Thailand – the gate to the eastThailand is very diverse both in terms of geographical landscapes and human landscape. Before travelling, you can visit the U.S. government official website for security and health advice and for official information on what to do and how, you can visit the Tourist Authority of Thailand website. Tropical monsoon are a daily phenomena from mid-May to late September which is unpleasant weather for a visit as it is rainy, hot and humid; between November and mid-March it is mostly pleasant for a visit in most of the regions as it is dry and cool.
Bangkok airport is the main gate to the country, but staying in Bangkok for more than a couple of days will not give you the kind of experience you are looking for. It is a big crowded city, and some people would even say that it is a one large open-area market place.
There's a one "must visit" site, the king's palace, which is best to visit with a guided tour. Inside the palace, which is surrounded by a wall built in the 18th century, you can also visit the Royal Temple of the Emerald Buddha. There are also some other temples in the city. The most famous one is Wat Pho, which is also the largest, where you can find the huge impressive reclining Buddha statue, the largest reclining Buddha in Thailand. The statue is covered in gold from head to toe, and eyes and feet decorated with mother of pearl. The statue represents Buddha's passage into nirvana. There are also large and fancy shopping centers such as the Siam Center and the nearby Zen, and also more folksy places like the famous MBK were you can also find cheap garments as well as electronics and markets all around. Food is not an issue in Bangkok, unless you are very choosy. Thai food is mostly quick preparation style as most of the dishes are stir fried. Sea Food is very popular and also cheap. Most recommended dish is the famous Tom Yam soup. Take a trip to the northern part, which is hilly, covered by rain forests, with lots of wide rivers and waterfalls and don't skip one of these fascinating orchid farms around. Visiting Buddhist temples in Chiang May region and historical sites in Bsokotai are the cultural attractions of Northern Thailand.
There you can take a trek, 4X4 trips or ride an elephant. Take a raft ride on a tranquil stream or visit the local tribes. Be aware that in order to visit authentic tribes you should take one of these 4X4 trips into the rain forests and not use the standard guided tours as the tribes they visit are mostly commercialized.
A very exciting visit can be accomplished by hiring a local driver with a 4X4. These drivers are usually also experienced guides which will take you for remote sites and remote tribes visits. Don't miss Mae Hong Son where you can meet the long-neck tribe who resides in a few locations along the Thai-Myanmar (former Burma) border. The Southern part of Thailand is the most visited and toured part. There you can find tan beaches in Krabi or Pattaya and sandy islands such as Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Phi Phi, national parks and nature reservations. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand which can be reached either by air or cheaper by using a bus from Bangkok and later by a ferry. This is the most popular resort in Thailand which is well known worldwide. Although it is quite crowded and commercialized, you can still find here some more isolated and quite beaches. Most tourists prefer to stay in the central beaches and don't reach the beautiful secluded bays located only a ten minute drive by motorcycle from the popular Patong Beach or Kata-Karon. Phuket offers a rich variety of history and geography and good conditions for diving. There is a national park with dense rain forest, number of waterfalls and quite authentic fishermen villages. Koh Samui or Samui Island can be reached also by air or alternatively by train or bus leaving Bangkok and a ferry latter on. The Island turned to be very touristic in the last few years, but still has beautiful sandy beaches and coconut plantations which are of the largest in the world.
Koh Phangan still can't be reached by air; therefore you can experience a more relaxed vacation there. Most popular accommodation is in bungalows, kind of straw huts. There's no need for a vehicle as no roads has been built. If you choose this island as your destination, remember to take one of these mosquito repellents preparations. Koh Phi Phi is considered as one of the most beautiful resorts in Thailand and in Asia in general. It is a quite, pastoral small island accessible by boats only either from Phuket or from Krabi. It is famous for its sandy white beaches, blue sea, limestone high cliffs and colorful corals. After enjoying your vacation in Thailand you can visit some of the neighboring countries, Laos, Myanmar or Cambodia. Enjoy.
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