More tourists are venturing into rural Thailand

[PeteC]

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Tourists in Thailand are opting for ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destinations, benefiting the environment and local economies.

Thailand’s usual top tourist destinations are places with international airports – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phuket. According to Airbnb, more tourists are venturing out of these hubs and into “lesser-known” destinations such as Koh Lanta, Trat, Pai and Cha-Am.

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is surprisingly easy and quick to get to. First, catch a short flight from wherever you are to Krabi Airport. Then, take a minivan to the pier and catch a 15-minute speedboat to the island. The transfer takes less than 90 minutes.

If you have more time and a smaller budget, a more scenic option is to catch a ferry to Koh Lanta. Upon arrival at Krabi Airport, book a public minivan to Koh Lanta. The minivan will take you to Krabi town and wait for the ferry to the island. Depending on the wait in Krabi town, the total transfer time is about three to six hours.

Trat

Trat in eastern Thailand is home to over 50 islands, the three most popular being Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Mak. Trat has everything: beaches, diving, rich history, wildlife, and waterfalls. On the border with Cambodia, Trat is also a convenient transit point to the Cambodian beach resort of Sihanoukville.

You can fly to Trat Airport from Bangkok, but flights are fairly pricey and only run from Bangkok a few times a day. The most popular and cheapest option is to catch a bus. The bus journey from Mochit to Bangkok takes five hours 27 minutes and costs less than 300 baht (US$8.23).

Pai

Pai is a well-known “hippie paradise” located in the mountains of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand. The area is rich with culture, scenery, rice paddies, and waterfalls and is perfect for a laid-back getaway.

To get there, fly to Chiang Mai Airport. Take a cheap minivan from Chiang Mai to Pai. It takes around three hours and tickets cost 150 baht (US$4.11) each way and you can take up to 20 kilogrammes of luggage. The journey is not for the faint-hearted, there are 762 curves in the road and the drivers go fast. It is notorious for making people car sick, so be sure to buy some car sickness tablets (Ya Mao Rot) from 7-Eleven or any pharmacy before the journey.

Cha-am

Cha-am is a beach destination in Phetchaburi province, western Thailand, which is perfect for a getaway from Bangkok. Only two hours and 20 minutes away from the capital, the journey is easily done by car, motorbike, bus, train or taxi. Cha-am is located 20 kilometres north of Hua Hin.

To tourists who frequent Thailand often, these destinations might not seem super rural. If you’re looking for more of an adventure, explore the vast region of northeast Thailand aka “Isaan.”

Another unexplored destination is Trang province in southern Thailand. Trang is home to ecotourism, beaches, islands, mountains and rich culture. You can fly there. To experience Trang’s rural way of life, stay a few days at Ban Lam Khanun homestay.

The hosts will take you kayaking, give you fruits you’ve never seen before, take you to see traditional dance and puppet performances and teach you how the village generates electricity from hydropower. The hosts will also take you on a gastronomy tour of Trang city, located a 30-minute drive away from Ban Lam Khanun village.

Another special spot for a scenic adventure is Phetchabun province in north-central Thailand. Phetchabun lies at the meeting point between north, central and northeast Thailand. It’s largely unexplored by tourists – but the mountains, ancient ruins, waterfalls and national parks make for a tranquil getaway. You can get buses to Phetchabun, but to explore, you’ll need to rent a car.

SOURCE: Travel Daily Media