The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located inside the Grand Palace. Surrounded by a gallery depicting scenes from the Ramakien and several impressive stupas the temple is without doubt the most impressive in Thailand. Note: There is a strict dress code for visiting the Grand Palace. Men must wear long trousers and shirts with sleeves. Women must also be modestly dressed. No see-through clothes, shorts/skirts above the knee and no bare shoulders. Hours: The Grand Palace is open every day from 8:30 to 3:30 (last entrance), unless it is being used for a state function. The audience halls in the Grand Palace are closed on weekends.

Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) - is located next to the Grand Palace complex and famous for its huge reclining Buddha. For us however the Buddha is a secondary attraction. The real gem at Wat Po is the morning (9am) and evening (5pm) chanting performed by the resident monks. The ritual is open to everyone and is a wonderful experience.

Chinatown - is one of our favourite areas in Bangkok. The Chinese community in Bangkok pre-dates the founding of the Thai capital and is deeply integrated into Thai society. Chinatown is worth visiting by day to witness the numerous gold dealers whose shops drip with bright yellow gold and the oldest Chinese Taoist temple in the city Wat Leng Neng Lee. However, it is by night that Chinatown really comes alive as the gold is boxed away and the gold dealers are replaced by food vendors who line the streets with their tempting culinary stalls. You won’t know what everything is, but just be brave and try anything! The dishes are cheap as chips so you can afford to make a few mistakes.

Dinner on the Chao Praya River If you are not staying on the river you must make the effort to have dinner at The Oriental or The Peninsula one evening. Not a cheap experience, but worth every penny as the Chao Praya River is a magical place by night. The Oriental also has a traditional Thai Dance Show which is very enjoyable, but for us sitting out on the terrace just watching life on the river is more entertaining.

Cocktails at Sirocco Located on the 63rd Floor of the Lebua State Tower, the Sky Bar at Sirocco has to be the most impressive place in all of Bangkok to sip a cocktail. Perched on the roof of this huge building, the open air bar has staggering views across Bangkok and the Chao Praya River. You will have seen it in all the pictures.

Chatuchak Market If you are lucky enough to find yourself in Bangkok on the weekend and you love to shop, make sure you find time to visit Chatuchak Market which is more commonly known as the JJ Market. This 32 acre market is a Bangkok institution and sells everything imaginable from food to live animals. Take the Sky Train Sukhumvit Line all the way to Mo Chit.
Pak Khlong Talat (Flower Market) For something a little different pay a visit to Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market. Less well known than other markets, the best time to go is in the evening when the flowers are delivered from the surrounding countryside and the majority of trading takes place. Try to locate the wholesale hall in the centre of things.

Thipsamai Pad Thai For a truly authentic experience head to the oldest Pad Thai shop in Bangkok. So popular is its signature dish that Pad Thai Noodles is all this bustling cafe serves. A team of chefs work huge woks at the front of the shop and there is a constant stream of people queuing up for a feed. Located near to an old prison and an area called Ghost Gate, it is said that restaurants were first established in this area to feed the families who came to collect their dead after execution.
Samut Songkram Every day in the Thai province of Samut Songkhram, about 70 km southwest of Bangkok, a unique market is held on the side of a railway track. Due to a lack of space, the stalls spill out across the tracks and shoppers use the track as a walk way though the market. Eight times daily, a train runs through the market sending vendors and visitors into action to clear the path of the oncoming train, before business resumes as usual.
The Floating Markets So famous are the images of the floating markets that you feel you have to visit one while in Thailand despite the fact most are simply tourist traps nowadays. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is the largest floating market and the one you will have seen on postcards. If you are lucky and your trip to Bangkok falls on the right day your guide may be able to take you to a more authentic floating market, such as Ladplee or Tha Kha. If not, treat Damnoen Saduak as a bit of harmless fun and then ask you boat driver to take you off round the neighbouring waterways which are immediately calmer and a lovely experience in itself with local Thai houses lining the sides of the canals.

Chiang Mai Walking Street – If you are lucky enough to be in Chiang Mai on a Sunday you can look forward to the evening walking street. Not only can you enjoy delicious dishes from the food stalls, but the local tribes travel down from the hills on this day to sell their crafts at the market. For late night shopping any other night of the week the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar sells everything from antiques to insects.

Lampang Thai Elephant Conservation Show – With dancing, painting and music playing elephants this show sounds tacky and cheap. In reality it’s brilliant. The elephants are extremely well looked after by their resident and trainee mahouts and clearly love the fun and games. The neighbouring Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation is also well worth a visit and creators of the first ever prosthetic elephant foot.

Monk Fa Waterfall - Not far from Mae Malai on the Pai Road, Mok Fa Waterfall is beautiful, easy to access and safe for swimming. The single tier water fall has a large shallow pool and a shingle beach. Perfect for a romantic dip and great for a family picnic, this is one of the most suitable bathing waterfall we have found in Thailand.

Long Neck Karen – Visiting the Long Neck Karen villages is a somewhat controversial activity. Some believe that visiting these permanent refugee camps stuck in limbo between fleeing Myanmar and unofficial status in Thailand, as exploitative. Personally we found the experience to be a worthwhile one. The Karen women clearly appreciate the visits as it give them an opportunity to make a living in a country that otherwise does not allow them to work. Moreover unlike many of the other tribes in Thailand, the tradition of wearing neck coils is still alive and genuinely practiced amongst the community. It is not just for the benefit of tourists, which gives the experience more value. If there had been lots of tourists in the village it would be easy to understand the accusation that it’s like visiting a human zoo. But given that we were the only tourists in Baan Nam Piang Din at that time and one of only four sets of tourist to visit that day, it felt more like we were the exhibit! The school at the top of the village relies heavily on donations from tourist and so we felt the excursion was a rewarding, win-win experience. So long as tourists are extremely respectful when visiting these villages the community is supported and we get our brilliant holiday snaps!

Golden Triangle – Once infamous for its huge opium production, the Golden Triangle is now safe for travel and the point at which the boarders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge. It is possible to take a boat trip across the Mekong River to Laos or cross the border into Myanmar at Mae Sai. The Golden Triangle is approx 1hour 20 minutes from Chiang Rai.

Ang Thong Marine National Park - Ang Thong National Park lies off the North West coast of Koh Samui and consists of 42 stunning limestone islands, covered in rainforest. The numerous small coves are perfect for snorkelling especially from March to October when the water is crystal clear and Ko Mae Ko is home to a beautiful emerald coloured saltwater lake. There is a considerable amount of wildlife inhabiting the islands including the Asian long-tailed monkey (langur), hair-nosed otters, pacific reef egrets, white-bellied sea eagles, ashy drongos, tortoises, sea turtles, lizards and pythons. Ang Thong National Park makes a wonderful day trip from any of the islands in the Gulf and there are many local agents who can arrange trips for you.

Lipa Noi & Taling Nam Beaches, Koh Samui – Regardless of where you are staying on Koh Samui, make sure you hire a jeep for a day and take time to explore the west side of the island and the inland waterfalls. Lined with coconut groves the west coast it is lush and picturesque with quiet undeveloped beaches such as Lipa Noi. Nathon is great for a seafood lunch and Taling Nam Bay overlooking the five islands is the perfect place to watch the sun go down.

Nikki Beach, Koh Samui - Koh Samui is the latest addition to the Nikki Beach Collection. This day club located on Lipa Noi Beach is a wonderful place to hang out, enjoy lunch and listen to the resident DJs chilled out sounds. Located on the west coast of Koh Samui it offers a great escape from the busier East and North coast and is the ideal place for a sundown cocktail.

Bohput, Koh Samui - The Bohput Fisherman’s Village was once a favoured backpacker haunt and still retains a certain bohemian feel today. Old wooden Chinese shop-houses line the small streets and tiny stores sell quirky knick-knacks. This is a lovely place to spend a day on the beach, have lunch and shop. A visit to one of the massage shacks on the beach is also a must.

Jungle Excursions, Koh Samui - The mountainous jungle range that runs through the centre of Koh Samui is often overlooked by visitors, but can make a great day out and change from the beach. Elephant treks or 4x4 excursions are popular options, but why not also try something different with ‘Canopy Adventures’ in Bophut who will take you on a treetop-to-treetop tour of the jungle, swinging along 500 metres of cable like a monkey.

Thai Boxing - Muay Thai Boxing is Thailand’s national sport and showcased at Chaweng Stadium most evenings. This is the largest stadium in the country and provides an unforgettable evening's entertainment, with fighters travelling from around the world to compete here. There are even training schools available if you fancy having a go at the art yourself. There is also a stadium in neighbouring Koh Phangan.

Full Moon Party, Koh Phangan - The legendary Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party that takes place on Haad Rin Beach, Koh Phangan once a month. The first party was held in 1985 for a small group of travelers, but nowadays draws a crowd of about 20,000-30,000 every full moon evening. Make sure you book accommodation in advance unless you plan to stay up all night and take as few valuables as possible, leaving the rest in your hotel safe.

Shark Bay, Koh Tao - Koh Tao is famous for its superb diving however it also makes for a nice day trip from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan. Sairee is the islands main beach and easily accessible from the pier, but with a little more effort you can take a taxi down to Thain Og (Shark Bay). This quiet bay is superb for snorkelling especially because of its ocean shelf where the shallow reef drops away to deep Ocean. This is a great place for spotting reef sharks hence the name of the bay.

Phuket Town - You can explore Phuket's Sino-Portuguese background by seeking out some of the magnificent old mansions that have survived since the island's hey day as an important trading post and tin mining centre. The China Inn Cafe on Thalang Road is a good place to start, before taking in Rommanee Lane, Phra Pitak Chinpracha Mansion on Krabi Road, Dibuk Road and the Old Courthouse. Phuket Town’s open fresh market is also very interesting for its life and colour. Go early in the morning for the best of the action.

Junk Ship Cruise - June Bathra operate a fleet of Chinese Junk ships that will take you on a cruise around Phang Nga Bay. You can either opt for a full day tour of the bay, or go for our preference which is a shortened sunset cruise with dinner on board. The boats are comfortable with large deck cushions on which you can lie back and take in the scenery.

Koh Hong (Phang Nga Bay) - Koh Hong is a stunning limestone island in the middle Phan Nga Bay. It has some beautiful beaches which will be deserted if you get your timing right (early morning or late afternoon) and a hidden emerald lake that can only be accessed by sea kayak. Koh Hong can be reached from Phuket, Krabi or Koh Yao. We recommend taking a local long tail boat from either Krabi or Koh Yao for a more authentic experience, but sea kayaking is best arranged from Phuket. We also have sea kayaking and camping itineraries available for Phang Nga Bay where you get to stay overnight on some of this gorgeous islands.

Destination Air - Destination Air offers scenic sea plane flights around Phang Nga Bay. They will drop you off at Koh Phi Phi Island for lunch and a spot of diving before returning to Phuket.

Rock Climbing on Railay Beach – Hidden in a small peninsula next to Krabi town, sits Railay. Accessible only by boat due to the high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access, Railay has two beaches with a small town sandwiched in the middle. The soaring cliffs are not only stunning, but also ideal for rock climbing. They attract climbers from all over the world, who enjoy the challenging cliff faces by day and the laid back nightlife come sundown.

Diving and Live Aboard Dive Boats - Thailand is one of the top ten dive destinations in the world with Phuket province at its heart. Phuket and her neighbouring islands lie only 8 degrees north of the equator and have an average water temperature of 28°C/78°F which draws large schools of tropical fish, manta rays and awe-inspiring whale sharks to their waters. For beginners Koh Racha Yai (35mins from Phuket) offers ideal learning conditions and for more experienced divers The King Cruiser Wreck, Shark Point, Anemone Reef, Kohl Doc Mai and the famous Phi Phi Islands offer exciting choices. The main diving season in Phuket and the west coast of Thailand is October to May. We can offer a full program of Phuket scuba diving tours from day and overnight trips, or 4-6 day trips on a live aboard diving cruises to the Similan and Surin Islands.