Thailand is situated in the heart
of the Southeast Asian mainland, covering an area
of 513,115 sq.km. and extends about 1,620 kilometres
from north to south and 775 kilometres from east
to west. Thailand borders the Lao People's Democratic
Republic and the Union of Myanmar to the North,
the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand
to the East, the Union of Myanmar and the Indian
Ocean to the West, and Malaysia to the south.
With great food, a tropical climate, fascinating
culture and, hey, great beaches, Thailand is
a magnet for travellers the world over.
Thailand is the most popular tourist destination
in South-East Asia, and for a reason. Exotic,
yet safe and largely hassle-free; cheap, yet equipped
with every modern amenity you need, there is something
for every interest and every price bracket, from
beach front backpacker bungalows to some of the
best luxury hotels in the world. And despite the
heavy flow of tourism, Thailand retains its quintessential
Thainess, with a culture and history all its own
and a carefree people famed for their smiles and
their fun-seeking sanuk lifestyle.
This is not to say that Thailand doesn't have
its downsides, including the considerable growing
pains of an economy where an agricultural laborer
is lucky to earn 40 baht per day while the nouveau
riche cruise past in their BMWs, and a highly
visible sex tourism industry. Bangkok, the capital,
is notorious for its traffic jams and rampant
development has wrecked much of once-beautiful
Pattaya and Phuket. In heavily touristed areas,
some lowlifes have made scamming tourists into
an art form.
Thailand's 76 provinces can be conveniently
divided into five geographic and cultural regions.
North - Chiang
Mai, hill tribes, and the Golden Triangle
Isaan - the great undeveloped
north-east - get off the beaten track and
discover backcountry Thailand and some magnificent
Khmer ruins
East - beaches and islands
within easy reach of Bangkok, and, oh yes,
Pattaya
South - hundreds of kilometers
of coastline and countless islands on both
the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand,
plus Phuket,
Krabi,
Ko Samui,
Ko Tao and
many more of Thailand's famous beach spots
Cities
Bangkok - Thailand's bustling,
frenetic capital
Ayutthaya - a historical city,
world heritage site and the old capital city
of Thailand
Chiang Mai - the capital of
the North and the heart of Lanna culture
Chiang Rai - gateway to the
Golden Triangle
Hat Yai - largest city in
the Southern region
Kanchanaburi - home of the
Bridge over the River Kwai
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)
- main city in the Isaan region
Pattaya - one of the main
tourist destinations
Sukhothai - Thailand's first
capital
Islands & beaches:
Ko
Chang - once quiet island undergoing major
tourism development
Cities
