Highlights
The Eastern & Oriental Express
Southeast Asia’s most glamorous train, the Eastern & Oriental Express travels through Thailand at a soothingly gentle pace. What better way to watch some of the most spectacular scenery pass you by than sitting in a comfortable armchair in an elegant carriage, sipping on a chilled Singapore Sling? Choose from a selection of itineraries, all of which include guided excursions, bringing you even closer to this fascinating part of the world.
Buddhist Temples
Thailand is filled with devout Buddhists and you’ll find a host of wonderfully ornate temples (or wats) across the country, where locals pay their respects every day. They are more than just places of worship and reside at the heart of local community, providing guidance, education and acting as social centres for festivals, ceremonies and charitable events. As a focus for artistic endeavours, they offer unique examples of architecture, sculpture, painting and decorative arts and crafts. Top picks include Bangkok’s Wat Pho and Chiang Mai’s Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Beaches
With over 3,000 miles of tropical coastline, Thailand has a beach for every age and taste - whether travelling on a honeymoon, as a family, or during your ‘golden’ years. Just a few to mention include the sublime scoops on Koh Samui or the sweeping crescents on Phuket, each lapped by the warm, turquoise Andaman Sea. In the middle of Phang Nga Bay, stretch out on a secluded beach on Koh Yao Noi, or head to the blissfully peaceful, flaxen-coloured sands of Koh Kood.
Cuisine
Thai food needs little introduction and is enjoyed in restaurants around the world. Taste the very best and most authentic of this delicious cuisine; every dish is a juxtaposition of tastes, blending sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy. There is also an intricate interplay of texture and colour, as well as the medicinal benefits of traditional Thai ingredients. Sample fiery soups in the north, creamy green curries in the south and, of course, Pad Thai, a stir-fried rice noodle dish that’s almost an ambassador of Thai cuisine. Whether tasting the flavour-filled street food or trying out an exquisite fine dining restaurant, expect a taste sensation.
Scuba Diving
Blessed with a tropical climate, pristine seas and seemingly endless coastline, Thailand is home to a rich bounty of dazzling marine-life and healthy coral reefs, as well as sunken wrecks. As a result, it’s a playground for divers! There are some great sites to suit all abilities around Phuket and Koh Samui – plus professional instruction and equipment rental all readily on hand. More experienced divers can discover the world-class sites off the Similan and Surin Islands, a protected marine National Park encompassing a string of picturesque, tiny isles. Look out for Batfish, Moray eels, Snappers, Barracudas, Surgeonfish, Leopard sharks and more!
Phuket, Krabi & Koh Yao Noi
Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is blessed with a mix of verdant, tropical rainforests and stunning sandy beaches, washed by the balmy Andaman Sea. Phuket City is hugely popular for day-outings, a place where colonial architecture blends with new-age charm. East of Phuket, where the river meets the sea, Krabi is best described as a paradise, with dramatic limestone islands soaring out of the sea, lush, rubber-tree plantations, and spotless beaches. Half-way between Phuket and the Krabi mainland, the isle of Koh Yao Noi offers a calm refuge far removed from the crowds of neighbouring towns, oozing peace and tranquillity from every angle.
Khao Lak & Koh Samui
Kao Lak is in the Phang Nga province of southern Thailand and features immaculate beaches and dense jungle. Close by, discover the world-famous diving sanctuaries of the Similan and Surin Islands, as well as five magnificent National Parks. On the opposite side of the peninsula, Koh Samui is home to sleepy villages and forested hillsides, sweeping down to white-sand beaches, fringed with swaying coconut palms. Join a local guide and experience the inner-jungle world, exposing hidden waterfalls perfect to plunge in, or relax and rejuvenate in their pure, calming waters.
Bangkok, Chiang Rai & Chiang Mai
Bangkok straddles the grand Chao Phraya River and offers an enlightening experience into Thailand’s diverse personality. Discover its temples and age-old street markets for a secret glimpse at ancient heritage. Landlocked Chiang Rai is the country’s most northern province, a place of captivating scenery dotted with National Heritage sites - including temples, settlement ruins and Buddhist shrines. South-west brings Chiang Mai on the Ping River, the principal city of the region and home to an impressive 300 gilded temples and museums! Local inhabitants cradle their customs, their cuisine and their own unique dialect.
Hua Hin & Koh Kood
The coastal resort of Hua Hin is the oldest and among the most traditional Thai resorts, successfully combining the charms of yesteryear with modern-day facilities. Situated 200km southwest of Bangkok, this attractive resort has long been the holiday destination for Thailand’s elite. Today, overseas visitors come to share this thriving yet peaceful resort, which delightfully preserves a classic Thai ambience. It also has an established fishing port. Close to the Cambodian border, stunning Koh Kood is one of the larger yet least developed islands, fringed with some of the most pristine beaches in the whole Gulf of Thailand.