We don’t need to tell you that 2020 has not been a good year so far. Everything has taken a hit because of COVID-19. From health and finance to travel and entertainment – you name it. I mean we had plans to visit at least 6-8 new Thailand provinces by end of this year. All put on hold.
However, there is some good news. If things keep going as they have been (really low and decreasing COVID cases), it is possible that by June, we might be able to travel domestically.
So in hopes of it, we’ve narrowed down 5 Thai provinces that we want to visit by end of 2020 (or whenever).
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani is of the big four cities of Isan. It’s known for beautiful temples, mystifying natural landscapes, and other outdoor attractions.
Specifically, I want to visit this province because of Sam Pan Bok aka the “Grand Canyon of Thailand”. This curious attraction is situated in the far northeast of the province. It is on the bank of the Mekong and right across the borders of Laos.
Sam Phan Bok translates as ‘3,000 shallow lakes and you can see why it is a growing attraction for tourists. The holes have been created over the years, probably from the river water crashing over the soil and rocks. But what is really mysterious are the shapes that have been created. Many of them look like the head of Mickey Mouse.
Ranong
Ranong is Thailand’s northern-most southern province that lies along the Andaman coast. We first found out about this destination because of a heart-shaped island that is actually part of Myanmar but is close enough to the coast of Ranong to travel by boat.
From hot springs, mangroves and waterfalls to rural cultural experiences, Ranong isn’t often visited by tourists. But since we are on a mission to visit all the Thai provinces, Ranong seems doable this year since it is not too far from Bangkok.
Some islands in Ranong that we are considering visiting are Koh Phayam and Ko Chang (it’s not the same one as in Trat).
There are several other smaller islands in the archipelago but we will see which ones we are interested in when we get to Ranong.
If we have time and if I can get the visa, then we might even consider visiting the island(s) in Myanmar.
Trang
Another southern province on the coast of the Andaman Sea, Trang has long been on our bucket list of Thai destinations. Apart from mangroves caves, and limestone cliffs, some of the most beautiful and hidden island beaches are found here.
Our plan would be to stay 2 days on the mainland and then 4 or 5 days on one or two of the islands. Koh Muk, Koh Libong, and Koh Kradan are some of the popular islands found in Trang but there are plenty of others as well.
Uthai Thani
This one is a bit random I must admit as there is not much to do in Uthai Thani. But that is the point when you are trying to visit EVERY SINGLE Thailand provinces.
Uthai Thani is on the way to Chiang Mai and is considered the lower part of northern Thailand. Its got loads of temples, interesting natural landscapes, waterfalls, and markets with an easy-going local lifestyle. Definitely a destination for those seeking slow travel.
So why is it on the list for this year? I actually want to go see the purple buildings at one of their popular market areas.
Ratchaburi
We’ve chosen Ratchaburi as one of the destinations to visit because it is probably the most likely, being so close to Bangkok. It’s just about a 2-3 hour drive.
This province is popularly known for the floating markets – Ampawa and Damnoen Saduak. However, if you go further west into the province, there are a lot of cultural and natural attractions.
Particularly, we want to visit the Suan Pheung district, a sleepy town. It has lots of picturesque landscapes, cafes, animal farms and plenty of “themed” resorts. We really want to stay in one of them. It sort of reminds me of Khao Yai. Surprisingly lots of things to do here.
To be real, I doubt we will even visit 3 (if any at all) of these 5 Thailand provinces. Who knows when COVID-19 quarantines and lock-downs will allow it. Also, some of these provinces are too far so we might opt for closer ones like Nakhon Nayok, Suphan Buri, or Sing Buri.
Anyways, all we can do is monitor and hope for the best.
What are your travel plans? Even in your own city, province, or country. It really does not have to be international travel.
My go to place will always be Phuket! I love love love that place so I want to travel there next for sure!
Phuket is always a good choice. What about somewhere new though?