DISCOVER ASIA NOW

GRAND PALACE AND THE EMERALD BUDDHA TEMPLE
Thailand’s most sacred statue, the Emerald Buddha, resides at the grandiose WAT PHRA KAEO (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), right next to the former residence of royalty, THE GRAND PALACE. The murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana, a magical epic, are otherworldly. But so are the gilt-covered pagodas and Buddhist images in the country’s number-one tourist attraction.

FLOATING MARKET
Bangkok used to be known as the “Venice of the Far East” for all the watery arteries connecting to the main vein – the River of Kings. Taking a long-tail boat tour of a few of these canals on the Thon Buri side of river with breaks at the Temple of Dawn and the Royal Barges Museum is a great way to immerse yourself in Thai and Siamese history.

BEAUTY SPA & THAI MASSAGE
Thailand has become the fountainhead of the spa business in Southeast Asia. Most of the country’s major hotels have a spa, where you can opt for everything from facial treatments to holistic treatments, based on traditional Asian methods of healing, which strike a balance between the physical and spiritual.

BIKING TOUR IN WORLD HERITAGE SITES
There are not many towns in the world where you can drive by the ruins of a 15th century pagoda, just down the street from a modern convenience store, but that’s the magic of Ayutthaya for you.

ELEPHANTY TREKKING
Siamese soldier rode elephants into battle as the tanks of ancient battlefields. Now tourists can ride one, too. Atop the elephant’s back you can climb hills, ford streams and lumber through the jungle.

KHAO-SAN ROAD
The crossroads for any young traveler coming to or leaving Southeast Asia are at KHAOS-SAN ROAD. This lively strip is a multi-nationality experience, with dozens of streets vendors, artisans, fancy bars and restaurant galore.

CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET
For a truly Thai shopping experience, the CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET is guaranteed to appease both the thrifty bargain-hunter and the moneyed antique collector. From home decorations and artworks to exquisite Thai handicrafts and exotic pets, you’ll find them all – and much more – in this sprawling behemoth of a bazaar.

THAI BOXING (MUAI THAI)
When it comes to martial artistry, everyone knows that MUAI THAI kick-boxers are the lords of the ring. Professional bouts provide plenty of punchy entertainment in Bangkok.

BE WOW BY YESTERYEAR’S THEATRICAL TRADITIONS TODAY
Now visitors to the capital can time travel back to 15th century Siam through performances of Khon (Thai Classical Masked Dance) at the SALA CHALERMKRUNG ROYAL THEATER, and HUN LAKHON LEK (Traditional Thai Puppet) at the JOE LOUIS PUPPET THEATER at the Suan Lum Night Barzaar.

BEACHES & ISLANDS
No journey to the Land of Smiles would be complete without visiting some of its globally lauded, tropical islands and oceanfront resorts. Some of the world’s most bedazzling spots for scuba-diving and snorkeling are in the archipelagos of the Andaman Sea’s Phuket, Similan and Surin Islands. Dip into Hua Hin (the country‘s oldest beach resort) for golf and horse-riding on the beach. Try Ko Chang for its abundance of ecotourism activities. Rock up to Pattaya for its raucous nightlife or savour all of these different delights on Ko Samui.