Thailand Guide
Things Not to Miss
1 Khao Sok National Park • Mist-clad outcrops, steamy jungle populated by whooping gibbons, and the vast Cheow Lan lake all make Khao Sok a rewarding place to explore.
2 Tom yam kung, Tha Nam restaurant • Delicious hot and sour soup with prawns and lemon grass, that typifies the strong, fresh flavours of Thai food.
3 Umphang treks • The best way to reach mighty Tee Lor Su Falls from Umphang is by rafting and hiking your way through the jungle.
4 Diving and snorkelling off Ko Similan • The underwater scenery at this remote chain of national park islands is among the finest in the world.
5 Full moon party at Hat Rin, Ko Pha Ngan • Apocalypse Now without the war . . .
6 Phetchaburi • Many of the temples in this charming, historic town date back three hundred years and are still in use today.
7 Ko Samet • Petite and pretty, Ko Samet is justifiably popular for its gorgeous white-sand beaches and its proximity to Bangkok.
8 Ko Kood • The real beauty in the Ko Chang archipelago – utamed and as yet largely undeveloped.
9 Vegetarian festival, Phuket • During Taoist Lent, fasting Chinese devotees test their spiritual resolve with acts of gruesome self-mortification.
10 Ko Tarutao National Marine Park • Spectacular and relatively peaceful islands, sheltering a surprising variety of landscapes and fauna.
11 Rock-climbing on Railay • Even novice climbers can scale the cliffs here for unbeatable views of the stunning Andaman coastline.
12 Folklore Museum, Phitsanulok • One of Thailand's best ethnology museums, complete with a reconstructed village home and a fascinating array of traditional kitchen implements.
13 Ayutthaya • An hour to the north, this former capital provides a sharp contrast to Bangkok, an atmospheric graveyard for temples flanked by good museums and some appealing guest houses.
14 Thai cookery classes in Chiang Mai • Of the many courses now on offer in the town, cookery classes are the most instantly gratifying, including first-class meals and colourful market visits.
15 Sukhothai • Stay in one of the many welcoming guest houses in New Sukhothai and hire a bicycle to explore the elegant ruins of the nearby old city, Thailand's thirteenth-century capital.
16 Nan • Few travellers make the trip out to Nan, but it's a likeable town set in rich mountain scenery, with a strong handicraft tradition and some intriguing Lao-influenced temples, including the beautiful murals at Wat Phumin.
17 Khao Yai National Park • Explore Thailand's most popular national park by bicycle, on foot, or by going on night safari.
18 Ko Lanta • Dubbed "the island of long beaches", Ko Lanta makes an appealingly low-key destination for backpackers and families alike.
19 Phanom Rung • When the ancient Khmers controlled northeast Thailand in the ninth century, they built a chain of magnificent Angkor Wat-style temple complexes, most impressively at Phanom Rung.
20 Ko Tao • Take a dive course, or just explore this remote island's contours by boat or on foot.
21 A boat ride down the Mekong River • Forming 750km of the border between Thailand and Laos, the mighty Mekong provides an endlessly fascinating scenic backdrop to travels in the northeast.
22 Riding the Death Railway • Thailand's most scenic train journey is also its most historic, using the track constructed by World War II POWs, whose story is movingly told in the nearby Hellfire Pass Museum.
23 Sea-canoeing in Ao Phang Nga • Low-impact paddling is the best way to explore the secret island-lagoons and mangrove swamps of this extraordinary bay.
24 Loy Krathong in Sukhothai • At this festival held in honour of the water spirits, Thais float miniature baskets filled with flowers and lighted candles on canals, rivers, ponds and seashores.
25 Silk • Sericulture is an important village industry in the northeast, whose weavers produce the country's most exquisite designs, though high-quality silk is sold all over Thailand.
26 Wat Phu Tok • A uniquely atmospheric meditation temple on a steep, wooded outcrop – clamber around for the spectacular views, if nothing else.
27 Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai • One of the most harmonious ensembles of temple architecture in the country, with mountaintop views over half of northern Thailand thrown in.