5 great destinations near Thailand for a quick getaway

If you have a few extra days to spare while you're in Thailand, or are living here and looking for an interesting place to go for 2–3 days, consider one of these great side trips from Thailand. Each of these places is three or fewer hours by plane from Bangkok, and all are wonderful places to visit.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Hands down, this is the most amazing cultural sight in the region, and even if you aren’t interested in archeology or ancient cultures, you’ll probably find it impressive.

The Angkor Wat temple complex is just one of many you’ll get a chance to visit in the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. In fact, there are many must-see temples. You can travel overland (bus from Thailand) or take a short flight from Bangkok.

Siem Reap itself was once a very sleepy town, but in the past decade, has been developing at breakneck speed. The first Starbucks in Siem Reap opened in August 2017. There are scores and scores of guest houses and high-end hotels — and enough restaurants and bars to keep you fed and watered while you visit.

Singapore

If you’re craving a calm, convenient, organized city after the chaos of Bangkok, head to this tiny city-state.

From the moment you land at Singapore’s Changi Airport, you’ll know why many Bangkok residents choose this destination for quick weekend getaways. It’s super clean, for one. And since English is one of the country’s official languages, you won’t have any problems communicating. While taxis are plentiful and safe, you can also use the city’s expansive, efficient public transportation system.

Singapore is a relatively new country; prior to 1819, it had few inhabitants other than the lions that roamed the island. Because of the city's Chinese, Malay, and Indian roots, it’s got a really interesting vibe you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Singapore also has plenty of fun stuff to do, great restaurants — again, thanks to its Chinese, Malay, and Indian roots — lots of big shopping malls, and a decent nightlife scene. The only drawback is that Singapore hotels can be very expensive compared to the rest of the region. In fact, everything in the city is expensive when compared to Bangkok — especially beer.

If the prospect of blowing lots of cash doesn’t scare you, check out one of Singapore’s casinos. Gambling has only been legal there for a relatively short time and is very high end. The Marina Bay Sands, right on the edge of the city’s financial district, is a casino, adult playground, shopping center, and upscale restaurant all rolled into one.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Somewhere between the frenzy of Bangkok and the organization of Singapore lies Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

KL, as it’s known throughout the region, has a good mix of tourist attractions and shopping. Like Singapore, its residents are a mix of ethnic Chinese, Indian, and Malay — along with many other nationalities — so the food is fantastic, as are the many cultural celebrations held almost weekly.

Kuala Lumpur is easy to navigate, with great public transportation.

Penang, Malaysia

This popular island off the northwest coast of Malaysia has a fascinating history, the most visible of which is its past as an English colony.

When you visit Penang, explore the architecture of Georgetown, which earned a UNESCO World Heritage designation in 2008. Make sure to sample some famous Penang street food, too.

And if you’re looking for a place to stay, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, an old Chinese courtyard home that has been transformed into a gorgeous boutique hotel, is the best on the island.

Bali, Indonesia

Although Thai beaches can be spectacular, the island of Bali offers something a little different and is still definitely worth visiting if you’ve already explored Thailand’s coast and islands.

The beaches are beautiful, but one of the things that makes Bali special is that its interior is stunning. Lush, green rice terraces and mountains make the island worth visiting even if you don’t want to go for a swim. And of course, there’s Ubud, an artsy tourist town in central Bali filled with cafes, galleries, pretty villas, and museums. Ubud is about an hour away from Kuta, the island’s most popular beach, so it’s easy to visit for the day if you don’t want to spend a night.

See more: Taste the traditional sweets from Asia

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The incredible motorbike routes in Thailand

Thailand is a big appeal on tourism radar in Asia. This destination charms every visitors for its scenic beauty, delectable delights and friendly locals. Yet, the country is also a centric hub for riders with stunning road trips. 

If you are looking for a life time adventure on 2 wheels from Thailand, these 5 motorcycle routes which run through the rural areas giving away an insight on the local traditions and picturesque views to be captured in your travel diaries.

The Mae Hong Son Loop

The Mae Hong Son Loop will take you on a 400-mile adventure through Northern Thailand. The trail generally takes a week to complete and it is best known for its incredible scenery through the lush countryside of Northern Thailand. The loop starts and finishes in the popular tourist hub of Chiang Mai and passes through the Mae Hong province, through the towns of Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son and Pai. Along the way, you will see mountains, farmlands, quaint villages, limestone karst and cascading waterfalls.

The Golden Triangle and Beyond

Chiang Mai’s sister city, Chiang Rai is a popular starting point for tours exploring the Golden Triangle area where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Highlights of the area include Wat Tha Ton, riding above the cloud line in Doi Mai Salong, following the upper Mekong, and visiting Phu Chi Fha Forest Park for its famous sunrises through a sea of mist.

Though Chiang Rai is a much smaller city than Chiang Mai, there are still outfitters who provide well-equipped tours on bikes up to 800cc ranging from single day excursions to days-long tours taking in the entire province and even crossing into both neighboring countries.

Kanchanaburi

Further south and in a different range of hills, Kanchanaburi province has become a favored weekend getaway for residents of Bangkok seeking a quiet, natural alternative to their hectic metropolis.

Among the weekenders who flock to the riverside resorts and national parks of one of the country’s largest western provinces are bikers yearning for a combination of challenging hill riding and abundant high-end accommodations. By far the most diverse and popular ride is the Nang Prue, Si Sawat loop which covers 300 kilometers on rural roads running through farmland, dense jungle, and old growth forest.

The Nan Loop

Starting in Chiang Mai, the Nan Loop takes riders through some of Thailand’s most stunning mountain scenery all the way to Nan on Highway 1148, said to be one of the top 10 best biking roads in the world. You will pass by the Than Tong Waterfall and the Mae Kachan hot spring before reaching the lakeside town of Phayao, which is worth a day or two to explore its temples, the most impressive of which being Wat Analayo. Phu Lang Kha National Park in the Phayao province is also worth a visit.

The Samoeng or Mae Sa Loop

Just north of Chiang Mai, the Samoeng Loop is the most popular day ride in northern Thailand, taking travelers through the rural Thai countryside, passing by caves, temples, elephant farms and rice fields. The winding road circles the Doi Suthep Mountain, just west of Chiang Mai, which offers quite a collection of trekking paths and off-road motorcycle routes.

See more: The best restaurants in Koh Tao, Thailand

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Discover the mystery of Japan's popular sushi

Sushi comes in all different shapes and sizes, and one of the most easily recognizable forms is that of makizushi. Made with vinegared rice and select fillings wrapped in a sheet of nori, makizushi is rolled with a bamboo mat to create a perfectly cylindrical shape that is then cut into bite-size pieces. This rolled style of sushi is so popular in Japan that it can be found everywhere—from high-end sushi shops to convenience store shelves.

Hosomaki (Single-ingredient Roll)

Hosomaki is a category of sushi rolls that comes from the Kanto region of eastern Japan, centered around modern-day Tokyo, and typically features only one ingredient plus rice, rolled together tightly to create a thin roll.

Kappa-maki

Kappamaki (cucumber sushi roll) is one of the most classic types of makizushi. Some people believe it’s named for the fictional water sprite called a “kappa” whose head resembles the top of a cucumber.

Tekka-maki

Tekkamaki (tuna sushi roll) is made using the lean cut of tuna called “maguro.” The name means “forged iron roll” and comes from the image of a hot iron rod glowing bright red. Along with kappamaki, this is another essential hosomaki roll.

Oshinko-maki 

Oshinkomaki (pickled daikon radish roll) is a type of hosomaki made with a filling of crisp Japanese pickles, chopped finely. It’s often filled with a bright yellow variety of pickles known as “takuan” that is made with daikon radish.

Salmon-maki

Salmon-maki is a type of sushi roll that has become popular in recent decades. That’s because raw salmon previously wasn’t eaten in Japan. The “Philadelphia roll” made with salmon and cream cheese found outside of Japan was inspired by this hosomaki.

Uramaki(Inside-out Roll)

Uramaki is makizushi that’s inverted with rice on the outside of the roll, rather than nori. Usually, when making makizushi, a sheet of nori is placed first on the bamboo mat, followed by sushi rice and then the fillings. But for uramaki, rice is the layer closest to the bamboo mat, followed by nori, and then the fillings. The finished roll can be sprinkled with white or black sesame seeds or tobiko (flying fish roe) before slicing.

Ehomaki (Lucky Sushi Roll)

Ehomaki is a special-occasion makizushi that’s popular to eat during Setsubun, a Japanese holiday that takes place in February to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring. Unlike other types of sushi rolls, ehomaki is served as one long piece and is stuffed with numerous ingredients. The roll is eaten while facing in the designated “lucky” compass direction for the year, and is meant to be consumed in one go without stopping.

It’s considered lucky to eat ehomaki that contains seven ingredients, including items like tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), cucumber, shiitake mushrooms simmered in soy sauce, dried kanpyo gourd, and carrot. More elaborate ingredients like conger eel and roast beef may also be used.

Temakizushi (Sushi Hand Roll)

Temakizushi, or “hand roll,” is a type of makizushi made with a single small sheet of nori. Sushi rice and the desired fillings are added, and then the nori is rolled into a cone shape. Pretty much any sushi filling can be used for temaki rolls, so it’s very easy to customize to individual tastes. The cone also makes it very easy to hold and keep the filling from falling out while eating, even for people who don’t use chopsticks.

Read more: Regional dishes you need to try in Japan

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