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The Kingdom of Thailand draws more visitors than any other
country in southeast Asia with its irresistible combination
of breathtaking natural beauty, inspiring temples, renowned
hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of fabulous ancient kingdoms.
From the stupa-studded mountains of Mae Hong Son and the verdant
limestone islands of the Andaman Sea, to the pulse-pounding
dance clubs of Bangkok and the tranquil villages moored along
the Mekong River, Thailand offers something for every type of
traveller.
When to go
By far the best Time to visit is from February to March when
the weather is kind and the beaches are at their finest.
Major Attaractions
Bangkok
Over the last decade or so, the self-styled Land of Smiles
has grown from being mainly a backpacker preserve to become
one of Asia's most popular tourist and business playgrounds.
From its shambolically thrilling capital, Bangkok, through to
the epic white sands of some of the world's most beautiful beaches,
Thailand manages to cater for many diverse tastes. The difference
is today that the elephant treks through the jungle and days
spent on palm fringed beaches end more often than not in a sumptuous
hotel or spa resort rather than a 'dollar-a-night' beach hut.
Bangkok is to Thailand what London is to England: the metropolis,
the hub of business, economic and political affairs. Over the
last few years, the opening of a slick new overland metropolitan
railway that enables visitors to glide over the chaotic scenes
below, coupled with the cheap and frequent river boats and the
reasonably priced air-conditioned taxis, have improved the situation
markedly. Through the city flows the Chao Phraya River, on the
banks of which can be found some of the best hotels in Bangkok.
It is also where visitors will find the Grand Palace which,
covering a huge area, is one of the major sites. Here also is
Wat Phra Kaeo, a temple complex which houses the Emerald Buddha.
This Buddha statue is not covered in emeralds, as the name suggests,
but is made of translucent green jade.
Chiang Mai
In the far north is Thailand's second-largest city and a center
for excursions to the region's ancient and beautiful temples,
the teak forests and their working elephants, caves and waterfalls,
and journeys to visit the northern hill tribes. The main attractions
are the Doi Suthep temple and elephant trekking. Doi Suthep
is one of the most famous temples in northern Thailand. Perched
high on a hilltop, it offers fine views over the city on clear
days. The trip up can either be made via a funicular or a grand
staircase with 400 steps. The banisters alone are worth a visit:
a giant green-and-red glazed serpent winds its way down to end
in a magnificent dragon's head. Elephant trekking in the surrounding
countryside has become a big tourist buck earner in the last
decade, but visitors should beware that some 'authentic' trips
turn out to be just the opposite.
Central Plains
The Central Plains, located between Bangkok and Chiang Mai,
form the prosperous heart of the country, a rich environment
that has seen the rise and fall of great cities and kingdoms.
Phitsanulok makes a convenient base for excursions into the
area. The town is also the site of the Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat.
This important monastery houses the well-known Phra Buddha Chinnarat,
reputedly one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Thailand.
From Phitsanulok, one can visit the ancient city kingdoms of
Kamphaeng Phet and Sukhothai. UNESCO included Sukhothai and
its environs on its list of World Heritage Sites. It covers
a huge area and includes palaces, temples and pavilions as well
as lakes, ponds and canals.
Kanchanaburi
The province of Kanchanaburi is a stunning oasis of jungle-clad
hills and sweeping waterways. The town of Kanchanaburi, with
its modern hotels and tourist facilities, is the original site
of the famous Bridge Over The River Kwai, a place where thousands
of allied prisoners of war and Thai forced laborers died at
the hands of the Japanese. The train trip, whether on the normal
scheduled service or the dedicated tourist services, runs along
the 'Death Railway' and across the post-war bridge and is a
popular activity.
The Northeast
In the northeast, about three hours by road from Bangkok, is
the Khao Yai National Park & Wildlife Reserve. The most
popular of the country's national parks, it has been developed
into a modest resort. As well as the attractions of the wildlife
and jungle, the park can be used as a base to visit the many
ancient and historical sites in the northeast of Thailand. There
are also some excellent Khmer sites in the northeast, including
Lopburi, Phanom Rung and Pimai. The northeast also provides
its own special festival celebrations, the most exciting being
the elephant roundup at Surin each November.
The Coast
of Thailand
Gulf of Bangkok
Situated in the Eastern Gulf, Pattaya, one of Southeast Asia's
most infamous beach resorts, is blighted by excessive development.
The quieter nearby resort of Bang Saen is a more salubrious
choice. A little further away is Ko Samet, an idyllic island
about a 30 minutes' boat ride from Rayong. Two to three hours
south of Bangkok are Cha'am and Hua Hin.
Phuket
Phuket was one of the regions hit by the tsunami in December
2004. Kamala and Patong beaches suffered the worst damage but
the clean up process has been excellent. The island of Phuket
(attached by a causeway to the mainland) in the southwest corner
of the country is one of several resorts on the Indian Ocean.
Phuket is now threatening to outstrip Pattaya as the number
one beach resort in Thailand. The main town of Patong has a
reputation for sex and sleaze, but many of the resort hotels
that are dotted around the bountiful beaches of the island are
superb. The island is also large enough to accommodate backpacker
beach-hut developments alongside the slick luxury hotels. Diving
is popular, though visibility can be a problem.
Phang Nga Bay
Easily reached from Phuket, this bay boasts one of the world's
most stunning seascapes; the area was featured in the James
Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun. Approximately 3500 islands
(ko) are scattered in the bay. Though forbidding and seemingly
impenetrable from the outside, they harbor a wealth of untouched
fauna and flora in their hollow interior. Until recently, they
were believed inaccessible from the surrounding sea. There are
now canoe trips through tunnels and cracks in the rock, although
this is dependent on the prevailing tide.
Ko Phi Phi Islands
These idyllic twin islands lie an easy boat trip away from
either Phuket or the mainland at Krabi. The largest, Ko Phi
Phi Don, is a dumbbell shaped slice of paradise, its coastline
fringed with white beaches all around, and its interior clad
with tropical rainforest. The only town, Ton Sai, has been largely
ruined by uncontrolled tourist development, but much of the
rest of the island is still untouched and a number of upscale
hotels and resorts inhibit these better-preserved areas. Neighbouring
Ko Phi Phi Leh's main claim to fame was that it was controversially
used as the setting for the Hollywood blockbuster, The Beach.
There is no accommodation on this limestone outcrop, but it
makes a perfect day trip from its larger sibling.
Ko Samui
Over the last decade or so Ko Samui, once a backpacker's haven,
has developed into a more sophisticated beach resort, complete
with an airport that offers regular flights to and from Bangkok
and Krabi. Ko Samui is Thailand's third-largest island, and
although tourism is now the main industry, its lingering rustic
charm is summed up by the fact that coconut farming is still
a major industry. Chaweng Beach is the island's largest beach
and has a number of good hotels as well as groups of bungalows
and bars that are ideal for the budget traveller.
Ko Phangan
Ko Phangan is still relatively undeveloped and is mainly visited
by the more adventurous traveller looking to get away from fast
Time outlets and chain hotels. Each month it hosts all-night
full moon beach parties at Had Rin with up to 10,000 revelers
frolicking in the moonlit surf in a nefarious festival that
attracts everyone from backpackers to the Bangkok young professional
set. There are no luxury hotels on the island, but there are
plenty of beach hut accommodations dotted in small communities
around the island, offering a real escape or the chance to party
with other travelers. The only access to Ko Phangan is by boat
from Ko Samui or Surat Thani on the mainland.
Ko Tao
Ko Tao, which translates as 'Turtle Island', is another less-developed
island, but it is becoming increasingly popular as a scuba-diving
destination. Ban Mae Hat is the only real town, and it is given
over to cheap hotels and dive operators. The diving around Ko
Tao is excellent with clean water and good visibility.
How to plan your tours:
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