Start planning for the future
In these COVID-19 outbreak times, traveling is strongly prohibited. So if you still feel the itch to get out, why not start researching where to go when things are over?
Here are some off-the-beaten-track local destinations that you might want to consider. Imagine yourself strolling away from the crowd, enjoying a bit of serenity, and also discovering something new.
This hidden gem in Northern Thailand, once a part of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, is where regional charm and natural beauty converge. Get close to Mother Nature at Doi Samer Dao where each sunrise is a spectacle and oceans of constellations reward campers once the sun sets. Or drive down Thanon Loy Fah, a series of scenic highways flanked by trees and green pastures. Make a stop at Bo Klua where villagers produce high-quality salt using traditional ways.
One of the biggest cites in Northeastern Thailand is known for its prehistoric attractions. The Pho Wiang National Park offers hikes through archeological sites that have unearthed fossils of dinosaurs that lived 100 million years ago, while the complementary Dinosaur Museum features the dinosaur bones themselves. For prehistoric thrills of a different kind, you have Dinosaur Water Park, the region’s biggest aquatic theme park. Design buffs should find some time to visit the province’s own Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC)—it has a special exhibition that showcases materials and textiles unique to Northeastern Thailand.
Said to be the most scenic Thai city by the Mekong River, Nakhon Panom boasts beautiful religious sites, such as Pratat Renu Temple, a striking pink, uniquely shaped pagoda, and Saint Anna’s Church Nong Saeng, a white-washed spired structure built in the 1920s. Other points of interest include Ban Na Chok, the former residence of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh. Apart from taking a lazy boat ride down Southeast Asia’s longest waterway, going for an evening stroll down the Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is one of the most scenic ways to see the Mekong.
It’s overshadowed by more popular Southern Thai resort cities like Krabi and Phuket—and that’s a good thing. Trang offers quieter vacations at a tropical destination boasting more than 40 islands, including Koh Kradan and Koh Hong, where white sandy beaches and turquoise waters are not unfamiliar sights; and Koh Libong, which is best for dugong sightings. The island is also home to a famous stone bridge, which is at its most photogenic during sunset.
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