Luxury Holidays to Thailand

In Thailand, as in many countries where the Buddhist faith predominates, local festivals and events can seem to occur almost spontaneously at local level. On the national scene here are just a few arbitrary selections from a crowded religious, sporting and cultural calendar.

February

The biggest festivity of its kind in Asia, Chinese New Year is observed by Chinese communities throughout Thailand, who enthusiastically celebrate the occasion with a series of special festive events.

March

Magha Pula is an important Buddhist holy day, with temple ceremonies commemorating the occasion when 1,250 of the Lord Buddha''s disciples spontaneously gathered to hear him preach. By way of contrast Bangkok Fashion Week showcases the latest collections by some of the country’s famous and up-and-coming designers

April

The Songkran Festival, marking the Thai New Year, is the country’s traditional water festival, celebrating the Thai New Year across the land. Things can get pretty lively on the streets, with impromptu water fights adding to the fun. Be prepared to get wet! The month also sees the Chiang Mai Arts & Culture Festival – a nine-day celebration of the local arts scene with events featuring both traditional and contemporary entertainments.

May

May brings the anniversary of the coronation in 1950 of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, observed as a public holiday. Throughout the month Bangkok holds the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, marking the start of the new rice planting season - a tradition dating back over 600 years. Koh Samui’s month-long international regatta begins at the end of May and attracts some 200 teams from as far afield as Europe.

June

Phuket International Marathon attracts about 4,000 runners to battle a tough course - and the heat!

November

Also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’, the Loy Krathong Sai Festival is one of Thailand’s favourite celebrations. It has Buddhist origins and offers thanks to the Goddess of Water at the end of the rainy season. Participants launch kratongs - made from banana leaves laden with candles and burning incense – on rivers at night, making a wish as they do so. The Bangkok Marathon attracts plenty of serious runners . . . but the temperatures make spectating much more fun!

December

Its organisers claim that the annual Bangkok Jazz Festival is the fastest-growing annual jazz event in Asia. Come and listen for yourself! Attracting the very best in jazz, a host of Asian and international celebrities ensure that music lovers of all ages will enjoy this prestigious event. Definitely, this is a festival that adds value for any holidaymaker visiting Bangkok during December.

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 DURING YOUR LUXURY HOLIDAY TO THAILAND

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 DURING YOUR LUXURY HOLIDAY TO THAILAND

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!