The Burrow
Picture spellbinding sunsets, unspoilt beaches, flavoursome cuisine, heritage-listed sites and a party atmosphere out of this world. There’s a reason why Thailand is a favourite holiday destination among Aussies. Use our extensive travel guide to explore 9 of the most captivating locations, highlighting the top things to see and do.
We’ve taken the liberty to translate each experience into Aussie slang to make you natives feel at home when travelling across the ditch. Before you get cracking into this list, it’s worth considering travel insurance as soon as you book your trip or put down any deposits, as it could help cover you for certain cancellation costs before you even take off. So, if you want to find out what makes Thailand a real ‘pearla’ of a holiday, let’s get into it.
The Phi Phi Islands are the ultimate postcard paradise. The six-island archipelago is part of a marine national park offering unspoilt natural beauty as far as the eye can see. It’s a place to hop on a long-tail boat and drift along the fine sand beaches, limestone cliffs and hidden caves. The turquoise waters are also a drawcard for snorkelers keen to discover the islands’ underwater world.
Hop on a party boat and take in the idyllic surroundings while partying on deck with other adventurous revellers, bopping along to live music next to an open bar, while a guide takes the cruise around the islands’ popular spots like Monkey Beach and Maya Bay Park. Just make sure you choose a reputable tour operator (perhaps ask a travel agent), and don’t partake in risky behaviour. Why? Because travel insurers may not pay out claims if you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Have bananas ready because Monkey Beach is home to a colony of monkeys keen to get up close and personal with tourists for a peel. This white sandy beach is on the main island of Phi Phi Don, fringed by turquoise waters, lush jungle and limestone cliffs; the ideal habitat for its furry residents. Monkey Beach is also a good spot for diving and is popular with day-trippers. It’s good to note that not all standard travel insurance plans automatically include cover for scuba diving and may fall under the category of adventure travel insurance.
The Phi Phi Islands are an archipelago of six islands, each offering something unique, and the best way to see them all is to hire a long-tail boat and island hop for a day. Phi Phi Don Island is the main hub where you can find hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions. Maya Bay should also be on your bucket list and is renowned among travellers since gaining fame in the 2000 movie The Beach.
Koh Samui is a unique fusion of modern luxury and tropical bliss. The island is home to the iconic 12 metre-tall golden Big Buddha statue and attracts travellers and holidaymakers alike to its palm-fringed shores. The island is renowned for its beachside bungalows, secluded villas, untainted beaches, lush rainforests, and even boasts a swanky Ritz Carlton resort.
Take a charter boat tour around the pristine 42-island archipelago of the Ang Thong National Marine Park. The islands offer over 100 square kilometres of unspoilt white-sand beaches, lakes, mangroves, waterfalls, hidden coves and cliffs. The park is also a paradise for wildlife lovers as exotic animals like spectacled langurs and hairy-nosed otters can often be spotted pottering about in their natural habitats.
The Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village is the bustling centre of Koh Samui, once home to a fishing community. Old wooden fishing shacks were converted into market stalls that now sell clothing, accessories and all types of wares at low prices. The boutique village also offers a plethora of eateries, bars and other chilled out venues for tourists.
Take a jungle safari tour and explore Koh Samui’s most iconic landmarks and sights like the Mummified Monk, Namuang Waterfall and the Secret Buddha Garden, on an off-road trip with your mates on the back of a jeep.
The Secret Buddha Garden is hidden in the hills of Koh Samui but well worth a visit. Tourists will transition into a mystical world, as they wind through the landscaped gardens, miniature waterfalls and clusters of statues arranged to depict animals, deities and personas of Buddhist folklore. A local farmer began construction of the garden in 1976 around his family’s verdant land.
The Gulf of Thailand’s underwater world is a paradise for diving fanatics. Tours and dive courses are available every day with reputable certified instructors. The best dive sites are a few kilometres away from Koh Samui at Ang Thong National Marine Park or Sail Rock, so hiring a boat will be the best way to get there. However, most diving for novices is only a short boat ride away.
Koh Phangan is Thailand’s party capital, celebrated for hosting the world-famous Full Moon Party. The peninsula is a popular destination for backpackers and offers sightseeing, snorkelling and kayaking attractions.
Koh Phangan’s Full Moon Party is legendary. The all-night beach party attracts over 30,000 people to Sunrise Beach each month. Revellers paint their bodies in glow in the dark paint, dance on the beach to everything from dubstep, house, hip-hop and techno; all while drinking out of buckets until sunrise. The festival features fire shows, flaming swings, local and international DJs, and countless beach bars to top up your bucket. There is also a Half Moon Party held every month at half moon.
A travel insurance policy may not pay out certain claims for incidents where you have consumed alcohol or drugs, so make sure you stay safe until the sun comes out and check your travel insurance exclusions on your PDS!
Sail Rock is a prime dive site of the Gulf of Thailand and famous for its underwater rock tunnel dubbed the ‘chimney’, which divers can enter at six metres. The rock pinnacle drops almost 30 metres below the sandy surface and is abundant with marine life, schools of barracuda, giant grouper, queenfish, batfish and sometimes whale sharks. Be sure to check your travel insurance PDS as to whether you are covered for scuba diving.
It can be considered an advanced dive, however, so consider snorkelling instead if you’re just a beginner.
The Amsterdam Bar is all that Koh Phangan has to offer in one sensational spot perched on a pier. It’s a popular ‘dig’ to kick back poolside on wooden decks covered in Thai mats, grab a beer or cocktail, eat authentic food and enjoy good music while watching the sunset over the ocean.
Chiang Mai is the ultimate playground for every type of traveller. Once the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, the city boasts over 300 temples and takes in several tribal villages. Chiang Mai is a unique destination combining countryside, national parks, mountain ranges, and sprawling urban corridors.
Doi Inthanon National Park is home to the highest peak in Thailand, Doi Inthanon, the famous twin King and Queen Royal Pagodas and various small hill tribes. It’s an elevated nature park with boundless natural beauty, cascading waterfalls, lush forests and superb vantage points.
Bargain your way to a great deal at the Night Bazaar, the hub of evening commerce. Shoppers will find a wide variety of imitation designer goods, clothing, accessories, DVD’s, CD’s, local Thai handicrafts and artefacts. There are also a number of restaurants, burger joints, pizza shops and other food street stalls along the strip.
Tourists looking for a bargain and cheap bite to eat will find both and more at the Sunday Market in Chiang Mai. Food vendors sell authentic Thai fares like crab cakes, fried bananas, sweet roti and pad Thai for as little as $2, as well as local arts and crafts. The markets provide entertainment after dark with street musicians, puppeteers and Thai dancers.
Krabi is the perfect destination for relaxation. The island has an abundance of natural assets to enjoy; including lush jungles, white-sand beaches, stunning waterfalls, limestone cliffs and caves. Water sports lovers and sun worshippers looking for ‘off the beaten track’ experiences flock to Krabi to enjoy all that Thailand has to offer, minus the crowds.
The Thung Teao Forest Natural Park is a nature lover’s paradise and home to the famous Emerald Pool, waterfalls and hot springs where you can swim and revitalise. You can also hike the nature trail and try spotting some of the park’s exotic wildlife, including the Gurney’s pitta bird, once thought to be extinct.
The Tiger Cave Temple is a sacred Buddhist site, buried in the foothills where monks live and worship. The temple is a labyrinth of natural caves once used for mediation and still houses statues and other religious artefacts dating back to the Golden Age. Once you’re ready for your elevation, you can climb the 1,200 plus stairs to the big golden Buddha at the top of the temple and be rewarded with panoramic views.
Fancy taking a bath in nature’s hot tub? The Krabi Hot Springs cascade into natural hollows of smooth stone, where you can sit and let mineral salts wash over you. The water originates from thermal springs from underground volcanic chambers and is diverted into larger man-made bathing pools for visitors.
The Krabi Town Night Market offers the most authentic Thai culinary experience on the island. Visitors can tuck into hot curries, fresh seafood, skewered meat, fruits and even fried or seasoned bugs. Once you’re full, you can wash down your meal/s with a few cold ones for less than $2. It’s also a treasure trove for shoppers looking for local steals.
Pattaya transformed from a quaint fishing village to a coastal cosmopolitan mecca. Today, the city buzzes with life from sunset to sundown, with ‘all hours’ entertainment including cabarets, all kinds of bars and 24-hour clubs. This luxurious destination also offers designer golf courses with views of Pattaya Bay, seaside resort hotels, high-rise condos and a word-class Central festival mall.
Pattaya’s Walking Street is the island’s party and entertainment district. Located on Beach Road, it comes alive with neon signs, food vendors, street performers and thumping music every night from dusk until dawn. Nightclubs, beer bars, sports bars, hotels and go-go bars line the kilometre long drag where crowds flock for a night to remember.
See the world in miniature and visit all the great landmarks of the world like the Statue of Liberty, Leaning Tower of Pisa and Eiffel tower. Mini Siam literally brings the world to your feet, with over 100 miniature replicas of historical architectural wonders built at a scale of 1:25, to gallivant through in one convenient location.
Take the kids and relive your own childhood for a day at Cartoon Network Amazone in Pattaya. It’s one of Thailand’s largest water parks, themed around characters of the Cartoon Network TV channel like Johnny Bravo, Ben 10, and the Powerpuff Girls.
Koh Tao is most famous for its nightlife and dive sites of tropical coral reefs and underwater boulders, where whale sharks, rays and green turtles are often sighted. The island is one of the leading centres for dive education in Thailand but also boasts stunning granite boulders; perfect for rock climbing by the sea. Be sure to check what activities are covered under your travel insurance policy, as some may fall under adventure cover, which is typically an add-on.
Do you dream to dive with sharks? Shark Bay is the best snorkelling spot, on the fringe of a stunning white beach. Blacktip reef sharks can be spotted criss-crossing the bay just off shore, so getting close to the ocean’s most misunderstood predator can be just a short swim away.
Sairee Beach is Koh Tao’s nightlife hotspot and where most of the action happens. Crowds stroll along the beach, lounge on sun chairs drinking cocktails or play volley ball during the day. Sairee Beach also provides the perfect backdrop for sunset drinks or a pub crawl of local bars and venues.
Bangkok is Thailand’s capital and the country’s most visited city. This cosmopolitan mecca is known for its vibrant street and nightlife, festivals, five-star restaurants, stunning network of rivers and canals, high-end shopping malls and opulent shrines and temples. Visitors can seek enlightenment, shop ‘til you drop, and tuck into a gourmet meal or party until sun up – all in the one sprawling urban jungle.
The Grand Palace is a former royal residence (once home to the Thai King) and administrative seat of government, only used on ceremonial occasions today. The palace grounds feature historical buildings spanning over 214,000 square metres sectioned into different courts, one of which houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or ‘Wat Phra Kaew.’
With over 8,000 stalls to browse through, the Chatuchak weekend markets attracts nearly 200,000 visitors. It’s a paradise for wholesalers, traders and bargain hunters looking to strike deal on clothing, accessories, ceramics, homewares, antiques, artefacts and plants.
Rock up to the Chatuchak weekend markets to shop at more than 8,000 stalls. If you’re chasing a tucker-bag or a bargain on clothes, souvenirs or knick-knacks, then you’ll be happy as a pig in mud.
Siam Park City is Bangkok’s largest amusement water park, featuring the world’s biggest wave pool recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. This attraction is particularly popular with families and divided into four sections to cater for children of every age. Kids can slide down water slides, ride roller coasters and drop towers, while parents can relax poolside with Thai massages, or grab a bite to eat from a selection of food stands. After dark, the park comes alive with a spectacular light show.
Khao San Road is the Vegas of Bangkok, with neons galore and music blasting at all hours of the night. This party hub offers cheap stays, eats and drinks served in buckets. You can find all types of venues from swanky bars to cocktail shacks, beer bars and more. It’s also the place to taste all sorts of creepy crawlies like crickets, silkworms, tarantulas and even scorpions, and then wash it down with the finest one litre beer served in a plastic ‘tallie’!
Escaping Bangkok’s daily hustle and bustle is sometimes only a corner away. Spas and massage parlours can always be found near popular attractions or busy strips. A one-hour Thai massage can be had for less than $10 in some salons and are offered in shopping centres, beauty salons and in little shacks on certain side streets.
The biggest festival in Thailand is during Chinese New Year around January or February, depending on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Worshippers and locals ring in the New Year dressed in red and take to the streets with drums, firecrackers, Chinese lanterns and floating dragons to scare away evil spirits. New Year festivals are hosted all over the country for three days of celebrations.
It’s the world’s biggest water festival and Thailand’s New Year festivity celebrated in April. In the Buddhist tradition, Songkran is about purification and washing away the bad by sprinkling water on worshippers, but travellers and locals tend to take ‘blessings’ to another level with water cannons and buckets!
Phuket is blue lagoons and pink sunsets galore! Phuket – Thailand’s largest island – boasts some of the best high-end seaside resorts, spas and restaurants in the country. The capital, Phuket City, is home to bustling markets nestled between colourful heritage buildings, while the streets near the beach offer lively entertainment that will release all your inhibitions.
Ever heard of a fish pedicure? Fish spas tend to be quite popular in Thailand, and all you need to do is stick your feet in a water tank filled with ‘doctor fish’ and let them nibble away the dead skin between your toes. Warning: this is not for the ticklish.
Massage parlours and spas are available all over Phuket in specialist shops, on the beach, in hairdressing salons and even in shopping centres. A 60-minute Thai massage can cost as little as $10, so tourists rarely hold back on relaxation while in Phuket.
Haggle with vendors and strike a bargain wherever you shop in Patong. The beach stretch is home to the island’s best markets, who offer some knock-off designer goods like Channel bags, Gucci belts and designer watches, jewellery, wallets, shoes and anything else you can fit in a shopping bag. If you’re looking for a more up-market shopping experience, the popular Jungceylon Shopping Complex and Banana Walk are just a short walk away.
Let your inner Tarzan out and traverse Phuket’s thick jungles and hillsides from above, zip lining from tree to tree while you hang from wire ropes and make your way into the wilderness, suspended between platforms. This aerial adventure is for children and adults alike. The Flying Hanuman Tour is well-known among tourists and some tours even offer a quad bike ride component.
Explore the sea caves in Phang Nga Bay by kayaking through limestone caves and secret lagoons. You can choose between self-paddled tours or let an expert guide do the work while you enjoy the crystalline views and capture the moment on camera. Most tours also treat guests to a Thai seafood lunch and drinks aboard their escort boats.
Phuket is the Bondi of Thailand and famous for its collection of high-end beach clubs, including the iconic Café del Mar and Dream Beach Club. Enjoy signature cocktails and fine dining on a lounge chair tucked under a private cabana and the best poolside vibes while the DJ sets the ambience and you overlook the island’s most popular beaches at sunset.
Bangla Road is the party precinct of Phuket and comes to life every night at sundown. It’s where you can drink buckets of beer, eat street food and pub crawl around all types of bars (and we do mean all), live music venues, clubs and shows – until the sun comes up! Be warned though, this area isn’t for the faint of heart or prudish.
One cannot go to Phuket and truly experience the ‘island life’ without chowing down on a fresh seafood platter, whether from exclusive beachfront restaurants or local haunts. If you’re willing to go the extra mile for the freshest seafood, you can always take a long-tail boat ride to one of Phuket’s floating seafood restaurants.
Loi Krathong is Thailand’s ‘festival of lights’ held on the evening of the 12th lunar month (usually in November.) Worshipers make a wish, release lanterns into the sky and float woven baskets full of incense and candles (or “krathong”) down waterways and canals to wash away their sins.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a nine-day celebration of the belief in the Chinese community that abstaining from meat during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will bestow good health and peace of mind. During the celebrations, worshippers attempt all sorts of feats like walking barefoot on coals, piercing their faces and body, or climbing razor blade ladders to purify their souls.
Whether you’re chasing sunsets in Phuket, reef sharks in Koh Tao or a bucket-list adventure through Bangkok, consider sorting your travel insurance before you jet off. Comparing travel insurance early could help you prepare for the unexpected, so you can focus on enjoying everything Thailand has to offer.