From Mekong riverside towns and misty mountains to southern food trails and Andaman islands, a new travel guide encourages visitors to explore beyond Thailand’s border checkpoints.
BANGKOK – Travellers entering Thailand by road can now find inspiration for journeys beyond the border gates through a new guidebook featuring 10 self-drive routes across 19 provinces.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched its Gateway to Thailand travel guide on 28 October, targeting overland visitors, particularly from Laos and Malaysia, who frequently travel in private vehicles.
The guide turns nine border crossings into starting points for road trips highlighting local food, cultural heritage, religious sites, natural landscapes and community life. It includes route maps, recommended stops, activities and key attractions to help travellers plan their journeys.
The nine entry points are Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Bueng Kan, Chong Mek in Ubon Ratchathani, Sadao in Songkhla, Wang Prachan in Satun, Betong in Yala and Su-ngai Kolok in Narathiwat.
Rather than treating border towns as places to pass through, the initiative encourages visitors to slow down, discover lesser-known destinations and spend more time in local communities.
Ten routes, ten ways to explore Thailand
In the Northeast, several routes follow the Mekong River, offering opportunities to explore riverside towns, local traditions and landscapes shaped by the waterway.
The Nong Khai route, titled Riverside Slow, City Flow, focuses on the relaxed pace, religious heritage and character of communities along the upper Mekong. In Bueng Kan, Beyond the Green, Into Naga’s Realm takes visitors towards dramatic cliffs, forests and outdoor activities, while drawing on local beliefs surrounding the mythical Naga.
Nakhon Phanom’s Traces of Indochina highlights natural indigo crafts, spiritual heritage and the province’s multicultural history. Further east, the Chong Mek route in Ubon Ratchathani explores Pha Taem and Sam Phan Bok, where rock formations and riverside communities tell stories of landscapes shaped by wind and water.
The Mukdahan itinerary, From Mythology to Deep Time Discovery, combines prehistoric geology, river legends, wilderness and local culture.
In the South, the guide shifts its focus to food, coastal landscapes, mountain scenery and cross-cultural heritage.
Two routes begin at Sadao in Songkhla. Food Trail in Creative District combines local cuisine and historic architecture with creative art spaces, while A Journey Along the Gulf follows coastal scenery and old towns, highlighting local culture and religious traditions.
In Betong, Yala, Where the Mist Begins takes travellers into a mountain town known for its morning mist, plant life, cooler climate and distinctive local heritage.
The Wang Prachan route in Satun, Across the Andaman Isles, centres on coastal communities, fishing traditions and island-hopping opportunities along the Andaman Sea.
At Thailand’s southern edge, the Su-ngai Kolok route in Narathiwat, At the Kingdom’s Edge: Nature’s Grace and Cultural Jewels, highlights cultural heritage, rainforests, local knowledge and community experiences in the southern border provinces.
Bringing tourism revenue to local communities
The guidebook is designed for independent travellers who want to explore at their own pace, with practical information on routes, attractions and activities.
Printed editions are available in Thai and English, while digital editions are offered in five languages: Thai, English, Malay, Chinese and Lao.
TAT is also promoting the routes through online and offline channels, working with travel bloggers and influencers to encourage visitors to turn the suggested itineraries into actual trips.
The broader aim is to spread tourism activity beyond major destinations by encouraging travellers to stop in smaller towns, experience local ways of life and spend money with businesses and communities along the routes.
For visitors arriving by land, the guide presents the border not as the end of a journey, but as the beginning of a wider exploration of Thailand.
The full guide, including route itineraries, recommended stops and activity information, is available at TAT’s tourism product website.