Thailand attracts millions upon millions of visitors each year who come into the country to visit the beaches, temples, and explore the country. And each year, visitors miss out on some of the best places to visit in Thailand. However, there are many places in Thailand that do not make it into the tour books. These places never get mentioned in the guides. They are left off most itineraries.
These hidden gems sit waiting to be explored. In our 13 years of living in Thailand, our family has adventured to and visited 50 out of the 77 provinces. This list reflects places we recommend going to from all over Thailand. Each of these places we could not believe were still well-kept local secrets. So here it is… our family’s compilation of 23 hidden gems of Thailand.
There are many many other amazing places to visit in Thailand, and you will read about them everywhere when you look up things to do in Thailand. We wanted to give you our favorite off the beaten path things to see and do. This list of hidden gems is scattered all over Thailand so have a look at the map to see all their locations!
23 Hidden Gems in Thailand
Have a look at the map and check out where each of the 23 hidden gems in Thailand are located! We have compiled this list because each of these places are some of our family favorite places we enjoyed. They are purposely listed in a random order because our family could not come to a consensus on a good order of favorites!
Sirinat National Park
Cozied up against busy downtown Phuket is Sirinat National Park. This protected beach and marine park area welcomes nesting turtles and keeps coral reefs safe. We love this national park for the snorkeling directly off the beach. In the crowded tourist area of Phuket, this is a hidden gem that offers a little bit of peace and quiet. You don’t have to go far from the city to find excellent snorkeling and beaches. This one couldn’t be more centrally located and easy to get to!
Taksin Maharat National Park
Taksin Maharat was made into a national park for the discovery that it holds Thailand’s largest tree. But that isn’t the reason our family keeps coming back. The park offers great family-friendly hikes and the campground overlooks the mountains and valleys surrounding it. Watching the clouds rise off the mountains in the early morning hours is breathtaking. This national park is down the road from the town of Tak in Central Thailand.
Bangkok Flower Market
In the heart of Bangkok is the massive wholesale flower market with the largest fruit and veggie market right down the road. Shop owners from far and wide come to buy products for their stores. The best time to visit and see the hustle and bustle of local city life? 5 am! A truly remarkable sight…
Chiang Khan
This river town tops Mom’s list of hidden gems of Thailand. Nestled along the banks of the great Mekong River, this town overflows with charm. Its main walking street with wooden shuttered shophouses transforms into a busy night market each evening. This town makes you feel as if you have stepped right into Thailand’s past.
Buriram Soccer Stadium (Chang Arena)
Soccer is THE sport to go see in Thailand and Buriram United is THE team to watch! Their stadium is huge and quite an experience on game days. They even have a Buriram United themed hotel next door that you can stay in to complete your visit.
Wat Phu Tok
Wat Phu Tok is a temple in the far corner of northeast Thailand which has been named the most dangerous temple in Thailand. Set up on a cliff, the only way up is to walk on boards hung against the side of the rock. This attraction is not for the faint-hearted but if you can handle the fear, I wouldn’t pass up a chance to visit. If you have visited a lot of temples in Thailand, they can start to all look the same. This one will give you a very different experience.
Phu Chi Fah
Found in the mountains on the border of north Thailand and Laos, Phu Chi Fah is a mountain peak with a view! We recommend arriving before sunrise to watch the mist rise from the valleys below as the sun begins to shine. Dress in warm clothes as these mountains can get COLD in the early morning hours.
Sticky Waterfalls (Buatong Waterfall)
Another one of the hidden gems of Thailand that the kids will love. Found outside Chiang Mai city, Sticky Waterfalls are just that – waterfalls that are sticky enough to climb! The rock is made of limestone which allows water to rush over it, but not make it slippery. Our kids loved crawling straight up the waterfall on all fours!
Sukhothai Historic Park
The first capital city of a unified Thailand is found on the central plains. The old capital has been excavated and restored in such a way you can learn about what it used to look like. Sukhothai Historic Park is large in area. It is also completer and more restored than the more popular Ayutthaya historic park. Ayutthaya is near Bangkok and is popular because it is easier to get to. For history lovers and those interested in learning more about Thailand, Sukhothai this is a MUST!
Buranathai Buddha Casting Foundry in Phitsanulok
Thailand is a Buddhist country and you can see Buddhas throughout Thailand. Here in Phitsanulok, visitors can go into this Buddha foundry and watch the steps of how a Thai Buddha is constructed. It is also across the street from the Sgt. Maj. Thawee Folk Museum where you can view artifacts important to traditional Thai life in the past and present.
Phetchabun
Phetchabun is a province in the central Thai area. The landscape rises sharply creating an area with cooler weather and beautiful views right in amidst the flat plains of central Thailand. One beautiful temple that offers stunning views in Phetchabun is Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew. Although it is a whole province, we wanted to include it as it is overlooked by most tourists, but is definitely worth adding to your visit!
Phu Kradeung
Phu Kradeung National Park is known for the arduous hike up its plateau. 5.5 kilometers straight up. With no other way to reach the top, the hike is why people come. Once you reach the plateau there are lots of trails to explore. Don’t worry, the plateau is flat and offers some awesome views. Also, there are rest stops along the way up offering meals, drinks, as well as t-shirts and other trinkets. The feeling of accomplishment when you reach the top is exhilarating. Don’t worry, despite its length, the hike is quite kid-friendly, even our 4-year-old reached the top.
Three Whales Rock
Three Wales Rock is found in Bueng Khan, a province in the far northeast corner of Thailand. Three ‘rocks’ jut out from the mounting and into the valley, creating the effect of three whales swimming together. The views are fabulous out on the whales’ backs. Combining a trip to Three Whales Rock with Wat Phu Tok is a great way to see two hidden gems in one visit!
Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park
This national park sits right beside the well-known Kaeng Krachan National Park, the largest national park in Thailand. Since it is small and a relatively new national park, there are few tourists around. The park boasts both caves and hikes. Our favorite aspect of the park is the national arch that you can hike to!
Chiang Mai Zoo
With the many tourist attractions to visit in Chiang Mai city, one wouldn’t think to visit the zoo. But with a huge area on one the hills surrounding the city, the zoo has created amazing spaces for the animals. We loved the large enclosures that make seeing the animals easily.
Hellfire Pass Museum
Beyond well-known Kanchanaburi and the Bridge over the River Kwai lies Hellfire Pass. Hellfire Pass is a section of the train line that was to connect Myanmar to Thailand. It was created by allied prisoners during WWII under supervision of the Japanese. There is a memorial created there by the Australian government. It is a somber but eye-opening visit. Even young children can understand in an age-appropriate way the atrocities that happened during WWII.
Red Lotus Lake
Talay Bua Daeng or Red Lotus Lake is a huge lake in northeast Thailand that “blooms” in cool season. During the months of December through March, the red lotuses bloom over the whole lake making the lake surface turn pink. You can take a boat ride through the blooms for a magical experience. It does take some commitment as it is best to go first thing in the morning to be on the water for sunrise. Sunrise is shortly before 6:00am!
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
This national park is just south of the town of Hua Hin along the coast. It has multiple caves to explore as well as mangroves. It also boasts beautiful beaches lined with pine trees only accessible by boat. With its many natural attractions, it’s worth a visit when in the Hua Hin area.
Monkeys in Lopburi
We have seen many monkeys in the jungles of Thailand, as well as urban areas. But never have we seen so many monkeys take over an area of a city like in Lopburi. Lopburi has created a way for monkeys and humans to live in close quarters, and it is definitely worth the time to go experience it! A good starting point is the San Phra Kan shrine in the center of town.
Laem Son National Park
Unknown to most visitors to Thailand, Laem Son National Park boasts perfect sandy beaches that stretch on for kilometers. If you are looking for quiet and solitude, this national park is the answer. It is found along the Andaman Sea in the south of Thailand.
Yasothon Rocket Festival
The Yasothon Rocket Festival is held in the city of Yasothon at the end of May. Locals build rockets to shoot up into the sky. The rockets make noise to plead to the gods for rain. Some rockets can be huge! The experience of festivity mixed with all kinds of homemade rockets is quite fun!
Sunflowers in Saraburi
From November to January, the fields around Saraburi (a town just north of Bangkok) bloom in yellow. The sunflowers fill field after field creating an exploding bright landscape. Sunflower farms open to the public for a small fee so that you can take a stroll through the flowers and take pictures.
Phu Wiang National Park
This hidden gem is especially for the kids! Known specifically for its dinosaur fossils and footprints, Phu Wiang brings historic findings to life. My kids loved viewing the footprint fossils right where they were found! Phu Wiang is in the northeast region of Thailand, a region known in Thailand for its dinosaur bone discoveries. Another area that is known for dinosaurs in Thailand is the Khon Kaen area.
Conclusion
As these hidden gems are spread out throughout Thailand, it’s hard to make time to see them all. We recommend adding one or two to your itinerary when you visit more popular tourist destinations in the region. This way you can take time to get away from the tourist path and see spots that others will miss.
If you need help coming up with an itinerary, you can read our complete 10 Day Bangkok Itinerary, which does not include these hidden gems, but offers other amazing things to see and do closer to Bangkok. Or you can try and sneak a few into our 3 weeks in Thailand. There are a few of them already thrown in already!