Events calendar
Important Dates...
Jan - Bangkok International Film Festival
Feb - Chinese New Year and Chiang Mai Flower Festival
Mar - Pattaya Music Festival
Apr - Chiang Mai Art & Culture Festival and Songkran (celebration of the Lunar Year in Thailand)
May - Coronation Day
Jul - Samui Festival Art & Culture Show, Ko Samui
Aug - The Queen's Birthday
Sep - King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament, Hua Hin Nov Phuket Laguna Triathlon and Pattaya Carnival
Dec - The King's Birthday
Additional info
Beaches
Thailand is justifiably famous for its gorgeous white sand beaches. The incredibly blue waters around its peninsula are home to beautiful coral reefs and hundreds of islands. The glistening sands of Ko Samui are framed by coconut palms, dense foliage and rocky hills. Phuket, Phi Phi and Khao Lak have similarly stunning beaches, forested limestone cliffs and amazing sunsets.
Cuisine
The food in Thailand is another treat of any stay here. Gourmet restaurants will serve you delicately spiced, aromatic feasts. At the lively night markets, you simply sit down at the stand serving whichever food takes your fancy. Pad Thai, a noodle dish with prawns, peanuts, egg and lime juice, is a tasty favourite, or try a spicy noodle soup. Seafood is fresh and tasty on islands and along the coast.
Shopping and Nightlife
You'll find great markets all over Thailand, but nowhere beats the variety found in Bangkok, one of the world's great retail centres. For the best souvenir handicrafts, try Chatuchak weekend market, and leave time at the airport to trawl myriad shops. When it comes to nightlife, Bangkok is one of the greatest places in the world to party. On the island of Ko Phangan, the full moon beach parties are amazing.
Culture
Bangkok has dozens of glittering palaces and wats - the Thai name for temples. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace are must sees. The 16th-century Wat Pho, Bangkok's oldest and largest temple, is home to the incredible 46m-long reclining Buddha. Chiang Mai, in the north, is home to some fascinating temples and monasteries, including the Tribal Museum, giving an insight into Thailand's hill tribes.
Adventure
Thailand's dramatic landscapes offer many opportunities for adventurous activities. Incredibly colourful reefs make for fantastic diving and snorkelling, whilst inland, you can enjoy encounters with elephants, before you ride them through the rainforest. Travel by 4WD into the highlands or even discover ancient caves by sea canoe.
Families
With their safe beaches, soft sands and warm waters, Thailand's many beach resorts make for great family holidays. Elsewhere, the kids will love the country's elephant learning centres and they can have great fun bamboo rafting (not to be confused with white-water rafting!) down one of the country's gentle rivers on an excursion. For teenagers, a holiday in Thailand is a real cultural learning experience.