the ultimate travel guide toThailand

Outdoor Adventures

Budding mountaineers and adventurous types make tracks for Khao Sok in the south of Thailand, or Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai in the north.

With warm water temperatures (usually 27 to 30°C) and underwater terrain that includes swim throughs, caves, caverns, pinnacles, boulders that appear to have tumbled from islands to the sea floor, and ethereal karst islands surrounded by coral, Southern Thailand offers enticing opportunities for scuba divers and snorkellers. We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the best snorkelling and dive companies in Thailand to help you make your decision.

Surrounded by a stunning landscapes and river systems, the Mae Hong Son province is a natural hub for eco-tourism and nature lovers. Among the must-visit destinations is the small district of Pai in the northeast, where local rivers make it idyllic place for rafting and camping.

In Phuket you might like to take a high octane trip to James Bond Island in a speedboat.

If you time your visit right you can be a spectator at Thailand’s biggest elephant fundraising effort: the Anantara King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament in Thailand’s version of the Hamptons, Hua Hin.

Ethical encounters with endangered Asian elephants – where you observe and possibly interact with them but refrain from riding – can be a highlight of visiting Thailand. Just make sure to do your research when choosing an elephant encounter.

Beaches

For the more social travellers – who like to relax on their own patch of empty sand, yet like knowing that a dash of entertainment is still close at hand – there’s excitement and adventure to be had in hotspots like Hua Hin, Koh Phangan, Krabi, Ko Samui and of course legendary Phuket.

But if you want something quieter, Trat (Thailand’s eastern-most province bordering Cambodia), boasts a collection of islands just off its coast that swoop under the tourist radar. Blessed with scenic bays, quiet sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, these islands are paradisiacal and serene, almost the antithesis to bustling Samui and Phuket.

While there are around 50 islands, Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood are the best for visitors with regards to infrastructure. However, since theyare located within Mu Koh Chang National Park, they maintain a blissful rugged and remote vibe – giving visitors a taste of what Thailand was like some 30 years ago before we all became obsessed with the place.

Temples and Cultural Landmarks

The hundred or so buildings that constitute the Grand Palace in Bangkok are a breathtaking introduction to Thailand’s ornate beauty and an absolute day-one must when visiting the capital. A collection of palaces, courts, pavilions and temples, it’s an opulent display of marble, gold leaf-clad mythical figures and elegant chofas piercing the sky from the ends of multicoloured-tiled roofs.

Whether it’s a swanky sky-scraper hotel in Bangkok or a lush tropical villa on one of Thailand’s picture-perfect island, there are accommodation options to suit every type of traveller in Thailand. There’s even a Four Seasons tented camp in the jungle in Chiang Rai.

Luxury Resorts and Villas

The Sarojin, Khao Lak is a paragon of meditative tropical resort gardens that encourage relaxation and deep contemplation. At night, hundreds of flickering lights glow in the ponds, bobbing like boats on a river, their reflections doubling their efforts. By day, the infinity pool and jacuzzi, surrounded by floating pavilions, glistens invitingly.

Grand is a fitting moniker for the Centara Grand Resort Hotel and Villas Hua Hin, at home in its commanding position sprawled across 16 hectares of beach front, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

Opened in 1923, the former Railway Hotel was developed under the patronage of Prince Purachatra and the Thai royal family, who had built holiday palaces for themselves in the region and wanted to see a decent standard of accommodation available to others.

Koh Samui has a wealth of excellent resorts – we’ve compiled a list of four of the best to help you choose. If you want to push the boat out, one of the most beautiful would have to be The Banyan Tree Resort – it won the Best New Beach Hotel award when it opened in 2011. Other reviewers believe Vana Belle Resort might just be the pick of the competitive Koh Samui accommodation crop.

Located in a tranquil little patch of paradise on the tip of Cape Panwa in Phuket’s south is Sri Panwa – a little-known resort boasting understated luxury.

Iniala Beach House in Phuket has had rave reviews and Nishaville has been described as “Thailand’s best kept secret” with absolute beachfront cottages at Huay Yang, ideal for snorkelling and hiking through national park.

The ultimate in barefoot luxury, Soneva Kiri Resort overlooks a private bay on Koh Kood, Thailand, boasting serious sustainability cred too.

With all the comforts of large resorts, Anantara Si Kao is far from crowds, nestled between Changlang Beach and Had Chao Mai National Park.

Style, modern luxury and natural beauty combine to create super sleek beach villas at Casa de la Flora in Khao Lak.

If Phuket is the focus of your trip, be sure to check out our guide to Phuket’s top five remote hotels.

Hotels

Sofitel So Bangkok is said to be the more stylish sister of the older Sofitel brand. The So is dressed to impress. Dark seductive lighting is the general rule in common areas, but closer inspection shows some fabulous ¬set-pieces. The moat of pools and water features around the lift shaft is particularly impressive.

Classic big names (Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward) loved the Mandarin Orient in Bangkok. The oldest wing dates to 1886. The modern wings come with oriental décor, jewel-like silks and some with spectacular river views.

Located directly on the Chao Phraya River, the things that make The Siam Hotel truly special in a city with a vast array of accommodation choices are the setting – hunkered down on the waterfront, with a pier that becomes the perfect venue for sunset cocktails – and the staff, who make it their mission to ensure you feel welcome without being intrusive in any way.