5 surprising reasons your next holiday should be to Thailand

Go beyond the beaches to experience Thailand’s cultural riches.

Thailand has been a favourite destination for Australian visitors for decades, thanks to its pristine coastline, turquoise water and idyllic beach lifestyle. However, go deeper to the heart of the destination and you’ll find thousands of years of culture filtering through every visitor experience. From traditional rituals performed before adrenaline-fuelled Muay Thai matches to exceptional street food and brightly coloured fashions meant to bring good luck, these five things to do in Thailand will transform your trip.

Must beat

Developed over the centuries, Muay Thai isn’t just a combat martial art – it’s also a deeply historic practice rooted in tradition, and an incredible way for visitors to connect with Thai culture.

There are four unique styles of this ancient Thai boxing practice, which heavily relies on the use of elbows, knees, fists and shins and requires excellent cardio and strong discipline. At the beginning of matches, opponents perform a ritual called wai khru ram muay to show respect to their teachers and ancestors.

Both demonstration and professional matches have become popular spectator sports for visitors, but there’s also an increasing number of visitors travelling to Thailand to train in Muay Thai. Due to this increased popularity, a new 90-day Muay Thai visa was created. It’s available to those who want to travel to Thailand to study and train at accredited Muay Thai gymnasiums around the country.

Watch competitors take part in Muay Thai (Image: Leo Patrizi)

Must eat

Thai food is loved the world over for its balance of spicy, sweet, sour and salty flavours, with each of Thailand’s 77 provinces and administrative areas home to a unique regional dish – like yum kai nam khong, which includes a stir-fried seaweed commonly found in the Mekong in Chiang Rai.

Start your culinary journey with Thailand’s cheerful street food cooked in front of you on the sidewalk and markets for just a few baht; think dishes like gai tod (fried chicken), poh pia tod (spring rolls) or freshly made pad thai (noodles).

Grab freshly made pad thai. (Image: Gareth Harrison)

While there’s plenty of delicious food you can’t miss in the markets and on the streets, there are also exceptional fine dining opportunities. Currently, there are seven two-star Michelin restaurants in Thailand, all located in Bangkok. Three of these – R-HAAN, Sorn and Baan Tepa – focus on elevated and contemporary Thai fine dining. Significantly, PRU, located in Phuket, has not only received a Michelin Star but also a Michelin Green Star for growing and sourcing food from its own 96-hectare organic farm.

Thai desserts, known as kaanom (sweet snacks), also deserve a special mention and are an integral part of Thai food culture. While many visitors are familiar with classic Thai desserts like mango sticky rice or kao tom mud (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf with a filling inside), there are regional specialities to be found all over. You’ll even discover specialist dessert restaurants in many capital cities.

Try tasty street foods and local specialties across the country. (Image: Ilona Budzbon)

Must seek

Those looking for a stronger cultural connection can find an incredible breadth of experience throughout Thailand. Learn about the mythical symbolism of the Nagas, multi-headed serpents that guard Buddhist temples, and see the incredible Naga fireballs shooting into the sky during the Naga Fireball Festival, held annually along the Mekong River.

Experience the Lanna culture of northern Thailand in destinations like Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lampang, where popular Lanna celebrations – like the Yi Peng Festival and Songkran – showcase the culture’s strong revival.

Meanwhile, many travellers follow the UNESCO World Heritage trail from Sukhothai to Nakhon Ratchasima. Along the way, you’ll see incredible architecture, cities and temples dating back to the 13th century, as well as unbeatable natural beauty.

Learn about the mythical symbolism of the multi-headed serpents that guard Buddhist temples. (Image: Javier Dall)

Must buy

Thailand has a rich history of textile production; it produces some of the most beautiful silk in the world, made famous by manufacturers like Jim Thompson, whose outlets remain popular throughout the country. And famous Thai brands like Disaya, Kloset and Senada can all be found in Bangkok.

Recently, bright and affordable patterned pants have risen in popularity. More resort than runway, the loose-fitting pants are printed with traditional Thai motifs, including the elephant, which symbolises both luck and prosperity. Made using soft breathable fabrics like cotton or rayon suited to Thailand’s humidity, the pants are now in vogue as both international visitors and locals embrace the look.

While the elephant print originated in the north, one of the best places to pick up an authentic pair of pants is at Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak weekend market.  With over 15,000 stalls spread over 35 acres, it’s a great place to find the perfect pair.

Shop at Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak weekend market. (Image: Joy T)

Must see

Unsurprisingly, Thailand has had a starring role on the silver screen: James Bond’s The Man with The Golden Gun introduced Ao Phang Nga National Park to international viewers in 1977, Leonardi DiCaprio’s The Beach made Koh Phi Phi Le a must-visit for younger generations in 2000, and Bangkok shone bright in 2011’s The Hangover Part II.

Most recently, Thailand featured in the Netflix romantic comedy Mother of the Bride. Filmed on location at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort and Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, it showcased the stunning scenery around Phuket to over 26 million viewers worldwide in its first weekend of streaming.

Also generating excitement is news that season three of the hit HBO series The White Lotus is currently filming across Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui.

See the heavenly set of The Beach. (Image: Oleh Slobodeniuk)

Start planning your Thai getaway at amazingthailand.com.au.