regions at a glance
Bangkok
Culture/History
Food
Shopping
Classic Siam
Once a show of strength after the devastating war with Burma, Bangkok’s royal Buddhist temples are now both national pilgrimage sites and the country’s greatest displays of classical art and architecture.
More is Better
This multiwatt megacity peddles excess in every permutation, from the skyscrapers and luxe malls to the never-ending traffic jams and late-night after-hours clubs. Food is everywhere, and shopping flourishes in crisp modern malls and humble streetside markets.
Toast the Stars
The quintessential night out in Bangkok is still a plastic table filled with sweating Beer Chang but this aspirational city capitalises on its skyscraper towers with half a dozen rooftop bars. Music clubs and entertainment zones lure the young and hip.
Ko Chang & Eastern Seaboard
Beaches
Diving
Small Towns
A Herd of Islands
Overland travellers en route to coastal Cambodia and Russian package tourists claim Ko Chang for its tropical ambience, dive sites and thriving party scene. Quiet Ko Kut excels in seaside seclusion, Ko Mak boasts a laid-back island vibe and little Ko Wai has the prettiest views you’ve ever seen.
Provincial Prominence
Tourists often overlook the eastern seaboard’s small towns of Chanthaburi, famous for a weekend gem market, and Trat, a transit link to Ko Chang. But these provincial towns are charming for their ordinariness and middle-class prosperity, which is not found on the islands.
Hua Hin & the Southern Gulf
Culture/History
Beaches
Small Towns
Royal Coast
Thai kings escaped Bangkok’s stifling climate in Hua Hin. Modern Bangkokians have followed in their footsteps, stopping in Phetchaburi to tour a historic hilltop palace and cave shrines. The region’s coastline is long, inviting and not nearly as crowded as every other beach resort in Thailand. Honeymooners and families will appreciate this short cut to the beach.
Surf & Turf
This region is both sea and city for beach-lovers looking for a sense of place. Little Prachuap Khiri Khan has stunning karst scenery, and Hua Hin and Phetchaburi boast atmospheric shophouse districts indicative of Thailand’s coast settled by Chinese merchants.
Ko Samui & the Lower Gulf
Beaches
Diving
Nightlife
Diver Down
The three Samui sister islands have been pursued by smitten island-hoppers for decades. With warm gentle seas and wallet-friendly prices, Ko Tao remains one of the world’s best places to learn how to dive. Just offshore are snorkelling spots that make fish-spotting fun and easy.
Bronzing Bodies
Ko Pha-Ngan is known for lunar parties and coastal loafing. Gone are the thatch shacks but the layabout vibe remains. Professional Ko Samui caters to international tastes and active vacationers. A day-trip dreamboat, Ang Thong Marine National Park is a stunning collection of hulking limestone mountains jutting out of azure seas.
Phuket & the Northern Andaman Coast
Resorts
Diving
Nightlife
Cousteau Territory
Big fish, pristine coral, clear waters – diving and snorkelling sites orbit the world-renowned Similan and Surin Islands all the way up to the Burmese border. Most visitors pack a snorkel set in their day bags for impromptu sessions. Hop on a live-aboard to maximise your diving pleasure as you cavort with manta rays and the occasional whale shark at Richelieu Rock.
Just Phuket
Thailand’s leading international beach destination excels in comfort for the holidaying masses. Resorts specialise in design and pampering, and the modern convenience of an airport delivers time-crunched visitors from sky to shore faster.
Ko Phi-Phi & the Southern Andaman Coast
Diving
Food
Culture
Under the Sea
The southern Andaman lives in the shadow of the northern Andaman and the southern gulf, but dive deep around Ko Lanta and Ko Phi-Phi, and you’ll begin to wonder why. The undersea pinnacles at Hin Muang and Hin Daeng are quietly world class. Ko Phi-Phi also has some of the finest snorkelling in the kingdom – don’t miss an early morning session with docile reef sharks.
To Market
Trang and Krabi have excellent night markets where you can browse for your perfect noodles, grilled fish or spicy salads. On islands, beach barbeques take pride of place and you’ll be beckoned nightly to iceboats filled with the day’s catch.