Sometimes, getting away means getting away from the crowd. With many people dealing with traffic and crowds in their everyday lives, it’s no wonder that when it’s time for a vacation, they’d prefer to unplug and go off the beaten path. While Thailand offers many opportunities to visit bustling cities, popular beaches, and famous historical sites, it also provides ample destinations on the road less traveled.
Whether you’re looking to relax on a quiet beach, hike a peaceful trail, or visit a quaint village, Thailand has many ways to help you recharge your batteries without the crowds.
Khao Sok National Park
The expansive Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani Province is one of Thailand’s best off-the-beaten-path gems. This 739 square kilometer National Park is home to the world’s largest evergreen rainforest, refreshing lakes, and fascinating plants and animals, including rafflesia, sun bears, and the wreathed hornbill.
The National Park is also home to Cheow Lan Lake, which is vast and has over one hundred limestone karsts that were once mountain peaks. You can swim, kayak, or even take a guided boat tour through the emerald waters. If you plan to stay overnight, you can stay close to the lake in a stilted cabin perched comfortably in the water.
500 Rai Resort And Tours
500 Rai Resort And Tours in Khao Sok National Park is a resort that features floating cabins on the majestic Cheow Larn Lake. At 500 Rai Resort And Tours, their motto is “Disconnect To Reconnect,” which the resort does by offering no wifi or internet for guests looking to unplug and truly appreciate the magic of the natural wonderland surrounding them.
500 Rai Resort And Tours is an eco-friendly, sustainable resort designed to appreciate and protect the grounds of Khao Sok National Park. Visitors to the resort can relax in their cabin and feel the gentle water lull, hike through the forest and up to amazing viewpoints, trek to visit caves, or take a boat tour to observe wildlife.
Packages are available for guests looking to get the whole experience, or guests can wander about the National Park independently.
Chiang Dao
Chiang Dao is a small village located about 80 kilometers from Chiang Mai. This remote mountain town is home to a welcoming hill tribe, the Dara-Ang (Palong), proud to share their unique culture and cuisine with visitors. Traditional Dara-Ang foods include locally grown and roasted coffee, lychee, honey, and, for special occasions, Isaan cuisine, including pork and buffalo dishes.
The Dara-Ang migrated to Thailand in the 1980s. The tribe that settled in Chiang Dao is known as the Silver Palung or Pale tribe. The tribe can be distinguished by the silver hoops they use as belts over bright red clothing, which they believe the hoops offer protection. Today, the Dara-Ang live in bamboo long-houses throughout the village, and several families can live in one house.
Chiang Dao itself is surrounded by limestone peaks that are perfect for climbing. Chiang Dao’s name translates to ‘city of the stars’ thanks to its high altitude. The altitude also translates to a cooler climate than other areas of Thailand, making outdoor activities more comfortable for some explorers.
Trang
Despite the many offerings in Trang, this beach town still offers peace due to its remote location in Krabi. Trang is known for its strong coffee, beautiful beaches, and delicious cuisine.
The Trang community has heavy Chinese influences, from their abundance of noodles and barbecued pork dishes to their stunning architecture. If you’re looking for a peaceful seaside getaway with the opportunity to interact with friendly locals, the lesser-known Trang is the perfect spot.
Lampang
Just 90 minutes from Chiang Mai sits the beautiful Lampang, one of Thailand’s less well-known locations, and thus quieter than other places that offer similar attractions. You can visit Wat Phutthabat Sutthamat Temple in Lampang without encountering many other guests. The temple is about 1,000 meters above the Thung Valley, where visitors can enjoy a 360° view of the valleys and rice paddies below. The walk to the top of the mountain takes about 90 minutes on foot, or guests can hire a truck at the mountain’s base and get a lift halfway up the hill, where they can hike the rest.
Lampang is also home to the 592 square km Chae Son National Park, the Chae Son Waterfall, and soothing hot springs. Chae Son National Park is full of caves, mountains, scenic viewpoints, and the lovely dok siew flowers that grow in the park from January to February each year. Chae Son Waterfall is a six-tiered waterfall with a pool of refreshing water at each level, which is easily accessible via a pathway that leads up to the limestone hill it pours from. Chase Son National Park is full of hot and warm springs if you’re looking for water warm enough to boil an egg. Though the hot springs may be too warm to dip, some cooler springs provide a relaxing mix of warm and cooler stream water, making it perfect for soaking.
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
Have you ever wanted to visit an ancient city and explore ruins from 2000 BC? Ban Chiang Archaeological Site is home to the remains of the oldest-known civilization in Southeast Asia. The archaeological site is located in the Udon Thani Province, which is actually easy to travel to in Thailand. You can take a plane to Udon Thani International Airport, which is served by many domestic airports in Thailand. From Bangkok, you can also take one of several trains to Udon Thani Railroad Station or take an 8-hour night bus to the city.
Discovered in the 1960s by a college student who unearthed a shard of ancient pottery while conducting research, Ban Chiang is open to visitors and also has a fascinating museum called the Ban Chiang National Museum, where you can peruse many of the ancient artifacts unearthed at the site. The museum is just a ten-minute ride from the site itself, and guests are encouraged to hire a driver to take them to both during their visit.
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. This unique honor was bestowed upon the site due to its importance in Southeast Asia. According to UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Sites are protected sites that belong to everyone and thus should be shared with the world to educate about our collective origins.
Conclusion
A vacation to Thailand can be anything you want it to be. Whether you’re looking for a metropolitan adventure or your curiosity leads you to a lesser-known, more remote location, Thailand has it all.
Your off-the-beaten-path Thailand adventure awaits you, from historical dig sites to distant villages, secluded beaches, and unspoiled national parks. For more travel inspiration and more off-the-beaten-path locations in Thailand, visit our Regions page.
