Explore Thailand
Songkran is special because it’s not just a festival, it’s a celebration of life itself. It’s a time when people come together to forget their worries and immerse themselves in the joy of the moment. It’s a time to cleanse oneself of negativity and welcome new beginnings. The splashing of water during Songkran is not just a playful activity, but it also holds a deeper meaning…
Our boat glides through water the color of emerald, a deep creamy stone green, cruising past towering limestone karsts that are home to wild tigers and elephants. Occasional ripples cut through the smooth glossy surface of the water below, shimmering back reflections of the jungle-clad environment surrounding us. Hundreds of peaks, carved of…
Even though Koh Lanta lacks the picturesque, powdery white sands of its more iconic neighbors, the island more than makes up for it with unruly tangles of jungle and a low-key vibe seldom found on more frequented shores. On most days, you’ll only be sharing one of Koh Lanta’s sublime beaches with a couple of tourists and some locals foraging for shellfish…
For nine days a year, the Thai Vegetarian Festival (เทศกาลกินเจ) takes over the streets of southern Thailand and fills them with intense ritualistic ceremonies that are not for the faint-hearted. There’s blood. There’s spirit possession. There’s self-mutilation. Unlike most people who actively avoid the trauma of physical pain, the most ardent participants…
With the slow hum of the boat’s engine, we headed out into the pitch-black depths of Thale Noi’s peat swamp forest. Only aided by the light of our headlamps, we cruised cautiously over the vine-infested shallow waters – carefully navigating as to not get the propeller intertwined. Our mission on this particular morning was simple: to reach the Pak Pra Canal…
As one of the last hidden gems of Thailand’s southern coast, Khanom Beach is a non-touristy destination that’s full of striking mountain scenery and many long, empty beaches to relax on. When in Khanom, you’d never guess that the overly-touristic Koh Samui was only 25 km offshore. Despite the proximity, Khanom seems to be far away from the bustling shores of Koh Samui…
Founded by King Si Inthrathit in 1248 CE, Sukhothai Historical Park served as the former capital of the Kingdom of Sukhothai until 1438 CE. The city was the first in a series of independent polities that eventually coalesced to form a unified Siam (present-day Thailand). Today, the ruins of Sukhothai serve as a reflection of the diverse ancestry of…
The Phi Ta Khon Festival (ผีตาโขน) originated as a form of ancestral worship – a series of merit-making rituals where villagers must make offerings to the guardian spirits of Dan Sai. If for any reason Phi Ta Khon was not held annually, then it was believed that Dan Sai would be subjected to wraths such as illnesses, insufficient rain leading to famine, and more…
Situated in northeastern Thailand, surrounded by mountainous landscapes on the banks of the Mekong River, time stands still in Chiang Khan. As a sleepy yet spellbinding place, there’s something very special about Chiang Khan as it’s one of Isaan’s best-preserved historic towns – it’s full of charm and offers a unique window into the region’s fascinating past…
As Thailand’s newest province, Bueng Kan is a remote destination that’s ideal for adventure-minded travelers. Nestled in a distant corner of Isaan, Bueng Kan remains one of the least visited provinces in Thailand and is characterized by traditional rural life. So if you enjoy uninterrupted vistas of the Mekong, vast stretches of forest covered hills, and off-the- beaten-path…
As a juxtaposition of tranquility and dramatic beauty, the soft golden spill of Phu Ruea’s morning light has a magnetic quality that’ll captivate any traveler. It’s truly amazing to witness the mist-shrouded crags change colors from deep blue to smoldering yellow to a fiery orange. It’s as if two polar worlds are meeting, if not colliding before your very eyes…
As a border town on the bank of the Mekong River, Nong Khai has typically been overlooked as just another “gateway to Laos.” In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Saturated with temples, rich culture and folk ways of life, Nong Khai is full of character and off-the-beaten-path adventures. If you’re interested in visiting a peaceful and unique Thai city…
Located in the beautiful and underrated province of Loei, Phu Kradueng is a unique national park that offers a streamlined hiking and camping experience. It’s a novel trail that’s great for people who love nature, but aren’t invested in or not interested in going on a remote backcountry trek. For how built up this national park is, Phu Kradueng still manages to be ruggedly charming…
Nestled in a remote corner of the Phetchabun mountain range, Wat Pha Sorn Kaew is a shangri-la-inspired Buddhist sanctuary. It’s an unusual, yet serene temple that features a stunningly beautiful design: an eclectic mix of Catalan modernism and Indochinese Buddhist architecture. In particular, Wat Pha Sorn Kaew’s most striking feature is its larger-than-life…
In an offbeat corner of Phitsanulok, there’s an area that’s stunningly beautiful and reminiscent of Krabi’s infamous landscape. With limestone karsts jutting up from lush rice paddies, Noen Maprang’s Ban Mung (บ้านมุง) is a breathtaking destination with few visitors. The peaceful and rural landscape of Ban Mung offers travelers a serene atmosphere to decompress…
With beautiful views over the Mekong River and sweeping vistas of mountainous terrain, Loei is a hidden gem that’s relatively unknown to most international tourists. If you’re interested in getting off the overcrowded tourist trail in Thailand, then this guide has been carefully curated for you. After living in Loei for 5 months, we put together the ultimate list…
A mere 40 minutes from the bustling concrete jungle of Hat Yai is a charming and quaint coastal city known as Songkhla Old Town. The town itself has a distinctive nostalgic feel – it almost looks like a roll of 1970’s Kodacolor film with vibrant and heritage-rich undertones. Even the weathered walls of the town’s historic shophouses pay homage to the early 1800s…
Located in a remote corner of Thailand’s non-touristy Loei province, Phu Suan Sai is a mountainous and rugged national park with an overnight hiking trail. And with backpacking options relatively limited in northeast Thailand, we were excited to check out this offbeat hike that shares a border with Laos. From Mueang Loei, our drive to Phu Suan Sai took much longer than expected…
Known for having some of the best cuisine on the planet, Thailand is home to over 300 dishes that are divided amongst 5 distinct regional styles (Bangkok, Central Thai, Isaan, Northern Thai, and Southern Thai). Navigating through this dizzying array of food choices can be difficult for first-time visitors to the Kingdom, so we put together a curated list of…
Located on the border of Loei and Nong Bua Lamphu provinces, Wat Tham Erawan is an off-the-beaten-path temple nestled high up in a karst mountain. As a large cave chamber that’s punctuated with a golden Buddha statue, Tham Erawan is a sanctuary of tranquility that’s only surrounded by the silence of rural rice fields, Above all, it’s a peaceful day trip away from the chaos…
Women of the Kayan tribe are renowned for wearing brass coil rings around their necks. Given the hefty weight of these coils, their collar bones and upper ribs are compressed down vertically, thereby giving them the illusory appearance of a “long neck.” In Thailand, travelers can spend a day with the Kayan at Huay Pu Keng, a remote village that’s nestled…