During our time backpacking and traveling around Asia we spent more time in Thailand than any other country in SE Asia and for good reason. Unlike most tourists who visit Thailand, we decided to skip most of the beaches located in the southern regions of the country and instead focus most of our time in Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai, our home away from home, became our base for several months and by the time we left we promised ourselves we'd return again in the near future. What makes Chiang Mai such a great base for foreigners? Firstly, it's cheap. You can find high quality serviced apartments for under $500 (some are less than $300) that offer modern amenities and are in located in close proximity to the old square of the city. Secondly, the food – both Thai and International – offers as much diverse selection as any city I've ever visited. If you want to gormandize on authentic Thai delights you'll have no shortage of options ranging from Thai street food to high class Thai restaurants. For the culture vulture, no shortage of opportunities exist to explore temples such as Doi Suthep, markets such as the Saturday night market or interact with animals such as at the Elephant Nature Park. When you get tired of Chiang Mai, the sleepy hillside town of Pai awaits where the pace is slower and you feel more like you're out in the countryside. Whether you love it or hate it, most journeys in Thailand begin and end in Bangkok. This steamy chaotic city offers some incredible temples to explore (such as Wat Arun and the Temple of the Mount) along with great shopping and nightlife. The following is a top attractions travel guide offering a snapshot of the best things to do in Thailand during your next vacation to Land of Smiles: 30 Things to do in Thailand Travel Guide and Top Attractions Travel Video Playlist: 1) Elephant Nature Park Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand 2) Pai, Thailand Travel Guide and Things to Do (ปาย) 3) Wat Arun (วัดอรุณ) 4) Eating Thai street food at the Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market Walking Street on Wua Lai Road 5) Eating delicious Khao Soi (Northern Thai Noodles: ข้าวซอย) at a restaurant in Chiang Mai Thailand 6) Learning How To Cook Thai Food at an organic Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai, Thailand 7) Visiting Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market to Eat Thai Street Food and to shop for Thai Souvenirs 8) Bangkok Water Taxi Boat Ride along a canal nearby Chao Phraya River to visit Wat Saket Temple 9) Our Neighborhood in Chiang Mai, Thailand | A tour of some Thai Buddhist temples, Thai homes and dogs 10) Thai Visa run border crossing from Mae Sai, Thailand to Tachilek, Myanmar (Burma) Travel Video 11) Eating the best Pad Thai ever (ผัดไทย) at Chang Chalaad Restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand 12) Eating the best Pad Thai ever (ผัดไทย) at Chang Chalaad Restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand 13) Feasting on Thai street food at the Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market | Thailand Travel Video 14) Riding our bicycles down the street during a flash flood in Chiang Mai, Thailand Travel Video 15) Visiting Wat Saket (The Golden Mount Temple) on a Buddhist holiday in Bangkok Thailand 16) Eating Northern Thai Cuisine Khantoke Set Feast (ขันโตก) for dinner in Chiang Mai, Thailand 17) Train Ride in Thailand from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Travel Video: Thai Railways การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย 18) Eating Korean Food in Thailand | Delicious Korean Meal (김치전 & 군만두) at the Korea House in Chiang Mai 19) Eating Mango Sticky Rice Thai Dessert (Khao Niaow Ma Muang: ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง) in Chiang Mai 20) Eating Thai Banana Pancakes Roti in Chiang Mai, Thailand | Thai Street Food Travel Video 21) Eating Thai Yellow Noodle Dumpling Soup at Chiang Mai Gate, Thailand | Thai Street Food Series 22) Flying from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Thailand in first class (business class) with Thai Airways 23) Train Ride in Thailand from Bangkok to Chiang Mai including a word association game 24) Visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand (วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพ) 25) Eating Thai Vegetarian Food at Pun Pun Restaurant at Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai, Thailand 26) Shopping at Thai Shopping Mall MBK (Mahboonkrong Center มาบุญครอง) in Bangkok, Thailand 27) Eating lunch at Salad Concept - a vegetarian friendly restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand 28) Tuk-Tuk Auto Rickshaw ride in Bangkok, Thailand with an update about our upcoming travel plans 29) Train journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Thailand Time-Lapse Sequence Travel Video 30) Shopping For Thai Souvenirs in Chiang Mai Music by Kevin Mcleod under a creative commons attribution license. All photo & video by Samuel Jeffery & Audrey Bergner: http://nomadicsamuel.com & http://thatbackpacker.com

• published: 08 Oct 2014
• views: 5