Thailand’s reputation among travelers approaches the status of legend, and with good reason. The Southeast Asian nation of 67 million combines postcard-ready tropical scenery with endless opportunities for adventure and a culture that places spirituality and hospitality at the fore.
Matador is extremely proud to join with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to share stories of this special place — its land, its people, its culture — that will inspire you to travel, to explore, and to give back.
Image above: Mike Behnken
It was tough narrowing this list down to 17...what did we miss?
In Thailand, there's no stress of breaking the bank. Every turn feels like the set-up to a postcard. The temples are a constant reminder of peace. And the food? Indescribable.
This country is arguably one of the top places anywhere for discovering your best self. Here's proof.
Girls, you know you want to ditch your travel companions anyway.
…a monkey snags your lunch while you’re taking a dip in a waterfall.
There are an estimated 40,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand, many of them open to visitors.
These are the ones I return to, these are the ones I dream about—these, to me, are the country's most captivating islands.
From liveaboard dive junks to treetop palaces, here's what you might not find in your Thailand guidebook.
Bet you don't know Bangkok's real name...
The country is rich in every sense possible, and I've tried to capture that here.
From climbing to diving to exploring one-of-a-kind urban markets.
The needs of the elephants, not the tourists, must come first.
#3: You'll experience complete culture shock.
It still seems remarkably easy to do here.
Most of the environmental issues in Southeast Asia are inextricably linked