Thailand is an utterly, undeniably, spectacular holiday choice. Whether you’re in the market for a romantic getaway with your loved one, a family holiday that keeps the kids occupied for hours, a friend’s trip with your closest circle, or a solo adventure with exploring a key item on your agenda; Thailand can only ever impress. It might be the tropical climates that lure millions of tourists to Thailand each year but it’s the culture, local people and landscape that will ensure travellers return again and again.
From Chiang Rai in the North, Phuket in the South and the dozens of spectacular islands off the mainland, Thailand has a destination for every desire. The difficult part will be deciding where to visit first!
We’ve done the hard work for you and put together the best places in Thailand for each travel preference.
The Romantic Getaway
If your idea of romance is to park up in a low cost, yet utterly perfect, beach bungalow on a pristine tropical beach with your loved one, this is the perfect holiday; Thailand is the place for you.
Try Koh Lanta or Khao Lak (Krabi province) for your romantic getaway and feel like you are living in a dream. Clean, white, sandy beaches and calm, warm oceans to relax in through the day with a pina colada in hand. Take a boat ride snorkeling reefs together for a fun filled day excursion. Eat delicious cuisine at a beach restaurant while your toes sit in sand, then wake up and repeat with the only addition a Thai massage to relax you even more. With Koh Lanka and Khao Lak you’ll find enough entertainment and activities to quench a thirst, yet not so much that you’re dying for the backpackers to quieten down.
The Family Holiday
You and your entire family can’t go wrong with a Phuket holiday. You’ll have the trademark beach lifestyle that Thailand is known for, staying in a quality, spacious resort without breaking the bank and the best part is you won’t have to travel forever to reach your destination.
Phuket is one of the most accessible beach areas of Thailand due to Phuket international airport. This fact alone turns travelling with children into a dream holiday.
The Friends Trip
A perfect destination for a friends’ trip for many reasons. The low cost accommodation that is completely tailored to socialising with hints of privacy is the first reason. The beach lifestyle that promotes laid back attitude is the other. Then there is the hive of activity that Thai nightlife brings to the table. That’s why Koh Samui is our top pick for the friends’ trip, even more so than other Thailand destinations.
What Koh Samui does exceptionally well is rustic energy. Placed on the tourist map long before areas like Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta have paved the way for a beach vibe that is casual, comfortable and totally inviting. One of the few beach destinations where beachside bungalows are low cost and preferred to resort living. Koh Samui has the perfect combination of beach versus evening bar scene. Through the day there are a number of excellent day hikes for nature lovers and for a short boat ride to Koh Phangan visitors to Koh Samui can explore a little further afield.
The Solo Adventure
Thailand has played homage to the backpacker scene for a long time due to the ease of travel through bordering countries, rich culture and trademark warm hospitality that the That people are so well known for. Put that together with warm climates and beach lifestyle and you have a recipe for a dream adventure. For the solo adventurer one Thailand region simply won’t be enough.
Thailand’s North is a wonderful place to explore with remote hill tribe’s dotted through the famous Golden Triangle, lush green countryside for hiking excursions or home stays and plenty of authentic Thai culture. In fact, Thailand’s cultural capital, Chiang Mai, is well known to be home of possibly the largest digital nomad population in the world. For the solo adventurer that means one of the best places in Thailand to connect with fellow adventure types is Chiang Mai.
Beginning in Chiang Mai and The Golden Triangle, stopping briefly in Bangkok and then selecting either Railay beach of Koh Tao as beach destinations, a well balanced exploration will undoubtedly be had.
Railay and Koh Tao offer a little more than simply laying about on the sand with a cocktail; they are both beach destinations with a sense of adventure. Known to be the capital of rock climbing in Thailand with spectacular limestone cliff faces to explore, Railay Beach is also backdropped by proper jungle ripe for exploring alongside monkeys. Koh Tao is the diving equivalent.
No Thailand traveller will get it wrong; each and every beach is presented spectacularly with idyllic hospitality and happy travellers to share a holiday with. For the best places to visit in Thailand, you’ll simply have to check them all out and call one your very own best place.
Words by: alexchasingdreams.com
@alexchasingdreams.