Hidden gems in Thailand

Beyond Thailand's primary tourist hubs lies a collection of distinct architectural and natural landmarks. This selection features the Sanctuary of Truth, a massive hand-carved wooden structure in Pattaya, and Wat Samphran, a pink tower encircled by a giant dragon. It includes the Temple of a Million Bottles in Sisaket, constructed from recycled glass, and the sunken ruins of Wat Saam Prasob. From the seven-tiered Erawan Waterfall to the ancient Khmer ruins of Prasat Preah Vihear situated atop a 525-meter cliff, these sites represent Thailand's diverse cultural and geographical heritage.

Hidden Gems — Map

Marlinjuice / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Sanctuary of Truth

The Sanctuary of Truth is an unfinished museum in Pattaya, Thailand designed by Thai businessman Lek Viriyaphan.

ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงาน/ส่งข้อมูลเก็บในคลังข้… / CC BY 3.0

B

Wat Maha That Yuwarat Rangsarit Ratchaworamahawihan

One of the ten royal temples of the highest class was originally built to house the relics of Buddha.

HAH / CC BY 2.5

C

Ancient Siam

This park in the shape of Thailand is supposedly the largest outdoor museum in the world.

Alexey Komarov / CC BY 3.0

D

Ao Yon Beach

A secluded sandy beach on the southern coast of Phuket, featuring calm waters and local pearl farms.

Maksim Sundukov / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Big Buddha

Wat Phra Yai, known in English as the Big Buddha Temple, is a Buddhist temple on Ko Phan, a small island offshore from the northeastern…

Dirk Enthoven / CC BY 3.0

F

Phang Nga Elephant Park

A family-run sanctuary in Phang Nga focusing on ethical elephant care and educational interactions.

Angsyl / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Wat Samphran

Wat Sam Phran is a Buddhist temple in Amphoe Sam Phran, Nakhon Pathom province, around 40 kilometers to the west of Bangkok.

Mark Fischer / CC BY-SA 2.0

H

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, also known as the Temple of a Million Bottles, is a Buddhist temple in Khun Han district of Sisaket province,…

William Brehm / CC BY 2.0

I

Prasat Preah Vihear

Preah Vihear Temple is an ancient Hindu temple built by the Khmer Empire, located on top of a 525-metre cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains, in…

Diliff / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Erawan Waterfall

A seven-tiered waterfall in Kanchanaburi known for its emerald green limestone pools and forest hiking trails.

(WT-shared) Cakra at wts wikivoyage / Public domain

K

Wat Saam Prasob

Known as the Sunken Temple, these ruins in Sangkhlaburi are typically submerged and only fully accessible when water levels are low.

Ellnik / CC-BY-SA-3.0

L

Wat Phumin

The city of Nan's most famous wat is renowned for its cruciform ubosot which was constructed in 1596 and restored during the reign of Phra…

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