Thailand
Our guides in Thailand.
Thailand · multi city
10 Days in Thailand
Start in Bangkok for the Old City temples, street food and a day trip to Ayutthaya, fly north to Chiang Mai for the old-city temples, Doi Suthep and an ethical elephant sanctuary, then fly to Phuket or another southern island to finish on the beach.
Thailand · city
Bangkok
Base in Sukhumvit or along the river for easy transit, give a full morning to the Old City temples before the heat and crowds build, spend an evening on street food in Chinatown, and add one day trip out of the city.
Thailand · city
Chiang Mai
Stay in the Old City or along the Ping River rather than by the Night Bazaar, go up Doi Suthep at opening time, give a full day to a genuine elephant sanctuary in the Mae Taeng valley, eat khao soi at lunch because the good shops sell out by two, and plan the whole trip for November to early February, when the air is cool and clear.
Thailand · island
Koh Phangan
Thong Sala for the pier, the Saturday walking street, the hospital and the island's best restaurant. Ban Tai and Ban Khai for the south-coast road, Fisherman's and the Half Moon venues. Haad Rin for the party and, on the other side of its neck, a calmer swimming beach. Srithanu, Hin Kong and Haad Chao Phao for yoga, sunsets and the west-coast villages. Haad Yao and Haad Salad for the classic beach-and-reef bays. Chaloklum for fishing boats, dive boats and the longtail to Bottle Beach. Thong Nai Pan for the two best beaches and the top hotels. Ang Thong, Koh Tao and Sail Rock for the days on the water.
Thailand · island
Koh Samui
Pick a beach base (Chaweng for buzz, Bophut for character, Choeng Mon or Maenam for quiet), see the Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem, wander Fisherman’s Village at Bophut, and give a day to the Angthong marine park by boat.
Thailand · region
Phuket
Pick a west-coast base for the beaches and sunsets, give a day to Old Phuket Town for the Sino-Portuguese streets and food, add the Big Buddha and a Promthep Cape sunset, and build in at least one boat day to Phang Nga Bay or the Similan Islands.