Thailand stands very high on the bucket list of so many people – and no wonder why. I have recently spent an entire month here and I completely understand the hype about Thailand. The locals, the beaches, the atmosphere, the religion, and the food make it one of the best places to visit in the whole wide world.
Due to Thailand`s popularity, places like Krabi and Phuket are overrun by tourism, so I was actively looking for unique places in Thailand – to avoid the crowds.
In this travel guide, I gathered 6 Hidden Gems in Thailand without the masses of tourists. I visited all these places and I am sharing my own experience with you. Stay along!
1. Wildlife Watching in the Khao Yai National Park
When starting your Thailand trip, chances are that you arrive in Bangkok first. Only 2 hours away from Bangkok there is a National Park where still wild elephants roam around. It is called the “Khao Yai National Park” and it is one of the best places in Thailand to witness wildlife the ethical way.
Opt for a whole-day jungle trekking experience to have the highest chance of seeing the animals.
Accommodation and Tour Recommendation: Greenleaf Guesthouse
We stayed at the Greenleaf Guesthouse and can only recommend you do the same. The Greenleaf Guesthouse is located in a village called Pak Chong, which is considered an entry point to the Khao Yao National Park. Due to the guesthouse`s proximity to the park, only by staying here, we heard so many unique animal sounds at night.
As the staff at the Greenleaf Guesthouse organizes hiking tours to the Khao Yai National Park, we decided to go with them on a full-day jungle trekking experience.
Our guide on the tour was one of the most enthusiastic guides I have ever met. At that time, he even had a broken arm, and despite that, he was speedily carrying the large spotting scope and he showed us a great variety of wildlife animals: gibbons, an elephant, hornbills, monitor lizards, and many more.
(The Greenleaf Guesthouse also provides leech socks – I know that this was my concern, so maybe you are wondering about the same!)
White-Handed Gibbon Majestic Trees in the Park Wild Elephant Encounter
Location of the Khao Yai National Park
2. Enjoying the Island Life in Koh Yao Noi
Never heard of “Koh Yao Noi” located in Phang Nga Bay among those famous limestone cliffs?
Me neither before, and I was so glad that a friend of mine from Thailand told me about this wonderful island.
Koh Yao Noi is a real hidden gem and it became my favourite Thai Island. Koh Yao Noi had everything we wanted: beautiful and empty beaches, lots of nature, great food, friendly locals, and only a few tourists.
I have a complete guide on visiting Koh Yao Noi.
Little Long Beach 
Four Islands Day Trip Exploring Koh Yao Noi
Location of Koh Yao Noi
3. Trekking with Mr. Tan in Koh Chang
Before visiting Thailand, we binge-watched YouTube videos about the different places Thailand has to offer. There was one island in particular that caught my eye due to its lush tropical jungles- this is why we headed to Koh Chang.
There are only a few more things I love more than being in the jungle – therefore I wanted to find the best person on Koh Chang to guide us into the jungle.
After an extensive search, I read about a legendary person called Mr. Tan who created the paths in the jungle by himself. I texted the agency he is working with and luckily we could get a spot for the next day to go hiking with Mr. Tan.
The hiking trip was easily the best hike we did in Thailand because we learned so much about the jungle.
We even swam in a crystal clear river in the deep forest and it was such a precious experience – especially due to the fact that no one knows the entry to this hiking trail except Mr. Tan.
Summary of the trek we did:
Hiking Route Name: Klong Prao Trek
Price: 1200 Baht / Person
Including: pick up/drop off at hotel, lunch, water, and backpack if needed.
Phone Number Mr. Tan& the tour agency: +66 89-6452019, + 66 89-8322531
You can check out all the offered treks via Coco de Boo Tours. On the website, you can choose which hike you want to do – and make sure it is guided by Mr. Tan.
Location of Koh Chang
4. Visiting the Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge in Pai
Pai is a small, laidback village surrounded by lush mountains in Northern Thailand. The village itself gained some popularity and it is now attracting young folks, as it has a great hippie vibe.
The Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge is a wonderful place to visit near Pai. There is a Buddhist Temple at the end of the bridge. The bamboo bridge was built for the monks so that they could reach the nearby village – as the area is covered by muddy rice fields.
It is definitely worth a visit, especially during early morning or late afternoon, when the lights are the best.
The entry fee to the Bamboo Bridge is 30 Baht.
Location of the Bamboo Bridge in Pai
5. Chasing waterfalls around Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a beautiful tourist hotspot due to its temples, the monks, the night markets, and its beautiful surroundings.
If you want to leave the busy Chiang Mai for a day and have a relaxed nature day instead, then how about checking out the waterfalls the area has to offer? I can recommend two places:
Mae Sa Waterfall: Although not that photogenic, there is a beautiful walking trail alongside the waterfalls – there are altogether 7 of them. Choose this one if you love the jungle sounds.
Mok Fa Waterfall: It reminded me of the waterfalls in Bali. Choose this one if you want nice photos!
Mae Sa Waterfall Mok Fa Waterfall
Location of the Mae Sa Waterfall
6. Learning about Burma in Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son is the name of a province as well as a town. It has a direct border with Myanmar (=Burma) where there was an ongoing serious conflict some time ago. As a result, many people chose to flee from Myanmar in search of a new life within Thailand.
One of the well-known traditions of the Burmese Karen and the Kayan tribe is that the women wear rings around their necks.
Although we wanted to visit such a village, we definitely did not want to contribute to harmful activities where women are being looked at due to their long necks. After some research, we found a Kayan village which is rarely visited. We decided to go there.
As we arrived, we realised that the village was completely separated by a river. After a few minutes of discussing whether we should be here or not, a villager arrived with his boat and took us to their home.
In the village, we saw people doing crafts like jewellery and clothing. We had some nice exchanges with the locals who told us how they got to Thailand and how they live now. This Kayan tribe lives in this village for decades and they even have their own school for the kids.
The village sustains itself by the donations and the crafts the people sell. If possible. please donate and buy some crafts from the tribe. It will make a great memory. 🙂
Please respect the Kayan tribe and never the a photo of the ladies without their permission.
Arriving at the Longneck Kayan Village 
We arrived with this boat at the Burmese Village
Location of the Kayan Long Neck Village
What to Pack for Thailand
Do you wonder how to pack for Thailand? With over 4 months of traveling in Southeast Asia, I created the Ultimate Southeast Asia Packing List. Check it out!
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