Limestone islands rising from the calm water of Phang Nga Bay

Southeast Asia

Thailand

Temple bells, steaming street-side woks and limestone islands in a warm sea.

Photo: Jack Wong / Unsplash

For many, Thailand is a first encounter with Asia, but it rewards going deeper than the beaches. In the north, around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, mist hangs over the hills at dawn, monks in saffron robes collect alms, and villages still weave cloth and make paper from mulberry bark.

Bangkok moves to a different rhythm. Long-tail boats on the Chao Phraya, the spires of Wat Arun in the evening light, Chinatown's night-time kitchens and the quiet canals of Thonburi where time seems to slow. Further south waits the rainforest of Khao Sok, with raft houses floating on its lake.

And then the islands. The Andaman Sea, with its dramatic limestone cliffs, and the Gulf of Thailand, with its softer beaches, have different seasons — so with good planning there's a calm place by the water for much of the year, from a private villa to a simple bungalow under the palms.

Why go

01
The north: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Old-city temples, the mountain of Doi Suthep, craft villages and hill trails around Doi Inthanon. In Chiang Rai, the white temple of Wat Rong Khun and the road towards the Golden Triangle.
02
Bangkok from the river
The Grand Palace and Wat Pho with its reclining Buddha, then a boat through the canals of Thonburi. In the evening the spires of Wat Arun glow above the river and the city shows its calmer side.
03
The jungle of Khao Sok
Cheow Lan Lake lies between towering limestone walls, with raft houses along its shores. Mornings may bring the calls of gibbons from the forest; days are for kayaking and guided walks in the rainforest.
04
A cuisine worth the journey
Fruit at the morning markets, northern khao soi in coconut broth, seafood on the Andaman coast and the street kitchens of Bangkok's Chinatown after dark. A cooking class with a local chef is a lovely way to take Thailand home.

Ways to travel

Ways to experience it

Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.

Culture & discovery
The ancient capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, Chiang Mai's temples and crafts, markets and cooking classes — with a guide who explains the context.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Private pool villas on island hillsides, boutique hotels along Bangkok's river and hillside lodges in the north.
Family journeys
Calm bays, snorkelling, kayaks in Khao Sok and watching elephants at places where they're observed rather than ridden.
Honeymoons & special journeys
A villa above the Andaman Sea, sunset on a boat among the rocks of Phang Nga Bay and a few days on a Gulf island.
Adventure & active travel
Hikes in the northern hills, jungle trails in Khao Sok, kayaking through sea caves and diving off Koh Tao.
Tailor-made journeys
North, city, jungle and islands linked by domestic flights and transfers, so each part keeps its own rhythm.

Thailand

Journey inspiration

Illustrative ideas for how a tailor-made journey could look. Not bookable packages: no prices, dates or inclusions are implied.

0114–18 days
From the northern hills to the Andaman Sea
Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, two nights on Khao Sok's lake and, to finish, a villa by the sea around Krabi or Phang Nga.
Culture & discovery · Adventure & active travel
Plan something like this
0210–12 days
The flavours of Thailand
Bangkok's markets and Chinatown evenings, a cooking class in Chiang Mai and the village cooking of the north — with time to unwind on an island.
Culture & discovery · Tailor-made journeys
Plan something like this
0312–14 days
Islands for the whole family
A few days in Bangkok, the jungle and kayaks of Khao Sok, then calm bays in the Gulf or on the Andaman coast, depending on the season.
Family journeys · Exceptional stays & escapes
Plan something like this

Planning your journey

When to go

November to February is often considered the most pleasant: cooler in the north and usually calmer seas on the Andaman coast. March to May is hot, and the north can be hazy with smoke. The Andaman side tends to be wetter from May to October, the Gulf roughly from October to December. Conditions vary from year to year.

How long to allow

For the north, Bangkok and some island time we suggest 12–16 days. For a shorter trip, choose one region and one sea.

Natural combinations

Thailand combines beautifully with Cambodia and the temples of Angkor, or with Vietnam. For more island time, Indonesia is close by.

Areas to explore

Bangkok and the central plains
The river, canals, palaces and nearby Ayutthaya.
The north
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, hill villages and the ruins of Sukhothai.
Khao Sok
Rainforest and Cheow Lan Lake among limestone cliffs.
The Andaman Sea
Phang Nga Bay, Krabi, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe.
The Gulf of Thailand
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and the Ang Thong marine park.

General guidance only. Weather, seasons and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

Sample journey