Thailand is one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the world. It has a variety of places to see and things to do like Beaches, Temples, Shopping and Spas. Its ancient ruins and cultural grandeur make it a vividly exotic destination. The Kingdom of Thailand is brimming with wildlife, history, ancient awe-inspiring temples, skyscrapers and not to mention, a vivacious nightlife. Thailand has magnificent rolling hills, an undulating coastline and fantastic views and sceneries that nobody can ever get tired of looking at. There are plenty of tour packages available that cover the best of what Thailand has to offer. You can make your pick depending on your preference and budget. Buddhism occupies prime importance in Thailand which is why you will come across the most captivating, serene and divine temples and monasteries across Thailand. A perfect Thai holiday must encompass learning about the unique culture of the country, enjoying their world-famous cuisine, shopping and experiencing the incredible night life. This is apart from visiting the most ancient architectural marvels and prominent Buddhist places of worship. Thailand is the ultimate place in the world where you can get a truly enjoyable and memorable vacation. The following top places in Thailand can form a part of your tour package. Carefully select the ones you like and plan your trip accordingly:
Thailand travel tours—the best vacation spots for budget travelers
Phuket tour
Phuket is an island full of mesmerizing beaches. The main town of Phuket called Patong offers a variety of opportunities for entertainment and is full of condos, shacks and shopping malls. Panwa is a resort at Patong with clifftop villas and infinity pools. The town of Phuket however, has a bit more rustic charm with old architectural edifices. Phuket has a luscious rainforest cum National Park with a Gibbon rehabilitation centre. The Big Buddha at Phuket is a must-see, large statue of the Buddha that is still under construction. During the month of November, Phuket celebrates the Loy Krathong festival, wherein pretty little floating ‘leaf boats’ are set sail into the sea. Phuket’s northern portion has untouched natural beauty with stunning views. Trekking at the rainforest cum natural parks are a given.
Koh Phi Phi tour
The Phi Phi Islands are a world-famous resort area in Thailand. Located at Krabi, Phi Phi is a cluster of islands with only one of them being inhabited namely the Phi Phi Don. Koh Phi Phi is famous for its Monkey Beach because as the name suggests, you will get to see a lot of monkeys here. You can get here via a small wooden boat or a kayak. There are pretty little stands where you can buy fruit shakes and treats. Another beautiful beach at Koh Phi Phi is the Long Beach from where you can get stunning views of the sunset. You can also go snorkeling and diving or you can head over to May Bay. Nearby good islands are Koh Chang and Koh Lanta.
Ao Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park tour
Ao Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park is a cluster of over 40 islands and extends to a total of 154 square miles. There are limestone cliffs here that can only be got to by boat and are so absolutely wonderful to see. This place is Thailand’s most popular place for boat trips. Within the park is a Muslim fishing village by the name Ko Panyi. The houses here are all built on top of stilts over the water. The Park is home to Thailand’s largest and only remaining mangrove forests. Different species of exotic birds live in these forests. Kao Kien at Ao Phang is a group of cliffs that bear paintings of wildlife from thousands of years ago. At Ko Kan, the 1974 James Bond Film ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ was picturised.
Phanom Rung tour
Phanom Rung is an ancient Hindu shrine that sits atop a long extinct volcano. Phanom Rung is situated close to the village of Nang Rong. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Phanom Rung was built by the Khmer culture between the 10th and 13th centuries. It represents Mount Kailash in Tibet, which is the humble abode of Lord Shiva. Sandstone and laterite were the primary materials used in the construction of this temple. The construction of this temple sanctuary is such that it faces the east so as to welcome the sun shine through all its 15 doorways, four times a year. During these times, the Phanom Rung festival is celebrated and the park that surrounds the temple extends its visiting hours. Ancient Brahminical ceremonies are performed and modern sound-and-light shows go on until late.
Bangkok’s Grand Palace tour
The Grand Palace of Bangkok was the ancient capital of the Siam kingdom after Achyutthaya. It is a walled city of about 218,000 square-meters wide. It has royal residences, throne halls, government offices, Buddhist temples and precious ancient works of art on display. The entire site can be explored in no less than three hours. The entire complex is composed of some very extraordinary buildings. The upper echelons of the Palace feature a large golden chedi and a tiny version of Angkor Wat. The Royal Pantheon contains statues of rulers of the Chakri dynasty. The Grand Palace also has a Royal Monastery which is built in a very exquisite way with an emerald Buddha. Dress code holds utmost significance here. Shoulders must be covered for women, men must wear full-sleeved clothes and no tight pants, skirts or shorts are allowed.
Chiang Rai tour
Chiang Rai is a beautiful city that you definitely cannot do away with in your travel itinerary. Chiang Rai is located 535 miles North of Bangkok, at Thailand’s northern-most tip. There are many ancient temples here that are marvelously beautiful like the Wat Rong Khun. Chiang Rai is like a gateway to the surrounding northern regions. The Golden Triangle is a must visit here. You can go rock climbing, or explore on a rented bicycle. There are also street fairs during the weekends where you can walk around. You can go to Kun Korn, which is a beautiful waterfall nearby. The beautiful community of Chiang Rai is a must-have experience at Thailand. You can take cooking classes, admire stunning views, go to the local markets and truly appreciate the real culture of Northern Thailand.
Khao Yai National Park tour
Khao Yai National Park is famous for its wild elephants, that you won’t normally see elsewhere. This national park has amazing waterfalls and great hiking as well as biking trails. Night safaris let you have a glimpse of the Asian Tiger that you can’t see during the day. This park is located in north-eastern Thailand and you can go bird watching for Kingfishers and Hornbills which are very common here. Apart from these birds, there are also plenty of barbets, scarlet minivets, broadbills, pittas, mountain scops owls, great slaty woodpeckers, collared owlets, blue-winged leafbirds, Asian Fairy bluebirds, trogons, drongos and magpies. Khao Yai was Thailand’s first national park and is the third largest one in the country. Common wildlife here includes elephants, bears, gaurs, barking deer, otters, gibbons and macaques.
Siam Ocean World tour
Siam Ocean World is the largest aquarium in Thailand, located underneath the Siam Paragon Shopping Mall. It is an aquatic extravaganza with a large number of rare marine species. There is also a 4D theatre. At Siam Ocean World, you can not only enjoy the different aquatic life, you also learn a lot about them. This is a great place to go to in Thailand, especially if you are accompanied by children. The entire aquarium is in the form of a 270-degree tunnel with deadly sharks swimming about. A glass-bottomed boat will take you through the place and you can see them up close. Siam Ocean World was recently renamed as ‘SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World’. The size of Sea Life spans that of three Olympic swimming pools put together.
Ko Pha Ngan tour
Situated amidst the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Pha Ngan is one of the most superior holiday destinations in the whole of Southeast Asia. This region was only recently discovered in the 1980s. Ko Pha Ngan is famous for its Full Moon Parties than anything else at Haat Rin. If you aren’t much of a party person, you could head over the northern or eastern regions of Ko Pha Ngan that have a lot of exquisite beaches. Here, you will find quieter and peaceful places to relax and soak in the sand and sea without being disturbed by party-goers. Apart from letting your feet glide through the powdery soft sand, you can do a lot of exciting things at Koh Phangan like Rock Climbing, Snorkeling, Sea Kayaking, going on an Eco-Safari and Diving.
Railay tour
Railay Beach at Krabi, Thailand is the most beautiful one in its vicinity. Railay has islands full of limestone, which makes it all the more alluring. To get to Railay, you need to take a boat. Railay is not yet overdeveloped and spoiled by tourists yet as Ko Phi Phi is. No other beach along the Andaman coast is quite like Railay in terms of great natural beauty. Railay has high magnificent cliffs and breath-taking turquoise coloured waters. Railay doesn’t get as crowded as Ko Phi Phi and has plenty of places to relax and be at peace away from the maddening rush of tourists. You can also experience some amazing night life or go rock climbing at Railay. Lanta is a pretty awesome island at Railay.
