The world is a huge, vast place with numerous, exciting countries to visit that offer varied experiences and exciting opportunities for visitors, however, none more so than those available in Thailand.  Thailand is a vast country and due to its size has variation in both its weather and terrain which means it can offer a wealth of different activities to its visitors.  This means there is something for everyone and this beautiful country has the capacity to offer the holidaymaker more than most holiday destinations.

Accommodation

A wealth of choice is available of fabulous luxury accommodation to meet your every need, mansions in Thailand, opulent apartments, fabulous hotels and luxurious villas. Thailand caters for every accommodation budget with numerous quality hotels and apartments offering good value for money. Thailand is also a backpacker’s perfect destination as it has hundreds of hostels available.

Weather

Thailand has distinct seasons (although essentially it is a tropical humid country) and due to the vast size of the country will vary immensely depending on your specific location.   November to February are the preferential visiting months where temperatures range from 18c to 32c in the central regions.  It does rain heavily at times, but these downpours tend to occur in the evening and these do not tend to last for more than an hour.  The rain tends to be warm which makes it bearable if caught in a shower.  April is Thailand’s hottest month.

Beaches

Thailand has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and has 2,000 miles of coastline and hundreds of islands .There are busy beaches, for those looking for activities such as water skiing, snorkeling and taking advantage of numerous beach bars, but there are also secluded beaches for those wanting a more relaxed beach experience . Exclusive beaches, such as Surin Beach, a stretch of fine white sand referred to as Millionaires’ Row due to expensive homes overlooking the Andaman sea also offer an exclusive experience.

Nightlife

Cities such as Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya offer a unique nightlife experience, bar hopping, bowling, dancing, watching a Kathy show or visiting a Go-Go bar.  A wide variety of bars and clubs are available with flexible opening hours and Bangkok has a thriving cabaret scene which showcase some of the most famous Kathoeys or “lady boys”.

Cuisine

In terms of the world’s cuisine Thai food is one of the best.  Coastal sea food must be sampled as it’s fresh (so fresh, some restaurants allow diners to catch their own fish and prawns and then cook them) and the variety is immense.  More unusual items available include locusts as a bar snack, very high in nutrients and a dining experience not to be missed.  As an exciting alternative to restaurants are the well renowned street food outlets, offering Thailand’s spiciest, Tom Yum soups containing fresh lemon grass, Kaffir lime leaves and Galangal.  Other tempting treats offered by street vendors to sample are rice with spicy stir-fried crabmeat with fresh yellow chilies.

Culture

As a Buddhist country Buddhism is inherent in all aspects of life and it is this Buddhist influence that makes Thailand such a friendly and peaceful place.  Beautiful temples in cities, villages or mountains are visit worthy and many festivals are held where visitors are always made welcome.

Scenery

Spectacular places are synonymous with Thailand, white sandy beaches with swaying palm trees are what most people think of first and they have these in abundance. However, magical tropical forests, breathtaking mist covered mountains and a range of compelling ancient monuments are other more than worthy stunning sights to be explored.  Ao Chang Nga Marine National Park which spans 154 square miles, encompassing 40 islands is a visual delight as is the Grand palace, home to generations of Thai kings, displaying unique architectural styles.  Pink water lilies in bloom are a sight to behold on many lakes around the country. In Udon Thani, lilies on Red Lotus Lake explode into a riot of crimson blooms between November and February.

Wildlife

Observe an array of exotic species that live in Thailand’s biodiverse park by visiting Khao Son National Park (460 square miles of pristine tropical evergreen forest).  These include gibbons, who can easily be heard as their calls can carry for up to two miles but are less easy to see but, under the expertise of the guides in the park can be found. Glimpses of other exotic creatures may also be made of sun bears, leopards, tigers, tapirs, Asiatic wild dogs, gaurs, monkeys and deer along the way.  Dive with Whale sharks, and visit the annual Monkey Buffet which takes place in front of the Pra Prang Sam Not temple in Lopburi province.   Watch elephants play polo in a tournament called the Kings cup and visit the caves in the Tenasserim Hills region in the Kanchanaburi Province to catch a glimpse of the world’s smallest mammal, the Kitti’s hog-nosed bat.

Retail therapy

Beyond compare, is the shopping experience to be tried in Thailand, especially in Bangkok which contains a preponderance of shopping malls and innumerable local markets that offer a huge range of wares to suit every shopper’s desires.  Bespoke, tailor-made items are available, vast amounts of curios and the opportunity to engage in effective haggling to get a bargain.

Often referred to as the “Land of Smiles” due to fact that it is hard to encounter someone who isn’t smiling, the people of Thailand are friendly, warm, open and kind and as a consequence you are always guaranteed to be made to feel welcome when you visit Thailand, another reason, one of many to make Thailand your next exhilarating holiday destination.