Thailand: 15 Things You Must Do

Thailand was the first Asian country that I visited. It is such a beautiful, interesting place that even after almost two weeks of travel, I felt like I had just begun to discover the country’s gems. I did try to squeeze in as many of the highlights as possible. Here are what I think are the 15 things you must do in Thailand.

See Bangkok’s sites

Bangkok is one of the busiest cities in Thailand. I think the best way to get around to see the major sites is to join a tour group. I use Viator.com to see places, such as the Grand Palace, Temple of Emerald Buddha (reclining Buddha), and Wat Arun Ratchavararam. If you prefer to see these sites on your own, it is doable, but I recommend that you take time to plan how you will get around the city.

Eat street food

Thailand has some of the best street food in the world. In Bangkok, you can find street food, such as Pad Thai, fish cakes, fried veggies, and whole fish throughout the city. The food is usually very fresh, often times made right in front of you.

Take a cooking class

I love Thai food and I am always trying to replicate my favorite dishes at home. As a result, I was on the hunt for a good place to learn how to make Thai dishes. There are many cooking schools throughout Thailand and most of them are very affordable. I prefer schools that have their own farm and grow fresh veggies to use in the cuisine. I took my class in Chiang Mai at the Thai Secret Cooking School.  During an 8 hour course, the instructors demoed every course we made. Then, we made several dishes from scratch, to include curry paste that we used to make a delicious green curry. Many of the ingredients came directly from the school’s organic garden. The school provided us a cookbook with all of the dishes we prepared during the course.

Get outside of Bangkok

I love the fast-paced nature of Bangkok, with its beautiful temples framing the city’s backdrop. However, there are so many diverse things to see in Thailand. The beautiful mountainous regions in the north that are touched by Chinese influence is something you should not miss. The beaches and islands are some of the best and most beautiful in the world.

Visit Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is part of the mountainous region of Thailand in the northern part of the country. Cooler temperatures and green landscape will make you feel more relaxed than spending time in Bangkok. It is home to numerous temples, to include the must see Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. I used Chiang Mai as a base city, to enjoy other parts of the region.

Get a massage

In Thailand, it’s a must to get a Thai massage. Well, sort of. I definitely wanted to get a massage in Thailand, but I opted out of the “Thai” part of it. I enjoyed my massage at Peak Spa in Chiang Mai, where I had a body wrap, a 60-minute massage, and a milk bath. It was all fantastic. The one difference is that the massage is literally a FULL body massage. Your bottom and breasts will definitely get a rub down. I was a little taken aback at first, but once I relaxed, I fully enjoyed it.

Get a fish pedicure

What in the world is a fish pedicure? That is the question I asked the first time someone recommended that get one. A fish pedicure is when you put your feet into a tank of warm water filled with garra rufa fish. They swim around the tank and eat the dead skin off of feet, leaving them callous free. Now, this practice is banned in some US states and other parts of the world because it is considered cruel to animals. I did not get one done because it just seemed weird, but many people enjoy it.

Khantoke dinner and Dance

I went to a Khantoke dinner and dance at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center, which was created in 1970 to showcase Northern Thailand culture. The dance and performances are based on long-standing traditions.  You will sit on bamboo mats on the floor and will be served a large amount of northern Thai food. I was on this trip by myself, so I definitely could not eat everything they served me. The meal was quite good though. While you enjoy dinner, there will be a variety of traditional Thai dances on stage, a sword dance and a drum performance. You can book a tour on Viator.com, which includes transportation.

Visit the elephants

I love elephants! They have so much personality. You can have an up-close and personal experience with them in Thailand. There is a lot of controversy over whether or not people should ride elephants, especially with harnesses and carriages strapped onto the elephants’ backs. However, there are companies that try to focus on the humane treatment and care of elephants. I visited Elephant Nature Park on the outskirts of Chiang Mai where I learned about how to monitor the health of the elephants, fed and bathed them, and then did a short bareback ride on the elephant.

Check out Thailand’s islands

Most people think of Phuket or Krabi when considering beach locations in Thailand. However, I think it is worth staying on one of Thailand’s many islands instead. I traveled to Ko Lanta, where it is quieter and more relaxing than the touristy spots.

Island hop

With more than 300 islands in Thailand, if you are staying on the coast or on one of the islands, you should definitely island hop. There are four island tours from Krabi, Thailand as well as several options to visit some infamous sites like Ko Mook Emerald Caves and Phi Phi island.

Go scuba diving

Scuba diving was one of the items on my bucket list to check off during my trip to Thailand. The water and marine life are some of the most beautiful in the world. Also, Thailand’s dive schools are PADI certified, so I felt like I was going to be in good hands. If you have checked out my bucket list, then you will know that scuba diving was on my adventure list. I thought the experience was amazing, but I’m not sure I can stomach doing it again. Regardless of my fears, I still thought it was well worth it. If you are an experienced diver or just like the occasional plunge, Thailand is ranked high on scuba divers’ list.