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Bangkok, the capital, is a whirl of gilded temples such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, floating markets and street food, with the ancient capital of Ayutthaya a short trip north. In the mountains of the north, Chiang Mai's moated old city holds dozens of temples, with hill-tribe villages, elephant sanctuaries and lantern festivals nearby.

In the south, Phuket, the largest island, has sandy bays, a colourful old town and boat trips to the limestone towers of Phang Nga Bay and the Phi Phi Islands. The Andaman coast continues to Krabi and Koh Lanta, while the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan lie in the Gulf on the other side of the peninsula.

Thai cooking balances sweet, sour, salty and spicy, from pad thai and green curry to khao soi in the north and fiery southern curries. The cool season from November to February is the most popular, when Loy Krathong sets candlelit floats drifting on rivers and ponds across the country, while the rainy season brings short, heavy downpours, with the timing varying between the two coasts.