What are your top 5 absolutely the most extraordinary experiences you've ever had in Thailand?
I am hoping this question can help everyone to think beyond the ordinary and plan for that special and memorable once in a life time trip.

Everyone is different so what's great for some is no good for others, anyway my suggestions:-

5> Sunset from Prong Thep Cape on Phuket
4> Cruise up the river from Bangkok to Ayuthaya
3> Spend a few days in Issan province, away from the busy areas, take a car and driver for a day into the farmlands, discover life away from the big cities
2> Sancturay resort near Chiang Mai, take the trek and visit the Hilltribes
1> Stay on a River Raft on the River Kwai near Kanchanaburi, at least once get up at 5 a.m to see the sunrise over the river, classic!

1. overnite boat up the river on monora song to summer palace

2. tour and re-tour and re-tour the grand palace

3. eating in bangkok

4. meeting the people of thailand

5. shopping in thailand


not very original but the highlights that come to mind

Both James and Bob have some great ideas. Let me just add:

A full day of spa at the Chiva Som (Hua Hin)

Being totally papmered by fine service at any of Bangkok's 5* hotels along the River.

I'd like to add:
*a canal ride on a longtail boat
*day trip to Ayuthaya
*seeing any movie at the GOLD CLASS THEATER in Siam Discovery shopping ctr
*shopping shopping shopping

Enjoy!

Shopping in Bangkok...bargaining and bargaining and bargaining.

Psssst...wanna buy a watch?

The Floating Market. Great fun and more bargaining.

Beautiful, happy, friendly people.

A truly fun experience with delicious food.

Being manhandled (oops, I mean massaged) at the School of Massage, Wat Po!

Reading the 'menu' for the ping pong bars, as it is thrust under your nose in Patpong! Mind boggling!

Dicing with death, racing around narrow streets in a tuk tuk!

Watching all the mopeds lined up, like on a starting grid, waiting for the red light to change to green!

Sitting drinking a cocktail overlooking the river on the terrace of the Royal Orchid Sheraton, in the dark with the lights glistening in the water! Very romantic!

1. Riding an elephant "bare back" at an elephant camp near Chiang Mai.

2. Getting on a river taxi on our very first day in Thailand and going to The Grand Palace

3. A day tour of the "Golden Triangle" from Chiang Rai that included short stops in Myanmar and Laos.

4. Taking the bus to Ayuttya and the Summer Palace and returning to Bangkok by boat.

5. Thai smiles

Hi

1. Going to the Museum of forensic history at Siriraj Hospital to see mummified criminals and body parts on jars
2. Going to the movies and watch the surprised face on foreigners when they see that people stand when they play the Thai national anthem
3. Being attacked by tuk-tuk drivers whereever you go...and they all tell you that the wat you are going to is closed today...and that the skytrain is not running today

Well, maybe not that extraordinary experiences but I have had a great time in Thailand on 3 vacations

Regards
Gard
www.gardkarlsen.com

1. Riding elephants outside of Chaing Mai

2. Snorkeling off of Bamboo and the Phi Phi Islands

3. Baan Boran hotel in the Golden Triangle

Only really have three!

1 seeing that life dose exist after 9 pm compared too my home town

2l listening too colombian music spanish music in club.

3 watching sex show in pot pong.. (holding balloon as lady or maybe it was a katoy.. did her thing too pop it..

4 checking out great palice

5 just being here for past 5 6 months

1. Shangri-la hotel on priceline.com for USD74 and being upgraded to executive level.
2. Fern resort at Mae Hon Song-gorgeous eco resort in mountains near Burma border.
3. River cruise on Chao Praya river in BKK.
4.Shopping at Chatuchak weekend market.

5. Leaving Bangkok-its a hole of a place. Keep your visit to 3 days and head north.

Gosh, Lyndie, your number 5 is surprising. We stayed 7 nights in Bkk and 3 nights at the Golden Triangle, and wished we had longer in Bkk. It's interesting how different people enjoy different things - makes the world go round, I guess!!

I must be getting philosophical in my old age!!

Lyndie I wished I thought of your number five answer. I can't agree more.

1. Watching the sun slowly set behind chicken island from loungers on Railay Beach with my wife, followed by a stroll to collect shells at low tide.
2. Realizing the bunch of bamboo poles lashed together that we are stepping onto near Chiang Mai is actually our "river raft", being handed a bamboo pole with the instructions to "push" and finally floating down the river in a torrential rainstorm and laughing about it .
3. meeting a wonderful group of badminton players at the RBSC and going out for dinner afterward.
4. Discovering that putting a collar on a squirel is not an easy task, especially in a friend's car stuck in Bangkok traffic.
5. Learning that your kids have developed an appreciation for basicThai manners and wouldn't mind traveling even if it won't always be comfortable or air conditioned.

1. Hiring a long tail to take us out to islands near Railay Beach
2. Railay Beach
2. Shopping at the weekend market and in Bangkok in general
3. Thai noodles
4. Massages
5. Going to Ko Phi Phi Ley where they filmed the Beach.

Lyndie, hey, my Hometown!
It's vibrant, exciting, amazing, alive, full of diversity, it's great!

Sorry James but I thought BKK was dirty, difficult to get around, lots of ugly buildings half completed. Have you seen Hanoi? Much of Vietnam leaves Thailand for dead, just my humble opinion. Hi Peg-sorry you hated it too-means you won't waste your valuable holiday time & dollars on the place! Best regards to all.

I'm another BKK lover. Can't wait to get back there at Christmas time again.
In my 5 visits, I've developed a number of great friendships with the Thai people. It's the people that make BKK a wonderful place to visit. Different opinions do make the world go 'round though. If those of you who don't care that much for Bangkok leave the city, that means more bargains left for me! LOL

Yes, me too. Bangkok is one of my favorite cities in the world. I've been to Bangkok more than a dozen times, and always look forward to my next visit... now just two months away.