Top Thai attractions

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, over 11 million foreigners visited the country last year, making the tourism industry the top earner of foreign revenue. A significant drop in international tourist numbers will be a tremendous blow to the country, its economic growth and its employment rate.

So despite the tragic events of December 26, if you’re planning a holiday to the region there’s no need to cancel your plans. In fact, you’ll be doing your bit to help just by going on holiday!

Although tour operators on the ground estimate that the tsunami-hit region along the Andaman coast will only be back to normal in around three months, the country offers a wide range of wonderful destinations to explore while reconstruction is underway in the affected areas.

Ko Samui
Ko Samui, in the sheltered Gulf of Thailand, first made its mark on the backpacker trail in the 1960s. Back then it was a bit of a ‘hippy hangout’ and the turquoise water and white beaches still attract the young-at-heart looking for that tropical beach paradise.

Did you know? Phuket is one of Thailand’s largest islands and although the south and west coast bore the full brunt of the tsunamis, the east and north coast were largely unaffected. In fact, out of the 136 hotels on Phuket, 24 are out of operation, 23 are partially operating while 89 (65 percent) are unaffected and are open for business.

Tourist development on this island – Thailand’s third largest – has boomed in the past five years and traditional stilted and thatched accommodation have been joined by more upmarket and luxurious properties.

A trip on the ring road which encircles the island reveals some quirky attractions — a deceased monk who was ‘self embalmed’, coconut plantations where trained monkeys assist in the harvesting of coconuts as well as a massive golden Buddha that watches over the island.

Offshore lies the Ang Thong National Marine Park with its many rocky islands offering great snorkelling and kayaking opportunities. Samui is also a 20-minute ferry ride from Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao, both of which boast excellent scuba diving.

Ko Samui is a one-hour flight from Bangkok, or can be reached by ferry from the mainland town of Surat Thani.

Hua Hin and Cha-am
Lying shoulder to shoulder, these twin seaside resorts are also located in the Gulf of Thailand. Much favoured by aristocratic Thais in the 1900s, in recent years they have become very popular amongst international visitors.

The area has a whole spate of new, upmarket hotels on some of Thailand’s best beaches. Hua Hin has a lively downtown area with great shopping and a vibrant nightlife and you can tour the town in style on a pedal trishaw (like a rickshaw). Hua Hin is also the venue for the country’s annual Elephant Polo tournament. Cha-am is the location of Chiva Som, often rated as the best health spa in the world by magazine polls.

Hua Hin and Cha-am are roughly a three-hour drive from Bangkok, and can also be reached by train, which pulls into Hua Hin’s 1920s colonial-style railway station.

Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi combines eco-tourism, history and ethnic interest with its caves, rivers and World War II memorials.

The history behind the building of the famous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’ are told in three museums (one a humble replica of a prisoner-of-war hut, another a high-tech interactive facility) and you can still take a train ride over the narrow bridge. A visit to the chilling Hellfire Pass is a sobering reminder of how the Second World War touched this part of Asia.

Down the river from the town centre, enjoying increasingly spectacular scenery, are the ‘floatels’ — thatched cabins moored along the banks of the River Kwai, bobbing up and down with the tide. Many of the floatels are staffed by the Mon, a tribe who have made their way over border from Myanmar (Burma) and at some Mon children perform their traditional dances in an evening show. For a real Thai feast, make sure you pay a visit to the wonderful Apple's Guesthouse — Apple (the chef) makes some of the best massaman curry in Thailand!

Take a canoe or longtail boat trip on the river, or head off to nearby Nakhon Pathom where you’ll find the world’s tallest Buddhist stupa (pagoda), soaring 120m above the ground.

Kanchanaburi is reached by road or train from Bangkok. The famous bridge is about two hours away, but there are a number of sights to enjoy along the way, including the Floating Market at Damnoen Saduak.

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Culturally rich northern Thailand is all about hill tribes, handicrafts, jungles and elephants. The city of Chiang Mai dates back over 700 years and the remnants of its ancient city walls and their surrounding moat can still be seen. The enormous night market offers one of the best shopping experiences in Thailand.

Smaller and more rural than Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai offers the thrill of being in the heart of the famed Golden Triangle. Take a longtail boat up the Mekong River and you’ll find yourself on the border of three countries — Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

An unmissable activity in the area is a jungle trek, which includes elephant-back riding, river rafting and a stop at a hill tribe village. The 10 hill tribes in the area originated in Tibet and China and your guide will explain their unique embroidered clothing, which varies from tribe to tribe, and the animist beliefs of these communities.

Both cities can be reached by air from Bangkok in just over an hour, or by comfortable overnight train.

Despite the devastation in parts of Phuket and the Andaman islands, Thailand is still a cost-effective destination for South Africans and the combination of great sight-seeing, shopping, destinations and friendly Thai people ensure that Thailand is still a country that’s definitely worth a visit.

Visit the Tourism Authority of Thailand website

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