If you're only going to Thailand once, we'd recommend prioritizing a beach trip to our favorite oceanside town (and where we got engaged!) - Railay beach off the coast of Ao Nang. Ao Nang is in the province of Krabi, and a short 3 hour drive (or chartered van) from Nakhon Si Thammarat. If you come down to NST for the wedding, you can hop over the next day (or two) to Krabi. Highlights for things to do: - Island hop: Hop on one of the many chartered boats that leave Ao Nang daily and visit a handful of breathtaking islands by sea. - Hiking: In Ao Nang, the mountains meet the sea and there's a few highlight hikes that are quick trips but well worth the workout. An easy and quite popular one is Tiger Cave hike (https://www.theplanetedit.com/tiger-cave-temple-krabi/) where you'll get stunning views of the province from a mountain temple. - Stay overnight in Railay: There's many resorts on Railay, from small shops to 5 star experiences. We've stayed at many and have enjoyed them all.
If beaches aren't your thing, maybe a world class city is more your style. If you've never spent a few days in Bangkok, you're in for a treat. From world class cuisine, to night markets that support the hustle of 10 million people, Bangkok will hit the spot. Highlights Include: - Grand Palace & Wat Arun: See some of the most culturally significant temples in Thailand right in the heart of the city. Remember to wear long pants (but stay cool!) when you enter the premises and take off your shoes before entering any temple (dont worry, follow the crowds and you'll be fine!) - Chatuchak Weekend Market & The One Ratchada Night Market: Night markets exist all over Asia, but these two are highlights we'd recommend. Both are PACKED with people, food, music and fun. Pick up some fun gifts, eat all the food and try some durian if you're brave enough.
If your heart is set on visiting other countries in Asia, we can recommend many! But for starters, here's Dew and Jackson's favorites: Indonesia - The top of Dew's list for its diversity in activities (swim with manta rays and hike a volcano in the same day!), amazing people and delicious food. It's a bit of a flight from Thailand and will be the rainy season, so make plans with this in mind! Vietnam - Food, culture and beauty top the list for Vietnam. Learn about Vietnam's amazing history through colonization, eat so. much. pho. and take a trip to Halong Bay. Singapore - An east-meets-west city with a vibrant multicultural community. It truly is the city of the future. You can't leave until you've tried Singaporean Chili crab. Even Jackson likes it! Hong Kong - A city with a special place in our hearts and some of our best memories. Come here for the impressive skyline, incredible Dim Sum and beautiful hiking. There's no better harbor in the world to take in a sunset.
Dew's hometown, Nakhon Si Thammarat is a fast growing city in the south of Thailand, but it's not a typical tourist destination. This just means you'll get all the highlights without wrestling long lines of tourists you'd find in other parts of the country! Highlights include: - Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan: Nakhon Si's most famous Buddhist temple and easily accessed by taxi - Khiriwong village: A beautiful mountain town that makes a great day trip for hiking, eating and learning about southern Thai culture. It's a close drive from Nakhon Si but worthwhile to hire a driver or rent a car - Ai Khiao Waterfall: A short drive and very easy hike brings you to one of the many local waterfalls surrounding Nakhon Si. Bring your swimsuit if you venture jumping in or just enjoy the hikes all around the falls.