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All Thailand

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Thailand

95 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Thailand

Updated May 30, 2023

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Sifting for the perfect protection at the market
Bangkok
Train going over vegetables on display
Mae Klong
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Chiang Mai
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Wiang
Dragonfruit and mangosteen bungalows.
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Unusual Attractions in Thailand

Lotus Sea with flowers in bloom.

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.
Phraya Nakhon Cave.

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.

Khlong Mai, Thailand

Wat Samphran Temple

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

Tambon Tha Kradan, Thailand

Erawan Cascading Waterfalls and Caves

A limestone wonderland of water and subterranean secrets.

Tambon Saen Suk, Thailand

The Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden

Walk through depictions of the torture inflicted on those who go to Buddhist hell.
Sifting for the perfect protection at the market

Bangkok, Thailand

Amulet Market

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

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.
See All 95 Things To Do in Thailand

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Thailand

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.

Amphoe Ko Kut, Thailand

Treepod Restaurant

Eat like a bird in a bamboo nest.
Train going over vegetables on display

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.
Superheroes made of condoms.

Bangkok, Thailand

Cabbages & Condoms

A condom-covered Thai restaurant that is more concerned with birth control than food.
See all 10 Places to Eat in Thailand
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Explore Thailand

Temples 21
Buddhism 20
Sacred Spaces 13
Architectural Oddities 12
Statues 10
Ecosystems 10
Shrines 8
Caves 8
Collections 8
Shops 7
Nature 7
Museums And Collections 6

Thailand Leaderboard

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Recent Thailand Activity

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    wants to go to Papaya Studio

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    wants to go to Erawan Shrine

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    wants to go to Erawan Cascading Waterfalls and Caves

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    wants to go to Wat Yannawa Boat Temple

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    wants to go to Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall

Stories About Thailand

Jon Jandai cultivates and saves the seeds of rare and indigenous plants at the Pun Pun Center for Self Reliance.

How Thailand's 'Happiness Farmer' Built an Oasis of Simple Living

A revolution in food-growing, home-building, and seed-saving is afoot outside Chiang Mai.
by Sam Lin-Sommer
November 23, 2022
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.
by Austin Bush
April 8, 2021
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
May 18, 2020
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
April 24, 2020
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.
by Austin Bush
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

Lists Featuring Thailand

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

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