For a change of pace, head out to the Amphawa Floating Market (much less touristy than the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market) or explore the ancient ruins of Ayutthaya to see what life used to be like.

An hour’s drive southwest of Bangkok, Thailand, tucked into a curve of the Mae Klong River, lies the village of Amphawa. Until recently, tourists flocked here to watch a spectacular evening light show ...