We get the appeal of flying off Bangkok every chance you get, but we have to say: domestic travel in Thailand is supremely underrated and very rewarding. With relatively straightforward domestic airline and bus services and lots to see when you arrive, the provinces of Thailand are dotted with little gems your Instagram feed has yet to discover. Here are some new things to check out, in well-trodden places like Chiang Mai as well as lesser-known highlights like Nong Khai.
Maiiam Contemporary Art Museum, Chiang Mai
Opened on Jul 4, the stunning 3,000-sq-meter space features rotating and permanent exhibitions from the personal collections of Jean Michel Beurdeley and his late wife Patsri Bunnag, together with their son Eric Bunnag Booth (Jim Thomson’s international marketing director).
122 Moo 7 Tonpao, Sankampheang. Open Wed-Mon 10am-6pm.
Wat Rong Sua Ten, Chiang Rai
Credit TAT Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai’s white temple Wat Rong Khun now has a new colorful counterpart, Wat Rong Sua Ten, which opened earlier this year. Its designer, local artist Phutha “Salanok” Kabkaew, is a protege of Wat Rong Khun’s creator, the revered Chalermchai Kositpipat.
Rimkok, Muang, open daily 6am-6pm.
Wat Pha Tak Sue Skywalk, Nongkhai
Photo credit: Noi Nongkhai
A new, all-glass skywalk sticks out from the cliff at Wat Pha Tak Sue, offering a spectacular 500-meter-high viewpoint that’ll get your heartbeat racing.
Sangkhom, open daily 6am-6pm. The nearest airport is is Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, and you can get here directly from Singapore on Silkair or Lao Airlines.
Phu Huay Esan, Nongkhai
Phu Huay Esan. Photo credit: Khao Khiang Khong Homestay
For something a little less thrilling, Phu Huay Esan is a small hill right beside the Mekong River in Ban Huay Muang, an upcoming destination for its misty vistas that only appear in winter.
Tha Muang, Sangkhom, open daily 6am-6pm. The nearest airport is is Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, and you can get here directly from Singapore on Silkair or Lao Airlines.
Rubberland, Pattaya
The new edutainment museum dedicated to, you guessed it, Thailand’s rubber production. Located inside, the 4,400-sq-meter space consists of four main zones, including The Plantation, a simulation of a rubber forest using 3D projection mapping.
42 Moo 9, Sukhumvit Road, +66 (0) 38-413-490-5.
Doi Tung Tree Top Walk, Chiang Rai
Photo credit: Doi Tung Tree Top
Deep in The Mae Fah Luang Garden is a 295-meter-long walkway 30 meters above the ground, where visitors can view coffee plantations and a vetiver grass plantation where King Bhumibol spent years conducting research.
The Mae Fah Luang Foundation, Mae Fah Luang, +66 (0) 53-767-015-6. Open daily 08:20am-5pm.
Seenspace Hua Hin, Hua Hin
Ditch Hua Hin’s main tourist drag and head here to root out Thai-made designer finds. Across 7,200 sq meters of cool, interlocking concrete blocks, open-air walkways and criss-crossed grass rooftops, you’ll find a host of little boutiques with a focus on fashion.
Hua Hin Soi 35, +66 (0) 92-350-003-5. Open Mon-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri-Sun 10am-10pm. There are no airports in Hua Hin, but you can get there either by bus or train from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Kho Gu Bamboo So Bridge, Mae Hong Son
Meaning “merit bridge” in Thai, the one-year-old Kho Gu Bamboo So Bridge raised walkway was built to connect Pam Bok village with the nearby Huay Khai Khiri House of Priests and spans 815 meters across rice paddy fields. Head there around 7am on full and new moons to see villagers gathering on the bridge to make merit with local monks.
Pambok Village, Pai, +66 (0) 63-123-902-2, +66 (0) 89-261-898-6. You can get to the Mae Hong Son Airport on Kan Air or Bangkok Airways via Chiangmai from Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok).
Doi Thong and Doi Miang, Mae Hong Son
Doi Miang. Photo credit: Narit Uaesakulporncharoen
The twin mountains are on the travel wish-lists of all sunset seekers. You’ll find four guestrooms in the area, powered by electricity from solar cells and costing $19 per night, as well as four-man tents to rent at $15 per night. Traveling to Doi Thong and Doi Miang requires help from the village’s tourism unit as you’ll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach the peak.
Pambok Village, Pai, +66 (0) 63-123-902-2, +66 (0) 89-261-898-6. You can get to the Mae Hong Son Airport on Kan Air or Bangkok Airways via Chiangmai from Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok).
Wang Sila Lang, Nan
Known as the little Grand Canyon of Nan province, Wang Sila Lang was formed over millions of years by the Goon River as it eroded a crack in the Pua fault line. Today, the sheer gorge traces its way through beautiful scenery. The water level is relatively low during winter, which means you can easily walk along the gorge, following it upstream.
Sila Lang, Pua. TAT Phrae, +66 (0) 54-521-127. Fly in to Nan Nakhon Airport on Kan Air via Chiang Mai from Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok), or on Non Air and Thai AirAsia from Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok).
Hanuman World, Phuket
Operated by Phuket’s leading zipline service, Flying Hanuman, this park lets you fly through the canopies stopping off at either 16 or 30 stations. The main attraction is the Roller Coaster zipline, which flings you along an 800-meter-long line at speeds of 60km an hour. Take a stroll on the skywalk and dine at Wanon (meaning monkey) restaurant, which serves truly tangy Phuket food.
105 Moo 4, Chaofa Rd., Vichit, +66 (0) 62-979-553-3. Open daily 8am-5pm for adventure services and 8am-10pm for Wanon Restaurant.
Paka Show Park, Krabi
Manorah is a traditional Southern Thai dance art which this theater breathes new life into with light and sound shows. The outcome is called “Illumanorah”, telling mythical stories through powerful choreography on a stage that can be viewed from 360 degrees. You can choose to just drop in and watch the show or accompany it with a Southern food buffet dinner.
196/1 Sritrang Rd., +66 (0) 75-656-853. Open Wed-Mon 1-10pm.
Mamafaka Gallery, Khon Kaen
Three years after his tragic death, pioneering Thai graffiti artist Mamafaka (real name Pharuephon Mukdasanit) has got a gallery run by his family in his hometown of Khon Kaen. It features Mamafaka’s varied works, from skate decks, miniatures and screen prints to a Vespa. There’s also a room that depicts the artist’s old workspace.
165/12 Pim Maan Chon 2, Roab Bueng Rd., Khon Kaen, +66 (0) 92-559-651-4. Open Tue-Sun from 11am-6pm. You can get to Khon Kaen Airport on Kan Air via Chiang Mai from Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok), or on Nok Air and Thai AirAsia from Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok).
A’ La Campagne, Pattaya
This small European country village mall comprises Somtam Villa, a Thai-Isaan restaurant that takes shelter in a church-like building, and Tea Factory & More, a glasshouse that doubles as a tea lab with imported tea leaves from Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Taiwan and Israel.
Sukhumvit Rd. (before the Huay Yai intersection), Pattaya, +66 (0) 61-441-518-1. Open Mon-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
Ramayana Waterpark, Pattaya
Photo credit: Ramayana Waterpark
Thailand’s biggest waterpark, Ramayana spans 184,000 sq meters (or more than 700 tennis courts) with seven zones comprising more than 50 rides and attractions, including a FlowRider wave machine.
9 Moo 7, Na Jomtien, Sattahip, +66 (0) 33-005-929.
PeranakanNitat, Phuket
Phuket Town welcomed another museum dedicated to the local baba heritage. The stately building once housed Phuket’s Standard Chartered bank, dating back to 1907. The building now dedicates itself to the unique culture of Peranakan that permeates the Strait of Malacca, including Penang, Singapore and parts of Indonesia. Visitors must message the museum on Facebook prior to their arrival to book a spot.
34 Phuket Rd. Taladyai, +66 (0) 95-257-734-2.
Chui Fong Tea’s new cafe, Chiang Rai
This is arguably Thailand’s most stunning tea-house thanks to a modern-tropical design from Bangkok-based firm Idin Architects, which sticks to clean lines and open space to make the most of the Northern breeze. The cafe serves a short list of desserts such as cakes and toasts, as well as Thai and matcha tea.
Choui Fong Tea, +66 (0) 53-771-563, +66 (0) 62-269-598-8, open daily 8:30am-5:30pm.
Pongyang Zipline & Jungle Coaster, Chiang Mai
Photo credit: Pongyang Zipline & Jungle Coaster
The newly-opened zipline park in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district has probably the best ride of any of Thailand’s zipline parks. The Jungle Coaster is a two-seater adrenalin rush powered by gravity that snakes around the canopy on steel rails. For ziplining, there are 12-stations.
99/9 M.2 Pongyang, Maerim, +66 (0) 53-106-327. Open Mon-Fri 9pm-5pm, Sat-Sun & Holiday 8:30pm-5:30pm.
Agro Outlet, Khon Kaen
Probably Thailand’s most beautiful OTOP shop can be found in Khon Kaen. Designed by a local architecture firm S Pace Studio, Agro Outlet sells tasty local produce—juices, strawberries and addictive laab-flavor cricket crackers—most of it cute enough to make great souvenir.
Khon Kaen University (KKU) 123 Moo 16 Mittapap Rd., Nai-Muang, +66 (0) 97-214-1209. You can get to Khon Kaen Airport on Kan Air via Chiang Mai from Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok), or on Nok Air and Thai AirAsia from Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok).
Samed Nang Chee and Toh Li viewpoints, Phang Nga
Samed Nang Chee viewpoint. Photo credit: Theerasak Saksritawee.
Other nearby must-visits are Samed Nang Chee and Toh Li viewpoints, which offer unrivaled views over Phang Nga Bay from vantage points two kilometers apart.
Klong Kian, Takuatung, Noppadol on +66 (0) 89-591-056-9 and Bang Nhee on +66 (0) 62-208-139-0. They don’t have their own airport, but the nearest is Phuket International Airport, and there are many commercial and budget airlines that fly in from Singapore.
