Thailand

Thailand covers a lot of ground for a country its size — temples and street food in Bangkok, limestone cliffs and diving along the Andaman coast, jungle and hill tribes in the north. Most first trips end up choosing between the islands and the north rather than trying to fit both in.

In Bangkok

• Visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew early, before the tour buses arrive
• Take the river ferry instead of a taxi — it's faster and shows a different side of the city
• Spend an evening eating your way through a street food block in Chinatown

On the islands

• Island-hop between Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and the Railay Beach peninsula
• Take a longtail boat out to Maya Bay early in the day, before the crowds
• Learn to dive or snorkel around Koh Tao — some of the most accessible reefs in the region

In the north

• Base yourself in Chiang Mai for temples, night markets, and day hikes
• Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary rather than a riding camp
• Take a cooking class — northern Thai food is distinct from what's served further south

Two weeks is enough to properly cover one region (islands or north) alongside a few days in Bangkok — trying to do all three usually means a lot of time lost to transit.

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