For people seeking sun, sand and plenty of adventure, Thailand is amongst the top places in the world to visit. The beautiful scenery of the coastal islands compliments the rich culture and mountainous regions to the north, not to mention Bangkok, one of South East Asia's most intriguing cities. There's a multitude of places to visit and things to do in Thailand, and whether you're a tourist or a backpacker, you're almost sure to never get bored by the country's rich offerings. Indeed, you could choose to spend a week bronzing yourself on a beach in the south, or spend months exploring the highlands to the north and the borders with Laos and Cambodia. If you've got a trip to Thailand in store for this year, then take a read of this article to find out about some of the top destinations.



Ko Samui

Thailand's third largest island is situated in the Gulf of Thailand, while being a particularly popular option with backpackers in search of booze and sun. So the legend has it, the island was little more than a tiny self sufficient tourist community until 1979, when two tourists arrived via a coconut boat. What they arrived at was a series of beautiful beaches on bright blue waters, and since then tourism has boomed. Ko Samui is now a particularly popular choice with the suitcase brigade as well as the more hippy inclined backpacker set. It can offer the comforts of home on its beautiful beaches, and gives a welcome boozy respite for those who have ventured off the beaten path and want a return to civilisation.

Bangkok

Once thought of as a dinghy third world city, the fortunes of Bangkok have soared in recent times to make it a sprawling cosmopolitan metropolis. It's a city which combines ancient culture with air conditioned mega malls, 200 year old homes with strips of sleaze, and Thai street food sellers cooking before restaurants of international flavours. Some people choose on a full blown and exotic city break, while others plan just to pass through on their way from the airport or to somewhere further afield. If you're going to Bangkok, then get ready for superb food and wild nights, but also check about the current political situation. Recent turmoil has brought unrest to the streets and caused some major airport delays.

Coastal Krabi

Krabi province is fast becoming a tourist hotspot, and many feel some of its unspoilt pleasures will soon mirror the faster paced destinations of somewhere like Ko Samui or Phuket. However, having been a region knocked off its feet by the 2004 tsunami, it hasn't seen a complete revival to what it once was. Particularly picturesque destinations include Railay and Ko Phi Phi Don. The former has become synonymous to paradise, with incredible cliffs guarding an amazing beach littered with strange limestone formations that make it fantastic for rock climbing. Meanwhile the latter was thought of so highly by the producers of the 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo Di Caprio, that they chose it as the setting for their perfectly unspoilt imaginary island. Get there while you still can!