Top 5 Thailand Attractions

Each year more and more British tourists flock to Thailand to enjoy the intoxicating combination of unspoilt beaches, wild nightlife and the tropical climate. Whether you’re looking to relax, party or soak up the culture, Thailand will have something to offer and we’ve handpicked our favourite Thailand attractions.

The Beaches

With hundreds of islands and hundreds of miles of coastline on either side of the country, it’s no surprise that one of the main Thailand attractions is the beaches. Phuket and Koh Samui are two of the most popular destinations for UK tourists. Both tropical islands offer the full range of accommodation, ranging from opulent luxury to budget backpacker hostels surrounded by lively, bar-lined beaches.

Of course, there are also myriad lesser-known options for relaxing on the beach in peace and quiet. Koh Kood is Thailand’s fourth biggest island is still relatively untouched by tourism and offers a host of secluded beaches. Koh Tarutao near the Malaysian border is part of the Tarutao National Marine Park and offers miles of powder white sand, free from the tourist developments of some of the busier island.

Bangkok's Architecture

The Thai capital is a convenient place to start a trip around south east Asia and is home to a host of Thailand’s attractions. Some of the most popular architectural attractions in Thailand can be found in the capital. One of the most famous is the unmistakable Grand Palace, which looks particularly impressive at night when its golden exterior is at its most dazzling.

Just alongside the Grand Palace is Wat Pho – a Buddhist temple with an imposing reclining Buddha that’s been the centrepiece of many a photo album. For a taste of some outstanding architecture combined with panoramic views of Bangkok, make the short climb up to The Golden Mount (Wat Saket). Visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and look out over Bangkok – sunsets here are particularly spectacular.

Full Moon Parties

Once a month, tens of thousands descend upon the island of Koh Pha Ngan to party under the light on the full moon. Attending a Full Moon Party has become a rite of passage amongst travellers in Thailand and between 20,000 and 30,000 revellers make their way to the crescent-shaped Haad Rin beach to cover themselves in fluorescent paint and dance until dawn.

Crowds begin arriving on the beach from midday onwards on the day of the party which carries on until after sunrise the following day. Stalls and bars lined along the beach blast out an eclectic mix of music and serve powerful Red Bull-based cocktails in colourful plastic buckets. As Thailand attractions go, this one might take a day or two to recover from!

Phang Nga Bay

One of the more distinctive of Thailand’s attractions is Phang Nga Bay, found between Phuket and the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. Huge limestone cliff islets protrude from the sea, making for a spectacular backdrop. Perhaps the most recognisable is Ko Tapu, also known as James Bond Island, which featured in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.

As well as this stunning scenery, there are some spectacular underwater sights to see as Phang Nga is a shallow bay with coral reefs. On land, there are at least 88 species bird to spot including the rare Malaysian Plover as well as the White-hand Gibbon.

Khao Yai National Park

Found just over an hour north west of Bangkok, Khao Yai National Park combines abundant wildlife, hiking trails, kayaking and rafting. There are over 50 km of hiking trails throughout the forest; difficulty levels range from easy to hard, with one of the more challenging hikes culminating in a huge dinosaur footprint.

Khao Yai National Park’s wildlife includes Asian elephants, Asiatic black birds and crab-eating macaque. The park also has an array of beautiful waterfalls, including the three-tier Haew Narok Waterfall and the Heo Sawat waterfall.

Have you been to Thailand? Let us know what you enjoyed below!