Thailand was once an enigmatic paradise of pristine beaches, hidden temples and remote mountain refuges. Here's the secret: it can still be that way. Let Lonely Planet guide you past the world of the tourist brochures and into the true heart of this glorious land.

Forget about the sloganeering ‘Land of Smiles’; welcome to the Kingdom of Pleasant Contradictions. Roosters vie with tuk-tuk for bandwidth in the sonic spectrum and traffic halts for elephants rather than for people. The Thais-yes, smiling all the while-dine out five or six times a day yet manage to stay sleek and slender.

Lose yourself in the cool mist of a mountain-top trail trod by post-Stone Age cultures, or in the smoky haze swirling around the world's tallest hotel. Assess the latest Stock Exchange of Thailand reports while sipping Thai-grown arabica, roasted in French copper on the cafe premises, or peruse tall palms angling over pearlescent sand while standing chest-deep in the Andaman Sea.

Follow your eyes, but trust your heart. If you spend some time delving beneath the modern veneer of Bangkok and the provincial capitals, you'll find a world so infused with Buddhism and spirit worship that few would dare choosing a marriage date without consulting a monk or astrologer. Check out the latest Thai pop music craze, and chances are you'll find more than a trace of luuk thung or maw lam woven into the rhythm.

This thick maze of ambiguities and incongruities continues to lure more visitors than any other country in Southeast Asia, along with Thailand's virtually irresistible combination of natural beauty, historic temples, renowned hospitality and robust cuisine. From the stupa-studded mountains of Mae Hong Son to the evergreen limestone islands of the Gulf of Thailand, from the throbbing dance clubs of Bangkok to tranquil villages moored along the Mekong River, this country offers something for every predilection.

The Authors

Geeing started

Itineraries

Snapshot

History

Food & Drink

The Culture

Arts

Environment

Bangkok

History

Orientation

Information

Dangers & Annoyances

Sights

Activities

Walking Tour

Courses

Bangkok for Children

Bizarre Bangkok

Tours

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking

Entertainment

Shopping

Getting There & Away

Getting Around

AROUND BANGKOK

Wat Phailom

Nakhon Pathom

Damnoen Saduak

Floating Market

Samut Sakhon

Samut Songkhram

Samut Prakan

Central Thailand

AYUTHAYA PROVINCE

Ayuthaya

Around Ayuthaya

LOPBURI PROVINCE

Lopburi

KANCHANABURI

PROVINCE

Kanchanaburi

Around Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi to

Three Pagodas Pass

Khao Laem National Park & Around

Southeastern

Thailand

CHONBURI PROVINCE

Sri Racha

Ko Si Chang

Pattaya

RAYONG PROVINCE

Pattaya to Ko Samet

Ko Samet

CHANTHABURI

PROVINCE

Chanthaburi

Around Chanthaburi

TRAT PROVINCE

Trat

Around Trat

Hat Lek to Cambodia

Ko Chang Marine

National Park & Around

PRACHINBURI & SA KAEW PROVINCES

National Parks

Sa Morakot & Sa Kaew

Aranya Prathet

Chiang Mai

Province

CHIANG MAI

History

Orientation

Information

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