Its better in ThailandSamut Songkhram is just 90 minutes from Bangkok and it's a great place to visit. With floating markets, the famous Mae Khlong Railway market, salt evaporation ponds, fishing villages, monkeys and mangrove forests, there is so much to do here.
Best of Samut Songkhram ProvinceIts better in Thailand2019-03-31 | Samut Songkhram is just 90 minutes from Bangkok and it's a great place to visit. With floating markets, the famous Mae Khlong Railway market, salt evaporation ponds, fishing villages, monkeys and mangrove forests, there is so much to do here.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comSamet Nangshe Viewpoint - Camping overlooking the islands of Phang Nga BayIts better in Thailand2021-02-06 | Just 45 minutes from Phuket, Samet Nangshe viewpoint overlooks the iconic islands of Phang Nga Bay and is one of our absolute favorite places anywhere in Thailand. The sunsets are incredible and the sunrises are even better. You can visit on a day trip, or there are two different viewpoints with camping and simple bungalows. There's also a luxury boutique hotel with villas and upscale camping options. See the Samet Nangshe guide on our website for everything you need to know to plan a visit.
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facebook.com/itsbetterinthailand instagram.com/itsbetterinthailand twitter.com/itsbetterinthai pinterest.com/itsbetterinthailandThe Little Amazon in Takua Pa - Kayaking & Jungle Wildlife in Phang Nga ThailandIts better in Thailand2021-01-29 | This wildlife viewing paradise is just 30 minutes north of Khao Lak and something we highly recommend to anyone passing through the area. You get kayaked through a mangrove forest with these massive banyan trees, and along the way, you can spot snakes, monkeys, birds, lizards, and more. It's inexpensive, supports locals, only takes an hour, and it's totally cool and relaxing.
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itsbetterinthailand.comSurfing in Khao Lak, Thailand - Best surf in Thailand, Phang Nga ProvinceIts better in Thailand2020-06-20 | We spent ten days surfing in Khao Lak and had an amazing time. It's a nearly perfect place to learn to surf, and the waves are big enough that experienced surfers can have fun too. The best part though is the super chill vibe around Pakarang Beach. Spend some time here and you're guaranteed to make new friends from all over the world. We definitely recommend visiting here if you surf or would like to learn.
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itsbetterinthailand.comExploring Thale Noi wetlands in PhatthalungIts better in Thailand2020-01-04 | Thale Noi, also spelled Talay Noi (ทะเลน้อย) is an internationally recognized and protected wetland in Phatthalung province covering more than 400km² and home to thousands of bird species.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comWonderfruit Festival in Pattaya, ThailandIts better in Thailand2019-04-14 | Wonderfruit; a home for every spirit animal. Let Thailand breathe you in for a change at this festival for the arts. Here you will get to experience what Thailand’s art and music scene is all about.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comRafting the Khek River in Phetchabun ThailandIts better in Thailand2019-03-31 | We got lucky and stumbled onto this nice little adventure in Ban Nong Mae Na, Phetchabun Province. We had just left Thung Salaeng Luang National Park annoyed that this random park in the middle of nowhere was somehow the most expensive in all of Thailand for foreigners to enter, and just a few minutes later found this great activity. Super friendly people here and it's nice knowing your money is staying in the local community and not going to corrupt national park officials.
This is in the valley below the Khao Kho mountain area of Phetchabun Province and it's a very nice place that mainly gets Thai tourists. Read all about our adventure and how you can visit at the link below.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comDinosaurs in ThailandIts better in Thailand2019-03-31 | I was quite surprised when I arrived in Kalasin province and there were models of dinosaurs everywhere! Turns out there's a growing list of dinosaur graveyards that have been discovered in Issan and Kalasin has some of those, as well as footprints which can clearly be seen in the rock in Phu Faek Forest Park. Amazing.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comIs this the BEST FLOATING MARKET in Thailand?Its better in Thailand2019-03-30 | Tha Kha Floating Market is a very short journey away from the super-touristy floating markets at Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa, but somehow it's still a quaint and quiet little place. It's the best one we've seen in Thailand.
The song is by Suthep Wongkamhaeng and it's from around 1950. You can find the whole song here youtu.be/S4baHMIw4A8
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comWat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew – A temple made from a million glass bottlesIts better in Thailand2019-03-30 | I've seen a lot of temples during my time in Thailand. There are more than 40,000 of them so that's not surprising, but this one is a first. Wat Lan Khuad (วัดล้านขวด) in Sisaket has been built with over 1.5 million glass bottles – but they didn’t just build a temple and stop there – the toilets are made from bottles, the Monk’s bungalows are made from bottles. Even the mosaics and the floors have been created from a mixture of broken glass and bottle caps.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comAmazing sun rays in Tham Khao Luang caveIts better in Thailand2019-03-30 | Just a few minutes outside of Phetchaburi City in Thailand, this cave puts on a brilliant spectacle on every day with sunshine. The sunbeams pour into the cave and filter through incense smoke to create this effect. It's definitely worth visiting. Read our post at the link below for everything you need to know to visit.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comPhra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, Phetchaburi ThailandIts better in Thailand2019-03-30 | If you ever find yourself in Phetchaburi City you'll probably look up and notice the big pagoda on the high hill overlooking the town. This was built in the 19th Century as a summer palace for the Thai Royal Family and has since become a historical park. The temple and pagodas are still active religious sites, and the former palace has become a nice museum. Here's a short preview of what you'll see up here. For more information click the link below for our guide to visiting.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comExploring the Mae Khlong Railway Market in ThailandIts better in Thailand2019-03-26 | The Thailand train market was once an unseen gem but is now a popular tourist attraction. We actually didn't have any plan to go, but we were nearby and saw that the train was coming so we popped in to take a look. Here's a quick look at what it's actually like here as a train goes by. This should help you figure out if you want to go or not. There are definitely A LOT of selfie-snapping tourists, but the market is still fully functioning and it is pretty cool to see.
We'd say it's not worth coming here just for this, but there is a lot more to do around here so it's a nice extra activity to add on. Read our guide on how to get the most out of a visit and find lots of other activities in the area.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comKaeng Krachan National Park Amazing Wildlife!Its better in Thailand2019-03-24 | Kaeng Krachan is Thailand's largest national park and it's a stunning place. From literally right in the campground, you can see adorable dusky langurs playing in the trees and eating fruits and leaves. There is a staggering amount of wildlife there, and this is just a small taste -- basically what I saw and caught on camera in under 24 hours. From the amount of poop I saw, there are a lot of wild elephants around as well. Read our guide for everything you need to know to visit here.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comEpic Bangkok day trip: Thai wakeboarding, mangroves and monkeysIts better in Thailand2019-03-10 | Samut Songkhram is just 90 minutes from Bangkok and it is one of our favorite day trips from the city. A half day tour in Khlong Khon village will get you a boat trip through the monkey-filled mangrove forests, and a visit to the offshore oyster farms. You can also typically add in playing around in the mud searching for cockles, planting a mangrove tree to help restore the forest, and this retro Thai wakeboarding we got to do behind a longtail boat. This was a super fun day and you can do it as a day trip from Bangkok, or as part of a visit to Samut Songkhram which has a lot of other places worth visiting.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comFlight of the bats in PhitsanulokIts better in Thailand2019-02-24 | Every evening, the bats in this small Thai town put on an amazing show. ในทุกๆเย็นค้างคาวในเมืองเล็กๆ แห่งนี้ได้ทำการแสดงสิ่งที่น่าตื่นตาตื่นใจ
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comChilling out in Loei with these floating raft housesIts better in Thailand2019-02-21 | Check out Huai Krathing Reservoir in Loei. Rent a floating house for you and your friends, order your beer and food, and just chill.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comTop activities in Chaiyaphum ProvinceIts better in Thailand2019-02-16 | Chaiyaphum Province in Thailand doesn't get many tourists. It has no airport, and the major highways and train lines don't go through it. But as we found out on a recent road trip through there, there are actually a few really good things to do in Chaiyaphum.
The Tat Ton Waterfall and Mor Hin Khao which is known as Thailand's Stonehenge are both within an hour's drive of the city in the same direction. Both are absolutely worth visiting.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comElephant Round-Up Festival in Surin, ThailandIts better in Thailand2019-02-12 | In November we were invited to check out the Elephant Round-Up Festival in Surin Province. The ethnic Kuy people from this area were historically elephant hunters and specialized in capturing wild elephants and domesticating them to work and fight in war. Today this might seem barbaric, but looking back at a time before modern machines it is pretty understandable. It must have taken incredible bravery to capture a wild elephant with only primitive tools. We know there is a lot of controversy around elephant tourism and in the past we’ve generally avoided it and recommended against it. At the same time there is no denying that elephants play an important part in Thai culture and history and it seems fair to have a festival that celebrates that. What do you guys think?
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comLopburi and its monkeysIts better in Thailand2019-01-01 | Did someone say day trip? 😁 Check out Lopburi, a few hours north of Bangkok. Unless you are scared of monkeys 🐒, then maybe not 😂
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comIs Khao Sok the most beautiful part of Thailand?Its better in Thailand2018-12-03 | Khao Sok is an incredible national park in Surat Thani Province in Southern Thailand. The area has some of the best preserved tropical evergreen forest (aka jungle) in Thailand. The Cheow Lan reservoir lets you get in by boat and get way closer to the jungle than you would otherwise be able to which means you can see some really incredible wildlife. We didn't see any but if you take a proper multi-day kayaking trip it's probably the best place in Thailand to see elusive wild elephants in a way that's safe for humans and animals alike.
The limestone karsts here are reminiscent of areas of Southern China, Halong Bay in Vietnam, and Krabi in Thailand. People often assume photos from here are in Krabi and that the lake is the sea, but it's all fresh water. For us, it's got to be a top five most beautiful place in Thailand and we can never really get sick of being here. For everything you need to know about visiting, click the link below to our website.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.com10 of the best destinations in ThailandIts better in Thailand2018-11-06 | We've put together a montage of our absolute favourite destinations in Thailand!
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comKhao Sok National Park - Cheow Larn LakeIts better in Thailand2018-10-29 | Sometimes referred to as Jurassic Park, Khao Sok is one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
The first ever race in the Land of Smiles will be held on October 5-7, 2018 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram. The official race name is the PTT Thailand Grand Prix 2018. Having MotoGP in Thailand is a huge deal for the country’s tourism industry, and for the millions of motorsports fans who live here.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comShadow Puppet Show at Ban Nang Talung Suchart (บ้านหนังตะลุง สุชาติ ทรัพย์สิน)Its better in Thailand2018-09-11 | Visiting a shadow puppet show whilst in the south of Thailand is a must if you’re looking for an authentic and entertaining morning or afternoon. Shadow puppetry, known as ‘Nang Thalung’ is a popular and traditional art form in the south as well as in neighbouring countries; Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Koh Chang may not be as postcard picture perfect as some of the islands down south, but it's still pretty stunning and there are a lot fewer people there. Click the link below for everything you need to know about booking a great boat trip in Koh Chang on any budget.
Harinezumi Cafe in Chiang Mai lets you play with cute little guinea pigs and hedgehogs while you enjoy a nice coffee. It's a quick activity you can pretty much do while you rest between more strenuous activities while visiting the city.
Website: itsbetterinthailand.comWe were randomly invited to help some old ladies plant rice in Thailand!Its better in Thailand2018-05-23 | Despite living in Thailand for four years neither of us had ever made it to Isan so we decided to rectify this with a trip to Khon Kaen. And a short encounter there on our first day, gave us a true taste of the fun-loving friendliness of the locals.
Every year on the second weekend of May, the people of Yasothon and surrounding provinces gather together to launch huge homemade rockets into the sky. A single rocket weighs over 100 kilograms and is packed full of enough gunpowder to keep it aloft for over five minutes!
The tradition behind the festival is that the rockets are symbolically seeding the skies to bring on the rainy season which is crucial here for the planting of rice - the staple crop. There is also a lot of symbolism around fertility and virility.
This is one of our favorite cultural festivals in Thailand. Even if "cultural festival" sounds like the kind of thing you normally skip, you will like this one. It's very local with few foreigners going, and something you'll probably never forget. However, it is not exactly the safest festival. They claim to be accident-free the last few years, but it is definitely dangerous, especially if you're watching the rockets from up close or checking out the tents where they are packing in the rocket fuel.
The island is closest to Koh Mak, just 5 minutes from Leam Som with a small plastic boat. The price is 350 baht per person, round trip. We reccomend going there by motorbike, parking and taking the boat.
Social: http://facebook.com/itsbetterinthailand http://instagram.com/itsbetterinthailand http://twitter.com/itsbetterinthai http://pinterest.com/itsbetterinthailandThai Sakura - Wild Cherry Trees Blooming in Northern ThailandIts better in Thailand2018-03-13 | Every year in January and February the high forests in Northern Thailand come alive in an explosion of pink cherry blossoms. Reminiscent of Japan's famous Sakura festival, the wild Himalayan cherry trees are native to Thailand and grow in forests above 1200 meters above sea level. These trees were planted along with the pine trees decades ago to replace opium poppy fields, but the trees in the surrounding forests are wild. Filmed at Khun Mae Ya in Mae Hong Son Province. It's just over the border from Chiang Mai on the road to Pai and it's definitely worth stopping for.