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Koh Samui

Things to do in Thailand
Koh Samui
Home to palm-fringed beaches, ornate temples, dense jungle and a host of delicious food, Thailand is rich in things to see and do. Navigate through Bangkok’s organized chaos and observe how life slows in the city’s temples, or head north to Chiang Mai and experience a typical day in the life of a Thai family.

Escaping the cities allows you to adopt a slower pace of life. Float down the River Kwai on a colonial-style cruise boat or take a trip from Koh Samui to Koh Wao in search of sheer limestone cliffs, hidden caves and untouched beaches.
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Ideas for experiencing Thailand

Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know Thailand, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.

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  • Wat Pho & The Grand Palace
    Bangkok, Thailand

    Wat Pho & The Grand Palace

    Bangkok

    Wat Pho & The Grand Palace

    An early start will get you to Wat Pho in time to experience the monks' early morning chanting ritual and avoid the crowds who arrive later.

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  • Experience the Songkran Festival
    Songkran ceremony for the Thai New Year

    Experience the Songkran Festival

    Bangkok

    Experience the Songkran Festival

    The Songkran Festival celebrates the New Year. They are colorful and lively celebrations, with music, traditional dance and, of course, water, which symbolically cleanses the body from the sins of the previous year.

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  • The Silk Route of Jim Thompson
    Teak and porcelain can be seen throughout Jim Thompson's House in Bangkok

    The Silk Route of Jim Thompson

    Bangkok

    The Silk Route of Jim Thompson

    Jim Thompson's house is a real highlight of any trip to Bangkok. The house itself is beautifully decorated and preserved and provides a fascinating insight into the life of this mysterious man, who set up a huge empire trading in Thai silk before disappearing whilst walking in the Malaysian highlands in 1967.

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  • Thai home life & cooking experience Responsible Choice
    Mr Prapat explaining the herbs in his garden

    Thai home life & cooking experience

    Chiang Mai

    Thai home life & cooking experience

    Learn how to cook like a local at a Thai home near Chiang Mai. You’ll spend the day with your host family, listening to their stories and plucking fresh produce from the garden, before turning it into a feast under their careful guidance.

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  • Witness chanting at Wat Pho
    That Phanom Festival; Wat Phra That Phanom

    Witness chanting at Wat Pho

    Bangkok

    Witness chanting at Wat Pho

    An early start will get you to Wat Pho in time to experience the monks' early morning chanting ritual. Later you will visit the temple grounds and the famous 45-meter Reclining Buddha, and The Grand Palace, Thailand's most important landmark.

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  • Experience the secret garden of Bang Kra Jao by bicycle
    Getting off-the-beaten track in Bangkok is worlds away from the busy city

    Experience the secret garden of Bang Kra Jao by bicycle

    Bangkok

    Experience the secret garden of Bang Kra Jao by bicycle

    Just across the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok lies the city's secret garden — Bang Kra Jao. Only accessible by boat, you must cross the river on a small ferry to reach this beautiful area full of small villages, temples and tropical flora.

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  • See elephants at the Elephant Nature Park
    Day trip to the Elephant Nature Foundation, Chiang Mai

    See elephants at the Elephant Nature Park

    Chiang Mai

    See elephants at the Elephant Nature Park

    The Elephant Nature Park is a non-profit organization that advocates and acts on behalf of rights for elephants in Thailand. The park offers visitors a rare experience to get involved with the elephants from an educational perspective.

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  • Explore the sea caves & limestone islets
    Kayaks at Phang Nga Bay

    Explore the sea caves & limestone islets

    Phuket

    Explore the sea caves & limestone islets

    Uncover the pristine beauty of Phuket by day and night as you explore the limestone cliffs and turquoise waters of Phang Nga Bay.

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  • Try a boat tour of Ang Thong National Marine Park
    Angthong National Marine Park, Gulf of Thailand

    Try a boat tour of Ang Thong National Marine Park

    Koh Samui

    Try a boat tour of Ang Thong National Marine Park

    Departing Koh Samui you head to Dragon Island, where you can explore the bizarre rock formations, sheer limestone cliffs, magic caves, hidden grottoes and untouched beaches.

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  • Explore the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai
    View of the bridge over the River Kwai

    Explore the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai

    Kanchanaburi & The River Kwai

    Explore the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai

    Visit the JEATH War Museum, which houses a replica of the bamboo huts used to accommodate allied prisoners of war (POWs) during the occupation. You also visit the nearby war cemetery before you reach the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai.

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  • Cruise the River Kwai on a Colonial style cruise boat
    RV River Kwai, Bangkok

    Cruise the River Kwai on a Colonial style cruise boat

    Kanchanaburi & The River Kwai

    Cruise the River Kwai on a Colonial style cruise boat

    The RV River Kwai combines the grandest luxuries of the colonial era with ten wood-lined, deluxe air-conditioned cabins, with a window looking out over the river.

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  • Learn about the 19th Century opium trade in the Golden Triangle
    Golden Triangle, Thailand

    Learn about the 19th Century opium trade in the Golden Triangle

    The Golden Triangle

    Learn about the 19th Century opium trade in the Golden Triangle

    The Opium Museum, situated in the heart of the Golden Triangle and opposite the entrance to the Anantara Resort, provides an excellent insight into the opium trade so prevalent in this area over the past century.

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  • Chiang Mai city safari
    Young monks travelling by songthaew, Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai city safari

    Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai city safari

    This one day tour will take you to Chiang Mai's most popular sites but will also give you a true flavor of daily life in the city. See the old trader community of Wat Gatekaram, markets, temples and a vast array of unique 'street life'. Explore ancient ruined temples by bicycle, before boarding a long-tail boat on the Mae Ping River. End the day with a tuk-tuk ride to Warorot Market to join the bustle of locals as they buy their fresh food and spices.

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  • Visit the markets around Amphawa
    Amphawa Floating Market, Thailand

    Visit the markets around Amphawa

    Amphawa

    Visit the markets around Amphawa

    Visit a market which has grown along the railway tracks and witness the dexterity and speed of the vendors as they quickly pack their stalls away whenever the trains approach. Then onto Tha Kha, where you can observe an authentic Thai floating market. Finish your day with a paddleboat journey through the maze of klongs (canals), cruising past plantations and Buddhist temples.

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  • Explore Khao Sok National Park
    Kayaking in Khao Sok National Park

    Explore Khao Sok National Park

    Khao Sok National Park

    Explore Khao Sok National Park

    On arrival at the camp, the morning's activities take you on an exploration of the tropical rainforest of Khao Sok National Park. You explore the rivers that cut through the mangrove forest in a small motorized dinghy.

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  • Street food walking tour of old Bangkok
    Bangkok, Thailand

    Street food walking tour of old Bangkok

    Bangkok

    Street food walking tour of old Bangkok

    You and your guide will walk through the narrow streets to experience many local sights with various food tastings along the way. Try things like ‘kafae boran’, a classic Thai coffee, or the popular Thai dessert, 'Khanom Thua Paep' (mung bean rice crepe).

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  • Lahu Village experience
    Lahu dancing and traditional musical instruments

    Lahu Village experience

    Fang

    Lahu Village experience

    You will visit the tea plantations and learn how the villagers make a living by picking and processing tea and coffee, take in the scenic views on the way to a Lahu village and enjoy a local dancing ceremony with the hill-tribes. End the day with a dinner and an overnight stay at Phumanee.

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  • Explore the Khmer temples of Khao Yai National Park
    Entering through the east gate of Phanom Rung

    Explore the Khmer temples of Khao Yai National Park

    Khao Yai National Park

    Explore the Khmer temples of Khao Yai National Park

    Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is the most beautiful sandstone sanctuary in Thailand, where you can learn about the fascinating Khmer heritage of the region.

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  • Private cruise & lunch on Phang Nga Bay
    James Bond Island, Phang Nha Bay

    Private cruise & lunch on Phang Nga Bay

    Phuket

    Private cruise & lunch on Phang Nga Bay

    Together with your own private captain, you can explore Phang Nga Bay’s striking karst scenery and mangrove forests aboard a traditional long-tail boat. You’ll also get to unwind on white-sand beaches and enjoy a seafood lunch on a private island.

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  • Sizzling food tour of Bangkok by tuk-tuk
    Tuk-tuk tour in Bangkok

    Sizzling food tour of Bangkok by tuk-tuk

    Bangkok

    Sizzling food tour of Bangkok by tuk-tuk

    Sweet, sour, salty, and spicy — Thailand’s cuisine is known for its expert balance of all four flavors, and one of the best ways to taste them is on a privately guided tuk-tuk tour of Bangkok.

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  • Bangkok city safari
    Grand Palace in Bangkok

    Bangkok city safari

    Bangkok

    Bangkok city safari

    Traveling by tuk-tuk, Skytrain, or water taxi, you’ll see Bangkok through local eyes. Along the way, you’ll take in the city’s landmark sites and experiences, from golden Buddha statues and royal palaces to chanting monks and lively markets.

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  • Adventure day in rural Kanchanaburi
    River Kwai, Kanchanaburi

    Adventure day in rural Kanchanaburi

    Kanchanaburi & The River Kwai

    Adventure day in rural Kanchanaburi

    Surrounded by forested peaks, you’ll cycle through Kanchanaburi’s countryside, before drifting along the River Kwai in a kayak or on a bamboo raft. Along the way, your private guide will give you insights into the local culture.

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  • Eco-friendly canal cruise through Bangkok’s historic khlongs
    Historic Bangkok khlong (canal)

    Eco-friendly canal cruise through Bangkok’s historic khlongs

    Bangkok

    Eco-friendly canal cruise through Bangkok’s historic khlongs

    After exploring the quiet bakery-lined streets of Bangkok’s Portuguese quarter, you’ll step aboard a solar-powered longtail boat to experience life along the historic Thonburi canals. Wooden shophouses on stilts, gilded temples, and a towering golden statue all line your route.

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  • Farm-to-table dining experience in Phuket
    Jampa Resturant

    Farm-to-table dining experience in Phuket

    Phuket

    Farm-to-table dining experience in Phuket

    Pick fresh ingredients as you tour an organic farm in Phuket before enjoying them in a sustainable seven-course meal at Jampa Restaurant. As part of the experience, you’ll learn about Jampa’s dedication to farm-to-table cuisine and its zero-waste philosophy.

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  • Elephant experience at ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary
    Asian elephant, Thailand

    Elephant experience at ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary

    Chiang Mai

    Elephant experience at ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary

    Enjoy an ethical elephant experience at ChangChill sanctuary, where you’ll spend the day with former working elephants. Learn their individual stories as you watch them forage in the forest, play in the mud pit, and chow down on food you’ve prepared for them.

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  • Coffee farm & traditional village visit in rural Chiang Rai
    Views around Doi Chang

    Coffee farm & traditional village visit in rural Chiang Rai

    Chiang Rai

    Coffee farm & traditional village visit in rural Chiang Rai

    In this hands-on experience, you’ll learn all about the processes behind Thai coffee cultivation at a family-run farm. After, you’ll take a guided tour around a remote village and meet the traditional mountain communities who live there.

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  • Lisu cultural experience in Chiang Mai province
    Grounds of Lisu Lodge

    Lisu cultural experience in Chiang Mai province

    Chiang Mai

    Lisu cultural experience in Chiang Mai province

    Get to know the culture of the Lisu people in a day of activities hosted by the community-run Lisu Lodge. Enjoy a bike ride through the rice terraces, raft beside emerald forests, try tea harvesting, and learn about traditional customs at a local village.

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