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Koh Samui

Things to do in Thailand

Koh Samui
Home to palm-fringed beaches, ornate temples, dense jungle and a host of delicious food, Thailand is rich in things to see and do. Navigate through Bangkok’s organised chaos and observe how life slows in the city’s temples, or head north to Chiang Mai and experience a typical day in the life of a Thai family.

Escaping the cities allows you to adopt a slower pace of life. Float down the River Kwai on a colonial-style cruise boat or take a trip from Koh Samui to Koh Wao in search of sheer limestone cliffs, hidden caves and untouched beaches.
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Audley Travel specialist David

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Ideas for experiencing Thailand

Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know Thailand, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.

  • Cruise the River Kwai on a Colonial style cruise boat
    RV River Kwai, Bangkok

    Cruise the River Kwai on a Colonial style cruise boat

    Kanchanaburi & The River Kwai

    Cruise the River Kwai on a Colonial style cruise boat

    The RV River Kwai combines the grandest luxuries of the colonial era with ten wood-lined, deluxe air-conditioned cabins, with a window looking out over the river.

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  • See elephants at the Elephant Nature Park
    Day trip to the Elephant Nature Foundation, Chiang Mai

    See elephants at the Elephant Nature Park

    Chiang Mai

    See elephants at the Elephant Nature Park

    The Elephant Nature Park is a non-profit organisation that advocates and acts on behalf of rights for elephants in Thailand. The park offers visitors a rare experience to get involved with the elephants from an educational perspective.

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  • Explore Khao Sok National Park
    Kayaking in Khao Sok National Park

    Explore Khao Sok National Park

    Khao Sok National Park

    Explore Khao Sok National Park

    On arrival at the camp, the morning's activities take you on an exploration of the tropical rainforest of Khao Sok National Park. You explore the rivers that cut through the mangrove forest in a small motorised dinghy.

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  • Thai for a day Responsible Choice
    Mr Prapat explaining the herbs in his garden

    Thai for a day

    Chiang Mai

    Thai for a day

    Experience a typical day in the life of a Thai family by taking a cooking class in their home. Among other things, the family will also demonstrate their basket weaving skills, a tradition that has been in Thailand for centuries.

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  • Explore the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai
    RV River Kwai, Bangkok

    Explore the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai

    Kanchanaburi & The River Kwai

    Explore the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai

    Visit the JEATH War Museum, which houses a replica of the bamboo huts used to accommodate allied prisoners of war (POWs) during the occupation. You also visit the nearby war cemetery before you reach the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai.

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  • Explore the sea caves & limestone islets
    Kayaks at Phang Nga Bay

    Explore the sea caves & limestone islets

    Phuket

    Explore the sea caves & limestone islets

    Uncover the pristine beauty of Phuket by day and night as you explore the limestone cliffs and turquoise waters of Phang Nga Bay.

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  • Experience the secret garden of Bang Kra Jao by bicycle
    Getting off-the-beaten track in Bangkok is worlds away from the busy city

    Experience the secret garden of Bang Kra Jao by bicycle

    Bangkok

    Experience the secret garden of Bang Kra Jao by bicycle

    Just across the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok lies the city's secret garden — Bang Kra Jao. Only accessible by boat, you must cross the river on a small ferry to reach this beautiful area full of small villages, temples and tropical flora.

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  • Street food walking tour of old Bangkok
    Bangkok, Thailand

    Street food walking tour of old Bangkok

    Bangkok

    Street food walking tour of old Bangkok

    You and your guide will walk you through the narrow streets to experience many local sights with various food tastings along the way. Try things like ‘kafae boran’, a classic Thai coffee, or the popular Thai dessert, 'Khanom Thua Paep' (mung bean rice crepe).

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  • Explore the Khmer temples of Khao Yai National Park
    Entering through the east gate of Phanom Rung

    Explore the Khmer temples of Khao Yai National Park

    Khao Yai National Park

    Explore the Khmer temples of Khao Yai National Park

    Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is the most beautiful sandstone sanctuary in Thailand, where you can learn about the fascinating Khmer heritage of the region.

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  • Try a boat tour of Ang Thong National Marine Park
    Angthong National Marine Park, Gulf of Thailand

    Try a boat tour of Ang Thong National Marine Park

    Koh Samui

    Try a boat tour of Ang Thong National Marine Park

    Departing Koh Samui you head to Dragon Island, where you can explore the bizarre rock formations, sheer limestone cliffs, magic caves, hidden grottoes and untouched beaches.

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  • Lahu Village experience
    Lahu dancing and traditional musical instruments

    Lahu Village experience

    Fang

    Lahu Village experience

    You will visit the tea plantations and learn how the villagers make a living by picking and processing tea and coffee, take in the scenic views on the way to a Lahu village and enjoy a local dancing ceremony with the hill-tribes. End the day with a dinner and an overnight stay at Phumanee.

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  • Visit the markets around Amphawa
    Amphawa Floating Market, Thailand

    Visit the markets around Amphawa

    Amphawa

    Visit the markets around Amphawa

    Visit a market which has grown along the railway tracks and witness the dexterity and speed of the vendors as they quickly pack their stalls away whenever the trains approach. Then onto Tha Kha, where you can observe an authentic Thai floating market. Finish your day with a paddleboat journey through the maze of klongs (canals), cruising past plantations and Buddhist temples.

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  • Wat Pho & The Grand Palace
    Bangkok, Thailand

    Wat Pho & The Grand Palace

    Bangkok

    Wat Pho & The Grand Palace

    An early start will get you to Wat Pho in time to experience the monks' early morning chanting ritual and avoid the crowds who arrive later.

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  • Chiang Mai city safari
    Young monks travelling by songthaew, Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai city safari

    Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai city safari

    This one day tour will take you to Chiang Mai's most popular sites but will also give you a true flavour of daily life in the city. See the old trader community of Wat Gatekaram, markets, temples and a vast array of unique 'street life'. Explore ancient ruined temples by bicycle, before boarding a long-tail boat on the Mae Ping River. End the day with a tuk-tuk ride to Warorot Market to join the bustle of locals as they buy their fresh food and spices.

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  • The Silk Route of Jim Thompson
    Teak and porcelain can be seen throughout Jim Thompson's House in Bangkok

    The Silk Route of Jim Thompson

    Bangkok

    The Silk Route of Jim Thompson

    Jim Thompson's house is a real highlight of any trip to Bangkok. The house itself is beautifully decorated and preserved and provides a fascinating insight into the life of this mysterious man, who set up a huge empire trading in Thai silk before disappearing whilst walking in the Malaysian highlands in 1967.

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  • Witness chanting at Wat Pho
    That Phanom Festival; Wat Phra That Phanom

    Witness chanting at Wat Pho

    Bangkok

    Witness chanting at Wat Pho

    An early start will get you to Wat Pho in time to experience the monks' early morning chanting ritual. Later you will visit the temple grounds and the famous 45-metre Reclining Buddha, and The Grand Palace, Thailand's most important landmark.

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  • Experience the Songkran Festival
    Songkran ceremony for the Thai New Year

    Experience the Songkran Festival

    Bangkok

    Experience the Songkran Festival

    The Songkran Festival celebrates the New Year. They are colourful and lively celebrations, with music, traditional dance and, of course, water, which symbolically cleanses the body from the sins of the previous year.

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  • Learn about the 19th Century opium trade in the Golden Triangle
    Golden Triangle, Thailand

    Learn about the 19th Century opium trade in the Golden Triangle

    The Golden Triangle

    Learn about the 19th Century opium trade in the Golden Triangle

    The Opium Museum, situated in the heart of the Golden Triangle and opposite the entrance to the Anantara Resort, provides an excellent insight into the opium trade so prevalent in this area over the past century.

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  • Private cruise & lunch on Phang Nga Bay
    James Bond Island, Phang Nha Bay

    Private cruise & lunch on Phang Nga Bay

    Phuket

    Private cruise & lunch on Phang Nga Bay

    Together with your own private captain, you can explore Phang Nga Bay’s striking karst scenery and mangrove forests aboard a traditional long-tail boat. You’ll also get to unwind on white-sand beaches and enjoy a seafood lunch on a private island.

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  • Sizzling food tour of Bangkok by tuk-tuk
    Tuk-tuk tour in Bangkok

    Sizzling food tour of Bangkok by tuk-tuk

    Bangkok

    Sizzling food tour of Bangkok by tuk-tuk

    Sweet, sour, salty, and spicy — Thailand’s cuisine is known for its expert balance of all four flavours, and one of the best ways to taste them is on a privately guided tuk-tuk tour of Bangkok.

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