#AmazingThailand: the places & experiences for… a city girl, a nature lover or a beach addict

You may be a party goer; you may go on a backpack holiday, you can experiment an incredible luxurious resort as in the serie of the moment, The White Lotus. But in the amazing Thailand you can also have unique culture, secluded islands, paradisiacal landscapes and incredible beaches, wildlife and places where you can disconnect from the digital world. And well, of course, a lot of adventures.

More info on – https://thailanda.ro/.

See HERE – on Highlights – more stories and point of interest from #AmazingThailand

I have visited 3 (very) different areas in Thailand – and, depending on what you really want to experiment, you may try – the busy beehive Bangkok, the calm & serenity of Khao Sok National Park or the sun, water and fun of the South. 

1. City girl: an exclusive hotel, a retro car ride and some Thai experiences on the river 

Of course I’ll start with the capital Bangkok. If you have to tick off all the tourist experiences in the city, I would say you must include on the list: Grand Palace, Wat Pho (temple of the reclining Buddha), Khao San Road or Lumphini Park, Golden Mount. 

The best experience: at Wat Arun Temple (temple of Dawn), an ensemble of several towers (the tallest of 86 meters) decorated with shells and pieces of colored ceramics. Its architecture is more Khmer style and is intended to be a representation of Mount Meru, the mythological home of the Hindu gods. If you really want an authentic Thai experience – rent a traditional costume from one of the nearby shops (for 10-20 euro you get a skirt, blouse, complete hairstyle – mine were from Bangkok & Blush Thai Costume Rental

For a #girlpilot (one of my favourites): explore the city in style – with a vintage car, champagne and cakes. – my experience was with @nuncio_gentleman.

For cooking & volunteering lessons. I would say the cooking lessons weren’t for me 🙂 But, as it turned out that day, I got more than just “tasting” lessons, but also a touching story about volunteering and involvement. If you’re in Bangkok and have a little time to spare, stop by PAfé by Friends in Need (Thai Red Cross) – opened in August 2022, it functions both as a way to showcase and encourage volunteerism (actions started by members of the royal family themselves), and as a store for items made by small communities around the country. Visitors to PAfé can sample authentic “Royal Cuisine” while directly contributing to the livelihoods of the communities involved in the rehabilitation program. https://www.friendsofpa.or.th/EN/home.html

For the sunset lover: not to miss a cruise on the Chao Phraya River. It’s one of the most wonderful experiences – and you can always find something to your taste – from enormous boats with dance floors on the upper deck to private yachts and romantic dinners. My experience was a 4-course meal (all vegetarian) – with Apsara Cruise – a former rice barge converted into gorgeous floating dining hall by @banyantreebangkok.

Where to stay in Bangkok: Capella Hotel (No.1 The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024) – Michelin-starred restaurant, splendid a night bar and a stunning view of the Chao Phraya River. – https://capellahotels.com/ 

2. Animal & nature lover: elephant feeding, digital detox on a lake and a lot of sport

If you want a #digitaldetox… go in the middle of nowhere (aka in the middle of Khao Sok National Park, on Khao Sok Lake. But make a stop at Elephant Hills Khao Sok to see and feed the lovely elephants from the sanctuary. 

For animal lovers: Elephant Hills Khao So, where elephants that were once used for hard labor in lumber factories or construction are rescued. 10 female elephants – the veteran is 81 years old, and the youngest is 19, one of them being even blind from birth. It’s a really interesting experience to be able to touch them, interact with them, feed them bananas, pineapples, sugarcane or bamboo. Each elephant has its own caretaker – actually, a little more than that – called a mahout, the one who stays with it every day. – https://www.elephanthills.com/ – Elephant Hills Camp was Winner of 2024 Thailand Awards for Animal Welfare by TAT.

For a digital detox: no internet, no signal, no technology, only nature, water and sounds of wild animals. At Cheow Lan Lake Floating Tent Camp you can take a break from all the digital buzz. The camp is located in the middle of Khao Sok National Park, on Cheow Lan Lake (Khao Sok Lake or Ratchaprapha Dam Reservoir – a lake born after the area was flooded in 1997, where vegetation and fauna were reborn). You can ride a boat or a kayak, a paddleboard, you can watch birds or animals. The list of animals that live here (it’s not certain that you can see them all) is long: wild elephants, gibbons, macaques, tapirs, small bears, leopards, monitor lizards, monkeys etc.).

3. Beach addict: beautiful islands, cultural experiences & some SPA

For the beach girl: of course I chose the beach. Khao Lak beaches. To see, to test, to admire the sunset. Less crowded than Phuket, quieter, Khao Lak is located in the Takua Pa district, Phang Nga province. I stayed on the beach at JW Marriott Khao Lak (with a mango and ginger smoothie in my arms) but I put on my to-do list for the future a trip to Khao Sok National Park, a visit to Hat Nang Thong beach, a walk through the Bang Niang Night Market and the alleys of Takua Pa Old Town.

For 007 lovers: a visit at James Bond Island. Code name 🙂 Khao Ping Kan island is located about 25 kilometers northeast of Phuket Island, in Phang Nga Bay and got its name after the movie with Roger Moore in 1974 – “The Man with The Golden Gun”. Nearby, Suwan Khuha Cave & the mangroove forrest. 

For a spectacular view: stop at Samet Nangshe Viewpoint. 

For a very local experience: a visit to the Koh Panyi village built – a Muslim village built entirely on pillars about 200 years ago, at the foot of a huge limestone cliff. Very modest houses that you can see straight into, small businesses and a football field set on the water, which the locals are very proud of.

For island goers: Similan Islands, north of Phuket, in the Andaman Sea. 11 incredibly beautiful islands, 4 of which are inaccessible to visitors (because is here where turtles lay their eggs). Among the many attractions in southern Thailand is the Mu Ko Similan Marine National Park, probably the best place for diving along the coast – if you are passionate about aquatic life, this is the ideal place for snorkeling, swimming among colorful fish and even next to turtles.

For a unique experience: Mai Khao beach & the view of landing planes over your head.  

For SPA enthusiasts: Thailand is full of health and spirituality resorts, relaxation and meditation centers, Spas and massages centers. The hour at Oasis Spa – www.oasisspa.net – was perfect for the end of a stressful day. 

Where to stay: JW Marriott Khao Lak – one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve been in. The beach, the pools (and there are soooo many), the delicious meals and… Charlie, the friendly lizard. 

Photography: www.dreamingof.net.