UNESCO sites in Thailand
Lush rainforests, turquoise water sand beaches, rich culture, and welcoming people. No wonder Thailand is the most visited country in Southeast Asia! Also known as the Land of Smiles, Thailand offers much in terms of culture, architecture, and overall natural beauty. Namely, this country has six UNESCO sites – three are natural sights, two are historical cities, and one is an archaeological site. Furthermore, Thailand listed seven sites on a Tentative list for nomination to become a World Heritage Site.
Not to keep you waiting, find below all the UNESCO sites in Thailand with a map at the end!
Table of Contents
Ayutthaya Historical Park
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province
One of the ancient cities that will truly leave you speechless is Ayutthaya, the second capital of Sukhothai, founded in 1350. Although the word Ayutthaya means invincible, the Ayutthaya Kingdom sadly fell in the Burmese-Siamese war in the 18th century. Today, all that is left of this once great city are ruins stretched over 289 ha. The town is well known for its distinctive tall towers called prang and monumental Buddhist monasteries. Furthermore, Ayutthaya had a well-established city grid with roads, canals, and moats surrounding massive structures. In 1991, the city made it on the World Heritage Site list along with Sukhothai and Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Luckily, the entrance to the site is free, however, some temples do charge a small entry fee of about 1 euro.
Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns
Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet Province
Second on our list of UNESCO sites in Thailand is the impressive archaeological complex of three towns from the 13th-century Sukhothai Kingdom. Visiting this impressive site is definitely one of the most interesting things to do in Thailand. The complex consists of the Historic Town of Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet park, and Si Satchanalai park, each with its characteristic purpose. The town of Sukhothai was the Kingdom’s capital for over two centuries, whereas Kamphaeng Phet was a religious center. Moreover, Kamphaeng Phet holds multiple impressive temples, such as Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Chang Rop, and Wat Phra Si Iriyabot. Lastly, the Si Satchanalai referred to as the “City of good people ” served as a residence for the Sukhothai crown prince.
The complex is open to the public every day between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm with an entry fee of around 4 euros.
Thungyai–Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries
Kanchanaburi, Tak and Uthai Thani Provinces
Along the Myanmar border, stretching over three provinces, there is 622.200 ha of intact rich forests. The site combines Thung Yai Naresuan and Huai Kha Khang, each independently created as a sanctuary in 1972 and 1974. Interestingly, the site contains almost all types of southeast Asian tropical vegetation. In addition, Huai Kha Khaeng is home to multiple rare and endangered animal species, such as the Indochinese tiger, Thai elephant, Indian hog deer, and wild water buffalo. On the trails, you can safely visit Saiboe Waterfall and enjoy the beauty of tropical flora and fauna.
Since the sanctuaries have highly preserved areas with endangered animal species, there are usually not open to tourists. However, visitors can visit three points for a price of around 5.50 euros.
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
Udon Thani Province
The last archeological complex in Thailand protected by UNESCO is Ban Chiang in Udon Thani Province. Discovered in 1966, the village quickly gained popularity due to evidence of farming life, metalwork, and distinctive red-painted pottery. Today, Ban Chiang is the most important Southeast Asian prehistoric settlement, with over 30 ha of excavation points. Moreover, Ben Chiang holds hundreds of household tools, metal artifacts, and ancient pottery, almost 4000 thousand years old! Finally, UNESCO declared the settlement a World Heritage Site in 1992 as a site that represents a unique cultural tradition.
The Ban Chiang museum is open for visitors from Wednesday to Sunday between 9 am and 4 pm. Also, the museum charges a small entry fee of about 1 euro at the entrance.
Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex
Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo and Buriram Provinces
Over six provinces between Himalayan, Sumatran, and Indochina properties, the Kaeng Krachan Forest makes home to rich biodiversity. Lush evergreen forests with several endemic plants dominate Thailand’s largest National Park. Also, the site is a natural habitat for multiple endangered animals like Siamese crocodiles, Asiatic wild dogs, Asian elephants, and the Asian giant tortoise. Several endangered cat and bird species live on the property, the most famous among them the Asian golden cat and Asian tiger. Because of its rare flora and fauna, UNESCO declared the Krachan Forest a World Heritage Site in 2021.
The National Park is open for visitors every day between 6 am and 6 pm with an entry fee of about 8 euros. If you want to avoid crowds, we do not recommend visiting on the weekends as they tend to be the busiest.
Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex
Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces
Last on our list is the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex, comprising four national parks and a wildlife sanctuary: Ta Phraya, Thap Lan, Pang Sida, and Khao Yai and Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary. The property was declared a protected site by UNESCO in 2005, covering an area of more than 600 000 ha. Vast tropical forests make this complex such a gem for nature lovers. Moreover, Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai is home to 800 species, among which 112 are endangered mammals such as gibbons. The site retains the last notable area of the Thai Monsoon Forest crucial for the survival of endangered species.
There are several tours with prices ranging from about 40 to 150 euros for one day between 8 am and 6 pm.
