Things to do in Thailand

This is one of Chiang Mai’s best-known tourist attractions, covering several blocks of Thanon Chang Khlan between Thanon Tha Phae and Thanon Sri Dornchai. Every day, at about 4pm, hundreds of vendors begin lining the street with their huge steel carts; woodcarvings, inexpensive silk clothing, hill-tribe inspired home accessories are just some of the items you can buy here, with colourfully clad traders from northern hill-tribes usually there.

To see Thailand's haunting memorial to the Prisoner of Wars who died during World War II, this is one of the most poignant things to do in Thailand (it’s also known as Khwae Yai). West of Bangkok, the bridge itself was built between 1942 and 1943, where thousands died during its construction, and the tragic saga was represented in the 1957 film of the same name. You can reach it by boat or road from Kanchanaburi, and can walk across the bridge. Today, most of the old railway tracks have been removed, but some remnants of the track can be seen at Hellfire Pass; the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum has several exhibits and a film about the railway.

A visit to Koh Rok is definitely one of the best things to do in Thailand. Some of the country’s best snorkelling spots can be found in the waters off Koh Lanta - and Koh Rok, about 47 km (29miles) south of Koh Lanta certainly takes pride of place. It’s easily the country’s best spot for snorkelling, with excellent visibility, colourful corals and different types of reef fish to be found in shallow waters - or if you want to take a slower pace, you can just chill out on its powdery white-sand beaches, instead.

About 63km (39miles) south of Hua Hin, in the Northern Gulf Coast, sits Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. It translates as ‘three hundred mountain peaks’ and it’s not hard to see why, with its dramatic limestone pinnacles jutting up from the park’s mangrove swamps. Carved from the rugged coastline, the 98-sq-km park has beaches, marshes, lagoons, forests, caves and offshore islands. Need more tempting? The wildlife includes migratory birds that gather on the marsh and mudflats, crab-eating macaques and a rare breed of mountain goat-antelope.

It’s easy to see why this lovely north-coast beach on Koh Phangan gets so many repeat visitors. You can reach there on a decent road from Thong Sala up to Ao Chalok Lam, then take a boat. It’s one of the island’s best bays, with sunbathe-inducing white sands backed by steep hills. Looking at cheap holidays to Thailand? This area has a great number of budget-friendly options, as do many other islands in the country.

Those thinking about what to do in Thailand that involves a deep-dive into heritage and a marvel at the architecture won’t be disappointed at Wat Chalong. In Phuket’s Ao Chalong lay this very important temple - the city’s largest and most important Buddhist temple, in fact - that’s popular with both Thais and foreigners. Today, you’ll see many Thais visiting the temple to pay homage to the two statues that honour the monks. You can admire the stacked red roof and white exterior before heading inside to check out the ornate interior.

See Thailand in a nutshell in Samut Prakan’s Ancient City. Replicas of the country’s most famous sights - some full-size, some scaled down - are strewn around this open-air park. It’s one of Bangkok’s best-value (and surprisingly under-visited) tourist attractions. The Phiman Mongkut Pavilion, a three-storey colonial-style mansion, now functions as the Narai National Museum, displaying bronze statues, Chinese porcelain and shadow-play puppets amongst many other interesting artefacts.