Sa Morakot, a natural emerald pool in the forest
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.
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.
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.
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 before 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.