What makes thailand famous

There's also the tourist-friendly Diamond Cave , reached via a beautiful trail with stunning views and ready to accommodate curious visitors looking to do some exploring between stretches of sunbathing.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Krabi Province. Koh Phi Phi. The Phi Phi Islands are one of Thailand's most popular resort areas for a reason—the clear blue waters, the soft sand, the breathtaking views that go on forever. You can reach Phi Phi Don—the largest of the islands and the only one permanently inhabited—on a rented kayak or by hiring a small wooden boat to take you here. Perhaps one of the most fun spots on Koh Phi Phi is Monkey Beach , where you'll come face to face, literally, with plenty of macaques ready to steal your lunch.

Long Beach is another nice spot on the island; while not a secluded place where you can hope for privacy, it's great for watching the sunset. If you're lucky and the tide is out, it's a beautiful walk back towards the main part of the island. Maya Bay. Tour operators offer packages for snorkeling and diving trips to the islands, as well as excursions to the famous Maya Bay , where the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach was filmed.

Because Koh Phi Phi draws so many tourists, there are plenty of tour companies arranging tickets to other beach destinations, such as Phuket , Koh Chang , and Koh Lanta.

Phi Phi Don was one of the areas hit hard by the tsunami — but since then, guesthouses, restaurants, and markets have been rebuilt, and crowds still come in droves to the resort island. There is a small, somber memorial park to honor those who died in the tragedy, but the resort areas are otherwise revived and looking as beautiful as ever.

The Grand Palace, Bangkok. Even if your plans for Thailand mainly involve frolicking on a beach and eating as much Massaman curry and pad Thai as humanly possible, you'll probably spend at least a day or two in Bangkok.

There are plenty of things to see and do in the capital , but the Grand Palace should definitely be at the top of your list. This is the number one sightseeing attraction in the city, and it's staggering in both historical significance and craftsmanship. The grounds are a maze of royal halls, temples, and ancient relics, the most important being Wat Phra Kaeo the Temple of the Emerald Buddha , said to hold a fragment of either hair or bone from the enlightened Buddha himself.

Allow several hours to do the Grand Palace justice, but if you're up for more walking afterward, you can easily take in some of the city's other major landmarks nearby. The famous Wat Po and Wat Arun , the Temple of the Dawn a great place to watch the sunset , are just a few minutes away. Sunday Walking Street, Chiang Mai.

Every Thailand visitor looks forward to cheap and delicious food—and that's exactly what they can find in abundance at Chiang Mai's Sunday Night Walking Street. Once you've satisfied your culinary cravings, you can peruse hundreds of stalls selling an array of unique goods such as all-natural soaps, hand-dyed textiles bearing the unique patterns of local hill tribes, incense and essential oils, musical instruments, paintings, wall hangings, and more.

The market gets crowded every week without fail, no matter what time of the year you're visiting, so brace yourself and try to enjoy being part of the fun chaos. This is one of the must-dos in Chiang Mai , and an essential part of the Thailand experience. Thailand's reputation as a country of beautiful landscapes and friendly people is due largely to the world-renowned southern beaches.

Because of this, most people don't realize that the vast north is also home to entirely different but equally breathtaking places to visit. Northern Thailand, particularly the western region near the Burmese border, is marked by mountainous jungle terrain that is both rugged and beautiful.

Pai, in Mae Hong Son province , is the perfect starting point from which to enjoy the country's natural beauty, as well as the famed Thai hospitality and cooking. This small town has developed a reputation as a mecca for hippies and backpackers, though you will see plenty of families traveling in the area as well. There is a small walking street market that comes alive every night, a variety of local and Western foods, and easy access to nearby Buddhist temples, waterfalls, and the impressive Pai canyon.

There is an air of cheerfulness and relaxation as you walk through the tiny town center, a vibe that continues to draw crowds season after season despite its somewhat remote location.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Pai. Khao Yai National Park. Elephants are revered in Thailand, and statues and paintings of them can be seen everywhere you go, including the royal palaces and many temples. For the ultimate experience, however, nothing beats the chance to see elephants in their natural environment—and Khao Yai National Park provides a great opportunity to do just that.

Here, you'll run into elephants roaming near rivers, exotic birds of prey, monkeys, and plenty of other tropical creatures that call the park home. The park is also home to many waterfalls, including the meter-tall Haew Narok and the even more famous Haew Suwat, which appeared in the Leonardo DiCaprio's film, The Beach. If a one-day stay isn't enough to take it all in, it's possible to camp out at the park and get up early enough to watch the sunrise over the lush landscape.

Sukhothai Old City. A favorite stop for history buffs and photography enthusiasts, Sukhothai offers many lovely photo ops at a smaller scale than Ayutthaya. Ruins of this old city still stand proud despite enduring centuries of battle and exposure to the elements. Of the many wats in Sukhothai , Wat Mahathat is the most impressive. Founded sometime in the 13th century, the temple was built to enshrine Buddha relics and is surrounded by massive standing Buddha images, stuccoed sculptures, stupas, and more.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Sukhothai. Historic City of Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya offers a magnificent peek into the glory of ancient Thailand, where visitors can wander the haunting but romantic ruins of the former capital. Ayutthaya was once the most important city in Thailand, and the old palaces and temples stand as a testament to this. What is also amazing is that Thais never tend to forget a face. When you return to the same place, even after a couple of years, they always seem to remember you.

Other aspects of Thai culture that are interesting include their respect for elders and their devotion to Buddhism. All male Thais are encouraged to become a monk at some point in their lives. Sport is a surefire way to bridge culture gaps and break the ice. Luckily, Thais are big on sports and pretty much everywhere you go in Thailand, sports games are on the television or there is a sports event happening.

Most Thais love soccer, which suits many Europeans because it means they get to watch their favorite sports team with Thais who also support the same team. Another sport that is very popular is Muay Thai Thai boxing. There is no shortage of Thai boxing gyms or stadiums in Thailand. If you want to get fit, then Thai boxing is a great sport to make a start. At the same time, if you are looking for something to do, then there is nearly always a Thai boxing event going on somewhere.

Some transport systems in Thailand are best described as an organized mess. Others are very well organized. All in all, the great thing about Thailand is that when you put your mind to it, you can get to any place in the country for a very reasonable price.

The many airports provide the most organized transport system. If there isn't an airport, then there are buses and minibuses, which are a little more chaotic than traveling by air but worth it for the price and experience. Thailand also has an established rail system.

There are three classes of travel with sleeper cabins available for long-distance journeys and, once again, the prices are very reasonable. There are also private taxis, limousines, and vans for hire. Getting from one island to another, to the other side of an island, or from the mainland is easy in most places. There always seems to be a boat for hire or a ferry.

Even in Bangkok, you can travel up the Chao Phraya River or klongs canals via river taxis that cut out all the traffic. More localized transport inside cities and towns makes life even easier for tourists when it comes to staying cool and not having to walk in the heat.

Metered taxis, tuk tuks, songthaews, and motorbike taxis are all easy options. Thailand is not just famous for its tropical beaches. The country is also famed for its amazing rural locations that cater extremely well for tourists despite seemingly being in the middle of nowhere. Whether you are looking for somewhere quiet to stay or a rural adventure, you can easily find accommodation and tours.

One of the magical sides to Thailand away from beach life is the country's many farming villages, hill tribes, caves, mountains, national parks and nature reserves, forests, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and its wildlife. Even though Thailand is classed as a developing nation, the country boasts a high-tech banking and communications infrastructure. Internet and cellular access are available almost anywhere in the country. One creature comfort that most people love about Thailand is having constant access to communications, such as messaging apps via the Internet, as well as access to their favorite movie websites via high-speed Internet despite being in the middle of nowhere.

Aside from 4G Internet access, Thailand also has an array of modern shopping centers. Central is the most well-known one and can be found in all the major cities as well as many of the smaller cities and towns. Fast food, kids' playgrounds, and cinemas with the latest movies can all be found there.

Thailand's central location is perfect for accessing other less established countries close by. It is easy to get over to Cambodia for a short visit and then return to Thailand. Cambodia does not exactly have a reputation for being one of the safest places to visit but there are some appealing sites, such as Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. There is also Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, which people tend to visit to see its historical temples, the Royal Palace, and Silk Road markets.

The Killing Fields and S prison are also popular tourist destinations for those who want to get a close look at the Khmer Rouge era, which devastated the country. Access to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh is easy and relatively cheap. Buses run regularly from all over Thailand and there are also several flights per day from Don Mueang International Airport in the north of Bangkok.

The appeal for tourists is that Thailand makes an ideal base to leave from and to return to when planning a visit to Cambodia. Thailand is a beautiful tropical getaway all year round, and you're bound to have a good time whenever you visit. Asia Highlights takes everything, including the weather, into consideration when designing the best possible itinerary for guests. At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace.

Bartering at markets is another fun way to interact with locals, and on the whole, market vendors love the back-and-forth of making a deal. Floating Markets are fascinating makeshift marketplaces that are set up in the waterways of Thailand, particularly in the city of Bangkok. These markets are created with boats and floating platforms and sell everything from fruit and flowers to street food and souvenirs. The colours, smells, sounds and sights of a bustling floating market will stay with you for a lifetime and exploring one of these markets is a wonderful way to get an insight into local life.

While most spas and parlours offer standard aromatherapy oil massages and hot stone treatments that we have come to know and love in the West , they also offer traditional Thai massages which are a whole other ball game. Elephants are the national animal of Thailand, and as such, they are somewhat of an icon within the country. The Indian elephants that reside in Thailand have had a difficult history with many being used as logging labour and domestic pets, often with severe maltreatment.

This species is now endangered in Thailand with just thought to exist here in the wild. For a while, elephant tourism was big business, with many companies offering elephant rides and experiences.

However, as we have learnt more about animal welfare and the impact these experiences were having on the elephants, this has significantly reduced and is highly discouraged. Instead, you can witness elephants in sustainable, safe settings such as dedicated animal sanctuaries, where you may be able to help wash and care for these gentle giants.

Where Can I Bathe an Elephant? Last but by no means least is The Grand Palace in Bangkok, arguably one of the most famous sights in the country. The Grand Palace, also known by the much longer Thai name Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang, is a colourful complex of temple buildings located in the heart of Bangkok, with towering gold spires and impressive decor throughout.

The palace is over years old, yet the constant upkeep of this site ensures that it looks more dazzling than ever! So, there you have it, my list of nine things that make Thailand unique. What do you love about Thailand, or what are you longing to experience? Let us know in the comments below! This is a list of the top 10 bucket list life experiences given by thousands of people from all of the world.

What is Thailand Known For? Hannah Champion April 8, Thailand has long been a tourism hotspot with thousands of visitors flocking to the country every year to make the most of what it has to offer What is Thailand Known For?