© 2019 MEREDITH CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. For more information on Bangkok and beyond,
visit Amazing Thailand at tourismthailand.org.
CULTURAL FINDS
Just an hour by plane from Bangkok’s skyscrapers,
Buriram is a great place to experience traditional
festivals and events. Don’t miss Loy Krathong in
November, where hundreds of small banana leaf
boats filled with flowers, incense, and candles light
up the sky. Also celebrated in November, the thrilling
Buriram Long Boat Races feature a parade of colorful
boats and an elephant swimming contest. And in
December’s Buriram Kite Festival, enjoy a procession
of traditional “aek” kites and folk performances.MOUNTAIN RETREATSNorthern Thailand is an escape to hilltop temples,
expansive resorts, and vibrant culture. The north’s
largest city, Chiang Mai—called the “Rose of the
North”—boasts more than 300 ornate “wats,” or
temples, in the city and surrounding countryside.
It’s also a foodie haven; The Michelin Guide Thailandwill include Chiang Mai in its 2020 edition,
showcasing the region’s distinct local cuisine.
A few hours north of Chaing Mai, in
the region known as the Golden Triangle,
Chiang Rai is a place to reconnect with nature in
remote hill-tribe villages and in glamorous tented
camps inspired by the misty landscape. With its
mountain trails, bamboo jungles, and refuges
for rescued elephants—a symbol of Thai royalty
emblazoned on everything from scarves to the
sides of beer bottles—this part of the country
feels delightfully off the beaten path, but with
all the amenities of a comfortable vacation.Clockwise, from
top: Phanom
Rung Historical
Park in Buriram;
Chiang Rai
Chouifong
Tea Plantation;
Wat Phra That
Doi Suthep
Temple in Chiang
Mai; local Thai
delicacies.