Thailand A to Z: Temples, Beaches & Everything Between

Why Thailand, and how this guide works

Few countries pack so much into one trip. In a fortnight you can move from a megacity of golden temples and rooftop bars, to misty northern mountains and ethical elephant sanctuaries, to two entirely different tropical coastlines, all on cheap domestic flights and famously good food. It is friendly to first-timers, gentle on the wallet and endlessly rewarding to those who stay curious.

We will travel the country region by region, from Bangkok to the north, the islands and the ancient cities, finishing with where to stay and a sample two-week route.

Bangkok: dive into the deep end

Most trips begin in Bangkok, and you should give it at least two or three days before fleeing for the beaches. Start with the holy trinity of temples: the dazzling Grand Palace and its Emerald Buddha, the giant reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, and Wat Arun across the river, at its best when the sunset lights up its spires.

Then let the city take over. Ride a longtail boat through the canals of Thonburi, haggle your way through the vast Chatuchak Weekend Market, eat down a street-food lane in Chinatown, and finish on a rooftop bar watching the skyline shimmer. Bangkok is hot, loud and gloriously overwhelming, lean into it rather than fighting it.

The North: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Pai

An hour's flight north, Chiang Mai is Bangkok's laid-back counterpoint, a moated old city studded with temples, ringed by green mountains and famous for its night markets and cooking schools. Climb (or drive) to Doi Suthep for the golden hilltop temple and its valley view, and spend a morning at a genuine ethical elephant sanctuary, choose one that lets the animals roam and never offers rides.

Further north, Chiang Rai rewards the journey with two surreal modern temples: the mirror-white Wat Rong Khun and the cobalt Blue Temple. And to truly slow down, the hairpin road up to Pai leads to a mellow mountain town of hot springs, waterfalls and very little to do, which is the point. Do not leave the north without a bowl of khao soi, its rich coconut-curry noodles.

Sun and sea: choosing your islands

Thailand has two coasts, and the trick is knowing which one is in season. The Andaman coast in the west, Phuket, Krabi, Ko Phi Phi and the Railay peninsula, has the iconic limestone karsts and the clearest water, and is best from November to April. The Gulf coast in the east , Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan (home of the Full Moon Party) and the diving mecca of Ko Tao, runs on a different calendar, often sunniest from January to August.

For a first trip, base yourself in Krabi or Ao Nang and island-hop by longtail boat to Railay's climbing cliffs and the Phi Phi islands. Divers should make for Ko Tao, one of the cheapest places on earth to get certified. And if you crave quiet, skip the party islands for laid-back Ko Lanta or the jungle-and-lake wilderness of Khao Sok National Park inland.

Ancient cities & wild parks

Between the cities and the sea, Thailand keeps its history. A short trip north of Bangkok, the ruined temples and toppled Buddhas of Ayutthaya, the kingdom's former capital, make a perfect day trip by train or boat. Further on, Sukhothai preserves the elegant remains of Thailand's first capital in a peaceful park best explored by bicycle at dawn.

West of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi pairs the sobering WWII history of the Bridge over the River Kwai with the tiered turquoise pools of Erawan Falls. These places rarely top a first-timer's list, but they add real depth to a trip that could otherwise be all temples and beaches.

Where to stay & a sample two weeks

Thailand's accommodation is a traveller's dream: spotless hostels for a few dollars, design guesthouses for the price of a city coffee back home, and beach villas that feel impossibly indulgent. In Bangkok, stay near a BTS Skytrain station to beat the traffic; in Chiang Mai, inside or just outside the old city; on the islands, choose your beach carefully, as each has its own personality.

A classic two-week first trip: three days in Bangkok; an optional night in Ayutthaya, then up to Chiang Mai for three or four days in the north; then fly south for a week split between a lively Andaman island and a quieter beach to wind down. Keep your plans loose and let Thailand do the rest, it almost always over-delivers.

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