The Facts:
Capital: Bangkok
Currency: Baht
Population: GMT+7
www.tourismthailand.org
Introduction:
Whether you crave boutique retreat luxury or bohemian beach living Thailand can cater for pretty much everything. Savour a Thai sunrise draped with mountain mist in the north's Golden Triangle, the thrill of a longboat ride along the Mekong river or the exhilaration of riding an elephant through cloaking rainforest. Pristine beaches mopped by azure seas and scattered islands add a definite wow factor. Buddhism thrives and dedicated monks in golden robes can be spotted in their temple sanctuaries.
Where To Go:
Thailand lies in the heart of south-east Asia, bordered to the west by Myanmar and the dazzling Indian Ocean, to the south and east by Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand, to the east by Cambodia, and to the north and east by Laos. Given its location it's an ideal base from which to explore Indochina. For internal travel the country divides into four natural regions.
From Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest city, the temples, hill tribes, mountains and forest of the north can be explored. Vast verdant rice fields dominate the central plains whilst semi-arid farmlands occupy the northeast plateau. It's along the long coastline of the southern peninsula that you will find Thailand's famed paradise beaches, clustered islands and palmed fringed spa retreats and some of the more established destinations like Phuket and Ko Samui. In complete contrast its capital Bangkok, bustles and booms.
What To Eat & Drink:
Thai food is traditionally fairly hot and spicy prepared with fresh ingredients such as lemon grass and coriander and rice is commonly eaten with most meals.
- Gang pet a hot 'red' curry made with coconut milk, herbs, garlic, chili, shrimp paste, coriander and seasoning.
- Sticky rice and slices of mango.
- Tom yam is a traditional favourite. A coconut-milk soup prepared with makroot leaves, ginger, lemon grass, prawns or chicken.
- Pad Thai (stir-fried rice-noodles) served with shrimp or chicken and garnished with peanuts.
- For refreshment from the heat and humidity drink coconut milk straight from the shell during the harvest season
- Singha and Singha Gold are the local beers.
- Watch out for durians, the marmite of fruits. You'll either love it or hate it. They can also be a bit smelly.
Unmissable Thailand:
10 Things you really should do in Thailand
1. Step onto a film set.
Visit the 'Bridge over the River Kwai' famously featured in the WW2 film.
2. Learn the National sport
Try and get to grips with Muay Thai or Thai kick boxing, a martial art that uses kicks, punches and gloves similar to those worn in boxing.
www.martialartsphuket.com
3. Go country spotting
Visit the famous Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong River.
www.goldentriangle.anantara.com
4. Rock on
In Phang Nga Bay, with its world famous limestones caves where extraordinary towering rock spires rise from azure waters, which can best explored by kayak.
www.phuket.com/island/seacanoe.htm
5. Float Your Boat
Take a boatrip to Bangkok's colourful and noisy Damnoen Saduak floating market. Small 'klongs' or canals are filled with flat boats, each ready to stop and bargain at a moment's notice.
www.bangkok.com/beyond-the-city/damnoensaduak.html
6. Unwind your mind
Relax and experience an authentic Thai massage at a spa retreat on Koh Samui, Thailand's third largest island after Phuket & Koh Chang.
www.kamalaya.com
7. Tingle your tastebuds
Learn the delicacies, intricacies and art of Thai cooking by taking a lesson from the experts. www.thaicookingholidays.co.uk
www.thaicookeryschool.com
8. Buddha Up
Don't miss the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, Wat Po, home to the Reclining Buddha, an enormous statue 46m long and 15m high.
www.watpho.com
www.sacred-destinations.com/thailand/bangkok-wat-pho.htm
9. Ride in time
Step back in time and ramble through the ruined palaces and wats of Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand- on foot, by bike, even on the back of an elephant.
www.thailand.sawadee.com/ayutthaya/
10.Take to the trees
Bedtime doesn't get much better. Stay in a treehouse overnight and then explore the rainforest of the stunning Kho Sok National Park
www.krabidir.com/ourjunglehouse/
Read more Thailand travel guides
