The cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in Thailand, several hours north of Bangkok, are a great change of pace from the country capital. In these cities you can discover great temples like Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep and the White Temple, see a Muay Thai fight, and even take cooking classes in traditional Thai cuisine.

It can be argued that the biggest draw of Bangkok (and Thailand in general) is the food. In between meals, you can make your way up and down the Chao Phraya river by boat, stopping at different attractions along the way. These include Wat Arun, Wat Pho, The Grand Palace, Tha Tian Market, and Saranrom Park.