Thailand Summary
A land filled with temples and ancient ruins, Thailand has long been a prime destination for travellers coming to South East Asia looking to explore its beautiful islands covered by beaches and mesmerizing ruins shrouded in mystery.
Chaotic Bangkok is most people’s introduction to the country, filled with hundreds of spectacular temples and hosting one of the best nightlives in all of Asia. For a more relaxed and cultural city experience, Chiang Mai to the north is perfect. As the trekking capital of Thailand, this is a great place to go to explore the rugged northern mountains on short day-trips or long multi-day treks deep into the teak-forested valleys and hills. Further south, another great place for trekking is Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok.
North of Chiang Mai lies Pai, a great place to escape the chaos of the bigger cities. While not as sleepy and remote as it once was, Pai still has a wonderful atmosphere, and is a staple for any backpacker on their first visit to Thailand.
Of course, Thailand is most famous for its islands and beaches, and in this arena it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Party-inclined travellers make the monthly pilgrimage to the wonderfully crazy Ko Pha Ngang full moon party, while others seek to escape the madness and opt for the calmer options of Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta near Phuket, or Ko Chao near the Cambodian border. Meanwhile, little Ko Tao has quickly established itself as the premier scuba spot in all of South East Asia, as well as hosting an untouched interior perfect for exploring on a motorbike.
For family and resort oriented trips, the island of Ko Samui and the mainland resort town of Hua Hin are great options for escaping the sometimes rowdy atmosphere of the other islands, while still getting your slice of picturesque Thai beaches.
For the aspiring Indiana Jones types, the ancient ruins of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, where centuries of Thai history is laid bare, cannot be missed.
In conclusion, you can craft almost any type of trip in Thailand, be it nature trekking, ruin and temple gazing, relaxing on a beach or crazy partying, so book a flight to this wonderful country today.