Thailand
Renewed, refreshed and more beautiful than ever
Thailand is back, and now is the best time to visit. Read on to find out why...
The wild north
Bursting with new life after lockdown, beautiful Northern Thailand will revive your senses: with waterfall swims in lush rainforest, soothing spas scented with frangipani and mountain hikes to glittering temples and hill tribe villages...
The best of Chiang Mai
Explore the temples
Refresh your spirit with a mindful meander through the teak temples of Chiang Mai. Stop at Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh to marvel at the intricate carvings. Meditate in front of the holy Phra Sihing Buddha sitting serene and golden in a priceless, delicately-painted lacquer screen.
Relax in the spa
Renew yourself in one of Southeast Asia’s best spa hotels, many of which look out over lotus-flower gardens on the banks of Chiang Mai’s tranquil Ping River.
Hike through hill tribes villages
Hike through hill-tribe villages to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain and lose yourself in views of silver stupas set in a garden of lakes and fragrant flowers and rainforest-covered mountains stretching to a distant horizon.
Stroll contemporary Chiang Mai
See cool, contemporary Chiang Mai on a wander round the buzzing streets of Nimmanhaemin Road. Browse the boho art galleries and boutiquey shops, see some of Thailand’s edgiest street art and enjoy spicy Lanna regional food in the North’s best restaurants.
Give alms
Take a tuk tuk at dawn to Doi Suthep and join local people offering alms to the Buddhist monks. Then walk the steep steps to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple, whose golden chedi shimmers in the dawn light above the morning mist rising over the waking city.
The best of Chiang Rai
Stay in the jungle
Left to revitalise over the long lockdown, the rainforests of the Golden Triangle near Chiang Rai have never looked lusher. See them up close with a jungle lodge stay at an ethical wildlife camp hotel where monkeys, hornbills and rehabilitated working elephants live happy in semi-wild surrounds.
Gaze on Wat Rong Kun
Marvel at the all-white Wat Rong Khun temple – whose steep gables and gorgeous gardens are covered with an astonishing display of ornate carvings and sculptures by Chiang Rai local Chalermchai Kositpipat, one of the most celebrated contemporary artists in Asia.
Cycle through the countryside
Reinvigorate yourself with a bike ride through the countryside around Chiang Rai; it’s particularly beautiful in the Thai spring when the meadows around Singha Park burst into brilliant pink and yellow bloom. You can even rent cycles in the park.
Sip tea
What’s more refreshing than a good cup of tea? A tour of the Doi Mae Salong tea plantations to Chiang Rai’s northeast will reveal organic, gourmet oolong growing emerald-green in stepped terraced fields, framed by rainforest trees.
See the sunrise
Rise early and boost your energy with a sunrise walk to Phu Chi Fah cliff. Enjoy views over a sea of cloud that clears to reveal a landscape of rice paddies, forests and winding rivers.
The best of Mae Hong Son
Hike between hill tribes
Hike in the rolling hills from hill tribe village to hill tribe village. Between December and February they are brilliant with blooming marigolds and sunflowers, while the surrounding rainforests are busy with myriad colourful tropical birds building their nests.
Make a splash
Refresh yourself with wild river swims and waterfall walks through the canyons around Pai village just east of Mae Hon Song. Set in a bowl of forested mountains pocked with caves and cut with rivers, it’s one of Northern Thailand’s top adventure destinations.
Temple tours
Tour Mae Hong Song’s unique Burmese-style Buddhist sanctuaries. Wake early to see the twin temples of Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang reflected in the glassy-clear waters of the lake, then climb the hill to Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mu for glorious views over Mae Hong Son town.
Peruse the parades
Join the pink and scarlet parades of the Poy Sanglong ordination ceremony in late March, when boys from the surrounding villages carrying golden umbrellas process through the streets before being ordained as novice monks.
Cross an ocean of green
Walk the beautiful bamboo bridge at Su Tong Pae which stretches across brilliant-green rice fields between a tranquil temple and the pretty mountain village of Kung Mai Saak.
The cultural centre
Glittering with temples and skyscrapers, Bangkok is Southeast Asia’s most mesmerising capital, and to its north are the beautiful lotus-flower-filled, rainforest-ringed ruins of ancient Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, where Thailand began...
The best of Bangkok
Bangkok's temples
Spend a morning visiting the Emerald Buddha, the spiritual emblem of Thailand, sitting in a mosaic-glittering chapel in the heart of royal Wat Phra Kaew; one of the largest and most ornate Buddhist temples in the world.
When late afternoon comes, walk up the Golden Mount in old Bangkok for views out over the ancient temples of Wat Saket and Wat Traimit to the skyscraper studded modern Bangkok skyline, as the sun sets golden over the city.
Bangkok's canals
Take a boat tour around the historic klong canals of ancient Thonburi – the suburb where Bangkok was born, and see locals trading at floating markets, ancient temples and historic riverside houses.
Bangkok's markets
The markets in the capital are simply mesmerising. Enjoy Thailand’s best souvenir shopping at the Chatuchak weekend market, people-watch at the morning marigold market in Chinatown and sample the city’s legendary street food in the Ratchada train nightmarket.
The best of Ayutthaya
With temples restored and woodlands bursting with birdlife, the old capital of Siam has never been more atmospheric. Wander the ruins and imagine Portuguese spice traders and envoys from Ming China courting the Siamese king in golden palaces, and legions of soldiers parading past the old city walls.
Take a late afternoon boat ride for views of the sun sinking over the Chao Phraya river, silhouetting the towering brick stupas at newly-restored Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Then see the temples moonlit with soft spotlights under a sky twinkling with stars.
Rent a bike and see ancient Ayutthaya at your own pace, being sure not to miss the towering triple chedis of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Mahathat where an ancient Buddha head lies entangled in roots and vines.
Later, kneel at the 6-metre-high feet of the giant reclining Wat Lokkayasutha Buddha. Despite its size, most tourists miss it. If you go after 3pm you’ll likely have the statue all to yourself in the buttery late afternoon sunlight.
The best of Sukhothai
Ancient Siam’s golden era city is a wonder but it’s spread over a vast area. Hire a bike to see it all. Begin in the cool early morning, take a break for lunch in the heat of the day one of the myriad traditional restaurants with a temple view, and then resume mid-afternoon.
Marvel at the massive 700-year-old, 15-metre-high Buddha at Wat Si Chum. Its giant hand is covered in a sheen of gold, made from tens of thousands of pieces of gilt leaf pressed into the fingers by pilgrims over the centuries.
In the late afternoon, head to Wat Mahathat to see the 13th Century Buddha at sunset, silhouetted dark against a brilliant orange sky.
Go to Sukhothai on the first Friday of the month (between February and September) to see a spectacular sound and light show. Expect fireworks, dance performances and temples lit with flaming torches and atmospheric flood-lighting.
Don't miss Sukhothai’s twin ancient city of Si Satchanalai, 40 kilometres north. It sits in a glorious wild jungle park filled with life post-pandemic. Few visitors make it here, and you’ll have the magnificent temples and the abundant wildlife all to yourself.
The lesser-visited east
Travellers overlook Isaan and the northeast, but with Angkor Wat-style temples, idyllic islands, fabulous festivals, and national parks bursting with new life, now’s the time to come to Thailand’s rice bowl...
Trat
Visitors come to Trat for the beach-lined, waterfall-dripping Ko Chang archipelago, which is great for scuba diving and wild hikes. Just re-opened after two year’s recuperation, the forests and beaches have never looked better.
Chonburi
There’s more to Chonburi than popular Pattaya beach. The locals prefer peaceful Sichang island, where King Rama V built a teakwood summer palace, fishing boats bob in the water and there’s great snorkelling off the rocky coast.
Chanthaburi
A Thai town without tourists? Chanthaburi’s an easy visit to or from the beaches. Come for the spectacular Gothic-meets-Thai-temple cathedral and the pretty stilted houses of Chanthaboon waterfront village. And with the town newly re-opened to visitors, you’ll never be more welcome.
Koh Samet
Close to Bangkok and with idyllic white sand beaches, Koh Samet in Rayong is a great restore before that long haul flight. Come during the week to enjoy the coconut palms and turquoise sea in tranquility.
The best of Isaan
Natural wonders
Explore the myriad natural wonders of Isaan such as Three Whales Rock – slivers of weather worn granite rising above a carpet of rainforest, and the wind-sculpted boulders at Chaiyaphum which look like a painting by Salvador Dali.
Festival fun
Isaan is famous throughout Thailand for its fabulous festivals. At the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival in July locals in traditional dress carry elaborately-carved giant waxwork mythological scenes through the streets. At Bun Bangfai in May, revellers shoot huge, painted fireworks into the sky.
Rare wildlife
Tigers in the wild? They’re hard to see, but nowhere is better than the vast Khao Yai National Park, which is teeming with life after lockdown. And it’s easy to reach – with tours from Bangkok and Isaan’s capital, Nakhon Ratchasima.
Secret temples
Thailand has its Angkor Wat too. The near thousand-year-old, Khmer temples at Phimai and Phanom Rung are little-visited, yet they are covered in incredible carvings and sit in wildlife-filled forest.
Life on the river
Southeast Asia’s greatest river, the Mekong meanders through Isaan past a string of pretty wooden villages. Nicest of all is Chiang Khan, where a glass bridge affords jaw-dropping views over the river and surrounding mountains.
The historic west
Stately royal palaces, ancient temples, mysterious Buddha caves and the poignant World War Two monuments around the River Kwai – Western Thailand is steeped in history. And there are spectacular beaches and mountain landscapes too...
The best of Kanchanaburi
Natural swim
Thailand’s most beautiful waterfall? It’s hard to beat Erawan – falling blue through pool after pool in a bird-twittering rainforest-filled national park that is vibrant with life after lockdown.
War history
Take the train over the River Kwai to the Hellfire Pass through a landscape of rugged mountains and forests. Learn the story of the Death Railway, built in World War Two by prisoners of war at the cost of thousands of lives.
Mesmeric markets
For fabulous floating market photos spend a morning in the little village of Damnoen Saduak. Walk the bridges to snap locals selling fruit from canoes laden with ripe mangoes and mangosteens, and then take a boat trip into the heart of the action. It’s easy to visit on the way to Kanchanaburi.
Float to sleep
Revitalise with a night or two in nature on a floating house on the Kwai River in Sai Yok National Park. With lush jungle as a backdrop you’ll sleep to the frog and cicada chorus and wake to the call of birds.
Towering temples
Wat Tham Seua has wow factor with a Buddha taller than an office block sitting in lotus-bud pagoda perched over a landscape of mountains and rivers.
The best of Hua Hin and Cha Am
Gentle giants
Elephants in the wild? Kuiburi National Park is the best place in Thailand to spot them. You’ll see gibbons, dusky langur monkeys and hornbills too. And with wildlife on the rebound after lockdown there’s never been a better time to visit.
Uncrowded culture
Many travellers en route to the beach skip past Phetchaburi town, which means you’ll have mysterious Buddha caves, a string of spectacular royal temples and King Rama’s richly-decorated royal palaces largely to yourself.
Rails fit for royalty
Thai royals take the train from Bangkok to Hua Hin. It’s easy to see why. The journey is scenic and serene – through rice paddies, past Thailand’s largest Buddhist stupa at Nakhon Pathom and the old royal capital at Phetchaburi and finishing at bougainvillea-covered Hua Hin station with its mock-Tudor ticket office.
The sandy south
The creamy-white sands of Khanom, the frangipani-scented beaches of Phuket, the forested islands of Chumphon, the turtle-teeming reefs of the Similan islands… there’s more to Southern Thailand than you imagined. And after rest and recuperation over lockdown, it’s never been more beautiful.
Winter in the Andaman Sea
With November to March the coolest and driest time to explore the Andaman Sea, this is a great time for an outdoor adventure. Here’s what you can expect…
Dive and snorkel in the Similan islands
Tropical beaches, granite boulder-mountains swathed in jungle, towering caves… the Similan islands National Park is breathtaking. And underwater it’s even more beautiful with reefs replenished after two years without tourism and spectacular wildlife like leopard sharks, guitar rays, stingrays and giant humphead wrasse.
Discover Phuket's historic old town
With Phuket’s gorgeous beaches and waterfall-filled wilds most travellers skip through the island’s main town. Linger longer for streets of Sino-Portuguese shop houses, freshly painted in bubble-gum pinks and pistachios, a lively local restaurant and music scene and some of southern Thailand’s best street food markets.
Explore more of Krabi
Reef-fringed desert islands, wild mangrove forests, caves dripping with stalactites… Krabi is famous for its beautiful beaches, but there’s plenty to do besides relaxing on the sand.
Escape the crowds in Khao Lak
Khao Lak is where the great rainforests of southern Thailand meet the gin-clear Andaman Sea, offering those famous southern Thai, palm-shaded beaches and bays but without the crowds. There are heaps of nature-based adventures, from hikes on jungle trails, boat rides on wild rivers and dives over fish-teeming reefs. And the kayaking is superb.
Sabai Sabai on the twin islands of Ko Yao
Sabai Sabai means ‘twice relaxed’ in Thai, which is what life is like on the tiny, traffic-free Koh Yao Noi in Pha Nga Bay, near Krabi. Even by Thai standards, this little island is idyllic. The gentle, turquoise Andaman Sea licks long tongues of talc-soft white sand. Craggy cliffs swathed in lush forest hang overhead. In the distance, long-tailed wooden fishing boats chug across a horizon of pinnacle islands that jut out of a mirror-calm ocean.
Its sibling, Koh Yao Yai is only slightly bigger and while its long sandy beaches are hard to peel away from, it’s worth walking inland to see the tiny villages and plantations for a glimpse at authentic Thai island life.
Summer on the Gulf of Thailand
With June to September the best time for adventure on the Gulf of Thailand, here’s how you should spend your time…
Charms of Chumphon
Empty islands, pristine reefs, deserted tropical beaches… Chumphon’s natural wonders are the cure for those post-Covid blues. You could spend weeks kayaking the Mu Ko archipelago, rafting through the wildlife-busy jungles of Phato and soothing the stress away in the Khao Phlu hot springs.
Empty beaches of Khanom
Longing for coconut-palms shading an endless but empty beach? Come to Khanom on the mainland opposite Koh Samui, where there are more turtles than tourists, and the jungle-carpeted hills are cut with replenished rivers and wild waterfalls.
Indulge in Koh Samui
Your own plunge pool perched over a bay of islands, massage and pampering in one of Southeast Asia’s most sumptuous spas, romantic meals al fresco under the stars: Koh Samui is on-the-beach Thailand at its most luxurious. And it comes with plenty of natural beauty and local colour.
Lose yourself in Koh Pha Ngan
Rugged Pha Ngan island is just a short ferry-hop from Samui. But it feels a world away. This is an island to lose yourself on. There are so many places to explore, from the buzzing beaches west of Rin Nai in the south to the forgotten bays and rocky capes around Haad Khom in the island’s secret, sultry north.
Dive into Koh Tao
Shaped like a crescent moon, fringed with white sands and surrounded by fabulous reefs, Koh Tao is the Gulf of Thailand’s scuba capital. This is one of the best places in Asia to learn to dive, with warm shallow seas as still as a bath and myriad coral pinnacles.
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