Things to Do in Thailand

Koh Talu is a privately-owned island in the Gulf of Thailand. It’s around a 30-minute boat ride from the mainland town of Bangsaphan, and approximately three hours from Hau Hin. The island is a popular day trip due to its pristine beaches lined with palm trees, crystal-clear waters, and tropical wilderness inland.

Koh Talu’s shallow waters are ideal for snorkeling, and it’s the closest place to Hua Hin for scuba diving, with reasonable depths and good visibility. Further inland, a wild tropical rainforest covers the landscape of the island, with some fantastic opportunities for trekking. There is only one resort on the island, and it offers activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, and sailing in addition to beach and garden bungalow accommodation.

Koh Talu is also home to a sea turtle conservation programme, where turtle eggs are harvested and nurtured before being released into the ocean when they’re nine months old.

The lowland jungles of Khao Sok National Park, one of the wettest areas in Thailand, are believed to be the oldest rain forests on the planet. While the Thai Islands are most famous for their stunning beaches, this 161,000-acre (65,154-hectare) park boasts spectacular limestone formations, small streams, waterfalls and dense greenery that provides a home for a dizzying biodiversity. 

Famous animal residents include sambar deer, gibbon, sun bears, Malayan tapir, gaur, banteng, macaque, mouse deer, porcupine and some 200 species of birds. It’s also one of the few places in the world where you can spot the planet’s largest flower, the Raffesia.

While rain is a practical inevitability, it shouldn’t hold you back from the abundant outdoor adventures on offer in the park. Trekking, boat tours and night safaris are three of the most popular activities on the menu, but park visitors can also explore the region via caving, kayaking, zip-lining, tubing, bamboo rafting and birdwatching.

American-born Jim Thompson settled in Thailand after World War II and became famous for reviving the art of silk-weaving in the country before mysteriously disappearing in the 1960s while vacationing in Malaysia. Today, Thompson’s former residence in Bangkok serves as a museum dedicated to the artist, featuring his personal collection of Southeast Asian art and a display of his various personal effects.

Made up of six teak wood houses imported from different parts of Thailand, the Jim Thompson House incorporates traditional Thai architecture with a few Western twists, all located within a lush garden on the bank of the Saen Saeb canal. In addition to wandering the various rooms, including the library, painting pavilion, drawing room and the gold pavilion, visitors can also view silk-making demonstrations or stop into the on-site Thai restaurant and the museum shop, which sells quality silk products to take home as souvenirs.

Travelers can choose to fully experience the museum on a half-day tour that includes admission and roundtrip transportation in Bangkok, or opt for a tour that takes in the Jim Thompson House plus some of the city’s other major sights via various means of transport, including tuk tuk, khlong boat and the Skytrain.

In a country famous around the globe for its beautiful islands, Koh Phangan is the quintessential easy-going beach bum’s paradise. More rustic than Koh Samui, much of the island caters to backpackers, hippies and budget travelers looking for affordable accommodations and a stretch of sand to sun on.

Had Rin, located on the island’s southeastern peninsula, has become famous for its monthly Full Moon Party, where upwards of 10,000 visitors descend upon Had Rin Nok Beach for a night of trance, dance and buckets of tropical libations. The popularity of these parties have inspired other smaller celebrations, like the Half Moon and Black Moon parties.

Koh Phangan isn’t just about beaches and partying, however. Secluded resort areas on the north and west coasts of the island feel worlds away from the din of Had Rin, and the interior of the island offers hiking trails and a series of yoga and meditation centers for travelers in search of a spiritual retreat. The waters off the coast of Koh Phangan have some of Thailand’s best dive sites, including Sail Rock.

Located just two hours northeast of Bangkok, the Khao Yai National Park is the oldest and largest national park of its kind in Thailand. Covering more than 2000 square meters in the Panom Dongrak mountain range, the park is sprawled across four provinces. The area features one of the largest monsoon forests in mainland Asia and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site (as part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex).

As you might expect then, the Khao Yai National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, and offers some truly spectacular natural scenery to marvel at. Some 200 elephants call the park home, as do tigers, leopards, Malaysian sun bears, deer, gibbons, snakes, and macaques. Keen birdwatchers will be in their element around the park’s designated walking trails, with the bird list here reaching over 390 species, including one of Thailand's largest populations of hornbills.

Koh Yao Noi is situated midway between Phuket and Krabi in Phang Nga Bay. It’s a diverse and scenic island, with mangrove forests lining its west coast and white-sand beaches fringing its eastern edges. Yao Noi is around half the size of neighboring Koh Yao Yai, but is nonetheless the more developed of the two. However, beyond the 7Eleven, high-end resorts, and guest houses, local life on Koh Yao Noi continues, with farming and fishing the main source of income for the island alongside tourism.

Yao Noi is a joy to simply ride around, either on a hired motorbike or via a tuk tuk. It has one main road that circles the southern half of the island, with smaller paved roads taking off in different directions, plus a few dirt tracks leading up to the north. Along the way, it’s all about taking in the scenery – the wooden houses on stilts, rubber plantations, rice paddies, and mangrove forests. Other activities available on the island include kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, and swimming.

Insider’s Tip: Along with Koh Yao Yai, the best time to visit Yao Noi is generally between November and April, when it’s dry and warm. Some places even close during the monsoon season from May to October.

In stark contrast to its famed northerly neighbor, tiny and sleepy Koh Tan tempts visitors with empty beaches and vehicle-less roads just three miles and a 15-minute boat ride south of Koh Samui’s southern tip. Koh Tan (also spelled Koh Taen) is sometimes also called Coral Island for its diversity of colorful hard and soft corals, and it often serves as a popular day-long escape for snorkel or kayak excursions through its clear inshore waters. Though the island doesn’t have quite the aquatic diversity of other more remote locations, it still affords excellent snorkeling, relatively empty beaches and navigable mangrove swamps all very close to a major tourist hub. Longboats make the crossing daily and usually stop at several unique coral spots around the island.

On land, Koh Tan spans only three square miles, and its population barely tops 30 people; their rustic lifestyle with limited electricity affords a glimpse of what much of Thai Island-living was like decades ago. Koh Tan also has a thriving population of monitor lizards, a boardwalk through a mangrove forest, a quaint local temple, a handful of local restaurants and a cluster of bungalow-style accommodations.

The JEATH War Museum is a museum in Kanchanaburi dedicated to the story of the men who worked on the Death Railway. JEATH is an acronym for the different nationalities of the POWs that worked on the construction of the bridge between 1942 and 1943 (Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand, and Holland).

The museum displays the actual items that were used for the construction of the Death Railway. It also exhibits a large number of photographs taken by prisoners at the time, including graphic images of the harsh conditions that the men lived and worked in. One of the three galleries featuring such photographs is housed within a bamboo hut that’s an exact replica of the shelters that the POWs lived in during this time. There also written accounts,correspondence, interviews, and artwork by the prisoners that were forced to work on the bridge, along with a number of personal effects. In addition, the museum is home to a bomb dropped by the allies to destroy the bridge but that failed to explode.

During the construction of the Death Railway from Burma to Thailand during World War II, Allied prisoners of war worked 18 hours a day in sweltering heat chiseling through rock in what is today known as Hellfire Pass. The Hellfire Pass Museum opened in 1998 as a place to honor and remember the men — both POWs and Asian laborers — who suffered and lost their lives during the war.

A free audio guide leads visitors through the museum and includes several firsthand accounts from former POWs who were forced to work on the Thai-Burma Railway. A staircase from the museum leads down to the rail bed itself. A viewpoint overlooks the Hellfire Pass cutting, where many visitors leave behind flowers and flags. The Office of Australian War Graves built and maintains the museum.

The Hong Islands are a group of rocky blips in the Andaman Sea, located just off the coast of Krabi in southern Thailand. A popular day trip destination from Ao Nang or Krabi, the islands are fringed with rain forests, hidden lagoons, and white-sand beaches.

The Hong Islands are rife with secluded beaches, coral reefs, and sea caves to explore. There’s something for every type of outdoor enthusiast—Railay is popular with rock climbers, Koh Hong's Hong Lagoon is a calm place to kayak, and Phang Nga Bay has scenic views and great sunbathing. 

Longtail boat or speedboat tours are a good way to visit the islands and typically depart from Krabi or Phuket. Some excursions include snorkeling or kayaking, and often feature stops at Khao Phing Kan, Ao Nang Beach, Phi Phi Island, and Lading Island.

The Hong Islands are located about 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) southwest of Ao Nang. Organized tour boats and sea kayaks leave for the islands from Ao Nang’s ferry dock, as well as from Krabi town. 

The tropical coast of southern Thailand is warm year-round, but April through May and September through October are the hottest and rainiest periods. November through March is a great time to visit, as breezes keep the temperature warm but comfortable.

Khao Phing Kan and Ko Ta Pu, two towering limestone karst islands, are collectively known as James Bond Island thanks to their appearance in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun. These islands served as the setting for an enemy hideout and later became part of the National Park. While you can still visit Khao Phing Kan, it’s now forbidden for boats to approach Ko Ta Pu due to threat of erosion.

In many ways, Koh Nang Yuan is the paradisiacal location most people imagine when they think of Thailand. Consisting of three tree-topped islands adjoined by a tan-colored sandbar beach, Koh Nang Yuan is one of the most sought after destinations in all of Thailand. The best part? Unlike nearby Koh Samui or Koh Tao, accommodation options are extremely limited on the island, meaning the crowds remain relatively sparse as well.

Most people come to Koh Nang Yuan on day trips from other nearby islands and snorkeling excursions as well as scuba dives are extremely popular. And although the quick day visits are available, you'd be doing yourself a great favor by coming to the island and spending a night or two. In the evenings and early mornings, you can almost have the entire beach to yourself. During the heart of the day, activities such as snorkeling, zip-lining, and hiking are available. If you're looking for a place to get away and enjoy the side of Thailand everyone talks about, this is it. There are no vehicles on Koh Nang Yuan, nor are there crowds, or big hotel chains. This is a true getaway in a country in which such locations are becoming fewer and farther between.

Beneath the shadow of Doi Suthep sits Huay Tung Tao Lake, a manmade reservoir popular as a swimming and picnicking area favored by locals and expats looking for a break from Chiang Mai. On a sunny day, it’s common to see groups of Thais sitting on the banks of the lake dining on steamed fish and cold beers.

Not many international tourists visit this hidden gem, but those who do will find grassy banks dotted with bamboo picnicking areas, shallow waters ideal for cooling off, paddle boat and inner tube rentals and vendors selling local favorites, like dancing shrimp -- a dish comprising live freshwater shrimp that jump around on the plate -- as well as sour orange catfish curry, sun-dried pork or grilled chicken

The famous half-mile (one km) stretch that is Khao San Road features bars, budget guesthouses, mid-range hotels, internet cafes, tattoo shops, travel agents and so much more. What emerged as a backpackers’ hub in the early 1980s thanks to its laidback, carefree vibe today attracts a whole range of tourists and locals, particularly musicians and art students.

Most people who visit Khao San Road simply stroll through, stopping to shop, eat and drink. There are all kinds of eateries, from local street food to restaurant fare and even a McDonalds. During the day and into the evening, this busy road is lined with stalls selling clothing and an array of typical tourist items, while after dark, bar-goers spill out onto the street while live bands and dance music entice passersby.

Khao San Road is a popular starting and finishing point for various tours of Bangkok, particularly those that focus on the Old Town area. Bike tours often begin here, while certain day and night tours end on the road, allowing travelers to enjoy everything that its energetic nightlife has to offer.

Insider's Tip: Due to its popularity among tourists, Khao San Road sees more than its fair share of scams, which are mainly centered around tours and transport. To avoid this, it’s best to book in advance.

A tiny, remote cluster of five uninhabited islands some 10 miles off the coast of Koh Lanta in the Thai Andaman hides an underwater paradise. Here, striated granite pinnacles dotted with gnarly trees tower above some of Thailand’s clearest and bluest waters. Koh Haa’s shock of white sand beneath its central, protected cerulean lagoon affords a breathtaking backdrop for some of the best snorkeling and diving in the country.

Comprised of northerly Ko Haa Neung, central Koh Haa Sam and southerly Ko Haa Yai, as well as two tiny unnamed pinnacles guarding sentry at the mouth of the lagoon, the underwater landscape is just as rugged as the rocky islets themselves. Protected swim-through caves hide lobster, morays and schools of shimmering fish, while vibrant coral is littered with psychedelic nudibranchs (sea slugs), and drop-offs provide the occasional glimpse of deeper denizens such as sharks. Sixteen recognized dive sites with names such as Lost Pinnacle, The Cathedral, Lionfish Den and Cliff Jump Cove divulge some of what’s in store.

This bustling local gem is the largest fresh food market in Bangkok, with stalls selling produce straight from rural farms, raw meat and seafood direct from the nearby fishing port. Khlong Toey is particularly crowded in early mornings, when locals arrive in search of the best fare but despite long lines the vibe is still pretty relaxed. 

While travelers can find random items like batteries and electronics, the real draw here is food. Come prepared to sample fruits and vegetables straight from market shelves, or to tuck into steaming hot plates of green curry at one of the mom and pop breakfast and lunch stalls.

The Basics
The lush vegetation, turquoise water, and secluded caves of Phang Nga Bay, home to James Bond Island, make Ao Phang Nga National Park one of Thailand's top destinations. Visitors should spend a full day exploring the islands on a boat tour — opt to get around in a luxurious speed boat, a traditional junk ship, a longtail boat, or in less intrusive sea canoes and kayaks.

In addition to admiring Koh Tapu from afar, James Bond Island tours typically include a sightseeing cruise of Phang Nga Bay; canoeing or kayaking to the limestone caves, mangrove forests, and beaches of Thalu Island and Khao Phing Kan; and a visit to the floating Muslim fishing village of Ko Panyi.

• Tours of the bay are generally 8 to 10 hours long, so be sure to bring sunscreen, plenty of water, and a sun hat.
  
• Given that Khao Phing Kan is one of south Thailand's most popular attractions, tour boats can sell out quickly. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
  

How to Get to James Bond Island
Due to the protected nature of the national park, visiting the islands independently is nearly impossible, unless you have a permit and a personal boat. There are a number of tours to the area, however, most of which depart from the marinas in Phuket and Krabi Noi. If you're traveling down from northern Thailand, save time by taking a tour from Phang Nga town.

Although the region is warm all year round, the hottest period is between April and May, when all-day sunshine is pretty much guaranteed. Rainy season in southern Thailand occurs between September and October, when the tropical monsoon climate comes in full force and there is a risk of destructive tropical storms.

Koh Poda, part of a tiny archipelago in Krabi province off the west coast of Thailand, ranks among the most picturesque of the many uninhabited and semi-inhabited islands that line the coast. Longtail boats drop visitors off along a stretch of sugar soft, white sand beach, famous for its clear waters and stunning views off offshore limestone formations. Thanks to its west-facing beach, the area is particularly lovely around sunset.

Tropical fish are visible in the waters just off the beach, but just a little further out a coral reef rings much of the island, providing excellent snorkeling opportunities for those who can pull themselves from the beach. While the island does have a single guesthouse, most visitors come on a day trip from nearby Ao Nang.