Luxury hotel holiday Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok Bangkok

Highlights of Thailand

Luxury resorts in the islands of the Andaman Sea; rail trip to the original Bridge Over the River Kwai; Catuchak weekend market in Bangkok; the giant reclining Buddha in Wat Pho; the Skytrain to Bangkok’s glitzy shopping centre; floating markets all over the country, with the best at Damnoen Saduak, some 65 miles southwest of Bangkok; fabulous massages; delicately spiced local food; the bus journey from Kanchanburi to Sangkhlaburi, a spectacular road through rugged karst mountains to the misty, romantic lakeside border outpost and base for many outdoor adventures; the Mae Sa-Samoeng loop, dipping and twisting along the peaks outside Chiang Mai; diving and snorkelling with whale sharks off coral-fringed islands such as Ko Tao; Chiang Mai, the beautiful northern hilltown, home to many Thai cookery courses, thanks largely to a wonderful local market; elephant trekking, Chiang Mai; the tangle of limestone mountains and rainforest in Khao Sok National Park, home to snakes, monkeys and tigers, and the incredible Rafflesia kerrii flower; Mae Hong Son province, remote crossroads of many cultures, jungle-treks to hilltribes; Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park, with its lush jungle, postcard-perfect bays, fiery sunsets, and a craggy mountainous interior sheltering a veritable Jurassic Park of flora and fauna; Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand’s former capital, now an atmospheric site of ruins; Ayuthaya’s historical and architectural gems; the mountains and waterfalls of Khao Yai National Park; the beaches of Hua Hin; the little visited forested mountains and hilltribes of Nan province; seafood curry on Songkhla pier.

Travel around Thailand

Thailand’s rail network is very well run, with four main lines running north, south, northeast and east from Bangkok. The train is most convenient as an alternative to buses for the long, scenic journey north to Chiang Mai or south to Surat Thani.