After a decade of traveling abroad, it is time to explore Thailand, the country where I was born and raised. With my trusty little camera, I went all over the country, snapping photos and capturing some truly beautiful moments and I am here to share some of my favorites with you.
Without further ado, let's begin with the first photo on the list and, by far, one of my favorite photos I took of Thailand: the Journey into Khao Sok Lake. I called this photo "Long-Tail Thailand".
- Long-Tail Thailand
- The Empty Grand Palace
- The New Normal
- The Buddha Head of Ayuthaya
- The Yi Peng Celebration
- At the Roof of Thailand
- The Misty Siriphum Waterfall
- Our Love Letter to the Elephants
- Pay it Forward
- Mae Hong Son Twilight
- Baan Rak Thai
- Nan's History Illustrated
- Stargazing in Thailand
- The Dreamy Phu Langka
- Phu Chi Fah
- In the Middle of the Tobacco Field
- The White Temple
- The Stunning Erawan Falls
- The Morning Alms Giving Ceremony
- The Grand Buddha of Ang Thong
- The Temple in the Sky
- The Buddha Statue of Sukhothai
- Thailand's Amazing Marine Life
- Thailand's Sea
- Further Reading for Thailand
1. Long-Tail Thailand
I love Khao Sok Lake. It is probably one of my most favorite places to visit in Thailand, and I highly recommend you travel there if you are in Thailand. There is something about being disconnected from the outside world and being around true nature for a day or two that is just so addicting.
I think this photo captured the essence of Khao Sok National Park very well, with the simplicity that comes with traveling on a longtail boat, the calmness of the water, and the mysterious-looking forest and mountain on the horizon. If I have to pick one photo to represent Thailand, I would pick this one.
2. The Empty Grand Palace
Never in a million years would I ever think I would see an empty Grand Palace, and that is exactly what I saw at the Grand Palace after the 2-month lockdown. The last time I was here, it was so crowded that it was hard to actually enjoy the place.
Now, I can actually enjoy the beautiful architecture of the Grand Palace at my own leisure and capture this photo, which would have been unthinkable a year ago. I can finally see the colors of the temple grounds' tiles, which is something I didn't notice until now.
3. The New Normal
This photo was taken right after the 2-month lockdown period in May at Bangkok's Chinatown. I thought it would be empty like the other tourist attractions in Bangkok that I visited after the lockdown, but to my surprise, people were out and about like nothing happened.
They were all masked up, thank God, but social distancing was nowhere to be seen, and it was as if nothing had ever happened here. I guess you can't take away our desire to eat street food 😂.
4. The Buddha Head of Ayuthaya
Ayuthaya is one of the most beautiful ancient capital cities in Thailand, and you can find many stunning and well-preserved ruins here. One of the most unique sites you can see here is the ancient Buddha head that is embedded in an overgrown Banyan Tree. This iconic shot is a must-take for everyone visiting Ayutthaya, and it is as beautiful as people say.
5. The Yi Peng Celebration
One of the best times to visit Chiang Mai is during the Yi Peng Festival, which happens around the 1st of November every year. I attended the event in 2020 after COVID-19, and with the festival scaled down to accommodate the lack of international tourists, the festival went back to its tradition and displayed the ancient Lanna culture in an extravagant way.
This is an example of the beauty of the people in Chiang Mai and the traditional attire of the Lanna culture that influenced this region of Thailand in the past.
6. At the Roof of Thailand
Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand, and one of the best things you can do there is to hike the balcony trail of Kew Mae Pan, which will take you along the ridge of Doi Inthanon, allowing you to see an expansive view of the landscape around the mountain.
This photo was taken in the early morning at a viewpoint on the Kew Mae Pan Trail. The sea of fog is often witnessed during the wintertime in Thailand, and there is no better place to experience the phenomenon than at the roof of Thailand.
7. The Misty Siriphum Waterfall
Doi Inthanon is home to many beautiful waterfalls, and one of the most stunning among them is the Siriphum Waterfall, which towers over the Doi Inthanon Village. You can actually see this mighty waterfall from the road.
I took this photo when I was sipping coffee at the Inn Lhaikhow Cafe, which is located right off the road, not too far from Dong Son Campground where I camped the night before.
8. Our Love Letter to the Elephants
One of the things you should definitely do when you are in Thailand is to interact with elephants. They are intelligent, cute, and often playful, and they love playing with visitors. That said, there are many places in Thailand that mistreat the elephants for the enjoyment of tourists, so be very picky about which nature park you visit.
Thankfully, I found one that is not just ethical; they also educate you about the mistreatment elephants receive when they are forced to do things. At Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, you are only allowed to observe and feed them.
They roam in this large area with mountains and a stream running through, and they can do whatever they want. If you are looking to visit an elephant sanctuary, make it this one.
9. Pay it Forward
When I was in Chiang Mai, I found this Karen guy who came all the way from the mountain to sell coffee every week at Jing Jai Farmer's Market in Chiang Mai.
What makes him so unique is that he uses the concept of pay-it-forward, where he will make your coffee and you can pay whatever you want. It is one of the coolest ideas, and he has become quite a popular face at the Jing Jai Market.
If you are around in Chiang Mai at Jing Jai Market, be sure to pay him a visit and try his locally-made drip coffee. He often sits on the ground with his makeshift bamboo yoke, and you will often find him surrounded by many people.
10. Mae Hong Son Twilight
Mae Hong Son City is located right at the heart of the Mae Hong Son province, and it is home to some really beautiful temples and cultures. It is also one of the stops on the grand Mae Hong Son Loop, which is one of the best road trips you can do in Thailand.
This is a photo I took when I was sitting at the night market in Mae Hong Son City, watching the sunset behind Wat Chong Klang as it lit up during twilight. It was quite a sight to behold.
11. Baan Rak Thai
Yup, this is Thailand, not China. This photo was taken at Baan Rak Thai, a remote Thai town in Mae Hong Son with deep Chinese roots that go way back before the place was first settled.
Baan Rak Thai has really taken advantage of its interesting history and turned their little town into a Chinese-inspired town with beautiful Chinese architecture surrounded by a tea plantation where you can buy locally-grown tea as a souvenir. It's a unique place that you can only experience if you explore the Mae Hong Son Loop.
12. Nan's History Illustrated
Nan is another offbeat travel destination in Northern Thailand that offers you a different look at the northern culture from the perspective of another prominent city. One of the most important sights that you have to check out in Nan is the beautiful murals inside Wat Phumin.
The murals were painted many decades ago during a transitional period of European colonization, and the content of the murals reflected the life of the people during that time. It is extremely detailed and stunning to look at, just as the woman's eyes in this photo were so fixated on the beauty of the murals.
13. Stargazing in Thailand
It's not often we get a beautiful clear sky at night here in Thailand. With all the rain and smog that often appear throughout the year, I was so glad to be able to witness these beautiful starry bodies finally when I was camping at Doi Samer Dao in Nan.
Doi Samer Dao is located in the remote mountains of Nan, and with its uniquely balded mountain ridge where I camped, the night sky is extra stunning from here, as you can see. It is so pretty that I had to take a photo of myself just to commemorate the fact that stargazing in Thailand is indeed possible and as beautiful as ever.
14. The Dreamy Phu Langka
Can you believe that this dreamy landscape in the photo above was taken in Thailand? The place is called Phu Langka, and it is located in a northern province that you may probably have never heard of, Phayao.
Phu Langka and its stunning pool-shaped valley, with an iconic rock in the middle, are already beautiful in themselves. However, when you combine that with the beautiful light at sunrise and the fog that descends into the valley in the morning, it's perfection! 😙👌
15. Phu Chi Fah
No, we are not done with mountains yet. This one is from the northern province of Chiang Rai, and this iconic peak that looks like it is piercing the sky is Phu Chi Fah, which is translated to "the mountain that points at the sky".
This iconic mountain is one of the highlights of visiting Chiang Rai, and not many know about it. It is located near the border between Laos and Thailand, and this beautiful shot was taken at sunset from Doi Pha Tang, which is another mountain you can hike in Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai is truly one of the best travel destinations to visit in Thailand.
16. In the Middle of the Tobacco Field
This photo is a great example of why you should not plan your trip to a tee. This aerial shot of the infinite tobacco field was taken from a random stop along the road between Chiang Rai City and Mae Sai.
It was totally random, as I wanted to stop to check it out, and it turned out to be one of the prettiest places I visited in Chiang Rai. I ended up staying there until sunset and watching as the sky dialed down and nightfall began - a truly magical, random moment that deserves a spot on this list.
17. The White Temple
The White Temple, or as it is known locally, Wat Rong Khun, is the most popular landmark in Chiang Rai for a reason. Its uniquely designed structure is full of extremely detailed sculptures and carvings, and unlike any other temples, it is all covered in glass and painted in blinding white.
This photo was taken at the beginning of the second wave of COVID-19 that spread in Thailand at the beginning of 2021. Hence, it was empty and without the throngs of tourists that often descend upon this place every hour. I was able to capture this photo only because of COVID-19.
I'm not sure what to think about that, but the photo is nice and surely captures just how beautiful and unique the White Temple is compared to the other temples in Thailand.
18. The Stunning Erawan Falls
Thailand is home to many stunning waterfalls, and one of the most impressive ones in the country is the Erawan Falls in Kanchanaburi, which is only around 140km away from Bangkok.
Erawan Falls is a 7-tier waterfall where you can hike from bottom to top, swim in one of these stunningly blue waters, and enjoy the beautiful cascades as the water flows from the high mountain above. It is easily accessible and can be done as a day trip from Bangkok if you wish.
This photo was taken right after the end of the first wave of COVID-19; hence, nobody was allowed to swim. So, I was able to capture this beautiful and calm version of Erawan Falls, which, in my opinion, is the best version of all.
19. The Morning Alms Giving Ceremony
One of the things that you have to experience when you are in Thailand is the morning alms-giving ceremony, where people would line up and the monks would walk from the temple to the village to collect the alms. There is no better place to participate in this daily ceremony than at the Mon Village in Sangkhlaburi.
This photo was taken in the early morning in Sangkhlaburi, where over 20 monks came from the main Mon Temple in the Mon Village to participate in the morning alms giving ceremony with local tourists. It is one of the most unique sights you can see in Thailand, and you should participate in it at least once in your life.
20. The Grand Buddha of Ang Thong
Ang Thong is home to over 200 Buddhist temples, and one of the most beautiful Buddha Images is located in a province you have never heard of. The Buddha Image at Wat Muang is 92 m high, and it is considered to be one of the largest in the country.
With such height, the Buddha Statue dominates most of the skyline of Ang Thong. It is surrounded by rice paddies, making it one of the most photogenic spots in Thailand. Since it is not too far from Bangkok, you can easily make a day trip out of it.
21. The Temple in the Sky
This is by far one of the most photogenic attractions in Lampang, a small province in Northern Thailand. Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat, or as it is known, the temple in the sky, is a temple built on top of a mountain peak, overlooking the landscape of Lampang's countryside.
What is amazing about this temple is all the white pagodas they have built that are scattered throughout the limestone jagged peaks, which totally live up to their name. I took my drone up and was able to capture this beautiful scene before the clouds covered the peaks.
22. The Buddha Statue of Sukhothai
Sukhothai is another ancient capital city of Siam that began in the 13th Century, and you will find many beautiful ruins that predate even those in Ayuthaya. One of the most beautiful and well-preserved ruins is the 15 m high Buddha image at Wat Si Chum in Sukhothai.
This photo was taken from afar, using a zoom lens, and with a person walking in front of the Buddha Statue. It should give you the true scale of the Buddha image and show just how beautiful the ruins in Sukhothai are. If you have the time, I highly recommend visiting Sukhothai.
23. Thailand's Amazing Marine Life
One of the reasons why you would want to visit Thailand is the beautiful beaches we have here, but what is more attractive is the marine life that you encounter beneath the ocean.
This photo was taken with a GoPro while I was snorkeling at Koh Lipe, Thailand, which is one of the best snorkeling spots in Thailand. I highly recommend you dive down and explore what the Andaman Sea has to offer.
24. Thailand's Sea
Last but not least, I am going to leave you with this photo of my German friends standing on a rock, looking at the infinite view of the ocean at Koh Phangan in Thailand, which is exactly what the article is all about: to show you the infinite beauty of Thailand.
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Further Reading for Thailand
Looking for more information for your trip to Thailand? Here are a collection of articles about Thailand that you might find useful:
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3 Months Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Looking for an itinerary for Thailand? Check out 10 Days Itinerary for Thailand.
- Planning a trip to Thailand? Here are the 11 Best Places to Visit in Thailand.
- Thailand is incredibly rich in history, with ancient cities scattered across its landscapes. If you’re looking to explore some of the country’s most remarkable historical sites, don’t miss this guide: Discover Thailand's Rich History: 12 Best Historical Sites to Visit.
- Looking to go off the beaten path in Thailand? Check out the 10 Best Hidden Gems to Visit in Thailand.
- Visiting a country like Thailand, you are going to need a comprehensive packing list to ensure that you bring everything you need for your trip. Check out: What to Pack for Thailand - The Essential Packing List.
- Wondering when the best time to visit Thailand is? Here is a complete guide on picking The Best Time to Visit Thailand.
- If you are traveling to Thailand, it is important for you to know what you should and shouldn't do. Here are 10 Tips for Traveling in Thailand.
- Thai Street Foods are among the best in the world, and to help guide you through the street food cuisine of Thailand, be sure to check out the 15 Best Street Foods in Thailand to Try.
- Learning a bit of Thai phrases will go a long way for you when you visit Thailand. Here are 15 Thai Phrases You Should Know.
- For a complete backpacking itinerary for Thailand, check out the 10 Days Backpacking Itinerary for Thailand.
- More often than not, your journey in Thailand will begin in Bangkok, and there are a ton of things you shouldn't miss in this city. Here are the 16 Best Things to Do in Bangkok.
- Wondering which temples are worth visiting in Bangkok? Check out: 10 BEST Temples to Visit in Bangkok.
- Want to spend a day outside Bangkok but not sure where? Here are the 9 Best Day Trips To Make From Bangkok.
- Don't have a lot of time in Bangkok? Check out our One Day in Bangkok Itinerary.
- Have more than one day in Bangkok? I highly recommend spending at least 3 days in Bangkok. Here is a complete 3 Days Itinerary for Bangkok.
- For the best areas and neighborhoods to stay in Bangkok, check out: 7 Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok.
- There is no need for an introduction to the renowned old capital city of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai. Here are the 20 best things to do in Chiang Mai according to the locals.
- One of the best road trips you can make in Thailand is traversing the Mae Hong Son Loop. Here’s a complete backpacking guide and 10-day itinerary for the Mae Hong Son Loop.
- Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Northern Thailand, Central Thailand, or Southern Thailand?
- Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about continuing on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
- For all articles about Thailand, visit the Thailand Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all of my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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1 Comments
This is my one stop shop for all things Thailand! Loved a few of your blog entries.