Top Experiences in Thailand
Beach and Dive Life
Thailand's beach culture is world-class. The famous Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangan heave with all-night raves; you may be happier lazing under coconut palms with a gentle massage between dips, or having a beach barbecue with fresh seafood on Koh Chang. For unforgettable underwater theater, head to one of Thailand's top dive sites, where facilities range from beginner courses of a few hours to live-aboard boats that stay out several days. Koh Tao, in the Gulf of Thailand, is popular, but the best locations are the Similan and Surin islands, where you meet nomadic island-hopping people known as Sea Gypsies and swim with whale sharks, clownfish, and leatherback turtles. That said, a simple snorkel will please those who prefer to stay closer to shore.
Chatuchak Market
There are almost 10,000 stalls at Chatuchak Market, which operates in northern Bangkok each weekend. One of the world's biggest markets, it’s great for textiles, jewelry, books, clothes, food, plants, Buddha statues, and pretty much anything else you can think of.
Mae Hong Son Loop
The 600-km (370-mile) route from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son and back is a stunningly picturesque drive through the country's hilliest regions, whether you take the northern route, via Pai, or the southern route via Mae Sariang. Give yourself at least four days, and stop frequently along the way. It's not as remote as it was in years past, but this will show you an entirely different Thailand, and the various tribal cultures that live among these mountains.
Kanchanaburi
It's well worth a short trip to this historic region to visit the Bridge over the River Kwai. Here, during World War II, forced laborers under Japanese control worked on the infamous "Death Railway" to Burma. Thousands died in the process. Kanchanaburi is just a couple of hours by train from Bangkok and can be visited in a day- or overnight trip.
Spas
Treat yourself to a luxury spa retreat—anywhere in Thailand. This country is famous for its massage (ancient and other), and its spas are superb: relaxing and refreshing, amid beautiful scenery, at affordable rates. Looking for a cleanse? Thailand is a popular destination for these body overhauls, too.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
In the ninth lunar month, usually October, religious devotees known as Ma Song walk on hot coals and drive a variety of metal objects through their bodies. These feats are believed to deflect evil, and are part of a Chinese Buddhist–Taoist period of spiritual cleansing, when adherents abstain from meat, alcohol, and sex.
Songkran Festival
Each April, during Thai New Year celebrations (Songkran), the country becomes a three-day street party of water fights. Participants go armed with cups, buckets, and water guns, and tourist centers like Khao San Road are packed with hordes of drenched merrymakers. Traditionalists complain that it's a far cry from the festival's origins—it began as a genteel bathing ritual to honor elders. For those seeking less raucous revelry, neighboring Cambodia and Laos also celebrate the holiday, in a slightly gentler manner. If you really want quiet, spend the new year in Phnom Penh, which empties as residents head to their home villages for the holiday. Cambodians, too, will sprinkle you with water—and then perhaps invite you home to eat a New Year’s feast with the family.
Street Food
Rich and poor mingle over bowls of soups and curries at Thailand's street stalls. Many vendors are famous for a particular dish, whether pad thai; the spicy, sour shrimp soup tom yum goong; or duck with noodles. It's a wonderful journey of discovery, where you can chomp on seemingly anything, from deep-fried flowers to a mixed bag of insects.
