94 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Thailand - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Thailand

Tambon Chiang Haeo, Thailand

Red Lotus Lake

Stunning wetlands ablaze with pink lotus flowers.

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Wat Rong Khun

A white Buddhist temple with a golden restroom.

Tambon Tha Kradan, Thailand

Erawan Cascading Waterfalls and Caves

A limestone wonderland of water and subterranean secrets.

Khlong Mai, Thailand

Wat Samphran Temple

An enormous dragon scales the walls of this 17-story temple.

Sam Roi Yot, Thailand

Phraya Nakhon Cave

At the right time of day, sunlight floods through the roof of this cave and illuminates the small pavilion hidden within.

Tambon Saen Suk, Thailand

The Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden

Walk through depictions of the torture inflicted on those who go to Buddhist hell.

Bangkok, Thailand

Amulet Market

Bangkok's men with dangerous jobs come here in search of protective talismans.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok Airplane Graveyard

Derelict airplane bodies serve as both home and income for three Thai families.

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Thailand

Amphoe Ko Kut, Thailand

Treepod Restaurant

Eat like a bird in a bamboo nest.

Bangkok, Thailand

Half-Century-Old Soup

At a Bangkok bistro, one pot of beef stew has been cooking non-stop for more than 45 years.

Mae Klong, Thailand

Maeklong Railway Market

Six times a day a train runs right through the middle of this Thai street market, sending vendors scrambling.

Bangkok, Thailand

Cabbages & Condoms

A condom-covered Thai restaurant that is more concerned with birth control than food.

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Stories About Thailand

In the challenging atmosphere of an underwater cave system, rescue operations are more complex—and far more risky.

The Surprise Rescue-Within-a-Rescue in a Flooded Thai Cave

In 2018, before divers could reach a famously stranded junior football team, they first had to save other lives.

by Rick Stanton with Karen Dealy

January 5, 2022

A stir-fry of minced pork, holy basil, and dried marijuana leaves at Ban Lao Reung, the first restaurant in Thailand to cook with the ingredient.

In Thailand, Traditional Cannabis Cuisine Is Back on the Menu

Cooking with marijuana is about umami and taste.

Gods and spirits are offered flowers, food, and Fanta.

Thailand’s Spirits Have a Taste for Red Fanta

The ruby-red drink is a mainstay at spirit houses and shrines.

by Chawadee Nualkhair

Elite chefs in Thailand collect funeral books for their recipes.

In Thailand, Funeral Cookbooks Preserve Recipes and Memories

Though their origins are tragic, the books provide invaluable inspiration.

by Chawadee Nualkhair

Ai Thong, a trained macaque, harvests coconuts in a family's backyard.

These Money-Making Monkeys Have Jobs Picking Coconuts

In Thailand, humans and simians share harvesting duties.

February 28, 2020

Carved fruit and vegetables were once a must for banquets and events.

How Thai Fruit Carving Went From Royal Craft to Internet Sensation

Once a symbol of power, it's now considered a dying art.

by Chawadee Nualkhair

February 5, 2020

Pad Thai for everyone was once the party line.

The Oddly Autocratic Roots of Pad Thai

The sweet and salty noodle dish started out in a prime minister's kitchen.

by Alex Mayyasi

November 7, 2019

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