The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to cultural or natural heritage which have been nominated by signatories to the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.^[1] Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage.^[2] Thailand ratified the convention on 17 September 1987.^[3]

Ban Chiang

Ayutthaya

Sukhothai

Si Satchanalai

Kamphaeng Phet

1

2

3

4

5

Thungyai Naresuan

Huai Kha Khaeng

6

7

8

9

Si Thep

Location of World Heritage Sites in Thailand. Gold dots indicate cultural sites and green dots are natural. Numbers 1-5 mark the locations of Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex: 1. Khao Yai; 2. Thap Lan; 3. Pang Sida; 4. Ta Phraya; 5. Dong Yai; and numbers 6-9 mark the locations of Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex: 6. Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan; 7. Mae Nam Phachi; 8. Kaeng Krachan; 9. Kui Buri.

As of 2023^[update], Thailand has seven sites on the list. The first three sites were listed in 1991: Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns, Historic City of Ayutthaya, and Thungyai–Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries. The most recent site listed was the Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments, in 2023.^[3] Four of Thailand's sites are cultural and three are natural. Thailand also has six sites on the tentative list.^[3]

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.^[4]

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World Heritage Sites

Site	Image	Location (province)	Year listed	UNESCO data	Description
Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns		Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet	1991	574; i, iii (cultural)	The site comprises three main cities from the Sukhothai Kingdom which flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries. Sukhothai (Wat Mahathat pictured) was the capital of the kingdom, Si Satchanalai was a centre of religious life, with several Buddhist monasteries, and Kamphaeng Phet protected the borders and the kingdom's trade networks. The three cities shared town planning approaches and sophisticated water management systems. They were important in the development of the first distinct Siamese architectural style, literature, arts, and religious practices. The remains of the cities are now preserved as archaeological parks.[5]
Historic City of Ayutthaya		Ayutthaya	1991	576; iii (cultural)	The city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and served as the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, or Siam. It was a globally important city, a commercial centre with diplomatic connections in India, China, Japan, as well as in Europe. Exchange of cultural influences resulted in development of Thai national art, with richly decorated palaces and Buddhist monasteries. Ayutthaya was razed by the Burmese army in 1767 and it was never rebuilt. The capital moved to Bangkok and Ayutthaya is now preserved as an archaeological park. The ruins of Wat Chaiwatthanaram are pictured.[6]
Thungyai–Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries		Kanchanaburi, Tak, Uthai Thani	1991	591; vii, ix, x (natural)	The site comprises two wildlife sanctuaries, Thung Yai Naresuan (pictured) and Huai Kha Khaeng. The sanctuaries, which stretch over more than 600,000 ha (1,500,000 acres) along the border with Myanmar, comprise a plethora of different habitats, including dry tropical forests, wetlands, limestone habitats, and mountains. It is also an area of high animal and plant biodiversity, representing species from Sino-Himalayan, Sundaic, Indo-Burmese, and Indo-Chinese regions. The forests are largely undisturbed by human influences.[7]
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site		Udon Thani	1992	575; iii (cultural)	Ban Chiang is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia. It is a large earthen mound that was continuously occupied by a settled agricultural society between about 1500 BCE to 900 BCE. Discovered by archaeologists in 1966, the excavations uncovered large numbers of ceramic artifacts (museum exhibit pictured), as well as tools related to bronze-working, animal domestication, and wet rice agriculture.[8]
Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex		Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo, Buriram	2005	590; x (natural)	The site comprises five protected areas in the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains and Sankamphaeng Range, namely Khao Yai (pictured), Thap Lan, Pang Sida and Ta Phraya National Parks, and Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary. Tropical forests are home to numerous animal and plant species, several of them endangered. Mammal species include the pileated gibbon, Asian elephant, tiger, leopard cat, and banteng.[9]
Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex		Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan	2021	1461; x (natural)	The site comprises forests and wildlife reserves in the Tenasserim Hills: Kaeng Krachan, Kui Buri, and Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan national parks, and the Mae Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary. Due to its location at the junction of the Himalayan, Indochina, and Sumatran faunal and floral realms, it is a biodiversity hotspot. Seasonal tropical forests are home to vulnerable and endangered species, including the dhole, Siamese crocodile, Asian forest tortoise, fishing cat, and clouded leopard.[10]
The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments		Phetchabun	2023	1662; ii, iii (cultural)	Si Thep was an important city of the Dvaravati culture (7th to 11th century CE), it was a commercial and religious centre. It next came under the Khmer influence and was ultimately abandoned by the late 13th century. Arts and architecture of Si Thep were influenced by Theravada Buddhism during the Dvaravati period and by Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism under the Khmer.[11][12]

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In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list.^[13] As of 2022^[update], Thailand lists seven properties on its tentative list.^[3]

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