Why Visit Thailand At Least Once In Your Life?

I’m always asked why which is my perfect destination and I’m not sure if I’m more shocked I’m still being asked, or shocked when people sound surprised by my answer; Thailand.

It’s a well known fact that Thailand is paradise, so I’m surprised that people still ask me why visit Thailand?

I’m slowly realizing that the majority of people aren’t privy to the reasons why Thailand should be visited at least once in your life, and to ensure that no one misses out on the most tropically, serene travel experience one could ever dream of, I’ve prepared this guide.

In this guide, I’ve listed all the reasons why you should travel to Thailand at least once in your life…

Why Visit Thailand?

1. Perfect Days Lived Like a King

Live like a king for a daily budget of around $20- $30 a day. Now that’s what I’m talking about.

Step out from your beach bungalow for an early morning jog, swim or yoga class. Followed by a deliciously, healthy breakfast of noodle soup, fruit smoothies and green tea.

Spend the morning shopping for incredible bargains on the streets or in the local market, hire a moped and cruise around enjoying the beautiful scenery and relaxed living.

Have a massage on the white sand beach in the afternoon, snorkel around the reefs, wrapping up the day with a hammock-swinging-sunset beer,  to the chilled tunes of Jack Johnson or something similar.

Laugh with the locals, talk travel with the backpackers, consume delicious food and cold beverages.

Head off to bed eventually, not without first taking some time to gaze at the star-filled sky in awe and contemplate the enormity of the Universe and just how small you and your problems really are.

As your head hits the pillow your last thought is

‘Man! What a perfect day, how wonderful it feels to just be simply alive.”

2. Beaches, Islands, Jungle, Culture

It doesn’t matter what your interests are, Thailand has got you covered.

Want to scuba dive, snorkel, island hop, rock climb or just chill on the beach?

Thailand has some of the most pristine beaches in the world. Crystal clear waters the temperature of your bath tub, soft sand beneath your toes and coconuts dropping around your head. Perfect!

Would you rather something a bit more adventurous? Head for the hills and trek your heart out through mountainous valleys and spend some time with the Hill Tribe people.

Or perhaps you want something more cultural?

Thailand is an ancient cultural land, from temples, to palaces and ancient ruins you’ll never run short of a chance to learn from the traditions and customs of this incredible country.

3. Aroi Aroi! Thai Food to Die For

There’s no denying that if you’d rather pass on Thai food, then your taste buds have taken a leave of permanent absence due to insanity. Thai cuisine is sooo delicious and soooo healthy!

There’s something to suit all tastes, from curries, to noodles, seafood, fish cakes, fresh fruit, omelets, soups and smoothies. Even desserts like Mango Sticky Rice isn’t THAT bad for you…

No matter what time of the day or where you eat, your taste buds will be ‘wai-ing’ you with gratitude for the explosion of flavor you’ve sent their way.

Some popular dishes include Thai curries, such as Green Curry and Khao Soi which are made with coconut milk, so they are more sweet than spicy.

Be sure to try the street food, which is all part of the culture in Thailand. It’s quite common to street vendors with crowds of people sitting on little plastic stools on the side of the street and gobbling down a Pad Thai, so be sure to join them!

Living in Thailand for 6 months while teaching abroad was the healthiest I had ever been. I was weighing in at a healthy number, fit as a fiddle, and alive with energy! It must be all those herbs and spices!

4. The Sun always Shines in Thailand

Everybody wants warm, sunny weather on their travels or vacations. You are never left wandering where all that lovely weather has gone when you are in Thailand.

All year round is swimming weather, some months just a little hotter than others.

It’s the tropics, and with the tropics comes a lot of rain as well. But the rain comes in and then it goes out just as quickly, cooling you down for another round of fun in the sun.

5. Thailand is the Land of Smiles

Everyone in Thailand is smiling. The tourists, the backpackers, the Thai cook, the Thai student, the waiter, waitress or bar men, the teachers and students at school, the tuk tuk driver and the sleeping Thai baby.

Thailand will teach you the art of “Mai Pen Rai,”  or as we Aussies like to say  ‘No worries mate!”

You’d be hard pressed to find someone worrying in Thailand. And why would you?

Each day is a gift of paradise and a new opportunity to live from a place of kindness and happiness. Thai people accept and embrace, and serve to keep a smile upon your face.

6. Nature and Landscapes Beyond The Ocean

We have all seen scenes of Thailands coast and islands, but Thailand’s nature doesn’t stop there.

It’s home to many national parks, such as Khao Sok National Park, which are famous for their dense jungles and thriving wildlife.

If you head up to Chiang Mai, which is famous for its elephant sanctuaries, you’ll discover gorgeous landscapes of paddy fields, mountains and jungle adventure.

7. Full Moon Parties

Thailand has been attracting backpackers looking to bask in its nightlife for decades, and perhaps the biggest party in all of Thailand is the Full Moon Party.

This monthly event famously takes place on Haad Rin Beach in Koh Phangan, and is a night-long beach party with loud music, alcohol served in buckets, and fire performances.

While the Full Moon Party only happens once a month, you will find that there are now Half Moon Parties and Black Moon Parties happening in between, so if you want to party, you can always find one on the islands in Thailand.

8. To Experience Songkran

If you’ve never heard of Songkran, you’re in for a treat. Songkran is the annual festival that celebrates Thai New Year.

It’s become most famous for its water splashing parties, which sees thousands of visitors and locals throwing buckets of water or shooting water through water guns.

The idea behind it is that you wash away the bad luck from the last year, so you can start afresh in the new year.

9. Amazing Scuba Diving Sites

Thailand is a paradise for scuba diving and has many stunning dive sites scattered across the country.

One of the top picks is Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, known for their magnificent wall dives and captivating caverns. These sites offer a rich underwater world teeming with marine life.

Another popular area is the Gulf of Thailand, specifically Koh Tao and Koh Samui, which are renowned for their exceptional dive sites where sea turtles, black tip reef sharks and even whale sharks call their waters home.

The Similan Islands, located further north, are also highly recommended for their excellent diving opportunities and diverse marine ecosystems.

And of course, there’s the Phi Phi Islands, which is home to protected and thriving coral reefs.

10. Easy to Travel To/Around

Of all the Southeast Asian countries, Thailand is by far the easiest. Not only do most people speak English, making is a huge bonus when you’re lost of need directions, but people are willing to help you.

I know I mentioned the warmness of the locals before, but when you’re new to traveling and haven’t figured a place out yet, it really makes all the difference knowing you can approach anyone and ask for help.

It’s also well developed and has a good public transport system, especially in Bangkok which has the BTS skytrain that connects most tourist attractions.

Getting from place to place on long-distance buses, ferries, internal flights, is also easy and cheap to do. Even island hopping is made easy.

Here are some guides for getting around Bangkok:

• A Complete Guide To Bangkok Public Transportation & Getting Around
• Bangkok Klongs: Delving deeper into Bangkok on a long tail boat
• Tuk-Tuks are for Tourists: Secrets for Getting Around in Thailand

11. Gorgeous Temples

Some of the most beautiful temples in Southeast Asia are in Thailand. From the iconic Wat Pho in Bangkok, home to the largest reclining Buddha statue in the world, to Wat Arun, which is famous for its changing colors at sunset.

I also love the Golden Mountain Temple (Wat Saket) in Bangkok. I have a personal connection as I taught English at the school attached to it. But it is a beautiful temple, in a serene space in Bangkok, and a very important Thai temple.

And of course, don’t forget the temple capital, Chiang Mai, which is where you’ll find Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and many other famous temples.

Not too far away from Chiang Mai is Chiang Rai, home to the iconic White Temple, one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in Thailand. There’s also Ayutthaya, a land of ancient temples.

Best Time Of Year to Visit Thailand?

Now you know why visit Thailand, let’s quickly inform you of when you should go.

The best time to visit Thailand is the late Autumn and winter season, since the weather is warm but not too hot, and there’s not much rain.

From late February to early March, the weather gets really hot due to the burning season in the north of Thailand, which brings a cloud of pollution over the country.

It typically stays hot throughout April and May, though this is when Songkran happens.

The rainy season is from June to October, though even in the rainy season you get sunny days so it’s a good time to go if you want cheaper deals.

November is our favorite month as it’s warm but not too hot and is when the Lantern Festival takes place in Chiang Mai.

Final Thoughts

I’m thinking I might move back to Thailand … Thai massages every day, healthy delicious food, friendly happy people who understand that life is not a worry, runs along the beach, nightly hammock swings while watching the sunset with a cheap cocktail…. yep, think I might do just that!

Now you know the answer to why visit Thailand, are you ready to take a trip there? Let us know in the comments!

More Thailand Travel Guides

Need more inspiration for your trip to Thailand? Here are some other guides!

• 6 places to visit in Bangkok to escape the madness
• Planning a luxury holiday to Thailand
• Things to Do in Phuket in 48 hours