The Weirdest Attractions To Visit In Thailand

Thailand is known for its stunning beaches, delicious food and mesmerising cultural sites but if you wish to explore some of the countries lesser-seen, unusual attractions there is plenty on offer too. Come prepared with an open mind, curiosity and a strong stomach and explore our selection of Thailand’s weirdest attractions.

Koh Hingham

Koh Hingham, also known as the cursed island of black pebbles, is a small uninhabited island which is believed to have been cursed by the God of Tarutao. Visitors are free to play with the black pebbles and assemble them into structures, but the sacred stones must be left on the island to avoid being cursed for a lifetime. Each year the National Park receives dozens of stones being returned via post from desperate people wanting the curse to be lifted.

How to get there? Find someone to take you from Koh Lipe in a long tail boat.

1. Bangkok Airplane Graveyard

Ruins

A quirky and surprisingly cultural place to visit is the Airplane Graveyard in Bangkok. This yard is not only home to an abandoned 747, two smaller MD-82 planes and old plane parts, it is also a makeshift home to a small community of Thai families. The yard is owned by a local businessman who sells off plane parts for scrap. Although the interior of the planes have been stripped of seats, paneling, entertainment screens and overhead luggage compartments, old in-flight magazines, oxygen masks, and life vests can be seen littered around the yard.

The planes that were once used to transport passengers around Thailand now provide shelter and an income for the families who reside there. They would otherwise be on the street and are able to make money by bringing items to a nearby recycling station and by charging tourists an entrance fee to tour the compound.

2. The World Museum of Insects and Natural Wonders

Museum

It might be best to save that delicious riverside lunch in Chiang Mai for another day as a visit to the World Museum of Insects and National Wonders is bound to put a dampener on your appetite. The museum has an eccentric and extensive collection of dead creepy crawlies of all varieties pinned to dusty display boards. There is a quirky charm to this husband and wife led insectoid taxidermy establishment that makes it a must visit on any travel itinerary.

3. Goddess Tuptim Shrine

Forest, Park, Shrine

Nestled in a quiet corner of a Bangkok hotel car park is a forest of phallic offerings. Take a relaxed stroll around the penis forest for a unique day out in the capital. This ‘spirit house’ was built for the goddess of Chao Mae Tuptim, the goddess of fertility. Along with the usual spirit house offerings of flowers, incense and food, are thousands of phallus offerings, some over six-feet long. The shrine is frequented by woman seeking to be granted fertility by the goddess, consider yourself warned.

4. Bangkok's Ghost Tower: The Sathorn Unique

Architectural Landmark

For those with a love for the supernatural and abandoned buildings, this is the perfect hang out for you! The Sathorn Unique Skyscraper, a 49-storey tower, was set to be a beacon of glimmering office suites and residential up-market apartments. However, after the 1997 Asia financial crisis it was left an eerie, post-apocalyptic skeleton of its lofty hopes. Abandoned rooms are filled with random objects including mannequins and pictures of Thailand’s late king. Locals believe the structure is haunted and report stories of supernatural activity. The structure is fragile and extreme caution is advised. A safer option is to explore the 10-storey car park, which is located opposite The Sathorn Unique.