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While the ever-thrilling Bangkok and popular island beauty of Phuket are loved for good reason, it could be said that some of Thailand’s most rewarding experiences sit outside the trodden path. From the culture-rich Northern highlands to low-key beach towns framed by national parks, these six Thailand destinations reveal a quieter, more restorative side.
1. Khao Lak
Why you need to visit Khao Lak
Tucked along Thailand’s Andaman Coast, Khao Lak is what Phuket used to be before the crowds arrived: no high-rises, no jet skis, just long stretches of golden sand where you can walk for twenty minutes and count the number of people you pass on one hand. Backed by rainforest, it’s also the gateway to some of Thailand’s best national park terrain, like Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park.
Signature experiences
Snorkel the coral reefs and turquoise waters of the Similan Islands on a day trip. Explore the Ton Chong Fa Waterfall on a guided eco-tour that winds through the jungle canopy and ends at natural plunge pools. Kayak through Khao Sok National Park’s limestone karsts and mangroves, watching the scenery shifts from dramatic to serene with every paddle stroke.
Don’t miss
Sunrise yoga sessions on Nang Thong Beach where your only company is the occasional fisherman. Sunset paddleboarding in mirrored waters that turn the sky into a second horizon. Long beachfront lunches at family-run seafood restaurants where the day’s catch is still wriggling and the Thai iced tea is dangerously good.
2. Krabi
Why you need to visit Krabi
Krabi is where Thailand shows off – limestone karsts jut from jade-green water, beaches are fringed by jungle rather than hotels and the islands scattered offshore feel impossibly remote. It’s dramatic without being overdeveloped, adventurous without requiring serious fitness and still relatively quiet outside of peak season. You’ll get variety here: rock climbing at Railay Beach in the morning, mangrove kayaking by afternoon, then sunset cocktails on your resort terrace by evening.
Signature experiences
Climb Railay Beach’s beginner-friendly limestone cliffs with its unbeatable views of the bay. Kayak through Ao Thalane’s emerald mangroves and see lizards sunning themselves on the banks. Snorkel or dive around the Phi Phi Islands to experience thriving reefs and fish populations that outnumber the tourists. Explore the Emerald Pool and Hot Springs at Khao Phanom Bencha National Park for natural thermal baths surrounded by rainforest.
Don’t miss
Sunset meditation on Phra Nang Cave Beach – the light turns the cliffs rose-gold and the energy is genuinely calming. Evening markets in Krabi Town that are all sizzling woks, second-hand book stalls and zero tourist markups. Longtail boat trips to hidden coves and islands where you’re the only ones on the sand.
3. Hua Hin
Why you need to visit Hua Hin
Hua Hin has been Thailand’s original beach escape since the 1920s when King Rama VII built a summer palace here and triggered a royal migration south. It unites this royal heritage with a creative energy and seaside calm that feels uniquely Thai – temples and art galleries sit alongside seafood shacks and night markets, and no one’s in a rush. It’s just three hours from Bangkok by car, making it ideal for a quick reset or the start of a longer Gulf coast loop.
Signature experiences
Visit Wat Huay Mongkol, home to Thailand’s largest statue of legendary Buddhist monk Luang Phor Thuad, a gleaming bronze monument that’s a spiritual and architectural spectacle. Wander the Baan Silapin artist village for local crafts and workshops by local painters, sculptors and ceramicists. Explore the Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, a teakwood seaside royal villa built on stilts with ocean views from every angle. Take a Thai cooking class with local chefs who’ll walk you through market shopping before you start chopping lemongrass.
Don’t miss
The Hua Hin Night Market for fresh seafood grilled to order and delicacies like mango sticky rice served from family stalls. Vineyard tours at Hua Hin Hills for wine tasting with scenic views (yes, Thai wine is a thing). Beach horseback riding along the coastline at sunrise or sunset when the sand is cool and the light is magic.
4. Chiang Mai
Why you need to visit Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand’s cultural heart delivers ancient temples, a thriving wellness scene and some of Southeast Asia’s best cafes and galleries, all set against a backdrop of misty mountains and rice paddies. Temples outnumber traffic lights, the Old City is still encircled by an ancient moat, and traditions aren’t performed for tourists, they’re part of daily life. The cooler climate, especially November to February, makes it a welcome reprieve from the humidity.
Signature experiences
Sunrise meditation at Wat Phra Doi Suthep temple, perched on a mountain overlooking the city: the views alone are worth the 306-step climb, but the stillness at dawn is something else. Take part in a cooking classes and master regional specialties like khao soi (a fragrant curry noodle soup) and nam prik ong (a rich chili dip made with pork and tomatoes). Explore the San Kamphaeng craft villages for handwoven silk and traditional handicrafts like umbrella painting.
Don’t miss
Hidden cafes and noodle shops in the Old City like Khao Soi Loong Prakit Kad Kom. Cycling along the Ping River at sunset when the temple spires appear to catch fire. Enjoy a khantoke dinner show where you sit on floor cushions and eat Northern-style bites while traditional dancers in silk costumes tell ancient stories.
5. Chiang Rai
Why you need to visit Chiang Rai
If Chiang Mai is Northern Thailand’s cultural heart, Chiang Rai is its dreamier cousin. Mornings here are wrapped in mist that rolls off the mountains and settles over tea plantations. The pace is slower, the air noticeably cooler and the architecture – from glittering white temples to sprawling black timber museums – borders on surreal. The cool-season climate makes it genuinely refreshing; it’s the kind of place morning fog adds atmosphere rather than humidity. It’s also the gateway to the Golden Triangle, the point where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet.
Signature experiences
Visit the White Temple, a blindingly white temple covered in mirrored glass that reflects light like a disco ball. Sip on tea at a tasting in the rolling hills of Mae Salong, a former Chinese settlement where oolong (traditional tea) is grown on terraced slopes and the tea houses serve dim sum alongside Thai curries. Explore the Black House Museum for a vast collection of dark timber structures filled with bones, hides and provocative sculptures by artist, sculptor and architect Thawan Duchanee.
Don’t miss
Long drives through tea plantations where rows of green bushes ripple across hillsides and the air smells like fresh leaves. Local markets bursting with Northern Thai snacks like sai oua (herb-packed sausage) and kanom jeen nam ngiao (a fermented noodle curry), plus handicrafts made by hill-tribe artisans.
6. Koh Samui
Why you need to visit Koh Samui
Koh Samui has quietly evolved from a backpacker island to a wellness destination by leaning into restorative travel: think world-class spas, yoga shalas with dazzling ocean views and a food scene that’s equally focused on nourishment and flavour. Here, you’ll find quiet northern coves for solo travellers seeking stillness, family-friendly beaches with calm water and a thriving holistic health community that includes everything from Ayurvedic retreats to sound healing sessions.
Signature experiences
Take part in a multi-day wellness program at luxury resorts that combine Thai massage and meditation with plant-based cuisine and fitness classes. Experience guided meditations at Wat Plai Laem temple, a colourful lakeside complex watched over by a giant Guanyin statue that radiates calm. Sunset paddleboard or kayak along quiet coves on the island’s less-developed eastern coast, then indulge in spa rituals featuring traditional Thai therapies and herbal treatments like tok sen (hammered massage), herbal compress therapy and facials using coconut, turmeric and local botanicals.
Don’t miss
Sunrise yoga on Chaweng or Lamai beach when the sand is cooler. Fresh seafood and tropical cuisine at beachside restaurants; enjoy the day’s catch grilled over coconut husks and papaya salads with the perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy. Relaxed island drives to hidden viewpoints and waterfalls like Na Muang Falls and the Secret Buddha Garden.
