Where to go in Central Thailand

Koh Kood

Coconuts, rubber and fishing are the main source of income for the inhabitants of the small island of Koh Kood, which is gradually figuring in the plans of tourists looking for even greater escapism than its sister island, Koh Chang, delivers.

Koh Chang

Koh Chang, named after its elephant shaped headland (the name means elephant island in Thai), is a mountainous island around five hours drive from Bangkok, close to the Cambodia border.

Koh Samet

A few hours drive from Bangkok and a short ferry ride across the Gulf of Thailand lies the pretty island of Koh Samet, known for its lovely sandy beaches and a dry climate.

Hua Hin and Cha-Am

Long sandy beaches and easy access from Bangkok (200km away) have made Thailand's oldest resort, Hua Hin a popular getaway for Thai royalty ever since King Mongkut visited in 1868 to watch an eclipse of the sun. Cha-Am, a little further up the Gulf of Thailand coast is, likewise, well known among …

Kanchanaburi

A simple, black iron bridge that spans the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi has become one of Thailand's most visited locations, an evocative symbol of wartime brutality and remembrance.

Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya's ruins of wats and palaces - some now restored, others crumbling and atmospheric - give a sense of how grand the Siamese capital was in its heyday.