Millions of tourists pay entrance fees to temples just to see other tourists — but ignore the most fascinating FREE attraction they've never heard of: Trees possessed by spirits.
What Are Spirit Trees?
Thailand is officially Buddhist — over 90% of the population. But underneath lies something older: animism. The belief that everything in nature — rivers, mountains, animals, and trees — has a spirit.
In Thai, these spirits are called phi. They're not distant fairy tales. For many Thais, they're real, present, and active. They can be protective, helpful, generous — but also jealous, moody, even dangerous.
When a tree grows big enough — especially a Bodhi (Ficus religiosa) or Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) — it can become a home for one of these spirits.
