Nestled on the coast of the beautiful island of Phuket is the bay of Kata. Just lying to the south of the famous Karon beach, Kata is known for its white sand beaches with crystal clear waters that is flanked by beautiful palm trees. The beaches are well known to be family beaches and have a number of beach resorts dotted along the beach. The beach is a hot spot for surfers from the months of May to October as Kata’s beaches have some of the best waves for surfing.

The Kata beach is the best place for people looking to enjoy the sun. Tourists throng the beach from November to April mainly for the sun. You could grab a chill beer and take a stroll along the white sand of the beach-it definitely is an experience! The beach is split into two regions- Kata Centre which is closer to the Karon beach and Kata South which has a number of resorts and shope where you could buy some souvenirs.

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Khao Lak is a resort town located just about hundred kilometers off the resort town of Phuket in Southern Thailand. The resort town is was noted for being the most hit place in Thailand in the aftermath of the 2004 earthquake that rocked South Asia. Khao Lak is all about beauty and it is a beautiful line-up of villages along the coast that have a number of waterfalls and other places of spell bounding beauty. The entire region relies mainly on agriculture and tourism for its revenue.

The Chong Fah Waterfall is about ten minutes east of Bang Niang and is great when visited on a hot day. The Lampi waterfall is a thirty minute drive from Khao Lak and offers some picturesque views of the mountains in the region. The Khao Sok National Park offers a number of activities like trekking, visiting waterfalls and canoeing in the rivers. The Similan Islands that are just near Khao Lak should be checked out as they have some of the best diving spots in Asia.

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Phuket has some of the best beaches in the world with clear waters and white sands. The 540 square kilometer island of Phuket has some of the finest beaches of the world and is the definitely a paradise for people who love the sun and the sea. Located to the South west region of the island, Karon beach is one of the beautiful beaches in the Phuket island. The beach has some great places to swim, however, care should be taken when you visit the place during monsoon season as the sea might be unpredictable most of the times.

The Northern side of the Karon beach has a number of boutiques that deal with beautiful handicrafts and other memorabilia while the Southern side has a number of resorts and other art galleries. These art galleries are places where many budding Thai painters have their work displayed. It is a must for art lovers when you visit the beach. The beach is perfect for a quiet stroll in the evenings and shopping for some handicrafts in the boutiques.

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Lying about 85 kilometers north of the Thai capital is the historic city of Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya was once the administrative seat of the Ayutthaya kingdom and was named after the Indian city of Ayodhya that finds mentioning in the Ramayana. The city was an important one in the Indo-Sino trade route and had a population of about a million in the 17th century that made it one of the largest cities in the world at that time. The city was destroyed by the Burmese army in the 18th century and it has been a historic town ever since. Ayutthaya is best reached by train as you get to see all the beauty of Thailand in the train journey from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya has a number of beautiful palaces and temples that stand as examples of the city’s magnificence in ancient times. The Wat Borom Phuttharam, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Wat Thammikaratare are temples renowned for their Buddha statues and the Thai influence in their architecture. There are so many other places of interest in the historic city and a visiting all the places will take atleast two days!

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The capital and the largest city in the country of Thailand, Bangkok is the social and cultural center of South Asia and IndoChina. Bangkok was the center for the Ayutthaya Kingdom and was a small port town even before that. The city is said to have derived from the name Bang kok which stands for the Java plum tree or Bang koh which stands for an island-referring to the city’s landscaping. Bangkok has a typical tropical climate as its is located near the Equator and is considered to be on of the most tourist friendly cities in Asia.

Most of Bangkok’s attractions are concentrated in the Old city on the Rattanakosin island. One of the most famous tourist attraction is the Grand Palace which was the former residence of the king and also has the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The buildings stand beautifully as examples of Thai architecture. There are a number of other beautiful temples and museums which you really shouldn’t miss.

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Formerly known as Talang, Phuket is an island situated in Southern Thailand and is the largest island in Thailand. It is connected to the mainland only by a couple of bridges and is known to have some of the best beaches in Thailand. Phuket has a number of smaller islands that are mostly known to be relaxing spots with scuba and snorkeling being the main activities. Phuket has been on the trade routes between India and China but now it has gained popularity as a tourist destination.

Phuket has a number of beautiful monuments and waterfalls. The Heroines Monument is one of the most visited monuments in Phuket and the Big Buddha of Phuket is the largest Buddha statue in Phuket-so large that it can even be seen from some of the nearby islands. The Ton Sai Waterfall flanked with trees is considered to be one of the loveliest places in Phuket and should not be missed!

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Pattaya is a city located on the Southern coast of Thailand and is situated at about 165 kilometers southeast of the capital city of Bangkok. The city’s name is believed to have originated from ” Thap Phraya” which means Army of Phraya (who was King Taksin). Pattaya is a typical tourist destination with tropical weather and with showers in June-October. Pattaya is a hot tourist destination and about 5 million tourists flock every year.

Pattaya is best known for its beaches and beautiful islands. There are a number of islands that have tourist beaches and most of them offer snorkeling or scuba diving activities. The Khao Phra Tam Nak is a small hill located near South Pattaya and offers some panoramic views of the city. Situated at about 4 kilometers from Pattaya is the Hat Chom Thian which is a 6 kilometer beach that is ideal fro swimming and water sports. There are also a number of zoos and other place to visit. The coral reef tours that shows the beauty of the oceans is not to be missed!

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Rai Leh, also known as Railay is a peninsula, located in the Krabi province. It is truly a tourister’s paradise, as it has some of the best beaches and rock climbing places. It is known to have the world’s best rock climbing spots and attracts climbers from around the world. It is easily accessible by ferries from the cities of Ao Nang and Krabi. Rai Leh has four primary region namely Phra Nang, Rai Leh East, Rai Leh West and Ton Sai.

Phra Nang, situated in the southern tip of the peninsula has the beautiful Diamond cave and a shrine dedicated to the Goddess Phra Nang. Phra Nang is also known for its fine white sanded beaches. Ton Sai has some great rock climbing routes and has a rocky beach that is unsuitable for swimming. Climbing is  the primary sport maily owing to the to the steep and beautiful limestone cliffs. But if you are looking for adventure other than that, kayaking and snorkeling are other options!

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The Golden Triangle is in the Northern most Chiang Rai province of Thailand. The region is said to be place where the three South Asian countries of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet. Lying in the confluence of the Mekong and the Ruak river, the region is also called Sop Ruak by the locals. The rivers form a natural boundary for the countries and the region is perhaps the largest tourist destination in Northern Thailand.

Historically, the region was called the Golden Triangle mainly due to the growth  of Opium. The riverside is the most important visited in the region and it has a number of  attractions like the Golden Buddha statue on a treasure ship. You can also find elephants statues on which you can mount on and pose for a pic. There are also elaborate and beautiful shrines in the Golden Triangle. The Hall of Opium, considered to be one of the best museums in Thailand is one that exhibits the history of opium around the world. It is a really interesting museum to visit and shouldn’t be missed at all!

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Phuket city, the capital of the Phuket province is the largest city in the region and is the economic hub of Thailand. The island is not renowned to be a famous tourist destination though the Chinatown in the city is worth a visit and the local Thai shops are known for some best shopping deals. Most of the attraction in the Phuket city is found in the Chinatown that reveal the colorful history and heritage of China.

The old Phuket is a region that has a strong influence of Sino-Portuguese architecture in the buildings here. Though these were constructed in the 19th century, they are still preserved very well.The Jui Tui and Put Jaw Temples are Taoist temples that were built about 200 years ago and was dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy.The Phuket Cultural Museum and the Phuket butterfly farm are among other places of interest in the city.

(Image courtesy of Eustaquio Santimano )