A Taste of Thailand

Food is absolutely central to Thai life, with each region notable for its distinctive specialties. As a country, it has some of the best cuisine in the world, hands down. Chiang Mai’s dishes are packed with fresh herbs and interesting bitter and sour notes, accompanied by sticky rice and punchy dips, while Bangkok is all about the blend of intense heat and international influence. Jump in a tuk-tuk, or wander on foot, sampling as many delicious street food treats as you can!

Beach-wise, you really are spoilt for choice. The east and west coasts are both teeming with picturesque stretches of shoreline and islands where you can watch the sunset with your feet in the sand…

Amble through Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai’s crumbling walls and ancient moat create a tangible connection to the city’s past. As you walk through the old town, temples appear around every corner, saffron-robed monks wander the streets and, as dusk falls, street food vendors set up at the city gates. Whether you stay within the walls or in the surrounding countryside, it’s easy to combine a visit to Wat Doi Suthep (and Wat Umong in the foothills) with a stroll through a local market and a leisurely cycle down quiet backstreets. 

In the suburbs, visit a local family’s traditional stilted wooden house and learn to cook up a storm, Chiang Mai style. Wander through a lush herb garden with your host before donning an apron and rustling up a feast in the outdoor kitchen - an experience which feels more like cooking with friends than attending a class. For more foodie delights, snack on deep fried taro and kanom krok from buzzing market stalls in the town, or enjoy a movable feast of northern delicacies with a picnic beside a waterfall.

Gravitate towards the centre

Bangkok is the pulsating heart of the country, with a famously sprawling nature and frenetic energy. The majestic Grand Palace and Wat Pho’s Reclining Buddha are renowned highlights, and Jim Thompson's famous silk house contrasts with Siam Square’s modern shops. Spend an evening zipping through different neighbourhoods in a tuk tuk taxi, sampling some of Bangkok’s best quick eats such as spiced seafood, rice noodle rolls and stir-fried morning glory. See kaleidoscopic Pak Khlong Talat market, packed with beautiful plants and flowers, and whizz along the neon-tastic Khao San Road. 

Away from Bangkok’s traffic jams and shopping centres, however, there’s a different depth and serenity, and it’s well worth spending a few nights in the capital to avoid feeling like you're merely scratching the surface. Winding through the centre and stretching out into the suburbs, the Chao Phraya River shows a different side to city life. Glittering temples peep out along its banks and stilted wooden houses jut over the embankments. Explore narrow lanes and bright street art in the quiet waterside neighbourhood of Talad Noi, or cycle around Bangkrachao - the ‘Green Lung of Bangkok’ - which is by far the biggest green space in the capital. At the end of the day, reflect and relax while watching the sunset from a rooftop bar, or a local spot on the riverbank.

Wild wandering

A few hours from the bright lights and bustle of the capital lies the protected rainforest of Khao Sok National Park. Stay at the renowned Elephant Hills - a conservation-based initiative that’s led the way for ethical wildlife tourism in Thailand. Focused on sustainability and animal welfare, visitors can spend time with their resident herd of Asian elephants, watching them feeding and bathing, and learning about their care. Their glamping experience is top notch too, with high-end, safari-style tents where you can drift off to sleep in comfort to the sounds of the jungle.

Head deeper into the National Park by longtail boat to reach Elephant Hills’ floating accommodation on the azure Cheow Lan Lake. The jungle-clad karst outcrops jutting from the water are home to a wide array of wildlife, such as gibbons, langurs, hornbills, elephants and tapirs. Trek to caves deep in the jungle, swim directly from your tent’s ‘doorstep’, and kayak to neighbouring inlets. Drifting through water by kayak, you can quietly watch for wildlife drinking at the water’s edge.

Beach life

You can be whisked from the jungles of Khao Sok National Park to a number of Thailand’s wonderful beach locations within just a few hours. Thailand’s coastal locations have been the stuff of travel dreams for decades, and though some of them have become crowded and overdeveloped over the years, there are still many spots that offer the full idyllic sands experience, if you know where to look.

With dozens of work trips to Thailand under our belts (as well as a fair few family holidays and honeymoons over the years!), our Destination Specialists have a huge bank of beachside recommendations, from Anantara’s renowned resorts and other sublime spots for secluded luxury, to buzzing local eateries and markets. For the full chilled-out island experience, perhaps head for Koh Jum Beach Villas near Krabi, or the remote delights of Koh Munork.

Spend a little time imagining your ideal beach, then let us recommend somewhere that will suit you down to the ground...or sand!