This Southeast Asian hotspot is an intoxicating mix of tropical beaches, shimmering temples and other sacred spaces, and fabulous wildlife. With two coastlines and 1400-plus jungle-swathed islands, this is one vast outdoor playground, offering the likes of snorkelling, diving with whale sharks, scaling sea cliffs and kiteboarding, to mention just a few of the possibilities. There are also hill tribes to encounter, the world’s oldest evergreen rainforest to roam around, and elephant sanctuaries to visit. The following are some of our favourite parts of this spellbinding country.
Thailand’s largest island is a diverse one, given it plenty to enthral you, from its casuarina-lined white-sand beaches to its cultural riches. It’s a place for luxury resorts and hedonistic beach clubs, but also for national parks dotted with wildlife sanctuaries, the temples of Chalong and Thalang, and Phuket Town with its museums, Chinese shrines, Sino-Portuguese style mansions and shophouses, and Peranakan cuisine.
Phuket is also on hand for the renowned protected diving sites of Ko Phi-Phi, for kayaking in Ao Phang-Nga with its part-submerged island lagoons. and for day-trips to the astonishingly gorgeous Similan Islands.
Much of life in the vast Thai capital revolves around the busy, boat-plied Chao Phraya River with its network of canals. It’s beside this river that you’ll find the Rattanakosin royal district with the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Temple, although you’ll find shrines and religious relics all over the city. The most famous are Wat Pho Temple with its huge reclining Buddha and Wat Arun Temple with its Khmer-style spire. The food scene is eclectic here, with everything from street cuisine to fine-dining establishments to seek out and savour.
This gem of an island, accessible only by ferry, is synonymous with diving right from its white-sand beaches amidst a vibrant coral reef threaded by sharks and rays, but there’s also some glorious jungle hiking to be done here. Yet it’s not all Robinson Crusoe fantasies: there’s also a hip bar scene to rival that of Koh Samui and increasingly upscale places to stay.
Set in central Thailand, this park contains 20m-tall Haew Suwat, which shot to fame after appearing in the 2000 Danny Boyle film The Beach. There’s plenty more to discover across this 2,000km2 of forest and grassland, including more than 50km of hiking and biking trails, other waterfalls including 150m Haew Narok and fabulous wildlife including elephants, gibbons, bears and hornbills.
Easy to visit on a motorbike trip from Chiang Mai, this remote, hilly/mountainous region of north-western, near the border with Myanmar (Burma), is home to some fascinating hill tribes such as the Shan and Hmong, as well as to the Wat Phrathat Doi Kongmu, a Burmese-style monastery. A classic way to discover it is by following the 600km, famously curvaceous Mae Hong Son over four days or more, starting and finishing in Chiang Mai.
The world's largest international airline, flying to 158 destinations in 85 countries, Emirates is a great airline for taking you to Thailand, aboard one of the most comfortable and modern fleets in the skies. Expect tasty food and a vast choice of in-flight entertainment. If you’d like to visit Thailand in additional comfort, ask your Travel Counsellor about Business Class options which will have you arriving feeling rested and ready to explore.
To book your trip to Thailand with full financial protection, get in touch today. You’ll benefit from full financial protection and a 24-hour duty office ready to assist you before, during and after your trip.
Where you stay in and around Kruger National Park can shape the entire safari experience, from intimate lodges inside the reserve to private game viewing in the Greater Kruger area. Each property included in this round-up offers a different take on a South African safari, whether you’re looking for authentic design, indulgent comfort, or exceptional guiding.
The rail network in Japan makes it easy to shape a trip around the kind of experience you want, rather than following a single fixed route. One day you can be in the middle of a busy food district, the next you’re watching the landscape open out into mountains or coastline. These journeys aren’t about rushing through a checklist, but about choosing routes that naturally link places together and give each stop a bit more meaning.
Finland is often linked with winter trips to Lapland, but there’s much more to discover across the country. From design-led cities to quiet lakes and coastal landscapes, it offers a different pace of travel that feels both refreshing and easy to explore. If you’re looking for a European destination that combines nature, culture, and something a little less expected, Finland is well worth considering.
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