Ban Mae Or
Ban Mae Or is also known as Ban Rak Thai Village (Love Thai Village). It can be found in Mae Hong Son Province and it is the last settlement before the Thai-Myanmar border. Nestled in the mountains, there’s a lake next to the village and local homes are built from clay and rice straw with decorative Chinese-style features. Tea plantations give a boost to the local economy and the village has a unique vibe.
Khanom
Khanom is situated along the Thai Gulf in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The seaside area attracts few foreign tourists but is a popular holiday spot for Thais. There are several pretty beaches and bays, most of which offer terrific views of the ocean and nearby islands, and you can explore the quiet fishing village and dine on freshly caught seafood. Nearby caves and waterfalls add to the visual appeal.
Phetchaburi
The thick rainforest of Kaeng Krachan National Park surrounds this city that borders Myanmar. Phetchaburi is not too far from Bangkok, but you are unlikely to see throngs of tourists. Instead, you’ll see groups of Thai students on day trips learning about their own culture as Phetchaburi is one of the most historic and cultured towns in the nation. You can still see the traces of the Khmer, Sukhothai and Ayuthaya kingdoms with many artifacts still intact even though a violent history. The city stays sleepy at night allowing you full energy to enjoy the Gulf of Thailand and the hiking trails of the rainforest during the day.
Pai
Once just a quiet village in northern Thailand, Pai is now a booming town that is part of the Mae Hong Son Loop stretching between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. Noted for its picturesque valley and relaxed atmosphere, Pai is a favored destination among backpackers and tourists wishing to explore the region. With Pai’s location in the foothills of the mountains, there are several options for trekking and visiting hill tribes. Also just outside the city are elephant camps, hot springs, and beautiful waterfalls. Additionally, the Pai River offers tubing and whitewater adventures.
Kanchanaburi
Backpackers looking to escape the fever pace of life in Bangkok come here for the riverside peace. Movie lovers flock to Kanchanaburi to catch a glimpse of the actual bridge over the River Kwai. Kanchanaburi’s chill riverside vibe belies a dark past when the occupying Japanese used American and other Allied POW’s to construct a railway to Burma (now Myanmar). Museums and monuments dedicated to this history dot the small town often called the center of Thailand’s Wild West.
Chiang Saen
Deep in Northern Thailand and just south of the Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen is a former ghost town crawling back to life. Once one of the most important cities of Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Saen has been sacked and conquered many times throughout history. In 1900, the repopulation began but you can still see the crumbling fortified walls of a violent past. You can see massive barges carrying fruit, car parts and other goods from China out to sea on the Mekong river. And Laos lies just across the Mekong from this sleepy river town.