Thailand is one of the world's great travel destinations and it knows it. The temples of Bangkok, the full moon parties of Koh Phangan, the beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui: these are iconic for good reason and they absolutely deserve their reputation. But Thailand holidays have a lot more depth than the headlines suggest. For those returning for a second or third visit who want something beyond the well-worn trail or first timers who'd rather find the places locals actually talk about, there's a whole other Thailand waiting to be discovered. Here's where to find it.
1. Pai — Mae Hong Son Province
How to get there: 3-hour minibus from Chiang Mai or via the scenic Mae Hong Son Loop by motorbike
Tucked into a mountain valley in the far northwest near the Myanmar border, Pai has the relaxed, slightly hippyish energy of a place that hasn't been entirely overrun yet, though it's growing in popularity. The town itself is small and walkable, with excellent coffee shops, live music venues and a vibrant night market. The surrounding landscape is the real draw: hot springs, waterfalls, canyon viewpoints and rice fields that glow green during the rainy season. It's also one of the best overnight stops on a North Thailand itinerary if you're heading toward Mae Hong Son.
2. Koh Lanta — Krabi Province
How to get there: Ferry from Krabi Town or Koh Phi Phi or by road via two vehicle ferries from Krabi
Koh Lanta is one of the hidden gems of Thailand in plain sight. A large, beautiful island off the Krabi coast that sits in the shadow of Phi Phi and Koh Samui but deserves equal attention. The western coast has a string of long, uncrowded beaches (Klong Dao, Long Beach and Klong Nin are all excellent), the diving off the southern tip is superb, and the Old Town on the eastern coast is genuinely charming. It's also the best base for a trip to Krabi and the surrounding archipelago without the crowds of the more famous islands.
3. Sukhothai Historical Park — Sukhothai Province
How to get there: Fly to Phitsanulok (1 hour from Bangkok) then 1-hour bus or taxi to Sukhothai
While Ayutthaya gets all the attention as Thailand's ancient capital, Sukhothai is arguably more atmospheric and far less visited. The historical park covers the ruins of the 13th-century city: crumbling chedis, seated Buddha statues rising from lotus ponds and temple complexes swallowed by centuries of jungle. The best way to explore it is by bicycle, hired for next to nothing at the park entrance. At sunrise or sunset, with mist still sitting over the ponds, it's one of the most beautiful historical sites in Southeast Asia.
4. Koh Kood — Trat Province
How to get there: Fly to Trat (1 hour from Bangkok) then ferry from Laem Sok Pier (2.5 hours)
If your image of a perfect Thai island involves white sand, turquoise water, swaying palms and almost no one else around, Koh Kood is what you're looking for. It's one of Thailand's largest islands but one of its least developed. What there is: Khlong Chao Waterfall (a 45-minute walk from the main village, completely free), Ban Khlong Mat fishing village and some of the clearest water anywhere in the Gulf of Thailand. This is one of Thailand’s hidden gems that genuinely still earns that description.
5. Chiang Rai — Northern Thailand
How to get there: 3-hour bus from Chiang Mai or direct flights from Bangkok (1.5 hours)
Most visitors to northern Thailand stop at Chiang Mai and go no further. Those who push on to Chiang Rai are rewarded with one of the most distinctive cultural landscapes in the country. The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), designed by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat is unlike any temple in Thailand, a dazzling all-white structure covered in mirrored glass that glitters in the sun. Nearby, the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) and the Black House (Baan Dam Museum) round out a genuinely bizarre and brilliant day of sightseeing. The Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Mekong is a 45-minute drive further north.
6. Khao Sok National Park — Surat Thani Province
How to get there: 2-hour bus from Surat Thani or Phuket
Khao Sok is one of the hidden gems in Thailand that stops people in their tracks. This vast rainforest, older than the Amazon and home to elephants, gibbons, hornbills, and the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia, surrounds Cheow Lan Lake, a spectacular reservoir dotted with jungle-clad limestone karsts. Overnight stays in floating raft houses on the lake, guided jungle treks and dawn kayaking through the still water among towering cliffs are the main draws. It's completely unlike the beach and temple Thailand most visitors experience and all the better for it.
7. Trang — Southern Thailand
How to get there: Overnight train from Bangkok (around 13 hours) or fly to Trang Airport (1.5 hours)
Trang is a small, proud southern city that most travellers pass straight through on their way to the more famous islands, which is entirely their loss. The city's morning dim sum culture (a legacy of its Chinese immigrant community) makes breakfast a serious event, the weekly night market is excellent and the offshore islands of the Trang Archipelago, Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, Koh Libong are some of the most beautiful and uncrowded in the whole Andaman region. Koh Mook's Emerald Cave, accessed by swimming through a dark sea tunnel to emerge in a hidden lagoon, is one of the most dramatic natural features in Thailand.
8. Nong Khai — Isan Region
How to get there: Overnight train from Bangkok (11 hours) or fly to Udon Thani (1 hour) then 1-hour bus
Sitting on the banks of the Mekong opposite Vientiane in Laos, Nong Khai is the most atmospheric of the northeastern border towns and is a must-add to your list if you’re wondering what to do in Thailand. The riverside promenade is beautiful at sunset, the food scene draws heavily on Lao and Vietnamese influences (try the fresh spring rolls and the Mekong fish dishes), and the Sala Kaew Ku sculpture park, a surreal open-air collection of enormous Buddhist and Hindu statues built by a mystic monk is one of the strangest and most memorable sights in the country.
9. Koh Tao — Gulf of Thailand
How to get there: Ferry from Koh Samui (1.5 hours) or from Chumphon on the mainland (2 hours)
Koh Tao is best known as one of the world's premier destinations for learning to dive but the hidden gem angle here is just how much it offers beyond the dive schools. The island is small enough to explore on a single scooter ride, with boulder-strewn jungle interiors, viewpoints over the surrounding island chain and snorkelling bays like Shark Bay and Aow Leuk that rival anything in the region. The diving in Thailand doesn't get much more accessible or beginner-friendly than here and the island's size means it stays manageable even in peak season.
10. Bang Krachao — Bangkok
How to get there: Take the BTS to Bang Na, then a motorbike taxi to the pier, then a ferry across the Chao Phraya River
The most surprising entry on any list of hidden gems in Thailand is this one: a vast green peninsula looped by the Chao Phraya River, sitting directly across the water from Bangkok's industrial south and completely unlike anything in the surrounding city. Known as Bangkok's Green Lung, Bang Krachao is a tangle of cycling paths, fruit orchards, mangrove forests and stilted villages where life moves at an entirely different pace. The Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden is worth the visit alone. From the pier, the whole area is a 30-minute ferry ride from the urban chaos of a holiday to Bangkok and it feels like another world.
Ready to go off the beaten track?
Thailand's best-known attractions are worth every bit of their fame but the country rewards those who look a little further. Away Holidays can help you build a Thailand itinerary that balances the iconic with the unexpected, wherever your interests lie. Get in touch with our team today and let's start planning your trip.
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