Lesser-known attractions in Thailand
You might see your fave travel Instagrammers posting the same old photos these days, as travelling is quite limited for now.
Now that Thailand’s borders are beginning to open with long-term tourists being allowed in, the Land of Smiles can finally be back on your horizons once more. If your next plan is to explore Thailand but are bored of the usual tourist hotspots, this list of hidden gems will have you in for a surprising experience and tons of photos for your social media accounts.
1. Hin Loma – Bueng Kan
Image credit: ไปกะไป บึงโขงหลง
Have you ever heard about Bueng Kan? It is a new province in the northeast separated from Nong Khai. Since it is new, there are tons of things to explore that even locals haven’t done, and Hin Loma is one location among those.
Image credit: ไปกะไป บึงโขงหลง
Hin Loma, or ‘Dolphin Rocks’, is revealed as you ascend Kinnaree Waterfall inside Phulangka National Park. The rocks look like heads of dolphins, but instead of the usual grey, the ones here are special green dolphins instead as they are coated with moss.
Image credit: ไปกะไป บึงโขงหลง
You can get a photo surrounded by a school of dolphins and act like you’re playing with or feeding them.
For the most greenery and peak waterfall flow, it is recommended to visit during the rainy season from June to October.
Hin Loma (หินโลมา)
Address: Kinnaree Waterfall, Phulangaka National Park, Pho Mark Kaeng Sub-district, Bueng Khong Long District, Bueng Kan, Thailand.
Opening Hours: 6AM – 5PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 9 6826 1613
Entrance Fee: Thais Adult: ฿20 (~USD0.60), Children: ฿10 (~USD0.30) | Foreigners Adult: ฿100 (~USD3), Children: ฿50 (~USD1.50)
Hin Loma website
2. Hin Sam Wan – Bueng Kan
Image credit: @bondstreettour
Besides dolphins, we also have a family of “whales” to visit at Hin Sam Wan or ‘Three Whale Rocks’ at Phu Singha Forest, Bueng Kan.
From a birds eye view POV, you can see that the three rocks of different sizes look like a family of daddy, mommy, and baby whales that are swimming in a sea of trees.
Images adapted from: @saravutwhanset and @beer_sangar
Visitors are allowed to climb up the rocks to see a view of breathtaking Mae Khong River and our neighbour Laos, and it is a popular place among locals, who come here to enjoy the sunrise.
Don’t forget to check out the area around for a creative shot
Images adapted from: @oia.mayer and @journey.nurse
Only local cars are allowed to access the area. Travellers can use their transport service at ฿500 (~USD15.80, up to 10 people) for a round trip from Phu Singha Information Centre to the rocks between 5.30am to 5pm.
Hin Sam Wan (หินสามวาฬ)
Address: Phu Singha, Khok Kong, Mueang Bueng Kan District, Bueng Kan, Thailand.
Opening Hours: 5.30AM – 5PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 8 8563 8852
Entrance Fee: Free
3. Lam Takhong Dam – Nakhon Ratchasima
Image credit: เช็คอิน เขาใหญ่
Nakhon Ratchasima is one of the popular destinations for Bangkokians as it takes only about 2 hours to get here from the city, but not many people pay attention to Lam Takhong Dam as it is rather unassuming.
However, the place rewards the curious with a peaceful backdrop of wind turbines, giving photographs a peaceful mood and tone that remind us of the Japanese countryside.
Images adapted from: @sandandthings, @repeacediary, and @mint_26th
The 12 turbines here are the biggest wind turbines in Thailand and are used for the production of electric power.
Images adapted from: เช็คอิน เขาใหญ่, Wongnai, and @anapaht_
Visitors can rent a bicycle at ฿40 (~USD1.30)/hr to travel around and catch some fresh air and the stunning views from the dam. Locals actually visit a nearby Buddha statue to pray, as it is believed to bless them with rains for plantations.
Lam Takhong Dam (เขื่อนลำตะคอง)
Address: Lam Takhong Dam, Khlong Phai, Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Opening Hours: 8AM – 6PM, Daily
Entrance Fee: Free
4. Pa Ton Nam Baan Nam Rad – Surat Thani
Images adapted from: ตามติดชีวิตผีบ้า and กิน เที่ยว ถ่าย
This crystal clear pond is called Pa Ton Nam Baan Nam Rad which is a natural headwater hidden in the forest, just opened for visits in 2019.
Image credit: ไปไหนดี
Visitors are allowed to swim around, and it has paddles for rent at ฿50 (~USD1.60)/hr.
The highlight is a walkway in the middle of the water that can give you an impressive photo op. We recommend getting a birds eye view shot to capture yourself being surrounded by the blue waters and wonderful green forest.
Images adapted from: @paigunna, ตามติดชีวิตผีบ้า, and @lazycoup
Visit the place from February to May to avoid muddy roads and landslides that might block the entrance.
Pa Ton Nam Baan Nam Rad (ป่าต้นน้ำ บ้านน้ำราด)
Address: Moo 4, Baan Tam Niab Sub-district, Khiri Rat Nikhom District, Surat Thani, Thailand.
Opening Hours: 9AM – 5PM, Daily
Entrance Fee: Adult ฿10 (~USD0.30) | Children ฿5 (~USD0.15)
5. Wat Lan Khuat – Sisaket
Images adapted from: @shoemobi, @malermichael, and @sukrachand
Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew is a temple located in Sisaket, and it is known among locals as Wat Lan Khuat which means ‘Million Bottle Temple’. It gets its name from being built with over 1.5 million glass bottles.
Image credit: @ecomspacebar
Luang Pu Lord, the abbot, noticed the area around the community had a big amount of empty glass bottles as litter. To decrease the construction cost, he came up with an idea to use it instead of tiles while also fixing the unsightly waste problem.
Image credit: @ecomspacebar
It turned out to be a good idea, which makes the building sparkle in the sun just like glass tiles can do.
Other than the delicate Thai temple design that we are familiar with, photo lovers can use this unique wall as a background for their photoshoot too.
Wat Lan Khuat (วัดล้านขวด)
Address: Si Sub-district, Khun Han District, Si Sa Ket, Thailand.
Entrance Fee: Free
6. Pa San – Nakhon Sawan
Image credit: @slothjourneysthailand
Pa San is a new building with a unique and futuristic design located at the beginning of Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan province.
Images adapted from: @wonder_wow and @icoketotoro
The construction had finished just last year in 2019 and opened as a public park for locals to enjoy exercising and other activities.
Image credit: @ant_wrw
People are allowed to walk on its roof like a bridge and see the view where two rivers of different colours meet. When the water level is high, visitors can also enjoy a boat trip passing under the curved bridge.
Images adapted from: @bankordinary, @aamplt, and @bensuchitra
With its beautiful architecture, visitors can take tons of creative shots here.
Nakhon Sawan is another perfect destination if you are looking for less crowded attractions.
Pa San (พาสาน)
Address: Leam Koh Yom, Muang District, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.
Opening Hours: 6AM – 2PM, Daily
Entrance Fee: Free
7. Nern Sai Mueng Kae – Surat Thani
Images adapted from: ตามติดชีวิตผีบ้า and Filmthii via TrueID
Thailand doesn’t have a desert, but the sand mountain named Nurn Sai Muang Kae in Surat Thani can absolutely fool others into thinking you’re in distant lands.
The place used to be a mine, surrounded by dug up sand in order to find minerals underground. Eventually, the piles of sand turned into a massive sand mountain.
Image credit: ตามติดชีวิตผีบ้า
From atop the sandy hills, you’ll be able to see the contrasting green mountainscape that surrounds the area.
Image credit: ตามติดชีวิตผีบ้า
Nern Sai Mueng Kae (เนินทรายเหมืองแกะ)
Address: Na San Sub-district, Ban Na San District, Surat Thani, Thailand.
Opening Hours: 8AM – 6PM, Daily
Entrance Fee: Free
8. Unnamed Temple – Nakhon Si Thammarat
Image credit: @p.pattareekarn
Locals in Nakhon Si Thammarat know the place as Wat Niranam or ‘Unnamed Temple’. The area around 40 acres has over 100 massive Buddha statues without any roof cover.
Many say that this spot used to be a mine and was being renovated to be a Buddhist park, but information has been elusive regarding when the project had started and when it will be finished. That adds quite a mysterious aura to this location!
Images adapted from: Aim1504 and Sutthinon Sanyakup
However, it still draws attention from photographers around Thailand to visit, due to its stunning scenery – especially during golden hour during sunsets.
Image credit: Mokkalana
If you have a chance to travel to Nakhon Si Thammarat, this is another oft-unseen spot that is worth adding to your photo album.
Unnamed Temple (วัดนิรนาม)
Address: Thung Yai Sub-district, Thung Yai District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
Entrance Fee: Free
9. Floating Railway – Lopburi
Image credit: @aorwiki
Pasak Chonlasit Dam in Lopburi installed a floating railway in 2019, allowing passengers to enjoy a special route right in the middle of the dam.
The trip will start in Bangkok at Hua Lamphong Railway Station, make a stop at Pasak Chonlasit Dam for 30 minutes, and end at Khok Salung Station before heading back to Bangkok. A round trip from Bangkok starts from ฿270 (~USD8.50)/person.
The train schedule starts from 7am and the latest train will depart from Pasak Chonlasit Dam at 3.30pm.
Image credit: TrueID
At Khok Salung station, travellers can head down and buy food and souvenirs back home. However, the highlight is definitely the different sunflower fields nearby that you can visit during 1st November to 31st January.
Image credit: เส้นทางความสุข
If you are looking for a new experience travelling on a Thai train, spending a one-day trip to the dam can be a fun weekend activity.
Also read:
Floating Railway at Pasak Chonlasit Dam (รถไฟลอยน้ำ เขื่อนป่าสัก)
Address: Nong Bua Sub-district, Phatthana Nikhom District, Lopburi, Thailand.
Entrance Fee: A round trip from Bangkok starts from ฿270 (~USD8.50)/person
Let’s plan the next trip to Thailand
The situation of COVID-19 in Thailand is getting better day by day, and the state has also launched different measures like long-term tourist visas to welcome travellers back again.
There are various new and interesting places for us to explore around the country, and we hope that everyone can enjoy travelling freely again in the near future.
Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): Aim1504, @paigunna, @beer_sangar
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