Spellbinding scenery

Thailand is blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery in Asia and taking a boat trip around the islands is essential to fully experience their natural beauty. The towering rock formations, caves and hidden bays of countless uninhabited islets are irresistible. Phanghan Bay, between Krabi mainland and Phuket island, has stunning limestone karst cliffs indented with untrammelled beaches. Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta are two of the most famous of the islands, but there are more than 150 dotted around the coast that can be easily visited by boat.

On islands such as Ko Lanta, in the Andaman Sea, visitors can get back to nature trekking in ancient rainforests, exploring waterfalls and caves, or diving the coral reefs beneath its aquamarine shores.

One of the highlights of holidays in Thailand is travelling through the lush landscape by boat or train. Try taking a boat trip along the Mekong river and exploring the backwaters or board the luxury Eastern and Oriental Express for a journey through the amazing vistas and tropical landscapes of the Thai countryside.

From elephant treks to ancient jungle-entangled ruins to leopard-spotting in verdant valleys -Thailand's well-developed tourism network has made its areas of tropical paradise easily accessible. The area of Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand has one of the oldest rainforests in the world, where mountains and ravines are shrouded in rich and exotic flora and fauna. Explore the lakes, caves and waterfalls on a nature trek, and take a guided wildlife tour to spot monkeys, tropical birds, clouded leopards, tapirs and sun bears.