Hidden gems in Thailand.

Tiny village on a steep mountainside north of Mae Hong Son - one street, one restaurant, right on the edge of the hillside with an unobstructed mountain panorama. The real move is to stay the night. Ask around for a room facing the sunrise - cheap, and I got mine just by asking at the restaurant. Wake up for sunrise and you will not regret it. Not a secret - there will be other foreigners - but still genuinely off the path.

A 10+ metre waterfall dropping into a naturally formed turquoise infinity pool. You can swim right at the base. Despite being right off the Mae Hong Son Loop, almost nobody stops here.

Almost no beach here, but the snorkeling by the rocks is some of the best on Koh Tao. Also one of the better sunset spots on the island - get in the water and watch the light change.

A magnificent pull-off viewpoint on the route between Mae Surin and Mae Hong Son, with a wide, expansive panorama of rolling mountains below. Best at sunset, and almost entirely off the radar.

The best viewpoint on the entire Mae Hong Son Loop - a clifftop perch reached via a steep mountain pass, with a wide panorama that's truly magical at sunset. Now on Google Maps with a small parking area, but still feels wild.

Koh Tao's best beach — exceptionally clear water alternating between deep blue and bright sea green, with the island's top snorkeling on the left side. High chance of spotting turtles and blacktip reef sharks in the late afternoon. Watch the currents around the corner.

A steep hike through the karst cliffs above Railay with no trail - just ropes bolted into the rock. Haul yourself up and lower yourself down until a hidden emerald lagoon appears below. No harness. You're in Thailand.

A quiet local pier on the south side of Koh Samui. Charter a private boat to Pig Island from here for a fraction of what the tours charge. Get here by motorbike.

Found by driving down a random road on Koh Phangan - a completely empty beach with green cliffs dropping straight into the water. Almost no one knows it exists. Swimming can be difficult at low tide.

The most beautiful beach on Koh Phangan and almost always empty - hidden on the remote east side of the island. Turquoise water, dramatic rock formations, and one restaurant with an insane view over the whole bay.

Everyone goes to Freedom Beach - follow the signs past it to Freedom Beach 2. Just as beautiful, far fewer people, and the extra walk keeps it that way.

Not totally unknown but feels completely secluded - a series of small coves tucked into the west coast. One of the best beach spots on Koh Tao, and rarely crowded.

A big rock just offshore with a rope to climb and a solid 7m jump into clear water. Good snorkeling around the base too. Easy, fun, and one of those spots you end up staying at all afternoon.

A detour off the main loop between Mae Sariang and Mae Hong Son that almost no one takes. Within minutes of turning off you're into steep winding roads and beautiful rice fields. Drive until you get bored, then turn back - keep it to about an hour so you don't burn the rest of your day.

The alternate route from Chiang Mai to Pai via highways 1349-1265 is an hour longer than the main road but far more scenic - quiet winding roads through pine trees with almost no traffic. Mae Dad Noi is the best stop along the way: a little wooden viewpoint surrounded by strawberry fields and flowering plants with a wide mountain panorama. Strawberry season runs December through February.

12km long and one of the longest caves in Thailand, following a river deep into a mountain. You have two options: a 2-hour return trip, or the recommended 4-hour tour that brings you to a waterfall two hours inside. A guide is required (500 baht for 4 hours, 300 for 2) and genuinely necessary - the cave branches constantly and you would get lost without one.