Joanna James
Inland and at sea, Thailand is home to some of the world's most beautiful landscapes. There are a surprising number of locations to see in the Land of Smiles thanks to the wide variety of geological formations found throughout the country.
A total of 42 islands and islets make up Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park, which is spread across an area of 400 square kilometres. The bay's defining feature is the steep limestone karsts that dramatically jut out of the emerald water. It is one of the most unusual locations in the region.
Phuket's northernmost bay is protected from both the northeast and southwest monsoon seasons, and its tranquil waters year-round add to its natural beauty and abundance of animals. Phang Nga Bay's must-see attractions are James Bond Island, Koh Panyee, and the Samet Nang She View Point.
Phuket, Thailand's busiest island, is only 84 kilometres to the northwest of the Similan Islands. The stunning blue waters around Koh Similan, a series of islands in the Andaman Sea, have made it one of the most well-known. As one of the world's most popular diving destinations, this archipelago has also become a popular stop for yachts and tour boats.
A hotel in Bangkok Sukhumvit such as the Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel is a great place to get started on your adventure.
About 50 kilometres from Khao Lak, Khao Sok is a national park. The oldest evergreen forest in the world may be found in this low mountainous region in Surat Thani Province. The highest point is 950 meters above sea level.
The Ratchaprapha Dam-contained Cheow Lan Lake is located in the heart of Khao Sok National Park. For more than 165 square miles, the lake seems like an inland sea, with karst formations rising out of the crystal-clear water, as well as sandy and clay-rich hills covered with vegetation as diverse as the Amazon rainforest.
As part of the Erawan Falls National Park, 550 square kilometres of pure wilderness can be found. At a distance of about 40 kilometres northwest of the city of Kanchanaburi, a seven-tiered waterfall with plunge pools and cascading waterfalls may be found.
It is possible to see several different types of waterfalls at Erawan Waterfalls, including the ledge, plunge, horsetail, cascade and more. Erawan Falls is a four-hour climb from the city centre. A guide can be hired if desired, but the trail is well-marked and easy to navigate. Only a few shaky ladders between the fifth and seventh waterfalls present a challenge.
Khao Yai is Thailand's third-largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the west, Saraburi, in Nakhon Nayok, in Nakhon Ratchasima, and in Prachinburi, it covers four provinces (east). Just three hours' drive from Bangkok, Khao Yai is a year-round vacation destination that is blessed with a hilly terrain, fertile valleys, thundering waterfalls, and a rich biodiversity.
It's a good idea to pick up a map and plan your route at the park's headquarters (which shuts at 6 p.m.) and visitor's centre. Nong Pak Chee and Mo Singto are two of the best places to see animals, while Khao Rom is the park's highest peak.
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