Do you actually get out and explore Thailand, or just the same general radius of where you live ?

Been here long enough to have seen my own province thoroughly, and I've started pushing further out.

Thailand rewards you for it if you can be bothered.

Two places I can actually vouch for in the Chiang Rai area that most foreigners skip entirely:

Phu Chi Fa — about 90km from Chiang Rai city, right on the Laos border at 1,628 metres. Free entry.

The sunrise draws crowds of Thais in winter (Nov–Feb) but midweek it's manageable.

The walk up from the car park takes about 20 minutes. You can literally step onto the Laos border marker at the top. Most foreigners have never heard of it.

Doi Tung Royal Villa and Mae Fah Luang Garden — former residence of the Princess Mother, up in the mountains above Mae Sai. The gardens are genuinely impressive and well-maintained year-round. Entry is 90 baht. The drive up alone is worth it.

Neither of these is a secret exactly, but they're under visited by expats who tend to stick to the same towns.

So — where have you been in Thailand lately that's actually worth the petrol? Not asking for tourist brochure stuff. Real places, honest opinions. Map links welcome and of course any pics.

Thanks

Ive lived in Hat Yai. Chaiyaphum. Rayong. Pathum Thani. Bangkok and Phuket.

Rode bikes all over the country. Exploring many small towns along the way. Visited loads of islands.

Never been to Chiang mai though.

A 3 day ride from bkk to Phuket or Hat Yai is worth it. Stop along the way as much as possible. Nakhon si and southward is a great ride.

Chaiyaphum has some beautiful scenery and the countryside there is quite nice.

2 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

Do you actually get out and explore Thailand, or just the same general radius of where you live ?

Been here long enough to have seen my own province thoroughly, and I've started pushing further out.

Thailand rewards you for it if you can be bothered.

Two places I can actually vouch for in the Chiang Rai area that most foreigners skip entirely:

Phu Chi Fa — about 90km from Chiang Rai city, right on the Laos border at 1,628 metres. Free entry.

The sunrise draws crowds of Thais in winter (Nov–Feb) but midweek it's manageable.

The walk up from the car park takes about 20 minutes. You can literally step onto the Laos border marker at the top. Most foreigners have never heard of it.

Doi Tung Royal Villa and Mae Fah Luang Garden — former residence of the Princess Mother, up in the mountains above Mae Sai. The gardens are genuinely impressive and well-maintained year-round. Entry is 90 baht. The drive up alone is worth it.

Neither of these is a secret exactly, but they're under visited by expats who tend to stick to the same towns.

So — where have you been in Thailand lately that's actually worth the petrol? Not asking for tourist brochure stuff. Real places, honest opinions. Map links welcome and of course any pics.

Thanks

I have been around Thailand 3 times on motorbike and by car, and still travelling frequently, but now more to already known places, and not really the same drive to spend weeks on motorbike or in the car. Im fine to stay a few days or a week one place now. And in future, especially after the upgrade we have done on the farm, solar and a Glass garden I can sit inside outside, more equipment to the gym, and we decided to stay here and live here, I will travel less to Norway, and I will travel less in Thailand. Normally we tood a holiday before or after or both when I went to Norway, and now more settled here at the farm.

One thing is, and a valid point, I feel we get less for the money now than before, and there is more people at the places we adored to stay, and the feeling is not the same anymore. So we are chasing a bit more quality than quantity

10 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

Do you actually get out and explore Thailand

After living here pushing 19 years - yep. Been there, done that. No in my mid-70s, I just hang out locally.

When I first got here, I hooked up with a girl who had family and friends scattered across the country, took a TEFL course in Phuket, and worked in various schools in Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Pattaya, etc. As such, I traveled a lot around the country. After a while I found that, except for the exotic tourist sites, Thailand is pretty much the same all over. 7/11's everywhere, soi dogs everywhere, mom 'n' pop shops everywhere, and so on.

After 20 years I still love the place. I just returned from a trip to California and couldn't get back here soon enough. Just no interest for further travel except to visit an elephant sanctuary.

21 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

Do you actually get out and explore Thailand, or just the same general radius of where you live ?

Some here spend so much time on asean now forum I reckon their exploring is confined within their 4 walls

I spend 1-4 hrs a day exploring on my scooter. Looking for Hot Springs and good swimming holes.

22 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

So — where have you been in Thailand lately that's actually worth the petrol? Not asking for tourist brochure stuff. Real places, honest opinions. Map links welcome and of course any pics. Thanks

Been over the whole country, a few times. A few of us get out quite a bit, some posting, suspect most don't. Of late, been posting here ...

https://aseannow.com/topic/1298442-leaving-the-bar-stool/page/7/

Waiting to go O&A again, just busy with a few things.

Missing a lot (Isan & East) as didn't use Google Maps till recently.

I've seen a lot of Thailand, love traveling around this place, and I find that it's really enjoyable when you're traveling with a Thai partner, as the Thais tend to be quite friendly and helpful with each other. So you essentially become an insider by default.