Best things to do in Thailand

Visit Wat Pho, one of the six main Buddhist temples in Thailand. Admire the 46 m (151 ft) long Buddha statue and its memorable pose, and explore the wide range of temple buildings displaying rich and intricate religious designs and a history dating back to the 16th century. Vital to the spiritual and architectural heritage of the city and the country at large, the site houses the largest collection of Buddha depictions in Thailand. Said to be the first public university in the nation, the temple also has an illustrious educational history and still runs courses on traditional Thai massage and medicine.

Explore the famous complex of ornate buildings at The Grand Palace, a gem in the country's architectural and political heritage. Established in 1782, the palace grounds have been added to over the centuries with eclectically designed buildings, halls, and pavilions. The official home of Thai monarchs until the abolishment of the absolute monarchy in 1932, the site remains open to visitors, with its well-maintained grounds and monumental architecture providing great photo ops and an immersive cultural experience.

Explore rural Thailand and enjoy an up-close encounter with local wildlife by taking a nature tour from Chiang Mai. This exciting outdoor adventure will take you to a number of the area's top attractions, which include the country's highest peak and one of its oldest tea plantations. As your journey continues, you will have a chance to visit an elephant nursery, zipline through the jungle, learn how to pick tealeaves, climb an ancient staircase on the way to a sacred temple, ride a mountain bike past paddy fields and rural villages, and much more. You can choose between half-, full-, and multi-day tours.

Admire the grand and evocative design of Temple Of Dawn (Wat Arun), a towering Buddhist temple located in the heart of Bangkok. Established in the 1600s--but gaining its distinctive porcelain-clad prangs (spires) during the reign of King Rama II in the early 19th century--the temple represents an apex of religious architecture and is one of the best maintained of all buildings commissioned by the Thai monarchy. Open to the public as a place of worship and tourism, the site contains prized artifacts relating to the religious and royal history of Thailand.

With its evergreen forests, grasslands, and cascading waterfalls, Khao Yai National Park offers abundant scenic beauty and numerous hiking trails. Along your trek, you'll cross paths with some of the 300 species of birds and mammals common to Thailand, like elephants, bears, otters, and monkeys. If you don't manage to see everything in one day, consider spending the night on one of the campgrounds.

Sail to popular dive spots and discover the astounding variety of species calling the Southern Gulf of Thailand their home on a guided snorkeling or scuba trip from Ko Pha Ngan. Once you satisfy your desire for swimming with all kinds of exotic fish and gentle whale sharks, you'll be able to stretch out on the boat deck and spend some time sun tanning and munching on a few classic Thai dishes. The duration of these tours spans from 4 to 10 hours.