d love to hear what’s on your best sights of Thailand list?

 

Best Places to Visit in Thailand – Information

The local currency of Thailand is the Baht. For $1 Australia Dollar, you get roughly 24 Thai Baht.

This southeast Asian tourist hotspot is home to quite a few scams and threats, always keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Thailand’s roads can be incredibly rough. Bumpy and windy are subjective from one traveler to the next, but if you’re prone to motion sickness, sea-sickness tablets are a great way to help reduce nausea. I sometimes get motion sickness but was able to read the entire 3 hours and 762-bend road from Chiang Rai to Pai with the help of these little pills.

To stay safe while traveling in Thailand, and in general, a great resource to keep up to date with political tensions and natural disasters, I use the Australian Government Smart Traveller website.

 

Best Places to Visit in Thailand – Highlights

• Diving has to be number one. Whether around Phi Phi or Koh Tao, it’s something I wish I has started a long time ago!
• Pai is a beautiful town, just walking the streets made me fall in love – especially the day-trip to Tham Lod Cave!
• Chiang Rai’s White Temple, complete with its sparkling personality is worth the journey north just for it alone!

 

What do you love about Thailand? What would you change about my list to make it your own? As always, questions are more than welcome! Leave me a comment below!

 

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