Thailand highlights
Where to go in Thailand.
Temples, island lagoons, limestone cliffs and white sand. Pick a theme to see only what you are after.
45 highlights
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Bangkok
Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn stands on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya. Its central prang is covered in pieces of Chinese porcelain, and it is lit up at night.
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Bangkok
Wat Arun from the river
The best first view of the temple is from the water. A cross-river ferry runs over from Tha Tien pier, beside Wat Pho, in a few minutes.
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Bangkok
Chao Phraya River
Express boats, ferries and longtails run up and down the river, linking the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Chinatown and the riverside hotels without traffic.
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Bangkok
Tuk-tuks
Noisy, open-sided and part of the city's image. Tuk-tuks have no meters, so agree the price before you set off and ignore offers of cheap shopping tours.
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Bangkok
Temple streets
The old town around Rattanakosin is packed with temples behind painted walls. Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off before going inside.
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Bangkok
The skyline
Rooftop bars and observation decks look out over the towers of Silom and Sathorn. Sunset is the busiest time, so book ahead on weekends.
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Bangkok
Bangkok at night
The city keeps going late. Evenings are cooler, the street food stalls are at their busiest, and the BTS Skytrain runs until around midnight.
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Bangkok
City lights
From above, the expressways and towers glow for miles. Bangkok and its surrounding provinces are home to well over ten million people.
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Kanchanaburi
Erawan Falls
A waterfall of seven tiers in Erawan National Park, with clear turquoise pools you can swim in. It is a long day trip from Bangkok, or an easy one from Kanchanaburi.
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Thailand
Jungle waterfalls
Waterfalls run strongest in and just after the rainy season. Many are inside national parks, which charge an entry fee at the gate.
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Andaman Coast
Island roads
On the larger islands, quiet roads lead through palms and rubber trees to beaches the boats skip. Wear a helmet if you rent a scooter.
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Krabi
Pandanus shores
Screw pines with their stilt roots line many quieter shores around Krabi, where the mainland meets the mangroves.
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Phang Nga
Phang Nga Bay
A shallow bay scattered with limestone towers, sea caves and mangroves. Boat trips leave from Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga town.
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Andaman Sea
Limestone islets
Some islands are no more than a single rock pillar, undercut by the waves at the waterline. They make the classic stops on a four-island boat trip.
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Krabi
Krabi's cliffs
The coast around Railay and Ao Nang is lined with sheer limestone, cut off from the mainland by cliffs, so most beaches are reached by boat.
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Krabi
Krabi from above
From the air the coast becomes a maze of green towers and narrow channels of turquoise water.
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Krabi
Cliff walls
The limestone walls of Krabi draw climbers from all over the world, with routes for beginners and experts alike.
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Phuket
Phuket's limestone coast
Day trips from Phuket reach the cliffs and islands to the east in under an hour by speedboat.
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Krabi
Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi Don has two curved bays joined by a narrow sandy strip, where the village of Tonsai sits. There are no cars, and ferries come in from Phuket and Krabi.
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Koh Phi Phi
Tonsai Village
The island's main village, on the isthmus. The walk up to the viewpoint above it takes about half an hour and is best at sunset.
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Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi's coast
Coral shallows ring much of the coast. Longtail boats run to smaller beaches that you cannot reach on foot.
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Phi Phi Leh
Maya Bay
Made famous by the film The Beach, the bay was closed for several years to let its coral recover. Visits are now limited and swimming is not allowed.
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Phi Phi Leh
Maya Bay from above
The bay is almost completely enclosed by cliffs. Boats now drop visitors at a jetty on the far side of the island.
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Phi Phi Leh
Pileh Lagoon
A lagoon of calm, emerald water almost surrounded by cliffs. Boats nose in through a narrow gap, and many tours stop here for a swim.
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Koh Phi Phi
Turquoise shallows
Snorkelling trips stop at the clearest shallows. Go early to beat the day-trip boats from Phuket.
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Andaman Sea
Hidden lagoons
Some lagoons are open only at certain tides. Local boat crews know when the water is high enough to get in.
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Andaman Sea
The islands from above
The Andaman Sea is dotted with islands between Phuket and Krabi. Ferries and speedboats link most of the bigger ones.
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Andaman Sea
Speedboat days
Speedboat tours fit several islands into one day. Pick an operator that hands out life jackets, and avoid trips when the sea is rough.
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Krabi
Ao Nang
Krabi's main beach town, with longtail boats leaving from the sand to Railay, Poda and the four-island trips.
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Krabi
Ao Nang's rocky shore
At low tide the sea pulls back to reveal rock pools and long stretches of sand.
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Krabi
Palm-fringed coves
Coves backed by cliffs and palms, reached by longtail boat from Ao Nang or the Krabi coast.
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Krabi
Cliff beaches
Some of the best beaches sit right below the limestone, with shade from the cliffs in the afternoon.
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Phuket
Karon Beach
A long, wide beach on Phuket's west coast, quieter than Patong next door. In the rainy season, watch for red flags: rip currents are common.
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Phuket
Phuket's coves
Between the big beaches, Phuket has small coves at the end of steep roads, often with only a café or two.
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Phuket
Phuket's west coast
The west coast faces the sunset. From May to October the sea can be rough, so the calmest months are November to April.
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Phuket
Swimming under the cliffs
Boat trips stop for a swim in sheltered water below the cliffs. The sea is warm all year.
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Phang Nga
Lam Kaen
A quiet stretch of coast north of Phuket, between Khao Lak and the airport, with few buildings and plenty of space.
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Andaman Coast
Quiet beaches
Walk a little way from the boat landings and the crowds thin out quickly.
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Andaman Coast
Bays from the air
Seen from above, the shallow water over sand turns pale turquoise, darkening where the reef begins.
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Andaman Coast
Village beaches
Fishing villages still keep their boats on the sand. Ask before photographing people at work.
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Krabi
Rock and sand
Krabi's shoreline mixes small sandy beaches with rocks and cliffs, so each bay looks different.
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Andaman Coast
Longtail boats
Wooden boats with a car engine on a long propeller shaft. They are the water taxis of the south, with ribbons tied to the bow for luck.
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Andaman Sea
Longtails under the cliffs
Hiring a longtail with a driver for the day lets you choose the beaches and leave before the crowds arrive.
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Andaman Sea
A day on the water
Bring water, sun cream and a dry bag. Boats have little shade, and the sun is strong even on cloudy days.
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Krabi
Island-hopping tours
Four-island and seven-island tours leave from Ao Nang most mornings in the dry season. National park fees are paid on the day.
Plan the trip
Put it all on one route.
The complete guide links these places into day trips and island-hopping routes, with maps for each region.