THAILAND

"THE LAND OF SMILES"

                                       CLICK here for the sights of Thailand                             

Formerly Siam, Thailand is rich in cultural and diverse in countryside. It has long been a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. A constitutional monarchy based on Buddhism, Thailand welcomes it arms to travellers and is known as the Land of Smiles, offering something for everyone from young to mature, from budget to first class leaving most with a yearning to return.

The vibrant capital of Bangkok is a "hotch potch" of old and new, it is a gourmets paradise, a shoppers delight with exciting and varied nightlife and a wealth of attractions to keep the most avid tourist busy.

From Bangkok, Thailand's diverse regions are easy to access.

To the South and South East the country along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea some of the best tropical beach destinations in the world are to found.

The Gulf holds Samui, Hua Hin, Koh Chang, Koh Samed and of course the legendary Pattaya to name but a few. Whilst the Andaman boasts Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and so on. All different but all "tropical paradises".

The North and North West hosts Kanchanaburi, Ayuttahaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai etc offerring an experience of historical old capitals, Hill tribes and other ethnic groups that add interesting cultural mix and of course the recent history of the Burma Railway. The topography is varied from the flat and fertile central plains to the more mountainous regions along the borders including the Golden Triangle.

To the North East lies Isan that is known as Traditional Thailand. Not a huge destination for tourists but one of the most fascinating. The Mekong River its border to the East and the Gulf to the South. Truly a great place with ancient and recent history and wonderful unspoilt National Parks not to mention the Vineyards. Some say the "Real Thailand"

Bordered by Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia it is the perfect hub for a SEA travel experience

CLICK HERE FOR TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND WEB SITE 

Capital City: Bangkok (Krung Thep)

Main Cities: Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phuket

Population: 57,586,000

Area: 513,120 km2

Currency: 1 Thai baht = 100 satang

Languages: Thai, Chinese, Malay

Religions: Buddhist, Muslim