Experience Thailand in a new way: Muay Thai, ancient city marathons—experiential travel is all the rage.

▲ Thailand’s Songkran Festival in April attracts large numbers of tourists every year. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Reported and photographed by Chen Hanyin / Taipei

Best City DestinAsian is a travel and lifestyle magazine in the Asia-Pacific region. In the 12th DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards, Bangkok ranked first in the city category, with Singapore and Hong Kong coming in second and third respectively. Thailand is recognized as a top travel destination for its diverse activities, shopping paradise, and great value, making it one of the favorite countries for global tourists.

▲ Running a marathon in Thailand lets you enjoy the romantic scenery of ancient cities. (Photo / From the Facebook page of)UNIQUE RUNNING》Facebook page）

Aside from the lively Songkran Festival held every April, Thailand has many beautiful cities worth exploring. To boost tourism from Taiwan to Thailand, Runjuan Tongrut, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s East Asia Office, recently came to Taiwan to promote new attractions and itineraries in Thailand, such as the June marathon, fruit festival, and Loy Krathong Festival. She also strongly recommended “experiential” travel in Thailand.

▲ Runjuan Tongrut, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s East Asia Office.

To allow travelers to experience the depth of Thai culture, the Tourism Authority of Thailand promotes unique local experiences for repeat visitors, such as Thai cooking classes, learning Muay Thai, and visiting local Thai communities, helping them understand the local culture and people. In addition, leisure-based sports tourism has also emerged as a popular travel trend in recent years. For example, the Sukhothai Marathon is a well-known event in Thailand where runners can enjoy historical sites along the route, such as Sukhothai Historical Park and the ancient city of Sukhothai. The Pattaya Marathon allows runners to take in the scenic coastal roads with a vacation-like seaside atmosphere.