Updated: June 2024
Thailand is without a doubt one of the most beautiful countries in the world. There are 1,430 beautiful islands, 147 national parks, 58 wildlife sanctuaries and over 40,700 Buddhist temples to explore and discover.
You can find all the different landscapes in here, including some amazing hills and mountain tops and some of the most beautiful tropical islands in Asia. Thailand is a very popular destination for tourists, backpackers and holiday-makers, but there are still so many undiscovered places and hides gems if your wish is to travel off the beaten path.
Here are some amazing and unique places in Thailand you can enjoy without the crowds!
1. Phetchabun: Camping Above the Clouds
2. Mae Hong Son: From Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son
3. Khao Sok: Thailand’s best-hidden gem
4. Sukhothai: World Heritage City
5. Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat: The Mountain Temple
6. Erawan National Park: Magical Waterfalls
7. Koh Tarutao: Deserted Island
8. Phanon Rung: Historical Park
9. Khanom: Pink Dolphins
10. Khao Sam Roi Yot: Phraya Nakhon Cave
1 Phetchabun:
Camping Above the Clouds
Phetchabun is a Thai province in north-central Thailand where you find some of the most stunning national parks.
The area is known for breathtaking mountain views and is called the Thai Alps or Thai Switzerland. In the national park Khao Kho, you can find many campsites including Phu That Boek. This is the highest campsite in the area, where on a good day you can see the breathtaking view of the clouds above the mountains.
If you wish to stay overnight you can bring your own tent, the charge for setting up one tent is 50THB or rent a tent from the national park for around 400THB.
Alternatively, you can stay overnight in a nearby town of Khao Kho and visit the mountain view for a day trip.
This area is known for its cool and airy climate, the temperatures can go down to 15°C during the day and 5°C -10°C during the night so don’t forget to bring some warm clothes.
There are many stalls where you can buy hot tea and soup to keep you warm.
Tip: Best to visit Phu That Boek during the months from November to January.
HOW TO GET HERE? The drive from Bangkok is around 6 hours from Bangkok Bus Terminal or can take the 50 minutes flight to Phitsanulok Airport.
2 Mae Hong Son:
From Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son is a remote, mountainous province in northern Thailand, near the borders with Myanmar.
It is a truly magical region which is home to some of the hill tribes in Thailand including the Kayans (also known as Padaung people) “long-neck” ethnic group.
If you are a confident driver you can follow the Mae Hong Son loop, which is one of the most adventurous and stunning motorbike routes in Thailand.
The area is fantastic for anyone who loves nature, hiking and mountains.
More about driving the Mean Hong Son loop here: Driving The Mae Hong Son Loop
Tip: If you are traveling from Chiang Mai you can take the scenic route all the way to Mae Hong Son. You can also stop over in quirky town Pie, which is known for its “hippie vibes” atmosphere.
HOW TO GET HERE? Take a plane or train to Chiang Mai and rent a bike from here.
3 Khao Sok:
Thailand’s best-hidden gem
Khao Sok national park is one of the most underrated places to visit in the of Thailand. The park itself its a home to some of the rarest species of wildlife and birds and its true nature lover paradise.
You can find accommodation all around the Khao Sok area or for the full-on experience book one of the floating bungalows on the Cheow Lan Lake. The beauty of the lake is truly breathtaking. I can only describe it as being on the set of the Avatar movie. The lake has perfectly clear water and the surrounded by huge limestones cliffs and islands which come out for the water.
HOW TO GET HERE? Kha Sok national park is the only a couple of hours drive from Krabi or Phuket and it’s a must do if you are in this area. I suggest staying here a couple of nights so you will have enough time to explore the jungle and enjoy the day on Cheow Lan Lake.
4 Sukhothai:
World Heritage City
Sukhothai is a small town in the middle of nowhere, around 430 km from Bangkok. The history and serenity of the historical park are outstanding so for anyone interested in Thai history this is a must see. Sukhothai sees a smaller number of visitors than the more known Ayutthaya.
The park is divided between 5 different sections and is filled with Buddhist temple ruins. You can freely walk around and admire the architecture or rent a bicycle to get around more easily.
HOW TO GET HERE? AirAsia and Nok Air offer daily “fly and ride” tickets that include a minibus ride to Phitsanulok Airport. Or take a train from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong railway station to Phitsanulok station.
5 Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat:
The Mountain Temple
The spectacle temple is set on top of a rocky hill in the countryside about sixty kilometers from Lampang city. It’s a truly magical site.
On arrival at the top, there is still around 400 meters to climb on foot to the very top. The entry is 200 THB for adults and 100 THB for children. The entry price includes a car parking fee, plus a return bus trip up the mountainside.
Ticket office opens at 7:30 am and finishes at 4:30 pm. And it’s very much worth making the trip first thing in the morning to truly enjoy the magical atmosphere.
HOW TO GET HERE? Take a flight to Chiang Mai and rent a car from there. The temple is located around 2.5hr car ride from Chiang Mai.
6 Erawan National Park: Magical Waterfalls
Erawan waterfalls in Kanchanaburi are by no mean a secret, but it is a very unique place to visit and definitely fits this list. Same as other local sights in Thailand it can get busy during weekends as local people come to visit.
The waterfalls have 7 levels so be ready for some climbing and sliding.
HOW TO GET HERE? Take a bus from Kanchanaburi station for 50bht. Same bus back at the same price. The waterfalls close around 15.30 and the last bus leaves at 17.00. Entry fee to Erawan national park is 300THB.
7 Koh Tarutao:
Deserted Island
Located in the Andaman Sea, Tarutao this is Thailand’s largest marine park. The island Koh Tarutao is one of the quietest islands in the area with only a couple of bungalows and a campsite.
If you are looking for the deserted island feel and empty beaches than Tarutao is your winner. Koh Tarutao is an absolutely perfect, unspoiled paradise with hardly any tourists.
Best way to explore the island is on a bike you can hire here for about 250THB a day. Do not expect any luxury and be ready to roughen it up, there is no air con and electricity is only on during certain hours of the day. But the experience is well worth it! Be ready for loads of wildlife and ever-present monkeys.
HOW TO GET HERE? Get to the southern Thailand, you can fly to Hat Yai or Trang Airport. From there make your way to Satun, Pakbara Pier and take a boat from there.
8 Phanon Rung:
Historical Park
Phanon Rung is the only Hindi-Khmer temple in Thailand built on an extinct volcano. This temple complex and ruins are located in Buriram Province in the Isan region of Thailand.
The grounds around the temple are well maintained and is a nice place to just sit for a while, relax and enjoy the view. I would compare the temple to a smaller version of Angkor Wat.
HOW TO GET HERE? Phanon Rung is around 30 kilometres north of Buriram town. You can take a train or bus from Bangkok or fly to Khao Phanon Rung.
9 Khanom:
Pink Dolphins
Khanom is the northernmost district of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand. Khanom sits along the seashore and has at least ten beaches which you can easily find just driving along the coast. Majority of the beaches are empty and the area has a very rural and peaceful atmosphere.
The biggest attraction of Khanom would be spotting of the pink dolphins. They are very unique for this area of Thailand and you can spot them on one of the boat trips which is offered in the town.
HOW TO GET HERE? To get to Khanom you can fly to either of the two closest airports– Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat. As taxies are pretty expensive you will need a scooter or a car to get around and to be able to explore the area.
10 Khao Sam Roi Yot:
Phraya Nakhon Cave
Less than 45 mins from Hua Hin city centre you can get to the magical Khao Sam Roi Yot national park. The route from Hui Hin is a scenic drive through the pineapple, rice fields and fisherman villages.
The way to Phraya Nakhon cave, which was 430m above sea level, is steep and challenging one hour climb and I’d definitely recommend wearing trainers or proper hiking shoes. But the journey is very much worth it, as the view of the cave and Buddhist pavilion is just stunning. The entry fee is 200THB per person.
HOW TO GET HERE? Drive around 45-minute from Hua Hin to the small village of Bang Pu located by the beach.
Hope this inspired you to travel some of the less known parts of Thailand and find some amazing locations!
But even in more well known parts of Thailand, you can always find a peaceful place to relax…the only thing you have to do is to GO OUT AND EXPLORE!!!!
