Asia Travel Expert - Southeast Asia Travel

Top Destinations in Thailand

Bangkok
Packed with excitement at every corner, Bangkok is known as Krung Thep by the locals (meaning the ‘City of Angels’) and is one of the most visited cities in Southeast Asia. It is the most metropolitan and the fastest developing province in Thailand, and it has a great location at the centre of Thailand, with connections to every part of the country.

Blending rich and traditional cultures with modern values and contemporary ideas, Bangkok gives visitors an exposure to both the old world of traditional Thai dance, music, historical heritages and world-famous Thai food, along with the swanky world of glamorous parties, hip fashion, exhaustive shopping and exemplary dining.

Today, Bangkok is Thailand’s most modern and developed centre by far and includes a large expat population, who live comfortably among the western services and world-class tourist hospitality. However, many historical sights can be seen around Bangkok. The city has preserved an array of old architecture buildings yet it is continually constructing more skyscrapers and huge malls.

Bangkok offers a stark contrast between the very developed part of the city and the ancient heritages that once were the centres of the community; on a single street you can discover a palatial colonial-styled mansion and a wooden shack ready to fall apart.

Countless places are worth a visit, even if Bangkok is an afterthought on most people’s itinerary. The Grand Palace is on every tour and is an impressive showcase for Thailand, its Buddhist heritage and the much loved royal family. It is located in an area that conveniently includes the famous Wat Po, National Museum and the colourfully bohemian Khao San road - a backpacker mecca.

Bangkok is easily reached, and its brand new, well-equipped Suvarnabhumi International Airport, receives flights from all over the world. Having opened in September 2006, it is now the world’s 10th busiest airport. Nationals of the US, the Commonwealth and most European and Asian countries can enter into the kingdom without prior visa arrangement.

Chiang Mai
Known as the ‘Rose of the North’, Chiang Mai is an ancient city with a charmingly laid-back character that reflects traditional Thailand in parts, while also presenting a wonderful tourism springboard for adventures into the mountainous North.

The Old City is 700 years old and uniquely surrounded by a beautifully preserved moat that includes ancient corner bastions and city gates. Within it, you will find quaint lanes and numerous temples, some of which date back to the founding century of Chiang Mai.

The city itself was the capital of the powerful Lanna Kingdom - one of the first in Thailand, which ruled much of Northern Thailand until it’s decline in the late 16th century. The wealth is reflected in the beautiful cultural legacy that remains to this day and the people proudly retain an individual character.

Although the fortunes of Chiang Mai in recent centuries have been dependent on agriculture, it sits at the centre of an exciting playground that includes virgin mountainous territory, serene national parks, jaw-dropping waterfalls and a range of activities are available, which include trekking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting and more.
With some of the most agreeable weather in Thailand and the cheapest tourist facilities in Thailand, Chiang Mai has become increasingly popular and now attracts a sizeable community of ex-pats, who find the services and leisure options an ideal choice for retirement.

The city can easily be reached on a one-hour flight from Bangkok (up to 15 flights a day) as well as from Phuket, Samui, Singapore and other regional hubs. The international airport is modern and efficient. Others chose to arrive by frequent buses or a 12-hour train journey from Bangkok.
Koh Samui

Koh Samui
A gateway to a cloudless blue sky, white sandy beaches, crystal clear water and beautiful corals, Samui, an island located about two-hour boat ride away from Surat Thani in the south of Thailand, and is one of Thailand’s best loved islands. Setting foot on an island filled with lines of coconut trees, you will discover that Samui has more to offer than just tropical, relaxing surroundings.

Offering a variety of attractions, Samui reflects its charms through impressive temples, lovely waterfalls, animal parks and breathtaking beaches. To get in touch with the nature in an island style, you can climb up the back of a friendly elephant and let this enormous mammal take you into the wilderness of spectacular island’s interiors.
Also, Samui’s underwater wonders that unveil exquisite coral reefs and many colourful fish will surely delight both professional and amateur divers.

Aside from its fascinating nature, Samui reveals its bustling nightlife and welcomes tourists into the world of parties. Like a glass of Pineapple Malibu, a popular island’s drink with a sweet flavour of pineapple and a kick of sour lime juice, Samui gives a perfect mixture of cosy, sweet, friendly little cafes and steamy clubs and pubs playing loud music with an addition of some local raunchy bars.

Unspoilt yet sophisticated, pristine yet mischievous, Samui is an ideal place where you can escape from the hustle-bustle of the city. From an unknown island with no electricity and no road network, Samui has developed a great deal from that time to present when party lights are still on until late at night and where plenty of vehicles can almost cause traffic.

Thailand’s self-styled ‘Boutique Island’ with its plus resorts and holiday villas, is now with only a hour on a plane from Bangkok and a few hours on a ferry, anyone can walk barefoot on delicate white sand on one of Samui’s beautiful beaches.

Phuket
Often described as the ‘Jewel of the Andaman’, Phuket is arguably Asia’s most popular holiday destination, attracting visitors from around the world to its beautiful coastline of fine white beaches and first class tourist infrastructure.

With its numerous beach resort areas and long established town centre, Phuket is an ideal destination and enjoys a prime location within easy reach of some of Thailand’s most treasured attractions, such as Phi Phi Island, Pha Nga bay and the Krabi coastline.

The island is Thailand’s biggest and also wealthiest province (per capita) but is also rich in natural beauty and resources and enjoyed a thriving economy of sea trading, rubber farming and tin mining long before the tourist industry took off in the early 1980s. In fact, a community was established here as far back as the first millennium, when it was part of the powerful Srivichai Kingdom based in Java.

Over the centuries the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British have eyed the island for its strategic trading importance, making it an international centre long before it became part of Siam in the 18th century. Chinese immigrants in the nineteenth century left a particularly important legacy which remains in the form of customs, architecture and temples.

Today Phuket is a multi-ethnic island, supporting a large foreign population and boasting a world class property industry that attracts the rich and famous, along with more than three million tourists who arrive annually, mostly at the international airport. They are catered for by a sophisticated tourist infrastructure, reported to be the best in Thailand and including everything from five-star themed hotels and golf resorts, to modest guest houses.

Beyond Phuket island there is also a vast playground boasting some of region’s most beautiful islands and scenery. The Phi Phi island chain is famous for its natural beauty and stunning backdrops, while Pha Nga bay is a jaw-dropping theatre of karst pillars scattered across the water. Railay beach in nearby Krabi is also a favourite landscape picture on brochures, while the Similan Islands off the west coast are a favourite marine reserve with divers.

Pattaya
Pattaya is one of Thailand’s youngest city but its youthful pulse is infectious. Although noted as the ‘Naughty capital’ of Thailand there is much more to the city and it boasts one of the country’s most burgeoning property industries.

Situated less than two hours drive from Bangkok, it’s the favoured playground for the city slickers and apart from it’s ideal setting around a sweeping bay, the city offers plenty of entertainment, fine dining and excellent accommodation options.

Cutting straight to the chase, Pattaya is a favourite destination for single men, largely due to the numerous girlie bars and similar services that have made the city infamous. Ever since GIs where shipped here for R&R during the Vietnam war, Pattaya has been characterised by the ‘sex scene’ and for this reason many tourists to Thailand prefer to stay away.

Others see it as an attraction and the local authorities tolerate this, confining the scene to certain areas. Fortunately it remains trouble free and certainly doesn’t come with the clandestine or sleazy air often associated with red light districts. If anything, ordinary people find it all quite bemusing and lively.

Pattaya has one of the largest ex-pat communities in Thailand - partly due to the proliferation of foreign businesses on this part of the industrial Eastern Seaboard, in addition to being popular with package tours from Russia. There is also a strong gay scene in Pattaya.

The most popular time to visit is during the dry, warm season that stretches from November to February. Temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C, and humidity is a relatively pleasant 50 per cent. However hotel prices also increase during this period, as do the number of tourists in the region, so if you’re trying to avoid the crowds, it might be better to schedule your holiday for an off-peak month.