The Best Places to Visit in Thailand (2025)

To describe Thailand as postcard perfect is underselling it. The country’s untamed beauty is as soaring as its limestone karsts, wild as its lush evergreen rainforests, and calming as its pristine beaches. The shape of the country resembles an elephant head, which is fitting due to its beloved native population of Indian elephants. And with roughly 93 percent of the population identifying as Buddhist, the culture here is wonderfully rich. And the food! Many of the dishes here are spicy and common flavorful ingredients include lemongrass, coconut milk, basil, and—of course—chili peppers.

In terms of geography, to the east and northeast sits Cambodia and Laos respectively, there’s Myanmar to the northwest, Malaysia to the south, and the coastal areas of the country sit on the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. From the mountainous regions of the north to the archipelagos of the peninsula in the south, the landscapes here are intensely diverse. And with The White Lotus season 3 currently underway, interest in visiting the country has never been higher—so if you want to get booking, now’s the time to do it.

Ahead, 17 of the best places to visit in Thailand.

Ride a Scooter Around Koh Yao Noi

A quick 30-minute boat ride from Phuket transports you to the peaceful shores of this island in Phang Nga Bay. Despite some notable luxury accommodations built here in recent years, “the island is still wonderfully undeveloped and holds onto its charm,” says Lauren Jafry of Extraordinary Journeys (who specializes in Southeast Asia for the luxury travel platform). Hop on a scooter to wind through the island’s melodic rainforest or paddle out to Koh Nok on a kayak for a day trip (side note: boat tours tend to stop here around lunch time, aim for earlier in the day to avoid the crowds).

Stay Here: Six Senses Yao Noi channels a tropical treehouse with its villas and suites that are sandwiched between lush greenery. You can choose between jungle and ocean views for your accommodation, and savor home-grown ingredients from any one of its three restaurants on property.

Taste Tea in Doi Mae Salong

This beautiful hilltop village was originally settled by Chinese soldiers who had fled their home country after the communist takeover in 1949, which is why it still has a strong ethnic Chinese presence. Its cooler climate allows for cultivating tea, and visitors can explore Doi Mae Salon’s plantations and enjoy tea tastings (especially oolong varieties) accompanied by verdant mountain views.

Stay Here: Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is an all-inclusive luxury glamping experience that plants guests in the mountains of northern Thailand. The tents are designed with private decks, outdoor showers, wooden hot tubs, and offer views of the Ruak River and jungles of Myanmar. Follow Jafry's cue and take a helicopter ride from the property to the tea plantations for a memorable day trip.

Spot Wild Elephants at Khao Yai National Park

In 1962, Thailand established its very first national park—Khao Yai—which is blanketed in rainforest, grasslands, and evergreen forests. One of the major draws of the park is wildlife. “It's one of the last places in Thailand where you might catch a glimpse of wild Asian elephants,” Safry says. Spotting a tiger in the park is also possible (though rare). Embark on a wildlife tour with a licensed guide to enjoy hikes that reach impressive waterfalls (like Haew Suwat Waterfall from The Beach) and finish with a night safari in search of elusive animals.

Stay Here: Marasca Khao Yai is a countryside retreat offering 18 accommodations ranging from glamper tents and suites to a luxury villa. Thanks to its close proximity to the national park, guests can experience the wild setting beyond traditional hiking trails, like horseback riding atop the region’s rolling hills.

Ride a Bamboo Float in Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park is covered by the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world and is distinct for its towering limestone mountains and dramatic caves. Among the more unique ways to experience the park is by floating down the Sok River on a traditional bamboo raft. This is one of the oldest forms of transport here and the slower pace allows visitors to soak in the wild surroundings, hopefully with a wildlife sighting or two along the way.

Stay Here: “The recent opening ofThanyamundra, an intimate six-bedroom resort, has elevated the experience here,” Jafry says. “With a dedicated team of private butlers and an onsite organic farm, it offers a refined base for exploring the park's breathtaking rainforest, stunning lake, and limestone karsts.”

Relax and Unwind on Koh Samui

With the anticipated premiere of The White Lotus season 3, this picturesque destination is sure to welcome a notable influx of set-jetting travelers. But beyond the hotel, this island is among the most striking in the region. Days can be spent visiting Buddhist temples, swimming beneath waterfalls, and hopping on boats to snorkel around colorful coral reefs. Koh Samui is also famous for its wellness retreats (like the acclaimed Kamalaya), so why not round out your holiday with a spa treatment and meditation session?

Stay Here: If you can manage to snag a reservation at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui (the setting of The White Lotus), don’t miss out on the property’s secret garden spa that’s set in an impossibly lush garden. The oceanfront accommodations are equally of note, especially the suite villas with private infinity pools.

Cycle Around Ancient Temples in Sukhothai

Sukhothai is regarded as the birthplace of Thai civilization and in the 13th century served as the capital of the first Thai kingdom. It’s now popular for its UNESCO-listed historical park, which is best explored by bike. Cycle beside towering Buddha statues and crumbling temples, stopping to admire the remains of what’s considered the “Golden Age” of the country when the Thai script was created and many artistic and cultural traditions were born.

Stay Here: Sriwilai Sukhothai is five minutes away from the historical park and has rooms overlooking rice paddies and the ancient ruins of Wat Chedi Sung. The resort uses solar panels to heat its water and sources local textiles, potteries, and ingredients to support the surrounding community.

Take a Traditional Samlor Around Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is nicknamed “Rose of the North” and dates back to 1296 when it was founded as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Those obsessed with history will want to immerse themselves in the historic district where there’s still a square moat and remnants of ancient walls, as well as over 300 Buddhist temples scattered throughout the entire city. Hop on a traditional samlor—a three-wheel passenger bicycle taxi—to take in the sights.

Stay Here: 137 Pillars House is a beautifully restored teak wood building that dates back to the late 1800s when it was built by the Borneo Trading Company. There are five magnificent suites, each with indoor/outdoor garden showers and hand-crafted furniture, an on-property restaurant and bar as well as a spa, pool, and concierge that can arrange outings around Chiang Mai.

Satiate Your Palate in Bangkok

Counted among the premiere food destinations in the world, Bangkok has it all—legendary street food, traditional Thai dishes, and 36 Michelin-starred restaurants serving up once-in-a-lifetime cuisine. One Vogue writer recently shared their guide to Song Wat, the city’s oldest and buzziest neighborhood, where visitors can feast upon fishball noodle, curry puff, and 14-day, five-spice aged duck.

Stay Here: Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is slated to open in early 2025 and will be the brand’s sophomore property in Thailand (the other is on the shores of Phuket). The 50-suite hotel is near Nai Bert Park and is designed by Jean Michel Gathy of Denniston (the firm behind other iconic properties such as Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and Aman New York).

Ride a Longtail Boat Around Ko Phi Phi

An archipelago in the Andaman Sea made up of six islands, Ko Phi Phi is without a doubt iconic. It’s only accessible by boat and popular excursions take full advantage of the otherworldly setting, such as snorkeling and hiking. A longtail boat tour is also an excellent option as these traditional wooden boats (ruea hang yao) can take you to lagoons and caves that are difficult to reach.

Stay Here: Zeavola is well aware of Koh Phi Phi’s reputation as a party island, which is why they’ve situated themselves on the more peaceful northern tip. Unwind in the resort’s tropical gardens and rest well within the teakwood villas equipped with outdoor rainfall showers.

Visit a Pine Forest in Mae Hong Son

This beautiful province in northern Thailand is known as “The City of Three Mists” thanks to its year-round dewy mornings. It borders Myanmar and is one of the country’s most mountainous regions. The nature here is plentiful, with waterfalls and caves in ready supply. One particularly picturesque area is Pang Ung, which is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of Thailand because of its pine forest and lake (especially popular with campers who want to catch the morning mist).

Stay Here: Rent a tent to camp at the misty Pang Ung lakeside (inclusive of a mattress and blanket) or check in to nearby Reverie Siam, a riverside resort inspired by early 20th-century colonial architecture.

Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay, with its impossibly beautiful limestone karsts and turquoise-tinted waters, is home to over 40 islands. Among the most notable is Khao Phing Kan (known as ‘James Bond Island’), immortalized by its appearance in The Man With the Golden Gun. Visitors can explore the maze of islands by kayak or longtail boats, ducking into hidden caves and secret lagoons and hopping in the shallow water to admire its colorful coral reefs.

Stay Here: COMO Point Yamu is located on the tip of Phuket's Cape Yamu and enjoys impeccable views of Phang Nga Bay. Interiors by Paola Navone (who works regularly with COMO) echo the region’s hues—aquamarines for the sea, burnt oranges for the Buddhist robes of Thailand.

Learn How to Dive on Koh Tao

Off the coast of Koh Samui to the north, Koh Tao (nicknamed ‘Turtle Island’) is a small, quiet island in the Gulf of Thailand that’s known for its scuba diving scene. If you’re an experienced diver, great, but no need for beginners to shy away as this is a top destination to learn thanks to calm, clear waters and dive sites with a variety of depths. (Don’t miss out on Chumphon Pinnacle, Shark Island, and Sail Rock as they are musts!)

Stay Here: Langkhai Garden is operated by a young French couple who met on Koh Tao and have been living here ever since. They’re both passionate about scuba diving on the island and can help arrange excursions for guests. The all-villa property itself is lovely with its salted infinity pools (with ocean views) and surrounding jungle.

Step Back in Time at Ayutthaya

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam until its fall in 1767. After that, its temples and statues were left in ruins, which now gives this historic city the sense that it’s frozen in time. Among its more famous sites is Wat Mahathat, where a banyan tree has entwined a Buddha head within its roots. Visitors can cycle through the ancient ruins or even take a boat cruise along the Chao Phraya river for an immersive perspective of the temples.

Stay Here: Baan Pomphet is an eight-room boutique hotel located on the riverfront. It’s named after Ayutthaya’s Pom Phet fortress, with some of the rooms offering views of the nearly 500-year-old structure. The on-property Michelin-listed restaurant is especially appealing—don’t sleep on the charcoal grilled river prawns.

Explore Eccentric Temples in Chiang Rai

This northern city is close to the borders of Laos and Myanmar and is quite a bit calmer than its neighbor Chiang Mai. It’s well-known for Wat Rong Khan, an all-white Buddhist temple by Thai visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat that’s meant to symbolize the journey to enlightenment. There’s also another bold temple known as Wat Rong Suea Ten (the Blue Temple), which was created by Kositpipat’s student and is painted in a cobalt hue and symbolizes the infinite nature of the universe.

Stay Here: Le Meridien sits on the banks of the Kok River (a tributary river that flows in both Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai) and offers 159 guestrooms. Be sure to enjoy a meal at their on-property restaurant Favola, which overlooks the water, and spend an afternoon in the Pavarti Spa melting into a traditional Thai massage.

Take a Thai Cooking Class on Koh Lanta

Unlike crowded Phuket, Koh Lanta is more relaxed and sets a slower pace for travelers. It consists of two main islands—Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi—with most visitors staying on the former. Activities here are as expected: snorkeling and diving around the archipelago's 52 islands, kayaking and hiking, and exploring Lanta Old Town, perhaps signing up for a Thai cooking class or catching the sunset at a local oceanfront bar.

Stay Here: Pimalai Resort & Spa is a waterfront resort on the southern tip of Koh Lanta that sits on Ba Kan Tang Beach (known for its soft white sand). There are two infinity pools, a spa in the forest, and accommodations with private balconies overlooking the Andaman Sea.

Admire a Hilltop Pagoda in Lampang

Often overlooked by tourists, this northern riverside city has masterfully preserved its historic architecture comprised of wooden temples and teak mansions. Horse-drawn carriages are still a means of transport here and a myriad of charming shops and significant Buddhist sites all make for a memorable visit. One industry that’s especially prevalent in Lampang is ceramic production due to a white kaolin mineral commonly found in the area (excellent for picking up a gift or two).

Stay Here: If you’re looking to stay in Lampang, consider a homestay with a local family. Otherwise, about an hour-and-a-half away in Chiang Mai, book a room at Anantara, a lovely luxury property on the banks of the Mae Ping River.

Ride the Train in Kanchanaburi

A study in contrasts, this province in western Thailand is known for both its outstanding beauty and sordid history. Kanchanaburi’s so-called ‘death railway’ was painstakingly built during World War II by prisoners of war and forced laborers, intended to connect Thailand to Burma (now Myanmar). These days, monuments and memorials help visitors learn about this history (which was depicted in the novel and film The Bridge on the River Kwai).

Stay Here: Just north in Tha Kradan, this Loylum Eco home on Airbnb is a floating luxury villa on the Srinakkarin Dam, located 40 minutes from Erawan National Park.