The uniquely Thai Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo

The splendid Grand Palace enclosure is home to many ornate temples and buildings with a variety of architectural styles.  Gold leaf, reflective tiling, and Buddha images are seen everywhere. The magnificent Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is a treasure trove of Thai arts and home to the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most revered Buddha image. Much is still to be seen in the Grand Palace compound, such as the Royal Thai Decorations and Coin Pavilion, where a permanent exhibition of royal regalia, decorations, medals, and coins dating back to the early 11th century are on display.

The rebirth of Thai silk at the Jim Thompson House

This exquisite collection of traditional Thai houses stands as a museum to Jim Thompson, the man who revived the Thai silk industry and founded the Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company. The house sits on approximately a half acre of land on Mahanak Canal. Ban Khrua Village, where his silk weavers lived and worked, is just on the other side of the canal. Jim Thompson’s eclectic collection of antiques and artifacts is on permanent exhibition, making this a magnificent tribute to a well-respected and sorely missed legendary figure

You might have to do a double take at the Thai Human Imagery Museum

Located in Nakhon Pathom, this wax museum houses life-like sculptures created by a group of Thai artists.  These breathtaking human figures showcase various characteristics, and the replicas of important people are displayed in many sections, such as the Great Buddhist Monks, Former Kings of the Chakri Dynasty, and One Side of Thai Life.

A taste of Thailand at Amphawa

This market town in Samut Songkhram has transformed in recent years from a sleepy backwater into a vibrant destination. Today, visitors throng the embankments on both sides of a canal off the Mae Khlong. Some sit on the steps eating noodles prepared on boats. Others dine at stalls, down Kafae Boran (Thai traditional coffee) from quaint old cafés, and munch on bagged delicacies while browsing through the clothes, jewelry, and other products on sale. Restored teak shop houses expand the choice of activity, from massage to traditional music shops. Many market visitors end their trip after dusk with a ride to see the fireflies.

Shopping in Bangkok is not limited to one or two places. A multitude of high-end mega malls, chic department stores, boutiques, local specialist shops, and more traditional markets are scattered throughout the city. Major shopping malls include MBK Center, Siam Center & Siam Discovery Center, Central World, Erawan Bangkok, Siam Paragon, Gaysorn Bangkok, Siam Square, Central Chidlom and The Emporium. All are conveniently accessed by the BTS skytrain services. For a unique shopping experience, visit Chatuchak Weekend Market, Patpong Night Market, China Town, and Silom Night Bazaar.

Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Samut Prakan

Built in 1950, Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Samut Prakan is the world’s largest crocodile farm. The farm has over 60,000 crocodiles of different varieties in numerous pits, with daily shows featuring handlers catching crocodiles barehanded. Visitors will also enjoy shows starring the other animals in the zoo: elephants, gibbons, turtles, boa constrictors, pythons, birds, camels, hippopotamuses, and various species of fishes. There is also another crocodile show at the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo in Nakhon Pathom. See a thrilling crocodile show featuring a master crocodile catcher wrestling crocodiles in the tradition of Krai Thong, the most famous crocodile hunter in Thai legend

The best diving spots for experts and amateurs alike

More than 70 islands surround Samui, and the nearby islands of Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao make this area one of the most famous dive sites in Thailand. Samui is also the best place to learn how to dive. Experienced divers, meanwhile, can encounter large creatures, like the whale sharks, manta rays, potato cods, and more.

Sunny Samui beaches

Many visitors are content to lounge their days away on the beach, while soaking up the sun and cooling off in the turquoise waters. Chaweng Beach on Samui’s east coast is the longest and most beautiful, with plenty of accommodations for guests. Just south of Chaweng Beach, are the playful waters of Lamai Beach, virtually a surfers’ paradise, while Hin Ta and Hin Yai’s unusual rock formations are Samui’s most photographed features. For those who want to get away from it all, there are Maenam, Bophut, Bang Rak and other beaches on the north coast, as well as beaches on the south and the west, including the renowned Taling Ngam.

SURAT THANI / KO SAMUI  :   The Gulf Paradise

Surrounded by other gems like Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao, Samui sits snugly in the gulf of Thailand, and is located 52 miles east of Surat Thani, the provincial capital on the mainland. With soft sandy beaches shaded by towering palms, delicious fresh seafood and a vibrant nightlife, Samui has a magical formula that seems to cast its spell on everyone.

PHANG-NGA  :  Thailand’s Best Scuba-Dive Site

Phang-nga is a province with two elements—land and sea—and is packed with national parks that border magnificent scenery with immensely different attractions. The island groups of Surin and Similan, renowned for their beautiful unspoiled beaches and spectacular underwater scenery, attract divers from around the world. While Phang-nga Bay is extremely sheltered, it is ideal for sea canoe expeditions to explore the many fascinating caverns with their own eco-systems.