101 Things to do in Thailand from my Bucket List

Oh there is so much to do in Thailand. I have been here for a year and I am still not able to do them all. And with time, I keep finding more things to do that I never knew existed here. I decided to put my bucket list here. And you are welcome to add on it. Here goes it.

Check out the grand architecture with signature Thai style at the residence of The Royal Family of Thailand. The palace grounds consist of buildings, halls, courtyards, temples, lawns, and gardens. It is one of the most visited places by the tourists.

Looking to visit the Grand Palace? Here is all the information that you need to know.

Loud and Bright, Khao San Road is the hub for tourists backpacking across Asia. Affordable hostels, beer bars, and clubs with street food promise you a hell of a night.

While you cannot enter Wat Arun at night, the temple of the Dawn is actually even more spectacular after the dusk. Best viewed from across the river, the temple lights up in the dark and is a sight to see.

Planning to visit? Here is our Travel Guide to visiting Wat Arun

And if you want a more memorable experience, you can watch Wat Arun from a cruise on the Chao Phraya River. Various Cruise tours offer different cuisines for dinner options.

As the name suggests, The Emerald Buddha is a Buddha statue made out of pure emerald located. It sits in Wat Pra Kaew inside the premises of the Grand Palace. The people of Thailand associate prosperity and safety with it. It has been around the Siamese kingdom since 1434.

Ayutthaya was the old capital of the Siam Kingdom. The capital was destroyed by an invasion from the Burmese army. However, splendid temples still remain in the old capital. You can term them as a gateway to the medieval history of Thailand.

Book a day trip: Ayutthaya: 5 UNESCO Temples Small-Group Tour From Bangkok

All the things that make you go ‘holy moly’ about the full moon party is true. It really is! It is loud in bright neon colours and you can find people drinking till dawn. There are fire loops to jump through and, of coruse, there is a lot of dancing on the beach. The best ones are in Koh Phangan next to the island of Koh Samui in South Thailand.

Love to Party? Read more on Behind The Scenes Of The Full Moon Party In Thailand

‘Ahem’. You get that when you tell someone you went to Soi Cowboy. This is the Bangkok people talk about. And trust me the lights are literally red here. Even if you do plan to go home alone, I think this place is worth a visit.

In Bangkok? Check out 20 Best Bangkok Tourist Attractions for First Time Travelers

South-East Asia is popular for its floating markets. Where else can you buy noodles from a boat? If you want to look at an authentic one, head over to the Damnoen Saduak floating market. You can find another great one in Pattaya.

Book a trip to Damnoen Saduak: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market 6-Hour Tour

Night markets are the specialty of Bangkok. No one does them better. And there are quite a lot of them around the town. You can buy t-shirts, souvenirs, hats, socks, sunglasses, and some fantastic food delicacies. Some of the popular ones are Jodd Fairs, Talad Rot Fai, Patpong Night Market, and Srinagarindra Train Night Market.

If you don’t know already, some insects are a popular delicacy in Thailand. Although only a few locals eat them. If you are in the mood to experiment grab some crunchy and juicy black scorpions. There are cockroaches, grasshoppers, and a lot others too that I cannot name. Night markets are a great place to find them.

Muay Thai is a combat sport and cultural martial arts in Thailand. You can closely relate it with kickboxing with different sets of rules. It is the National sport of Thailand. You can watch it at one of many boxing stadiums across the country.

I think they are one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. Erawan waterfalls are a set of 7 waterfalls with azure water believed to have healing properties. They are located inside Erawan National Park, a 4-hour journey from Bangkok.

Considering the trip? Know everything you need to about Visiting Erawan Waterfalls

If you love the food in Thailand, consider taking a Thai Cooking Class. Not only they are informative, they are absolutely fun. It last a day to even a week. You make five different dishes every day and then, you get to eat them! Worth every penny spent!

Love Thai Food? Read more on my Tales of a Thai Cooking Class

There are hundreds of camps across Thailand that have popped up for tourists who want to enjoy the company of an Elephant. Most of them are unethical and are treated badly to train them to be friendly with tourists. If you want to see and spend time with one, try and find a sanctuary that keeps them in their natural habitat.

A rarely known fact is that Thailand has 127 National Park and each one is more beautiful than the next. Most of the national parks are tourist-friendly and have camping grounds. You can even rent camping gear at their gates and enjoy a happy day in the jungles.

You cannot go back without a Thai Massage. But I have heard people with stories of shitty experience. Do look up places recommended by others. Or try taking a foot massage first. Remember to say ‘bao bao si’ if you want it to be done more softly.

True Love Cafe is a unique restaurant in Bangkok. It is home to more than 20 huskies and a few more furry and loving dogs. You will definitely find true love here. You can spend time with these fur babies and take some unbelievably adorable photos.

Sukhothai was the empire that ruled most parts of present-day Thailand between the 13^th and 15^th centuries. It was the capital city of the empire before Ayutthaya in central Thailand. Most of the ruins of the ancient glory still stand preserved.

Chiang Dao is a small mountain range a little north of Chiang Mai. You can take a day trip to Chiang Dao and spend the night at one of the small village settlements that opens up to the view of Chiang Dao summit. The sky gets pitch black at night and is clear and perfect for stargazing.

The White Temple or Wat Rong Khun is a temple in Chiang Rai that can be defined as splendid in eccentricity. The temple is the work of a popular Thai painter and artist. It took several years to be at this stage and still more to go.

Visiting Chiang Rai? Here are 8 Places in Chiang Rai You Must Not Miss

A little ahead of Chiang Rai is the place where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos coincide. The place is called ‘The Golden Triangle’ and the borders are separated by a river body. You can look over the buildings and forests from across the border.

This is the place where bad boys come to the party. From Night clubs, strip clubs, ping pong show, pole dances, pubs, bars, and more, you can find everything that Pattaya is unpopular for on this walking street.

The tiger temple and caves on the outskirts of Krabi leads to an aerial view of the city and surrounding paddy fields, a golden Buddha statue, and layers of unique rock formations that are found only at Krabi.

Planning a trip to Krabi? Check out a 3-day itinerary in Krabi

You haven’t partied if you did not drink from a bucket. Found at most beach parties a bucket comes with alcohol and a mixer. You can choose or even mix and match. Pour it all in the bucket and get a straw for some convenience.

It is easy to come to Thailand, live here, and not know anything about the locals. But if you are here long, try taking a language class. Locals love it when you try to learn Thai and go out of their way to be friendly. It is also far easier to navigate.

The bizarre building with a giant dragon encircling it looks out of an oriental fairy tale book. And surprisingly, very few people know about the place. In fact, it is a bit of a task to reach it. But if you got some time in your hands consider taking the trip to Wat Samphran, the Dragon Temple.

Spoiler Alert! It probably is more dramatic than what you would have expected. It is definitely emotional with maybe a heart-breaks and an unbelievable (or totally believable) climax. But it is surprising how much it can tell you about the people and their culture.

Thailand is one of the best places to go snorkeling. It is also one of the cheapest. With shallow water across dozens of islands down south, snorkeling comes with almost every outdoor activity.

Mango and sticky rice is a desert in Thailand that I have never seen anywhere else. And it is so simple. It comes with a freshly cut mango with some glutinous or sticky rice in sugar syrup with coconut cream. Btw, it is mostly available during the summer season.

‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ is a dramatic war movie. It shows true events that took place in Thailand during WWII based on the same novel. The story revolves around a bridge at Kanchanaburi. It was laid down on the Kwai Bridge using forced labor in dismal conditions.

Book a trip to Kanchanaburi: From Bangkok: Kanchanaburi Highlights 1-Day Small-Group Tour

Songkran is the Thai New Year and also the biggest festival in Thailand, Laos, and a few other neighboring countries. It is celebrated by throwing water at each other accompanied by great food, street dancing, and more. If you can, do not miss this. Songkran is celebrated for 3 days in the 3^rd week of April.

It is easy to forget that there were ever any traditional clothes in Thailand. But you may find some in photographs or museums. There are a few places in the old cities where you may spot some people wearing them. Dress up in them if you get the chance, just for the memories.

I hate Durian, most people do. And some who love it are nuts about it. But it stinks like nothing you can imagine. It is the ‘King of fruit’ in Thailand. Either way, if you have the balls for it, try and taste a durian. Most hotels and all flights don’t permit you to bring in Durian because of its smell, so beware.

The best place in Thailand to take a scuba diving course in Koh Tao. It is a turtle-shaped island just off the coast of Koh Samu and Koh Phangan in South. The waters are best suitable for diving and there are a lot of schools with great diving instructors.

Book a Diving Course: Ko Tao: Open Water Scuba Diving 4-Day Course

Eh… Why would you want to take a dip in a hot spring in such a hot country? Well, the locals believe that they have therapeutic properties and I have heard that it is good for the skin. From Pai to Krabi you can find hot springs all over the country.

Krabi has some of the loveliest islands off its coast. A four or even a seven-island day tour is a great way to cover a lot in a short period of time. My favourite was the chicken island, because of this piece of rock shaped like a chicken.

The phallus is a symbol of fertility that comes from the Hindu god Shiva. It is not uncommon to see a phallic shrine in Asia. You may find souvenirs, murals, key chains, or even charms displayed on top of the door to ward off evil spirits as you enter.

Chatuchak is the single largest market in Thailand. You can find almost everything under the roof here. From clothes, knock offs, sneakers, bags, home décor, utensils, candles, fragrance to even pets. The full market is open only during the weekends.

The dreamy picture of hundreds of lanterns in the sky draws thousands of people to Chiang Mai every year in November. You can participate to float a sky lantern in the sky that is supposed to bring good luck for the next year.

Ping Pong show is an iconic show performed in the AGoGo Bars in Bangkok and Pattaya. The show showcases a set of women who perform acrobatics using their private parts. Now it is one of a kind, quite weird in its own way, but you cannot count it as sexy.

The train market is a market that literally runs on a live railway track. The vendors shuffle their stuff and get them out of the way as soon as the train arrive. This happens twice a day. And then they go back to the routine once it passes.

Now there are many locals beer in Thailand. The popular ones are Chang (means Elephant), Singha (means Lion), and Leo. But the most popular one is Chang and I support it with all of my heart. Make sure you try it once. I don’t know what is with the animal name thing though.

This is another one of the places that very few people know about. But I think it is one of the most elaborate and lavish parks ever made. It was established by a Thai millionaire who wanted to make a small version of Thailand. He built miniatures of the best architecture of the ancient Siam Empire to preserve its culture.

Cabarets are a thing in Thailand. The most unique feature is that most of them are performed by an all-ladyboy crew. The stories can range from tales from China, Korean dances, American sequences to a lot more. I would say the best one is Alcazar in Pattaya but Calypso in Bangkok and some in Phuket are also worth going to.

Sure there are great malls in Bangkok. In fact, the best one is the Siam Paragon. But I will prefer Asiatique more since it is open-air and its location at the riverfront. Also there are both luxury and the street section in it, so you can have the best of both worlds. Plus you can catch a show of Calypso Cabaret of Muay Thai while you are here.

Culture in different parts of Thailand also tends to vary with the region along with food and dialect. When in Chiang Mai, don’t miss to catch the Traditional dance in the area. The music and the pace are much slower than that down south. You can find open-air dance performances across the town in most night markets.

The people from Hmong Village Tribe fled from Laos and China to set up their villages in the high lands near Chiang Mai. The most accessible by tourists is one at Doi Pui inside Doi Suthep National Park. You can take a tour with a friendly local and take some pictures with them.

Planning a trip to Chiang Mai? Read on The Absolute Best Things To Do In Chiang Mai

The Erawan Museum is another landmark by the Thai billionaire who also built Ancient City. The museum along with artifacts from his personal collection makes up the museum. It is also one of the most picturesque and Instagramable places in Bangkok.

Here is more! How to Visit Erawan Museum, Bangkok

Doi Inthanon lies inside the Doi Inthanon National Park near Chiang Mai. It gets seriously cold at night. The National park has beautiful waterfalls and has an option to camp for the night at the camping grounds.

Want to visit Doi Inthanon? Know How To Visit Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai

A Royal Agricultural Station was set up by the Late King Bhumibol to help the local tribes to earn an ethical living. The agricultural station where products like mushrooms, orchards, vanilla, and caviar from the sturgeon fish are produced.

The museum is home to the Royal barges that take part in the Royal procession on the Chao Phraya River. It was earlier a dock for warships under the Royal Household of Thailand.

Loi Krathong is another popular festival celebrated across Thailand that can be literally translated to ‘to float a basket’. It comes from the tradition of a floating decorated basket called Krathong into the water. The basket is made of banana leaves and flowers with a candle in the middle.

The beaches of Koh Phi Phi light up at night and there is usually a fire show performed outdoors at one of the clubs at the beach. It sure is a performance to see. In fact, you can also find this at a few other beaches like Koh Samui and Koh Samet.

How about some beach time? Here are Top Things to do on Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

Maya Bay got crazy famous from the movie ‘The Beach’ featuring Leonardo Di Caprio. Off the shore of Koh Phi Phi the bay is as lovely as it gets. However, overtourism has lead to considerable degradation of the ecology. The bay is currently closed to tourists but may open in the future.

The iconic tuk-tuk ride is loud, fun, and a must-have in Thailand. But make sure the divers don’t take you for THE unpleasant ride and negotiate the prices beforehand.

The Sanctuary of Truth is the third structure established by the Thai millionaire who built the ancient city and the Erawan Museum. It is insanely intricate and made completely out of wood, a wonder of architecture.

In Pattaya? What Else To Do In Pattaya That No One Tells You About

If you up for some adventure, check out the Jungle flight zip line that is the longest single 1000 meters long ride. It gives you a fantastic aerial view of the jungles and nearby mountains. With steep drops and 360 degree turns, it is also a roller coaster.

For someone who is curious about a monk’s life, here is a chance to be able to talk to a monk. There are a few temples in Thailand where you can request to chat with a monk. These have fixed timings though. It is an experience of a lifetime. Make sure you are respectable and dressed properly.

A Sak Yant is a sacred tattoo made by a monk with a needle that offers some kind of spiritual protection to you. You need to buy your offering but the monk decides the design. Gather some knowledge about some unethical practices that surround this like using snake venom in ink etc.

Get a Tattoo: From Bangkok: Holy Tattoo Experience at Wat Bang Phra

Thai tea is different from other types of tea in South-east Asia. The tea has a bright orange color and a particular taste I found native to Thailand. Plus it comes with ice. Take care if you are not used to drinking iced drinks where ice is more than the drink in quantity.

Thai people love their cats and thus also have a lot of cat café. You can visit Caturday cat café in Bangkok, Catmosphere cat café in Chiang Mai, Neko cat café in Phuket amongst many others.

China Town in Bangkok is a bustling street with red lanterns, big warehouses with Chinese ingredients, numerous tea houses, and a row of delicious street vendors. The best place in China Town to visit is Yaowarat Road.

If heights don’t scare you, take a trip to the top of the tallest building of Thailand. Their special feature is a glass floor balcony that lets you a view of the city skyline. However the view down from the glass bottom has made people shit in their pants in the past.

It is a museum and is also considered a temple by some. Maybe, a dark temple of evil practices. Baan Dam was made by an artist from Chiang Rai. There lie sinister-looking sculptures and furniture made out of dark wood, bones, skulls, and skins of all kinds of dead animals that you can imagine.

A little north of Chiang Mai is the sticky waterfall. Sticky because the mineral deposit from the water enables a human being to climb up the waterfall upstream on foot. The minerals create a suction effect and are not slippery at all in the flowing water.

The Bamboo Bridge in Pai is an 800-meter bridge in length built out of woven bamboo over the paddy fields. The locals made the bridge to help the monk cut their journeys short. Earlier they had to walk 6km to reach the village to collect their morning alms.

Curious About Pai? Here is A Thorough Handbook To Visiting Pai, Thailand

The floating temples of Lampang or Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat are a set of white chedis built on top of a mountain range. At first it is unbelievable regarding how did someone execute it. And then it is unbelievable how few people know about it.

The long-necked tribes of Karen near Chiang Mai pop up repeatedly while looking to travel up north. The women in the tribe use ornamentals around their neck to help it elongate it. It is a symbol of beauty to them. You can join one of the many group tours to visit the Karen tribe village.

Krabi has startling rock formations of limestone all across the city and on its shore. It presents a fantastic opportunity to rock climbers. Krabi has become one of the best spots for rock climbing with good agencies and schools providing infrastructure and gear for the activity.

Similan Islands is a national park and an archipelago of 11 islands on the Andaman Sea on the west coast of Thailand. The islands only entertain a limited number of tourists per day and is mostly popular among the local crowd.

Sam Phan Bok is called the Grand Canyon of Thailand, although you really cannot compare the two structures. It is the biggest rock reef around the Mekong delta. The shallow ponds in the cracks of the rocks make them an interesting subject to visit.

Som Tam is one of the most commonly available and largely loved dish in Thailand. It is a salad made out of grated raw green papaya, mixed with carrot and tomatoes. For seasoning they add dried shrimp, peanuts, chili flakes, and fish sauce. It is available in almost every local restaurant.

A little north of Chiang Mai, you will stumble upon a garden like no other. Curated by a local artist, the garden showcases the erotic side of human nature using phallic symbols, human anatomy and more. You can explore the fountains, the sculptures and have tea in the garden canopy.

If you haven’t already been to one, take a walk through the glass tunnel in Ocean World in Bangkok. It is an underwater structure that spreads over 10,000 square meters. The aquarium showcasing a wide variety of marine life around the water bodies of Thailand.

Book a Ticket: SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World Admission Ticket

Surprisingly, Bangkok is also called the ‘Venice of the East’. It was because of the dense network of canals that run around the city. Although today much popular means of transport have taken over, you can easily travel an entire day of the boat through the canals of Bangkok.

Jim Thomson was an American businessman and an architect who settled in Thailand. He introduced the rearing of silk products at a large scale. He also built a lovely house in Bangkok that he designed himself. After his mysterious disappearance, his house was converted into a museum. Today tourists can visit and see his collection of artefacts.

Read more about Jim Thompson’s House Museum here

Yadong is a street liquor in Thailand that is infused with local herbs. It was once used as a tonic for good health and is believed to be good for the libido. It is served with salt, chilli and sugar dip on one side and raw unripe mangoes on the other, much like a tequila.

Tom Yum is another delicacy native to Thailand that consists of local herbs, vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and a LOT of chilies. Prepare yourself for a runny nose.

The Phi Ta Khon Festival is celebrated in the Loei province of the Isan region of Thailand. A procession takes place on the first day of the festival. People dressed up in colorful costumes, masks and makeup as a ghost. These ghosts are ascribed to religious scriptures of Buddhism.

Curious about Festivities? Here are 20 Festivals In Thailand From Astonishing To Bizarre

Yes, Thailand is not known for its wine. In fact, there is hardly a wine culture in the country. But a few wineries around the country have popped up recently. Most of the reviews have been good so far. Visit a Tuscan-style vineyard near Hua Hin for a relaxing day.

Koh Samet, apart from being an island, is also a national park. On top of that, the island is associated with folklore that talks about mythical creatures like mermaids and ogres. The interesting this is that you can also spot some lovely sculptures from the folklore across the island.

Looking for empty beaches? Explore The Best Things To Do Koh Samet, Thailand

Exasperated by people throwing away beer bottles as trash, the monks in a town in Ubon Ratchathani decided to pick them up and make a temple completely out 1.5 million beer bottles. It is a sight to see but a task to reach.

Contrary to its name, the Red Lotus Lake is actually a lake filled with Pink water lilies in the Udon Thani province of Thailand. You can catch them early morning every day during the winter months.

The Airplane Graveyard is, in fact, a scrapyard. The landowner used to buy old airplanes and sell off the usable parts. Some locals have made these their homes, so make sure you don’t barge in their private space.

Bo Sang is a small village 10 km east of Chiang Mai city. The civilians of the town are experts at making paper umbrellas with bamboo structure and oriental prints to supplement their post-harvest income.

The Museum of Human Body in Bangkok is not for the faint-hearted. It consists of samples and prototypes of some really serious human parts like the brain, fetuses, and carcasses.

Do not forget to treat yourself with the delectable curries of Thailand. The red, green, and yellow curries are made with chilies of complementary colors, roasted spices, and coconut milk.

Bamboo rafting is a popular activity along many routes in Thailand. The best places to do it is in north of Chiang Mai, around the dense tropical jungles. Other activities like jungle trekking, zip-lining, and even white water rafting are also popular here.

Book an Experience: Khao Sok: Full-Day Bamboo Rafting and Elephant Bathing

The Boon Bang Fai festival in Isan region of Thailand is a bit peculiar Lao festival that includes music, dance, and performance the first day somewhere in May. On the second day, a competition is held to see whose ‘home-made’ rocket goes the farthest. Note that causalities are not unheard of.

A month of fasting is held around the month of October, the end of which is commemorated with festivities. The celebrations see people do grotesque acts like piercing their cheeks, tongues, and body parts with sharp knives and skewers. Maybe leave your kids at home.

A century egg is a Chinese delicacy where a chicken, duck, or quail egg is preserved for weeks or months in clay, ashes, and quicklime. It turns in various shades of brown depending upon the time and eventually black. If you skip it; I will say you did not miss much.

You will never see a Blue Buddhist temple! Never! It was designed by the protégée of the creator of the white temple. Recently finished, the temple is an artistic statement in itself.

Ewwww! I just put it here so that you know. If you want to spot a monitor lizard on an evening walk in Bangkok, go to Lumphini Park. Just lazing around, going about eating other animals. They rarely harm humans unless you harm them.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park lies just south of Hua Hin and is famous for Phraya Nakhon Cave with its iconic royal pavilion and chamber. It also has a huge freshwater marsh that makes it one of the largest wetlands in Thailand.

Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is one of the many temples in the Historical park complex in the Isan region of Thailand made during the Khmer time. The temple imitates the traditional architectural style of Khmer with a temple like Angkor Wat and was dedicated to Hindu gods.

Thi Lor Su is the largest waterfall in Thailand, also considered to be the most beautiful. It is located in Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is difficult to reach the waterfalls by yourself and can now only be done by tourist agencies.

The tale says that the head monk at Wat Pariwat was a devoted fan of Manchester United and consequently David Beckham back when he was still playing. After a request and approval from his senior monk he commissioned to change the head of winged Garuda at the base of the shrine. Pretty neat! Go ahead and hunt.

Ratchaprapha Dam is a multipurpose Dam in Surat Thani used for irrigation, electricity production, and flood control. The Dam with Khao Sok Natural Park has astounding limestone rock formation. Rich flora and fauna it creates a background similar to Guilin in China.