Must-Do Things In Thailand

Suggested Read: Places To Visit in Thailand, Best Time To Visit Thailand & Food in Thailand

1. Temple Hopping

If you are eager to know more about world religion then there is no better place to start than Thailand. The country has a collection of magnificent temples. Most of them are centuries old and have intricate designs. The temples are a testament to Thai architecture and are made of wood and stones, and also used beer bottles.

Bangkok itself has around 400 temples. Three of the grandest being Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and Wat Phra Kaew. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew is extremely popular among tourists and highly revered by locals. The legend has it that the statue of the Emerald Buddha was discovered after lightning struck one of the temples of Chaing Rai.

Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya is yet another temple with really impressive architecture. You cannot help but be amazed by its unique design. Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew or the Temple of a Million Bottles in Sisaket Province is one of the prime attractions in Thailand. The temple is built from 1.5 million empty beer bottles.

2. Attend a Full-Moon Party

Two of the most famous things about Thailand is its great food and awesome parties. The mother of all parties in Thailand is the famous Full-Moon Parties that attracts thousands of tourists each year.

People traveling to Thailand always dream about attending these ultra-happening events filled with loud music, unlimited supply of alcohol, non-stop dancing, and firecrackers. The party takes place at least once a month according to the Lunar Calendar. Make sure to look up the dates before you plan your travels.

3. Visit Pai

Off-beat but not uncharted, Pai in the Mae Hong Son province fits perfectly the image of how a northern Thai town should be. The small town is about 135Km from Chiang Mai. It is quaint but in no way boring. The Pai Canyon is spread in a large area and is a great place to hike. During the time of the sunset, you would find many tourists here with a beer in their hands enjoying the view as the sky changes its hues.

After sunset, the street of Pai gets filled with vendors selling everything from delicious food to trendy clothes and more. Pai Walking Street is a great place to have a closer look at the local Thai lifestyle. Pambok Waterfalls, Mo Paeng Falls, Pai Hot Springs, are some of the major attractions here.

4. Eat authentic Thai Cuisine

A major part of the whole appeal of Thailand is its extremely delicious cuisine. Whether you have Khao Soi from a local vendor or a fancy six-course meal in Bangkok’s restaurants, it is sure to blow your mind. The best way of savoring Thai cuisine is by taking a tour of the street food stalls. The food at the stalls is affordable and the taste is exquisite. You can also ask the street vendors what the dish is about and if you are accompanied by a local guide, he would do the job for you. Street food in Bangkok is extremely famous.

Whichever part of Thailand you are visiting, make sure to check out is walking streets and floating markets to have a real taste of Thailand. Read a couple of Street Food Safety articles before getting on the streets.

5. Scuba Diving

You cannot visit an exotic location and not try something new to make your friends jealous back home. Thailand offers many water sports and adventure activities. Scuba Diving is a top favorite among many tourists and Thailand has several places to satisfy your interest.

If you are not a certified scuba diver then you should visit Koh Tao. The island has an abundance of dive centers offering a range of courses. Here you get good quality training at low prices. Here you get to train out in the ocean and prepare to explore the remaining 70% of the planet.

Besides Koh Tao, Similan Islands, Phuket, Koh Samui, Phi Phi Islands, are some of the popular Scuba Diving destinations.

6. Watch the Ladyboy Cabaret Show

Ladyboys or the third gender is a major part of Thailand’s entertainment industry. The beautiful performers in glittering costumes and extravagant headpieces put up a colorful show of music, dance, and lights. If you wish to see something rare and hard to find anywhere else then you must check out this show.

It would be a good experience to share back home. The famous Alcazar and Tiffany’s Show in Pattaya, Calypso Cabaret and Playhouse Magical Cabaret in Bangkok, are some of the most famous in Thailand.

7. Get wild during Songkran, Thai New Year

People of Thailand love to party and have a good time. Songkran, or the time of Thai New Year, is another one of those occasions in Thailand when the entire country is in a festive mood. Thai New Year falls between 13th to 15th April. The initial two days of the festival are celebrated among family members and visiting temples. The last day festivity reaches its peak with a massive water fight on the streets of Thailand followed by a raging party.

The biggest centers of celebration in Thailand during New Years are Bangkok and Chiang Mai. If you are visiting Thailand in April it would be great to plan the trip around the New Year.

8. Go Rock Climbing

One of the top favorites among tourists. The Krabi province in Thailand with its karst mountains is the rock climbing capital. The nearby limestone cliffs of the Phra Nang Peninsula are home to Railay and Tonsai. The place is nothing short of a Mecca for adventure sports lovers. Climbers here can choose from hundreds of different routes. If you haven’t tried rock climbing before then you can train here in training schools before doing the actual thing.

9. Visit Chiang Mai

Relatively small in size, Chiang Mai is one of the most happening cities in Thailand. The misty mountain city has a great blend of culture, history, and contemporary entertainment. Doi Suthep, Tha Pae Gate, Night Bazaar, Riverside, Nimmanhaemin, Night Safari, Wiang Kum Kam, Doi Inthanon National Park, the city is a storehouse of several tourist attractions ranging from historic sites and temples to cool and uber shopping streets.

Two of the major attractions in the city is its White Temple and Black House. The monuments are often called the architecture of Heaven and Hell respectively. White Temple stands out among all other temples in Chiang Mai due to its rare concept. The Black House is a museum with a strange collection of animal fur, skin, teeth, and bones.

Suggested Read: Things To Do In Chiang Mai, Best Time To Visit Chiang Mai & Places To Visit Chiang Mai

10. Treat yourself to a Fish Spa

After an eventful morning of shopping and sightseeing that best thing to treat your sense to would be a relaxing fish spa. Image several fishes nibbling against your feet eating away the dead skin. The experience is extremely relaxing and fun as you will be a tickling sensation the entire time during the spa.

11. Take A Cooking Class

Learning new things is always great when you are on foreign land. What better things to learn in Thailand than their mouth-watering cuisine. Thai cuisine has an inclusion of never-seen-before ingredients and aromas.

If you do not want to miss the taste of authentic Thai food back home, learn how to cook Thai style. Many tourists hubs of Thailand have culinary classes for tourists. The size of these classes varies from eight to ten people. Small groups ensure that the chief can pay attention to each student closely. There are plenty of cooking classes in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket.

12. Visit the Elephant Sanctuary

Elephants are the most revered animal in Thailand. If you too are fascinated by these majestic creatures much like Thai people then visit elephant sanctuaries. They are near Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket. You can volunteer in these sanctuaries. Get up close with the humble animals as you bath and feed them.

13. Enjoy a tuk-tuk ride

No trip to Thailand is complete without a ride in the tuk-tuk or the local auto-rickshaws. The colorful local rides are hard to miss anywhere in Thailand. It is also the best way of exploring its cities. They are quite a thrill to ride in. You can book a sightseeing tour of the city.

14. Enjoy the nightlife

Thailand is famous for its wild parties and crazy nightlife. The sun never sets in this tourist hub. Round of cheap drinks, mingling with fellow backpackers, exotic thrill, street shopping, clubbing, there is so much to do here as soon as the sunsets. There are many night markets in Bangkok that tourists love to explore. Whether you enjoy a night on some fancy rooftop restaurant or hangout at go-go bars listening to live music, your nights in Thailand are sure to be exciting.

15. Go Island Hopping

Thailand is a congregation of happening, laid-back, and exotic islands. It has about 300 islands and you must plan to visit at least a few. Phuket, Koh Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, Ko Tao, Phi Phi Islands, are some of the most famous islands in Thailand. The islands have various activities like scuba diving and various water sports to indulge in. They are also a great place to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

16. Watch a Muay Thai Fight

Muay Thai Fight is the national sport of Thailand. It is an ancient Thai martial art. It was developed for military combat. Almost all major cities have fight rings but the best ones are in Bangkok. The best place to watch the fight is at Lumpinee Stadium.

17. Shop at a Floating Market

One of the rarest experiences in Thailand is to shop while you float. All the major tourist hubs in Thailand have floating stalls as one of the major tourist attractions. The vendors set out on their boats laden with fresh produce, eateries, and various trendy stuff, early in the morning. Even when you do not have shopping on your mind, it is a great place to explore. Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya all have vibrant floating markets. Some of them also have cultural shows for visitors.