thailand
The Kingdom of Thailand attracts more visitors than any other South East Asian country which isn’t surprising when the Thai people live a relaxed way of life and the scenery is beautiful. Visitors flock to Thailand for its stunning islands with white sand beaches, the vibrant city of Bangkok, and the captivating hill tribes in the north. They are drawn to the breathtaking scenery, ancient ruins, magnificent temples, and incredible flora and fauna and, of course, the country’s delicious cuisine and fantastic shopping bargains are not to be overlooked!
Some of Thailand’s land and seascapes are among the most easily recognized in the world. ‘The Beach’ movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio is a good example. To the north you’ll find picturesque farming villages, colorful hilltribes and ancient walled cities.
Thailand is almost double the size of New Zealand and has a population of over 71 million. It shares its borders with Malaysia to the south and Myanmar (Burma) to the west and northwest, landlocked Laos in the north and east, and Cambodia to the southeast.
Planning a trip to tHAILAND
Currently there are no direct flights between New Zealand and Thailand. The main routes are via Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.
For those keen on shopping and the city life, a stop in Bangkok is essential.
Or a beach break – there’s a choice of islands and beaches within driving distance of Bangkok.
Looking for a cultural experience? Head up north to Chiang Mai
It’s easy to combine the city experience, beaches and culture in one trip.
Get in touch to discuss your holiday ideas.
THAILAND Destinations
Beach breaks
PHUKET
Phuket is a jungle covered mountainous island in the Andaman Sea with beautiful white sand beaches and irresistible turquoise bays set amongst the jagged coastline.
Thailand’s most famous island has an international and domestic airport and is connected by a short bridge to the mainland.
Phuket is an ideal base for day trips to some beautiful and famous islands, such as Phi Phi Leh where ‘The Beach’ was filmed and Phang Nga Bay where the famous limestone pinnacle is featured in the James Bond ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ movie. Perfect for swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling.
And yes, there’s plenty of shopping that can be done in Phuket too but Bangkok is better value and has a greater choice.
The Beaches.
Explore the beautiful beaches, of Patong, Kata, and Karon. Enjoy sunbathing, swimming, and water sports.
Day Trips to nearby Islands.
Phuket is an ideal base to visit Phi Phi Island or James Bond Island. Tours usually offer the opportunity for snorkelling and swimming.
Nightlife.
Night markets, street food, bars, restaurants and lots of neon-lights are a fixture particularly of Patong Beach.
Old Town Phuket.
Wander through the charming streets of Phuket Old Town, known for its colourful Sino-Portuguese architecture, vibrant markets, cafes and streetfood.
Phuket offers a variety of accommodation catering to different budgets and tastes. Choosing the right beach for your holiday is just as important as choosing the right hotel or resort. Talk to us to discuss the options.
Generally visitors stay at one of the following beaches.
Patong Beach. Ideal if you want to be in the heart of the action. With a bustling atmosphere, busy yet beautiful bay, nightlife, shops and restaurants.
Kata Beach. More laid back than Kata, this lovely beach with a mountainous backdrop is home to Club Med, mid range to high end resorts, restaurants and some shops. It’s about a 20 minute taxi to Patong.
Karon Beach. Just north of Kata Beach and 15 minutes taxi to Patong, this beach town is more spread out and the beach is a bit quieter than Kata and Patong.
Kamala Beach. To the north of Patong Beach, this is considered the more family-friendly beach of Phuket. It’s a beautiful bay and makes for a serene getaway.
Surin Beach and Bang Tao Beach. Known for their upscale resorts and beautiful beaches, these are Phuket’s premier choices for luxury travellers wanting a tranquil escape.
KRABI
Krabi Province is famous for its amazing limestone cliffs and unspoilt islands. Amongst the most popular islands are Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. The interior of the province is mostly unexplored tropical forests, home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Ao Nang Beach is Krabi’s main resort beach area on the mainland, accessible by road from Krabi Town and airport. Limestone cliffs rise from the clear waters along the beach. Most hotels, shops and restaurants run along the beach road and on side streets up from the beach. A few kilometres away and accessible by long tail boat is Railay Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches you’ll come across.
Visit Other Islands. You can easily take day trips to other beaches and islands like Koh Phi Phi, Hong Island and Bamboo Island.
Rock Climbing at Railay and Tonsai Beach is perfect for beginners to advanced climbers to experience limestone cliffs and stunning scenery.
Railay Beach. Take a long tail boat and be wowed at it’s natural beauty.
Kayaking amongst the limestone cliffs and mangrove forests of Ao Thalene.
Ao Nang. This is the main beach town with easy access by boat to Tonsai Beach, Railay Beach and boat trips. It’s also where you’ll find the largest choice of accommodation and restaurants.
Railay Beach. Laid back bliss in stunning scenery. Accommodation ranges from budget to upscale resorts.
Nopparat Thara Beach. Just north of Ao Nang, this bay is quieter and a good option for families looking for a relaxed holiday but still close to Ao Nang’s facilities.
Klong Muang Beach. For Krabi’s luxurious resorts set on a peaceful beach. It’s a 15 minute drive to Ao Nang.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is a postcard perfect island of rugged mountains, coconut palms, white sand beaches and turquoise waters. This is really the ’boutique’ island of Thailand. Architecture is kept subtle amongst the coconut palms and nothing really sticks out like a sore thumb. Even the airport is like a traditional little village in itself with thatch roof and wood, rather than the usual drab concrete. The island atmosphere is more laid back than Phuket yet with enough to do throughout the day and night.
The island is the third largest in Thailand after Phuket and Koh Chang. A boat ride to the north will take you to the increasingly popular islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. To the west is Angthong National Marine Park ‘ a lovely place for a day trip to some amazing tropical islands.
There are several beautiful beaches to choose from for your vacation ranging from quiet, laid back beaches with not too many people to busy, modern towns. Chaweng is by far the most popular with the longest beach, plenty of hotels, restaurants and things to do. Lamai Beach is next with a busy village atmosphere along with more economical hotels and restaurants. For those that want to get away to somewhere a little quieter, consider Bophut or Maenam beaches on the north coast.
Koh Samui offers a variety of accommodations catering to different preferences and budgets.
Chaweng Beach is the most popular area, known for its lively nightlife, shopping, and beachfront resorts.
Lamai Beach offers a more relaxed vibe while still having entertainment options.
Bophut Beach is great for families and couples, featuring boutique hotels, charming cafes, and a more laid-back atmosphere.
Maenam Beach provides a quieter, budget-friendly retreat with serene beaches.
For luxury and seclusion, Choeng Mon and Lipa Noi boast high-end resorts and private villas, perfect for honeymooners and relaxation seekers.
Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi Island is the jewel in the Andaman Sea with beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise waters. It’s close to both Phuket and Krabi with easy ferry access
There are actually two Phi Phi Islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. Phi Phi Leh is part of a nature reserve and it’s amazing bay ‘Maya Bay’, made famous by the Leonardo Di Caprio movie ‘The Beach’. Day tours to Phi Phi Leh can be made from Phi Phi Don (or Phuket or Krabi)
There are about 2000 people that live on Phi Phi Don. The main mode of transport here is by foot or bike.
The island is made up of 2 mountains with a sandy bay area in-between them, making two incredibly picturesque bays. There’s a maze of shops to walk through and a pleasant choice of restaurants, bars and dive shops.
Phi Phi Don is the place to go for water adventure with deep sea fishing trips, kayaking, diving and snorkelling. Diving is world class and highlights include diving with sharks and the sunken ferry ‘King Cruiser’. Best months for diving are December to April when water visibility is at its clearest.
Most people just enjoy the beauty of the beaches so a day can easily spent sunbathing and wallowing in the bay with meal breaks in one of the nearby restaurants. Take a good book and simply enjoy. If you need some sports activity on the island there is rock climbing on some of the limestone cliffs.
The heart of the island is between the two bays. If you like to be in the thick of things, stay around here. For more secluded, luxurious accommodation these are located more in the hills surrounding the bay town.
khao lak
Located an hour’s drive from Phuket Airport, Khao Lak is a series of white beaches running along the coast of the Andaman Sea. The area is ideal if you like relaxing in luxury beachside resorts or exploring islands and national parks.
hua hin
Back in the 1920’s King Rama VII Founded Hua Hin as the royal getaway. From there it developed into the aristocracy’s beach resort before more recently becoming a modern holiday destination with yesteryear’s charm. The mile long beach is picturesque with smooth granite boulders jutting out into the bay. Charming wooden piers house rustic seafood restaurant with romantic atmospheres. Hua Hin is small enough to wander around without the need of a taxi or any other form of transportation. A plethora of souvenir shops, tailors, restaurants and markets create a unique beach town atmosphere. It’s easy to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok with daily flights or under 3 hours by road. Hua Hin is a great place for a convenient break from Bangkok. For longer beach holidays we recommend main resort islands such as Phuket and Koh Samui.
The Cultural North
chiang rai
Chiang Rai is both the name of Thailand’s northernmost province and also the name of the capital of the province plus it’s considered the eco-tourism capital of Thailand.
The province shares the mighty Mekong River as a common border with Laos to the east and Myanmar (Burma) to the west, creating the once notorious Golden Triangle where the drug trade flourished into the 1990s. Through strict control and law enforcement the opium trade has been pushed back into Laos and Myanmar. These days the only evidence of this drug era you’ll see is in the museums.
The mountainous Northern Province is home to 13 different hill tribes, mostly of Tibet and Chinese decent.
The countryside is relatively unspoiled with hills, valleys with winding rivers and dense jungle. The tree lined Mae Nam Kok river flows through Chiang Rai City which is a smaller version of its bigger sister Chiang Mai.
With just 40,000 people you’ll find it to be cleaner, quieter and mellow. The main part of town is just a few blocks of shops, restaurants and quiet bars, travel agencies, a subdued night market selling plenty of hilltribe clothing and crafts.
Chiang Rai isn’t the place to come for nightlife but is the place to go as a base for trek to hilltribe villages, day trips to the Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen and across the border into Laos.
chiang mai
Chiang Mai is the gateway to northern Thailand and is renowned for its breathtaking natural attractions and deep-rooted cultural traditions.
Chiang Mai is a wonderful contrast to Bangkok, and while it is the second largest city in Thailand it’s only a quarter the size of the capital and has a population of only 150, 000.
The modern and bustling Chiang Mai is built around the ancient crumbling city walls and moat. If you take a walk along the old cobbled lanes within the walls you’ll come across old temples and crumbling stupas, shops and houses but all in a different atmosphere to outside the old kingdom’s walls.
There’s a lot to do in Chiang Mai whether you’re a nature lover, culture buff or a dedicated shopaholic.
Chiang Mai (along with Chiang Rai) is the starting point for treks deep through deep tropical jungle to hill tribes dotted amongst the surrounding mountains. There’s a choice of easy van tours to Hmong villages and the famous Long Neck hill tribe. One of two night treks take you deep into the forested valleys and over mountains into the remote north where you’ll sleep in local village houses.
Temperatures are cooler than down the south of Thailand so trekking is much more manageable and enjoyable but can still be hard going! It’s also the place for soft adventure with river rafting on bamboo rafts, visiting elephant sanctuaries or attending a cooking school.
The Night Bazaar stretches for several blocks and selling Thai souvenirs, tribal ware and delicious food. Take your time here and make an evening of it. The market is a colorful and and enjoyable experience.
The Capital City
Bangkok
Bangkok is a fascinating city, a blend of traditional East and modern West, scrambling with millions of people, towering skyscrapers and exotic temples. Within the capital city of more than 6 million people the traditional Thai way of life is never far away and amongst the rush of busy downtown streets you’ll see saffron robed monks collecting alms.
Bangkok is a shopping delight and it’s possible to pick up things for far less than in the beach resorts. Sprawling markets and a labyrinth of alleys sell everything from traditional Thai silk to Western and local clothing to gold and delicious spicy Thai food. If you love markets then make sure you’re in Bangkok for Saturday when the massive Chatuchak Weekend Market comes alive.
Bangkok is home to the revered King and his family who reside at the Grand Palace and also home to some of Thailand’s most important Buddhist Temples and the famous Emerald Buddha.
It’s an easy city to get around with the Skytrain and the Metro, the city’s subway system, which loop around the central city. Both systems link to each other as well as shopping malls and some hotels.
From Bangkok, it’s easy to go north towards Chiang Mai, east to Cambodia and south to Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi.
There’s always something to do in Bangkok, the day can be spent exploring and shopping and the evenings can be spent dining in anything from a local eatery selling hot spicy curries to luxurious rooftop bars and restaurants.
Maybe take a walk through the vibrant Patpong Night Market, watch a round or two of Thai Boxing (Muay Thai), or enjoy the music of local bands playing in beer gardens near some of the inner city shopping malls.
Shopping. How many days have you got? With so many shopping malls, as well as the Chatuchak Weekend Market you could easily fill a week just shopping.
Explore the canals and rivers. Whether you take a tour or just jump in a ferry down one of the canals and see where you end up, it’s a fun way to see the city where the waterways are still an important way for the locals to get around.
See the Cultural Side. With famous Buddhist temples, the Grand Palace and a buzzing Chinatown, Bangkok has many different aspects to explore.
Unique Markets. Take a day tour out of Bangkok to experience the floating markets, the railway line market and the morning markets which disappear before most tourists have even woken up.
River Kwai and Death Railway. Take a day trip or overnight trip here to see natural beauty intertwined with a terrible story of human evil.
Rooftop Bars. With breathtaking views of the Bangkok skyline, take a seat at one of Bangkok’s many rooftop bars and watch the sun set over the city. Sky Bar at Lebua and Vertigo at Banyan Tree are among the best.
