Beautiful scenery, rich history and plenty of places to go wild make Thailand an exciting adventure for all who go there. It's a country that satisfies a range of travellers, from tourist types looking to hit the beach and soak up some rays, to young backpackers on hedonistic journeys of discovery. It's a particular darling of the latter set, with thousands of Brits heading to the country every year for a good few months of travelling around the country's islands and lush interior. There's a rich variety of great places to visit and things to do, and months can fly by without running out of activities. If you're travelling to Thailand soon, take a read of this article to find out more about three of the popular destinations.

Ko Samui

This backpacker darling is Thailand's third largest island, located in the Gulf of Thailand to the East of Surat Thani province. Until the late 20th century, the island was an isolated self sufficient community, but in 1971 two tourists arrived via a coconut boat and discovered paradise with white sand beaches, lined with palm trees sitting alongside clear turquoise seas. It's extremely popular with tourists and backpackers alike, with a reputation for being a hippyish place that's careful to remember all of the comforts from home. It's not the most ?off the beaten track? place you could hope to visit if you're exploring Thailand, but if you love to hit the beach and party by night, or if you want to relax at one of the more luxurious resorts, then Ko Samui is a great place to visit.

Bangkok

The 8 million strong capital of Thailand is one of South East Asia's most magnetic metropolises. Located at the centre of the country, Bangkok can serve as a transport hub to reach other parts, or as a superb place to visit in its own right. It's a city that can cater for every taste, with huge shopping malls and commercial centres sitting strangely close to the old villages of Siam, while the legendary nightlife is something that all travellers should indulge in. When you're here, make sure you visit Wat Phra Kaew ? Thailand's most famous temple and an architectural wonder. While you're there, you should also sample the maze like Wat Pho. When evening falls, Chinatown is renowned as a great place to eat, while the Moon Bar at Vertigo will give you a superb panoramic view as you sip cocktails.

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!