THAILAND
Probably still best known for its beaches Thailand has masses to offer away from the sea – jungles, temples, hill tribes and exciting Bangkok. These can easily be combined in a two week holiday at pretty much any time of year and Thailand is also an excellent base for combining with some of its neighbours. It still offers brilliant value for money with a great range of accommodation and activities and some of the best food to be found anywhere. What often lingers longest in people’s memories however is the friendliness and warm welcome of its Buddhist people.
Bangkok and surrounds
Set on the banks of the Chao Praya river Bangkok is a bustling metropolis and a real slice of Asian city life. There are classic sights such as the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha, markets galore to explore (both ashore and afloat), the serene wooden house of Jim Thompson, varied nightlife and the fun of exploring the city by tuk tuk, boat or the efficient skytrain system – we would also recommend joining a streetfood tour to get a flavour of the incredible diversity of tastes. Slightly further afield explore the ancient abandoned capital of Ayuthaya of head to Kanchanaburi to see the River Kwai and its infamous bridge.
The beaches & jungles of the south 
There is a huge choice of islands and beaches from the well-developed Phuket and Koh Samui to lesser known examples such as Koh Tao and Koh Lanta. Crystal clear and warm waters, limestone karsts, excellent snorkelling and diving – it really is picture postcard stuff. By and large they are easily accessible from Bangkok and being located on two different coasts (West and East) there is always a beach region in season at any time of year.
Away from the beaches, but easily accessible, southern Thailand has some wonderful jungle and wildlife experiences in and around Khao Sok National Park. Our particular favourite is Elephant Hills with its jungle camp and luxury floating rainforest lodge. It’s a brilliant way to find out more about this bio-diverse hotspot and see the local flora and fauna close up.
Chiang Mai and the North
Chiang Mai, the 2nd city and capital of the north, is set in foothills and riddled with temples and markets. It is pretty laid back compared with Bangkok, famous for its food (and cookery schools) and very Thai – it is also a perfect base for exploring the northern highlands. Here you can visit Chiang Rai, the Golden Triangle, the meeting point of Thailand, Burma & Laos on the Mekong River and visit local hill tribes.
- Many of the hotels in Thailand offer exceptional value so it’s a great chance to try out some luxury properties – Bangkok in particular usually has great rates
- As the food is superb really try to experience it as much as possible – ask advice from guides and hotels for their recommendations. Try this Streetfood blog.
- Thailand is basically tropical so can be visited year round. Just ask for advice.
- The choice of flights grows all the time with UK wide departures via the Gulf airports and plenty of non-stop flights.
- Bangkok makes a great stop-over city and can easily be combined with other countries in the region.
- The beaches
- The warmth and friendliness of the people
- Chiang Mai
- The incredible buzz of one of the world’s most modernistic cities – Bangkok
- The food throughout the country
- You can visit year round however the best time is probably November to April when it is cooler.
- We suggest using the Andaman Coast beaches (west) from November to April and the Gulf of Thailand beaches (east coast) from April to August.
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by TMS
