The Top Reasons for Thailand to Top Your Bucket List

In recent decades, Thailand has overtaken many of the old favourite holiday destinations to become one of the most travelled destinations in the world. This is hardly surprising because the country is known for having so much to offer to every kind of traveller whether they are looking for a romantic couples holiday, a family break, an adventurous, action packed trip, or a relaxing week or two by the ocean. 

People visit Thailand for the amazing beaches, delightful cuisines, fascinating cultural and historical experiences, and for a taste of authentic Thai life. Whatever you are looking for in your next big trip abroad, you can find it all and so much more when you visit the always dynamic and fascinating country of Thailand. 

Breathtaking beaches

Thailand is home to some of the most dramatic and beautiful coastlines in the world. The limestone cliffs that add to the natural beauty of locations such as Phuket, Krabi, the limestone karst towers of Ao Phang Nga National Park, and the Phi Phi Islands. With year round warm weather and sunshine, you can make the most of the stunning Thai beaches whatever time of year you visit. 

Flavourful food

You’ll find much more than your standard pad thai when you visit Thailand as the country is well known for its incredible array of native and traditional dishes. Thai cooking is all about using fresh and contrasting flavours in a balanced and aromatic way. Fish sauce, hot chilli, citrus, and raw sugar are prominent flavours in Thai cooking though there truly is something for everyone. 

Make a reservation at a fine dining restaurant if you are looking for an experience with table service, or if you want to graze on some favourites in a less formal setting then head to the walking streets and night markets to feast on street food. You’ll find everything from stir fried noodle based dishes to BBQ to fried and seasoned insects for the bravest of eaters, all being cooked fresh at stalls on the roadside.

Easy travel

From the moment you leave the car parking at Manchester Airport and step inside the terminal you are only a matter of hours away from landing at one of Thailand’s international airports. Once you arrive, you’ll find that it is pretty easy to get from place to place in Thailand and you’ll be able to make use of private taxis, tuk-tuks, trains, buses, planes, and streets that are safe and pleasant to walk. Travel is cheap and readily available in Thailand, but be prepared to navigate streets that are numbered rather than named. 

Rich and fascinating history

Everywhere you look in Thailand you will more than likely see signs of its storied past. Ancient temples dot the countryside and enormous Buddha figures nestle amongst the trees in the jungle. Walled cities like Chiang Mai offer a rich tapestry of history and culture to explore, with the very old rubbing shoulders with the very new in such places. There are several UNESCO world heritage sites in Thailand and any of them makes a fantastic destination for your trip. 

Exciting and magnificent wildlife

If you decide to visit Thailand then you absolutely must experience some of the native wildlife, particularly the captivating Asian elephant. Sadly, there are many elephant ‘rescues’ that allow visitors to ride and interact with the elephants in an unnatural way which is cruel, and many of the elephants in such places are tamed using barbaric methods. 

Avoid any elephant sanctuary or rescue that allows you to ride elephants or do elephant trekking. Instead look for rescues and sanctuaries that encourage you to appreciate the animals from a distance as they behave naturally. The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is a favourite that does excellent work to rescue and rehabilitate these incredible creatures.

There are countless other reasons to make sure a visit to Thailand is on the cards, far too many to mention them all in one article. The best advice for anyone planning a trip is to make sure you have an itinerary in mind before you go. It is pretty easy to book trips, excursions and attractions in advance and most suppliers will accommodate you with transfers at no extra cost.