10 winter Thailand vacation ideas that go beyond the expected

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Exploring beyond Thailand’s beaches

Thailand is a favorite for winter beach vacations, but the competition for beach umbrellas can be intense in spots like Samui or Phuket. Why not come to the Land of Smiles for something different?
 
Each year Thai Tourism comes up with a list of spots that they term “Unseen Thailand,” places that are known to Thai travelers but generally not on the foreign tourist radar. Here are 10 you should put on your winter travel bucket list.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Phu Chi Fah for an epic sunrise

With viewpoints looking out to Laos, Phu Chi Fah, a national forest park in far north Thailand, shouldn’t be missed. Thais flock here at the end of the year to watch the “sea of clouds” in the valleys that occur during the winter, and a New Year visit is most spectacular. You can camp or book a homestay in the small village below the peak. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Phraya Nakhon cave and its gorgeous throne pavilion

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park near Pranburi, south of Hua Hin, is full of limestone hills (the name Khao Sam Roi Yot means “the mountain with 300 peaks”) and wetlands, a perfect place for exploring the natural wonders of the island. There’s hiking, great beaches, and epic birdlife, but the star attraction of the park is the surreal Phraya Nakhon Cave.
 
This sinkhole cave has a throne pavilion built for King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) inside, and when early morning sunlight shines through the roof of the cave, it sets the interior aglow. It’s one of Thailand’s best off-the-beaten-path destinations. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

The majestic overlook in Sai Thong National Park

In little visited Loei Province in northern Thailand, Sai Thong National Park is best known for its wild Siam tulips, which blossom en masse during the rainy season in June. But come here any time of year for the spectacular views of the plains below, best seen from the very steep Pha Ham Hod, an unprotected rock that juts out over the valley. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Morning mist on a lake in Pang Ung

Known as the Switzerland of Thailand, Pang Ung, also spelled Pang Oung, can be cool and crisp in the winter, with mountain pine forests surrounding a beautiful alpine lake. Thais come here to camp, and a winter holiday is the best time to take a ride on a traditional bamboo raft, especially in the early morning when the lake is shrouded in atmospheric mist.
 
Located in the northern province of Mae Hong Son, the drive takes you on steep and curvy mountain roads, but it’s well worth the effort to see a side of Thailand few tourists even know exists.

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Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Himalayan cherry blossoms in Khun Chang Khian

Cherry blossom viewing isn’t only reserved for Japan and Korea. Few visitors to Thailand know that in winter, the White Hmong hill tribe village of Khun Chang Khian, just outside of Chiang Mai, is home to hillsides of wild Himalayan cherry trees, which blossom in December and January.
 
Despite being so near Chiang Mai, most tourists from other countries don’t know about Khun Chiang Khian, and while the steep and narrow rutted road into the village isn’t suitable for a rental car, there are drivers with four-wheel drive or pickup trucks waiting near the entrance to take people in. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Khao Chang Phueak for beautiful but challenging hikes

Adventure seekers should head to Kanchanaburi Province, home to Khao Chang Phueak, a mountain in Thong Pha Phum National Park. You need a permit to hike here, as the climb to the peak features a knife-edge ridge where rangers and ropes help assist trekkers to reach the summit.
 
It’s a beautiful spot, a challenging hike, and you’ll get to experience a side of the burgeoning Thai outdoor adventure scene.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Sa Morakot, a natural emerald pool in the forest

If you’re spending beach time in Krabi, you might want to leave the sand for a day and make a trip to Sa Morakot, a beautiful emerald pool set in the pretty Khao Phra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary.
 
The water here is heated from warm water streams, and you can swim in one of the natural pools, as well as hike through the surrounding forest. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Red Lotus Sea in blossom

Talay Bua Daeng, or Red Lotus Sea, is true to its name. This large lake near Udon Thani in northeast Thailand is home to thousands of pink water lilies, which bloom in the cooler winter months.
 
Join a group tour or rent your own boat with a driver to head out through the various waterways to photograph the sea of flowers. There’s an interesting island with a temple in the middle of the lake where the boats stop, offering more overlooks of the pink and red surroundings. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Stupas on sharp limestone at Wat Chalermprakiat

It might be a mouthful to say Chalermprakiat Prajomklao Rachanusorn, but this northern Thai gem is unseen Thailand at its best. Completed in 2015, this temple complex, better known as Wat Chalermprakiat, was built to celebrate the 200-year birthday of King Rama IV. A series of white stupas sit right on top of sharp limestone pinnacles, and the views of the surrounding countryside go on forever.
 
Getting here is half the fun, as you have to drive up some pretty wild mountain roads north of Lampang, then take a shared truck provided by the temple complex up an insanely steep set of switchbacks, and then finish with a climb of 800 stairs to reach the temple’s upper viewpoint. 

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Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Perfect solitude on Koh Tarutao

Of course, Thailand still offers plenty of beach escapes, but none rival Koh Tarutao for old-school adventure. Tarutao was originally known as the pirate island, due to being used as a penal colony prior to World War II. When it was cut off during the war, the guards and inmates turned to piracy to survive. These days, Tarutao is a rare national park, with no development allowed, other than a few park service bungalows and campgrounds.
 
There’s great jungle hiking, fantastic beaches with total solitude, and even ruins of the old prison camp. It’s so wild on Koh Tarutao that the TV show “Survivor” shot a season here.