Do you love adventure and exploring hidden places? If so, let’s take a trip to some hidden spots and try exciting yet unusual things in Bangkok, Thailand. As a Southeast Asian country full of distinct cultures and traditions, Thailand always has a huge number of tourists visiting every year, but only some of them visit and discover certain hidden places and do extraordinary activities.
If you are not visiting Thailand for the first time, you may feel bored going to certain mainstream sites, such as Siam Paragon. So why not customize a private guided tour and add these 7 recommended hidden places and unusual things to do to your itinerary.
1. Thai Boxing: Learning & Watching Fights
It is undeniable that Thai boxing, also known as Muay Thai, is the most famous martial arts in Thailand, especially among foreigners. It is always exciting to see 2 fighters compete with each other by using the Thai boxing technique, mostly consisting of elbows, knees, and fists. Not only does Thai boxing display the strength and power of the fighters, but it demonstrates the unique Thai cultures and traditions. For instance, before the fighters start the match, they will conduct a ritual called “Wai Kru”, which is a demonstration of showing respect to their teachers.
Moreover, they will continue conducting “Ram Muay”, a special dance performance, which is different for each fighter. Therefore, watching Thai boxing fights will give you an amazing experience that you have never had before. There are many places around Bangkok where you can watch a Thai boxing fight, but the most famous place is “Rajadamnern Stadium”. Built in 1945, it is the oldest Thai boxing stadium.
Watching Thai boxing fights is already one of the interesting things to do, but to make your trip more special, you should try Thai boxing. Learning some Thai boxing techniques from the professional will help you understand why Thai boxing is different from other types of martial art. It seems hard at first glance, especially for beginners, but it will be a lot of fun!
Address: 1 Ratchadamnoen Nok Rd, Khwaeng WatSomanas, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand.
Business: Hours: every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Starting from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm.
Website: Rajadamnern Stadium
2. Making Pottery at Koh Kret Island
Are you getting bored with shopping at the luxurious malls in Bangkok? Let’s take a boat to a little island known as “Koh Kret”, located in the middle of Chao Praya River. Koh Kret is a small artificial island, where the ethnic Mon people live. There are lots of interesting activities, including visiting Thai temples and trying rare, authentic Thai desserts. Furthermore, you will have an opportunity to try making pottery in your own style, because Koh Kret is very famous for pottery. In the old pottery village, you will be able to see the local people showing you how to make pottery bowls or vases with delicate patterns.
The island is very small, so it is difficult to explore by car. With that said, you can choose either to walk or to rent a bicycle from local shops. Don’t be afraid of getting bored, because there are many beautiful natural spots and local restaurants along the way. However, Koh Kret island is a bit far from the main city, as it is located in Nonthaburi province. There are many ways to get there, but I would recommend taking boats. It might not be very convenient, but it gives you insight into the life of local people living near the river. If you are interested, contact a local tour guide to make a tour for you.
Address: Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
3. Visiting A Snake Farm At Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
Another unusual thing to do in Bangkok is to visit “Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute”, where you can witness the snake specialists extract venom from snakes in order to create vaccines, and see several types of venomous snakes from different parts of the world, such as King Cobra and Viper. The Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute was established in 1913, to distribute rabies vaccine to Thai citizens during a time when the rabies virus was spreading in Thailand.
If you never have a chance to look at snakes closely or even touch them, this may be the place for you to learn more about these venomous snakes. At the snake farm, located within the institute area, you can experience the venom extracting demonstration from specialists. Additionally, you can take pictures and try holding them as well.
Address: 1871 Rama IV Rd, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Business Hours: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM on weekdays/ 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM on weekends
Website: Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
4. Making A Wish At Mahabut Temple
Have you ever seen ghosts before? I am not bringing you to any ghost house, but instead, I will introduce you to the “Mahabut temple”, one of the old and famous temples, especially among local Thais. Unlike most of the well-known temples in Bangkok, which are famous for spectacular architecture and historical events, Mahabut temple is renowned for a legendary female ghost, Mae Nak. According to the local folktale, Mae Nak was a woman living in the 19th century. She married a man named Mak, but one day, he had to leave her for military service. Unfortunately, she passed away before the return of her husband.
Eventually, the wars ended, and Mak returned home without knowing about the death of his wife. When he arrived home, he found that his wife was still waiting for him. The neighbors who knew the truth tried to tell him about his ghost wife, but they failed. In the end, after learning the truth, he escaped to the Mahabut temple, where Mae Nak’s spirit was trapped. As a result, within the temple area, people founded a shrine with Mae Nak’s statue dedicated to her. If you want to hear more about her stories, having a local tour guide would be best.
Thais believed that if you wish for love and having children, you should come here and pray, and your wish will come true. Moreover, there are many ways to worship at the shrine, such as offering vibrant clothes and flowers. Visiting the Mahabut temple and praying to Mae Nak ghost will be absolutely unusual things to do in Bangkok!
Address: 77 Suan Luang, Bangkok 10250, Thailand
Business: Hours: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
5. Observing Dead Bodies At The Siriraj Medical Museum
Walking around and looking at dead bodies at Siriraj Medical Museum is definitely one of the most unusual things to do in Bangkok. The Siriraj Medical Museum, which is also called the museum of death, was established in 1888 inside the Siriraj Hospital. The museum encompasses several different museums, such as Ellis Pathological Museum and Congdon Anatomical Museum, and each of them exhibits different interesting things.
For example, within the Ellis Pathological Museum, you can witness the dead bodies of babies preserved in formaldehyde, including the dead bodies of those who were affected by crucial diseases, such as cancer. Moreover, the highlight of the museum is to observe the whole dead body of the infamous serial killer known as “Si Quey”.
Address: Siri Rat, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Website: The Siriraj Medical Museum
6. Playing with Siberian Huskies at TrueLove at Neverland
One of the unusual and sweet things to do in Bangkok is to visit dog cafés and enjoy playing with them! Imagine having a lot of cute and fluffy Siberian Huskies running around you. It would be one of the more unforgettable moments in your trip. In Bangkok, there are many dog cafés, but one of the famous dog cafés located near the Ari Skytrain station is TrueLove at Neverland.
Here, you have a chance to play with more than 20 Siberian Huskies and a few other breeds such as Australian Shepherds. Moreover, most of the staff can speak English, and they are very helpful in taking pictures of you and these cute dogs. The café area is divided into 2 parts, which are an indoor café and playground. The staff will give you 30 minutes to enjoy your cake and drink, as part of the service, and let you play with the dogs for 1 hour.
Even though the café opens every day, it only has 2 sessions when you can use the service and play with the dogs. The first session starts at 12:30 pm, and it will start again at 3:30 pm. There is no reserved ticket, so you need to come early to get the ticket. For the dog lover, this place will be heaven, and it is worth experiencing.
Address: 153 Soi Ari Samphan 2, Phaya Thai Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Business Hours: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Website: TrueLove Neverland Siberians
A Hidden Bangkok Awaits
In sum, it is always fun to step out of your comfort zone and do some unusual things. Visiting Thailand and going to non-mainstream places will give you a lot of joy and excitement. Thailand still has many places for you to explore and discover. Moreover, there are some activities, in which you can only do in Thailand, such as making your own pottery and observing the dead bodies.
With GoWithGuide, you can freely customize your own trip. If you are going to Bangkok and are not sure where to go, you can look at our tours. Moreover, our local tour guides will also give you a chance to understand Thai cultures deeply and bring you to exclusive places.
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