Culture-vultures, shoppers, sporting types, nature-lovers,
night-clubbers . . .
Thailand has something for all tastes
across its 200,000 square miles. Beaches and Buddhas. Mountains and monuments.
Forests and festivals. Tradition and traffic. Wats and wildlife. Markets and
malls. Exotic, elusive - and ever-welcoming.
WHAT
TO SEE
Bangkok
A feast of attractions, the Thai capital is a living canvas studded
with 400 glittering Buddhist temples, resplendent palaces, Buddhist monks,
animated shopping complexes, congested streets and cameos of traditional Thai
life along its canals and river. Number One sight is the spectacular Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo, a temple complex
housing the Emerald Buddha. Take a little time to see the nearby National Museum. Up-river are the ornate Royal
Barges, now used for special river processions. Don’t miss Wat Pho, Bangkok’s oldest and
largest temple and home to the huge Reclining Buddha. And be sure to visit the
Thai-style former home of the American silk-dealer Jim Thompson. Another nearby
‘must’ is the Rose Garden, 20 miles away and a picturesque country resort with
tropical flower gardens, orchards and a typical Thai village.
Chiang Mai
Thailand’s
lively second city has a rich cultural identity, with its own dialects, cuisine,
architecture, festivals, handicrafts and classical dance. Climb the 300-plus
steps to Doi Suthep temple for grand views of the city. Chiang Mai is an ideal
base from which to check out the mystical Golden Triangle - where
Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet – and to discover the ancient
temples, exotic forest and mountain scenery and hill tribes of the northern provinces of
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.
Kanchanaburi
A name eternally linked with the horrors of World War II and the
allied forces compelled to build the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai and the
notorious ‘Death Railway’ through the jungle which has been immortalized in
prints and film. Nearby is Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the immaculately maintained
cemetery containing the remains of 6,982 Allied POWs who perished during the
construction of the ‘Death Railway’. Its tranquility reminds the visitor of the
war and its after-effects.
Ayutthaya
Visit this former capital of Thailand and take a step back in time
as you wander through the ruined palaces and temples - on foot, by bicycle or
even on an elephant! Nearby is another ancient capital, Sukothai, inside whose
old walls are the ruins of ornate wats and strikingly preserved carvings.
Phuket
In the Andaman
Sea, off the west coast, this is
tropical Thailand, whose natural assets of
sea, sand, sky, beaches, forests, mountains and legendary diving sites have made
Phuket a resort hotspot. Its epicentre is Patong Beach,
crowded in season and definitely more international than Thai – while quieter
settings like Bang
Tao Bay deliver a more relaxed lifestyle. Away
from the beaches there are Buddhist and Chinese temples to see, while the Phuket
Fantasea Thai 'cultural theme park' offers impressive state-of-the art
entertainment. Phuket Town’s old quarter preserves some lovely
Sino-Portuguese buildings, while its modern counterpart boasts markets, craft
shops and restaurants galore.
Phang
Nga Bay
Easily reached from nearby Phuket and famous for its stunning
seascapes of hundreds of limestone islets rising sheer from a translucent sea,
famously featured in the James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun.
Krabi
East of Phang Nga, and framed by scenic limestone rock formations and
beautiful secluded beaches, idyllic Krabi is one of Thailand’s most attractive settings
for a beach holiday.
Koh Samui
In the Gulf of Thailand, the ‘coconut island’ strikes a
pleasant balance between modern development and traditional charm. Chaweng and
Lamai are Koh Samui’s most beautiful - and most popular – beaches, with many
amenities. Other choices include Choeng Mon, Mae Nam in the north and Na Thon,
the major resort area. Among the sights to seek out are the Secret Hall of
Buddha (a revered temple housing an ancient marble Buddha); Buddha's Footprint
(a hilltop shrine with wonderful valley views); the Big Buddha (a gold-covered
Buddha statue on tiny Koh Faan island); the Butterfly Garden; Na Muang
Waterfalls; the Secret Buddha Garden (a magical spot high in the hills amid the
island’s forested interior); and Hin Ta Hin Yai whose ‘Grandfather and
Grandmother Rocks’ overlooking the sea are naturally-occurring fertility symbols
that need no explanation!
WHAT TO DO
Bangkok
During your stay in Bangkok or ‘City of Angels’ make sure you take at
least one sightseeing trip by boat – be it to visit the city’s main temples or a
river cruise aboard a comfortable converted rice-barge. Bangkok’s shopping also
demands to be tested. Hone your bargaining skills first! Outlets in
air-conditioned malls will tempt you with huge ‘discounts’ – while brand-name
replicas can be found in street stalls on Sukhumvit, or the Night Plaza in
Patpong. Some of the best markets are located near Khao San Road and
Patpong
Road. The latter is the city’s legendary red-light
district – and a pretty lively place after dark. But Bangkok by night also
features everything from good live music and jazz clubs to cool bars, trendy
clubs and quality restaurants of every stripe. Don’t forget to rebuild your
batteries with a traditional Thai-style massage. With the choice of new
Skytrains and subways to whisk you around or the more traditional river taxis
and tuk tuks to take you at a more leisurely pace, shopping, dining and
exploring could not be easier.
Chiang Mai
For adventure and scenery, travel north to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai
offers far more than just sightseeing. You can do most of your essential
shopping at nearby local craft villages like Ban Tawai (especially for
attractively priced silk, silver and carved wood items) and a wide range of
foods on offer. You can even try a cookery course if you have time! Or why not
arrange a hill-tribe visit, an elephant ride or rafting trip through the jungle?
Nightfall also brings a great opportunity to buy local crafts – and virtually
everything else! - at Chiang Mai’s famous night market, or to try traditional
food at a Kantoke evening of traditional Northern cuisine. And whether your idea
of a good time is an elegant bar with live music or a hotspot with thumping
beats, flashing lights and a packed dance floor, you’ll find it in Chiang Mai.
Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi
If
excellent watersports are your holiday priority then Phuket has just the
formula. Ever popular Phuket, located on the Andaman Sea, give you a wealth of options for
being as active, isolated or just plain lazy as the mood takes you. Fabulous
snorkelling and diving conditions make these major pursuits here, with
windsurfing, kayaking, hobie-cat sailing, kite-surfing, jet-skiing, parasailing,
sport fishing, sunset cruises and yacht and speedboat charter some of the other
options. On dry land horseback tours and mountain-biking are other popular
pursuits – and there are four fine golf courses in idyllic settings. However, if
you prefer just to watch then how about a visit to a Thai boxing match? Call in,
too, at the fascinating Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre in the Khao Phra Thaeo
National Park - Phuket's
last virgin rain forest, with walks to some beautiful waterfalls. See
At a Glance section for more
information on scuba-diving and golf.
Koh Samui
Or head south to the romantic palm-fringed Gulf of Thailand setting of Koh Samui. Here, too,
watersports fans are spoilt for choice. Diving and snorkelling head the list,
with hobie-cat sailing, windsurfing and most other activities on offer around
the island. Ashore there’s everything from bowling and bungee-jumping to
elephant trekking and jungle canopy adventures, mountain-biking and horse
riding. Join a Thai cookery class for a day – or visit a snake or crocodile
farm! Shoppers will head for the shops of Chaweng, Lamai and Nathon. Nightlife
for all tastes is never far away - from gourmet restaurants to full-moon
parties, discos, bars, classical Thai dancing, mud wrestling (yes) and even Thai
Lady boxing!