Thailand: Itineraries

Even if you're only doing a Thailand 'pop-in', you've still got lots of sightseeing choices thanks to the affordability of domestic flights. Start in Bangkok and then head off to the tropical sea breezes of either Ko Samui or Phuket. If you need a more bohemian setting, hop over to Ko Pha-Ngan from Samui or Ko Yao from Phuket. Thailand's popular beach destinations are quieter, and some say better, during the low season but the near-constant rain can be a vacation dampener. In general, the Andaman gets more rain than the Gulf coast, so be prepared to hop across the peninsula. If a multi-day soaker is coming your way, check out the beaches of Ko Samet or Ko Chang on the Southeastern Gulf, which tends to get less rain than the peninsula.

Once you've tired of sand between your toes, fly up to Chiang Mai for a Thai cooking class and temple wanderings. Hike up to the top of Doi Suthep to a popular religious pilgrimage site. Rent a car or motorcycle to explore the mountains and villages nearby, including Chiang Dao and Doi Ang Khang.

Before buzzing back to Bangkok to spend your last baht, stop at Sukhothai, a former ancient capital with picturesque temple ruins.

Southern Thailand's culture has been spiced up by ancient traders from China, India and Arabia. It makes a perfect stop for mixing up your beach fun. Hop down to the port town of Surat Thani, the launching point to the string of Gulf islands: Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao. Or make a side trip west to Khao Sok National Park, one of Thailand's most important rainforests.

Further down the Thai-Malay Peninsula, visit Nakhon Si Thammarat, cultural capital of the deep south, then head to Songkhla for seafood and Thai-style beachcombing. Saunter across the peninsula to Satun, the departure point for boats to the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park.

The Andaman celebrities of Krabi, Ko Phi-Phi and Phuket are lined up in a row. But if you need more solitude, check out Ko Lanta or Ko Yao.

Pay your respects to the tsunami-recovering beach at Khao Lak/Lamru National Park, where whale-sized boulders decorate a turquoise bay. Then hop over to the Similan Islands Marine National Park for some of Thailand's best diving.

Misty mountains and a mix of ethnic hill-tribe villages continue to attract trekkers and ethno-tourists to the northern apex of Thailand. From Chiang Mai wander outside of the city to Chiang Dao for a spooky cave walk or hike through the jungle. Then hop over to Chiang Rai, where ecotreks visit hill-tribe villages. Catch a ride to Mae Salong, a Yunnanese mountaintop settlement - from here you can follow a network of roads high along narrow mountain ridges all the way to Doi Tung, in the infamous Golden Triangle area where opium poppy was once grown, and then on to Mae Sai, a border town with Myanmar. Follow the border to Chiang Saen, where boats navigate the Mekong River all the way to China. You can head downstream to Chiang Khong and loop back to Chiang Rai. Catch an overnight bus to Nan, a remote provincial capital surrounded by hill-tribe villages not found in other parts of northern Thailand.

Drop south to Phitsanulok, a charming market town and transfer point to Thung Salaeng Luang National Park. Keep heading east to Loei Province to catch the spirit festival at Dan Sai. Continue northeast to Chiang Khan, a mellow riverside village, and the Mekong darling of Nong Khai, a gateway to Laos, and take an overnight train ride back to Bangkok.