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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Thailand

94 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Thailand

Updated November 23, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Thailand

Tambon Chiang Haeo, Thailand

Red Lotus Lake

Stunning wetlands ablaze with pink lotus flowers.

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Wat Rong Khun

A white Buddhist temple with a golden restroom.

Khlong Mai, Thailand

Wat Samphran Temple

An enormous dragon scales the walls of this 17-story temple.

Sam Roi Yot, Thailand

Phraya Nakhon Cave

At the right time of day, sunlight floods through the roof of this cave and illuminates the small pavilion hidden within.

Tambon Tha Kradan, Thailand

Erawan Cascading Waterfalls and Caves

A limestone wonderland of water and subterranean secrets.

Tambon Saen Suk, Thailand

The Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden

Walk through depictions of the torture inflicted on those who go to Buddhist hell.

Bangkok, Thailand

Amulet Market

Bangkok's men with dangerous jobs come here in search of protective talismans.

Bangkok, Thailand

Half-Century-Old Soup

At a Bangkok bistro, one pot of beef stew has been cooking non-stop for more than 45 years.

See All 94 Things To Do in Thailand

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand

Half-Century-Old Soup

At a Bangkok bistro, one pot of beef stew has been cooking non-stop for more than 45 years.

Amphoe Ko Kut, Thailand

Treepod Restaurant

Eat like a bird in a bamboo nest.

Mae Klong, Thailand

Maeklong Railway Market

Six times a day a train runs right through the middle of this Thai street market, sending vendors scrambling.

Bangkok, Thailand

Cabbages & Condoms

A condom-covered Thai restaurant that is more concerned with birth control than food.

See all 10 Places to Eat in Thailand

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Sacred Spaces 13

Architectural Oddities 12

Museums And Collections 6

Unique Restaurants & Bars 1

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Stories About Thailand

How Thailand's 'Happiness Farmer' Built an Oasis of Simple Living

A revolution in food-growing, home-building, and seed-saving is afoot outside Chiang Mai.

by Sam Lin-Sommer

November 23, 2022

The Surprise Rescue-Within-a-Rescue in a Flooded Thai Cave

In 2018, before divers could reach a famously stranded junior football team, they first had to save other lives.

by Rick Stanton with Karen Dealy

January 5, 2022

In Thailand, Traditional Cannabis Cuisine Is Back on the Menu

Cooking with marijuana is about umami and taste.

Thailand’s Spirits Have a Taste for Red Fanta

The ruby-red drink is a mainstay at spirit houses and shrines.

by Chawadee Nualkhair

In Thailand, Funeral Cookbooks Preserve Recipes and Memories

Though their origins are tragic, the books provide invaluable inspiration.

by Chawadee Nualkhair

These Money-Making Monkeys Have Jobs Picking Coconuts

In Thailand, humans and simians share harvesting duties.

February 28, 2020

How Thai Fruit Carving Went From Royal Craft to Internet Sensation

Once a symbol of power, it's now considered a dying art.

by Chawadee Nualkhair

February 5, 2020

The Oddly Autocratic Roots of Pad Thai

The sweet and salty noodle dish started out in a prime minister's kitchen.

by Alex Mayyasi

November 7, 2019

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