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Bangkok, Thailand
Every Thailand itinerary includes Bangkok. It’s hard to ignore those cheap prices to the busy and bustling Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Obviously, there’s a ton to do here, and if you’re looking for a party or a fancy night out on the town, Bangkok is where it’s at. You’ll want to check out the Lebua (yep, the hotel from Hangover II) or Vertigo for their sky bars. The views are next level, pun intended.
- Jim Thompson Art Centre
- Sky Bar
- Above Eleven
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Koh Chang, Thailand
Koh Chang is one of my all-time faves in all my travels. This island is full of the most beautiful beaches and getaway spots.
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Kanchanaburi, Thailand
So no surprise that the first thing everyone thinks of is “Bridge over the River Kwai.”
No, the movie wasn’t filmed here (it was filmed in Sri Lanka, oddly enough) but this is the real bridge of so many deaths during WWII as the Japanese forced POWs to build this railway bridge. You can certainly visit this for memorial purposes.
- Houy Mae Kamin Waterfall National Park
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Lopburi, Thailand
A great opportunity to hang with wildlife and wild nature, Lop Buri is best known for its marauding macaques.
Monkeys live freely in the streets around “Monkey Temple,” and are known to harass passerby for snacks (or steal them from stores—yes, seriously!). If that wasn’t enough, go spot monitor lizards and chill with them on the banks of the lake, Ang Sub Lek, just on the outskirts of town.
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Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Crocs, monkeys, and elephants, oh my! Khao Yai is one of the country’s best national parks to visit and considering it’s super close to Bangkok, it’s also super easy to get to. You can take a long day trip, spend a night camping, or spend around 5 days exploring this area by trekking and waterfall chasing.
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Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand
Temples. Temples. More temples…
Ayutthaya is home to a handful of the most majestic temples because it was the second capital of the kingdom of Siam. If you’re a history buff, or a temple explorer, this day trip from Bangkok is one of the top things to do in Thailand for you.
It doesn’t hurt that it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Center.
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Sukhothai, Thailand
Another UNESCO site, and it’s full of gorgeous historic temples from its days as the first capital of Siam.
You should certainly choose this option if you’re headed north by bus or by train as it’s on the way to Chiang Mai. If you are not headed north at all, Ayuttaya is your best bet for seeing beautiful temple ruins.