Bangkok - the Grand Palace and the adjacent Royal Temple, Wat Phra Kaew, appear like a fairy-tale castle of golden domes and glittering spires within white fortified walls. Royal Temple contains the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most revered religious image. Wat Po is Bangkok’s oldest temple, and is sometimes called the country’s first university due to the lessons in history and astrology inscribed on the walls. Of the many buildings and images on site, pride of place goes to the 147-foot-long Reclining Buddha, which shows the Buddha ascending into Nirvana after reaching enlightenment. Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn is a must see. There are almost 10,000 stalls at Chatuchak Market, which operates in northern Bangkok each weekend. For art lovers, Bangkok’s Museum of Contemporary Art is a pleasant surprise.
Chiang Rai - This small delightful city is renown for its relaxed atmosphere, good-value accommodation and great local food. It’s also the logical base from which to plan excursions to the more remote corners of the province.
Chiang Mai - was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lanna, and it retains a distinct culture. Chiang Mai was located on historically important trade routes, and still has a varied ethnic population and significant old temples such as Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Wat Chedi Luang. Chiang Mai is also the gateway for jungle and hill-tribe treks.
Krabi - quirky, compact and majestically situated among impossibly angular limestone karsts jutting from the mangroves. Krabi serves as base camp for exploring the rest of Krabi province, a lush region of jungles, limestone cliffs and idyllic isles floating just offshore in the Andaman Sea. Buddhist shrines still used by local monks are tucked into the chambers of the town’s top attraction, Tiger Cave. The riverside pier links travelers with ferries and longboats to the best scuba diving, rock climbing and white sand beaches on the coast. The entire region is part of a marine National Park, and hence abundant in all types of marine life.
Phuket - Thailand’s largest island; 31 miles in length and 12 miles at its widest. Situated on the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline, Phuket is suspended from the southern tip of Phang Nga Province by a pair of short road bridges. Phuket is an international magnet for beach lovers and serious divers. Blue lagoons and peach hued sunsets make for a dream-like atmosphere. Watersports are the most popular activities, though once you’ve had enough sun there’s still plenty to explore at the island’s aquariums, gardens, and Buddhist temples.
Ko Phi Phi - a small archipelago of six islands, offshore from Krabi, widely considered one of the most beautiful yet easily accessible island groups in the world. This area has something to offer everyone, from the languorous sunbathers to the adrenaline junkies.
Ko Samui - a small island in Thailand’s western gulf is best appreciated by those who linger over its many charms. Explore the interior, indulge in some seriously luxurious spa treatments and revel in the chilled-out nightlife that has made this an enduring favorite of those seeking the quintessential Thai beach vacation.
Ao Phang Nga - One of the most arresting natural sights in Thailand is formed by the jungle-clad limestone karsts and islands that rise like towers around the waters of Ao Phang Nga, a marine national park close to Phuket. The most famous of the islands is Koh Ping Kan, which was featured in the film The Man With The Golden Gun, and is hence better known as ‘James Bond Island’.
