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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Thailand

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

Updated February 24, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Thailand

See All 121 Things To Do in Thailand

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See all 24 Places to Eat in Thailand
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Temples 24
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Food 14
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Architectural Oddities 12
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Stories About Thailand

Left to right: green, black, Chinese, white, and Ethiopian cardamoms.

A Guide to the Cardamoms of the World

The Cardamom Expanded Universe is bigger than you think.
by Andrew Coletti
The food of southern Thailand is immensely diverse and delicious.

Gastro Obscura’s 12 Essential Places to Eat in Southern Thailand

From incendiary fish curries to rare desserts to sublime fried chicken, here are some of the best places to dine across the region.
by Austin Bush
Thailand’s foi thong features longer strands than the Portuguese dessert that inspired it.

Make Thailand’s Golden Threads Dessert

A recipe from the countess who ran the royal kitchens of Siam.
by Andrew Coletti
The historic Japanese Village of Ayutthaya, where Guyomar grew up, displays a wax figure and portrait of Guyomar in the royal kitchens.

The Tragic and Inspiring Story of the 'Queen of Thai Desserts'

From countess to political prisoner to palace chef, Maria Guyomar de Pinha lived a life fit for the screen.
by Andrew Coletti
In preparing some Thai dishes, the candle known as tian op is key.

The Magic of Thailand’s Culinary Candle

The fragrant smoke of tian op perfumes royal Thai desserts.
by Andrew Coletti
Jon Jandai cultivates and saves the seeds of rare and indigenous plants at the Pun Pun Center for Self Reliance.

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
In the challenging atmosphere of an underwater cave system, rescue operations are more complex—and far more risky.

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
A stir-fry of minced pork, holy basil, and dried marijuana leaves at Ban Lao Reung, the first restaurant in Thailand to cook with the ingredient.

In Thailand, Traditional Cannabis Cuisine Is Back on the Menu

Cooking with marijuana is about umami and taste.
by Austin Bush

Lists Featuring Thailand

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

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