Planning a trip to Thailand doesn’t have to be hard but it does need to be educational. This Thailand travel guide has a little bit of what you need to navigate a few of the main hot spots In Thailand. Pattaya Raw’s Thai Travel Guide should help with some of the ins and outs of some of the hottest tourist spots.
Thailand’s boundaries stretch to neighboring regions of Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Gulf of Thailand and Indian Ocean. Thailand has four main regions called North, Central Plain (Chao Phraya River Basin), North-East (Korat Plateau) and South Peninsula.
Thailand comes as a pleasant surprise for the global traveler: a spectacular natural beauty offered by many beaches and islands, innumerable shopping amenities, and vibrant lifestyle offered by festivities and exotic carnivals.
Tour of Thailand – Travel Guide Of Thailand
Table of Contents
If you think of Thailand as a tourist destination you think not just of its many exciting vacation activities and exotic pleasures. Buddhism is the main religion in the country, but Thailand has religious tolerance for people of all races. This multiculturalism is a fact that makes Thailand a favorite tourist destination for travelers.
The main travel destinations in Thailand include Phuket, Koh Samui, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Chang, and Koh Samet. Also, provinces like Krabi, Koh Libong, or Koh Hai should be parts of a tour of Thailand – each will offer you great photographic memories too.
The Thai Cuisine
When you make a tour of Thailand you should be advised that Thai cuisine is a real delight. Thai cuisine is a blend of the four regions of Thailand. During your travel around Thailand, you’ll find many restaurants that will offer excellent dishes. The food list is actually endless and you could spend more vacations in Thailand and not taste all the mouth-watering delicacies from this country!
Thailand’s Beautiful Beaches
Thailand has a few of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. Those that have traveled there know that the incredible place named Thailand offers some of the best beaches in the world!
Because much of this land is untouched by development you’ll find that relaxation and peaceful living is more than possible. In Thailand are many towns located close to beaches, offering accommodations in luxury resorts and beach activities for all kind of vacationers. Some of Thailand’s well known beach destinations are:
Phuket
Phuket is a perfect vacation area. It’s more crowded than other beaches because this area is very well known in the entire world and attracts a huge number of travelers. Scuba diving is here the top vacation activity due to the perfect waters, some of the warmest and clearest in the world! There are also several other attractions to keep you busy for a few days. The best period to enjoy this vacation resort and its splendid beaches is between November and March.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is very close to Phuket when it comes to the variety of vacation attractions. Besides excellent hotels and vacation resorts, Koh Samui features a few magnificent waterfalls, that travelers should not miss. Of course, this vacation resort features all imaginable beach activities: scuba diving, snorkeling, water-sky, fishing, jet-ski, parasailing, yachting, and the list could endlessly go on…
See more about Koh Samui below!
Hua Hin
Hua Hin is Thailand’s oldest beach resort and nowadays it remains popular for those who wish a quiet getaway only a few hours away from Bangkok. Hua Hin is also known for its night market, offering a variety of exquisite foods and snacks. Many hotels and resorts can be found in the area and some of the best beaches from Thailand are located there.
Rayong and Koh Samet
Rayong has not only beautiful beaches lining its shores, but it features also many cultural and natural resources. Koh Samet, the biggest island on Rayong’s coast, is surrounded by crystal-clear waters and is also a favorite travel destination for those seeking a quick visit out of Bangkok.
Khao Lak
Khao Lak is maybe the most beautiful beach in Thailand. It’s located just a short drive from the airport and it’s really like a terrestrial paradise, offering a remote vacation area like no other. Because the area is largely uninhabited you’ll find their lush rain forest filled with rich exotic wildlife. The beaches are exceptional, the water remains warm the whole year, so fishing and scuba diving are just magnificent!
Phi Phi Don
Phi Phi Don beach was a quiet and remote vacation area. Now it’s considered to be one of the most popular beaches in Thailand and, consequently, it’s frequented by stars. Even if it is pretty expensive, Phi Phi Don is a site that you should not miss because the beaches are breathtaking and the water warm and inviting…
West Railay Beach
West Railay beach is one of the undiscovered diamonds of Thailand. The area is not expensive and you can stay in a very good hotel or vacation resort at very affordable rates. Here the beaches have milky white sands and the water nearby is crystal-clear and warm. No wonder that scuba diving is very popular here, as well as deep-sea fishing.
Bangkok City
Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand. The city has more than 10 million people, making it a highly traffic-congested city. Bangkok is widely considered the main travel destination in Thailand.
Bangkok is truly a dream for every traveler, with its overwhelming nightlife and so many things to do. The city’s nightlife can’t be described, it’s just amazing! Bangkok features a few dozen discos, hundreds of bars & karaoke bars, and literally thousands of pubs and coffee shops!
The capital city has much more to offer than girls and bars. A vacation in Bangkok will offer you an enjoyable and funny experience. When you travel to Bangkok the main attractions are:
Shopping
Thailand features a huge variety of shopping experiences, from street markets to luxury malls. Still, many travelers have always preferred markets and bazaars to other forms of shopping. Chatuchak market, which is opened just on the weekend, is one of the largest shopping destinations in Bangkok.
Due to the modern development of the city the water markets are in danger to disappear, still remain strong travel attractions because many city tours feature a trip through the city’s canals
“Wild” Nightlife in Bangkok
If you want to spend a “hot” night in Bangkok, hitting the clubs right after the sunset might be too early. Heading to one of many rooftop restaurants is a good idea to start your night. Try the Sky Bar on Silom road or Moon Bar on Sathorn road.
If there’s any place in Bangkok that you shouldn’t miss, it’s Sukhumvit. The longest and the most popular among locals and vacationers, Sukhumvit is home to a variety of venues including red-light areas, where you can find girls in slinky outfits showing off their pole dancing skills. Bangkok go-go bars are numerous in these areas. Still, trendy and stylish night clubs and bars are also located on this famous road.
Bangkok is a vibrant and colorful city and is the perfect destination for travelers who want a vacation that combines culture, relaxation, and fantastic nightlife.
Bangkok’s nightlife has something for everyone, from stylish clubs and bars to British-style pubs. There are plenty of clubs to choose from, all right next to each other, offering all sorts of tastes, age groups, crowds, and drinks prices.
Buddhist Temples and Palaces
Thailand is for many years the most popular travel destination in southeastern Asia. Millions of vacationers from all over the world visit yearly this beautiful country. This happens because Thailand is renowned for its hospitality, Buddhist temples, and amazing beaches that offer excellent vacation activities. Thailand has certainly something to offer for everyone…
Bangkok has many ancient temples
You’ll find everywhere in Thailand a large number of old and beautiful Buddhist temples and Bangkok is no exception. Bangkok’s history dates back to the year 1782 when it was established by the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty, Rama I. It’s the heart and soul of Thailand, being the center of spiritual, commercial, cultural, and educational activities. No wonder that in Bangkok were built many temples, locally called “wats”.
The cultural and spiritual air is sensed when a traveler enters one of the numerous Buddhist temples. The burnished image of Buddha, the saffron-clad monks, and the resounding silence of the temples bring immediately a sense of peace to the mind and a feeling of timelessness…
Travel to Pattaya City
Pattaya was a lonely fishing village until the Vietnam war when American soldiers from the U. S. Air Forces based in Utapao began using the area for “rest and recreation”. The city grew quickly, mostly due to do nightlife and the easyness of the ladies that could be found working there.
In 2015 in Pattaya more than 40,758 hotel rooms were available. Despite its reputation as being a travel destination for sex tourism, this resort has seen a large increase in family tourism in recent years. Pattaya is now a popular family vacation destination of Thailand for peoples from Russia, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia.
Pattaya Beach
Pattaya’s main attractions are its beaches. Pattaya Beach is situated along the center of the city, in close proximity to shopping malls, hotels, and bars. The over-abundance of jet-ski and speedboats has contributed to the severe pollution of the water along this beach.
Jomtien Beach
Jomtien Beach is separated from the main part of Pattaya by Buddha Hill, located in the south of the city. In contrast to Pattaya Beach. Here is essentially a residential area with beach hotels, bungalow complexes, condos, and restaurants. A wide array of water sport amenities can be found there, including jet-skiing, parasailing, sea-fishing, and scuba diving.
The Jomtien district is already home to one of the largest vacation resort from Thailand and even from Asia.
Ko Lan
Ko Lan or Koh Larn is a small island situated 7.5 km west of Pattaya. If you want to travel to Ko Lan you should be advised that this island is accessible only by speedboat and ferry. The ferry departs hourly and it makes a 45-minute ride from the mainland.
The speedboats are more expensive but can reach the island in less than 15 minutes. Ko Lan has several excellent beaches, known for their clean surroundings, relaxing atmosphere, soft white sand, and crystal-clear waters. It’s really a perfect destination if you want to spend a peaceful day or two away from Pattaya.
Koh Samui, Thailand
Koh Samui is a premier travel destination of Thailand and is located in the Gulf of Thailand, about 35 km northeast of Surat Thani. It’s surrounded by about sixty other islands, most of which containing Ang Thong National Marine Park. This region also includes other famous travel destinations such as Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao, and Ko Nang Yuan.
Koh Samui is a roughly circular island and it’s about 15 km wide. Its central part is an uninhabitable mountain jungle and the various lowland areas are connected together by a single road that covers the circumference of the island.
There is just one town named Na Thon, located on the western coast of the island, that has a major port for fishing and transportation. Each beach from Koh Samui can be considered a town due to a large number of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and bars that have sprung up in recent years.
Beaches from Koh Samui
Koh Samui is mostly visited by travelers wanting to “get away from all”, so its main attractions are its white-sand beaches and the warm sea.
The beach called Chaweng is the most crowded area on Samui and offers the most nightclubs and bars. It’s a great place to start if you’re on the look for a fun and exciting time on the island.
Also on the eastern coast is Lamai, smaller than Chaweng, but with cleaner and less crowded beaches. On the northern coast of the island is Maenam, which offers spectacular views of Koh Phangan to the north and Ang Thong National Marine Park to the east. The waters are calm and clean, being protected by the currents.
Much less crowded than Lamai and Chaweng, Maenam’s restaurants and bars offer more from the local Thai flavor, as well as more reasonably priced food. Maenam is quieter and more relaxed, so it’s a perfect travel destination if you want to spend a peaceful vacation in Thailand.
Bophut is the next beach near Maenam.
Bangrak is often known by the name “Big Buddha Beach”, due to the 19-meter statue which overlooks the area. Bangrak is very close to the airport, still is one of the calmest beaches from Koh Samui.
Choeng Mon is one of the smallest beaches and lies in a secluded bay on the northeastern shore of the island, making it perfect for those who want peace and quiet all day. There are a few small restaurants and a couple of shops, in addition to the luxurious and expensive hotels that surround the bay.
Ao Tong Takian is also a small beach located to the north of Lamai beach. It’s very popular among travelers due to its white sand and for this reason is also known as “Silver Beach”. Here you’ll find a few vacation resorts: La Mer Samui Resort, Samui Yacht Club, Tong Ta Kian Villa, Silver Beach, and Crystal Bay.
An Excellent Vacation Resort
Big Buddha is a high statue of Buddha, it lies at temple Wat Phra Yai and represents the main attractions for vacationers. Koh Samui has other impressive temples too, including Wat Khunaram, where can be seen the mummified body of Loung Pordaeng, a monk who died in a meditating position.
The mountain jungle in the interior of the island is an excellent travel destination for those who want adventure. Here can be found the magnificent gardens built by legendary farmer Nim Thongsuk. You’ll see in the area the impressive waterfalls from Na Muang and the most amazing views over the Ang Thong archipelago.
Due to the jungle, it’s clever to take a tour of these mountains with an experienced guide…
Besides temples, numerous animal attractions are available on the island, including a crocodile farm, monkey zoo, elephant trekking, a snake farm, an aquarium, and a butterfly garden.
Most vacationers which travel to Koh Samui take a day trip to the beautiful Ang Thong National Marine Park at least once during their stay on this island
Hotels Thailand Travel Guide
In Thailand, you’ll find many beautiful hotels and luxury resorts that offer excellent accommodation amenities. In many vacation resorts in Thailand, you’ll find well-trained therapists which will offer you a wide range of treatments and therapies. You can enjoy their many pleasures, from the traditional Thai massage to various types of exotic massages and treatments with special oils and scrubs…
World-renowned luxury resorts and Budget Accommodation
If you travel to Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, or Krabi you’ll find a lot of hotels and vacation resorts that offer all types of accommodations. In most resorts in Thailand, you can choose from a wide range of rooms.
Of course, the accommodation rates from Thailand depend on your location choice. A hotel room or a bungalow near a popular beach, close to the airport or seaport, or into a region full of thriving nightlife will be probably twice so expensive as the same room or bungalow in a remote and quiet location.
Taxi fares and taxi boat fares operate under the same rule as the accommodation rates. So, there is a simple rule you may adopt: if you are looking for rich social activities and busy nightlife stay close to the airport or seaport, otherwise the transportation could cost you a fortune!
If you want a peaceful vacation then choose a remote beach resort.
Millions of people travel to Thailand every year. Many of them do not know what to expect and generally, they know very little about this Asian country. However, once they have spent a vacation in Thailand they will return surely. Thailand is an amazing country with fabulous excitement in every corner. There are four natural regions in Thailand.
Each region has plenty of accommodations, starting from budget hotel rooms and going up to luxury five stars resorts.
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