From idyllic, unspoilt beaches with turquoise seas and pure, white sands to bustling cities sporting exotic markets and a vibrant, colourful nightlife, it is easy to see why Thailand has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for the adventurous and young at heart.

A turbulent and often bloody history spanning several millennia has left Thailand scattered with ruins, forgotten temples and deserted cities; revealing a rich tableau of past eras that contrasts sharply with the more modern aspects of the nation's contemporary face.

Thailand's booming tourist economy, driven largely by Hollywood (the country has been the setting for The Man with the Golden Gun, The Bridge over River Kwai and Alex Garland's The Beach), has resulted in the opening of a number of expensive and luxurious international hotels. Those looking for the rustic splendour of the beaches and islands will find plenty of cheap and comfortable accommodation, however.

The size and geographical diversity of Thailand provides for a variety of activities: snorkelling, diving and a host of watersports are very popular around the Islands, while inland enthusiasts can trek into the mountains or cycle across the flat river areas of the northeast. Bustling, crowded cities like Bangkok and Patong display the wilder urban side of Thailand, ensuring the country has something to offer everyone who visits.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Address: Bangkok

Admission: Free Daily 7:30am-12:30pm

Royal Grand Palace

Address: Na Phralan Road, Phra Nakhon Bangkok

Admission: THB 300 (adults); children free. Daily 8:30am-4:30pm.

Telephone: (0)2 623 5500

Royal Barges National Museum

Address: Arun Amarin Road, Bangkok Noi Bangkok

Admission: THB 30 Daily 9am-5pm.

Telephone: (0)2 424 0004

Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)

Address: 2 Sanamchai Road Bangkok

Admission: THB 20 Daily 8am-5pm, massages until 6pm.

Telephone: (0)2 222 5910 or (0)2 226 2942

Jim Thompson's House

Address: 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road Bangkok

Admission: THB 100 adults, THB 50 children (proceeds to Bangkok's School for the Blind). Daily 9am-5pm.

Telephone: 662 216 7368

Kanchanaburi

Address: Bangkok

Admission: JEATH War Museum: THB 30 JEATH War Museum: daily 8:30am-6pm.

Doi Suthep

Address: Chiang Mai

Admission: THB 30, or THB 50 including a return funicular ride. Daily 6am-8pm.

Mae Sa Waterfall

Address: Mae Sa Valley Chiang Mai

Admission: THB 100 Open daily 8am-6pm.

Telephone: (053) 210 244

Chiang Mai Zoo

Address: 100 Heaykeaw Road, Tambol Suthep, Ampher Muang Chiang Mai

Admission: THB 100 (adult); THB 50 (children). Open daily 8am–5pm. Seal shows: Monday to Friday 10:30am and 2pm; Saturday and Sunday 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3pm. Animal shows: Monday to Friday 11:30am and 3pm; Saturday and Sunday 11:30am, 2:30pm and 3:30pm.

Telephone: 0 5322 1179

Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit)

Address: Traimit Rd Bangkok

Admission: THB 20 donation. Open daily 9am-5pm.

Bangkok National Museum

Address: Na Phra That Rd Bangkok

Admission: THB 50 Open Wednesday to Sunday 9am-4pm. Free English-language tours: Buddhism culture on Wednesday 9:30am; Art, culture, religion on Thursday 9:30am.

Telephone: (0)2 224 1333

Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing

Address: Sao Chingcha Square Bangkok

Admission: THB 20 Open daily 9am-9pm.

Telephone: (0)2 222 0280

Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)

Address: Si Ayutthaya Rd Bangkok

Admission: THB 20 Open daily 8am-5pm.

Telephone: (0)2 281 2501

Vimanmek Mansion Museum

Address: 192 Ratchavitee Rd, Dusit Palace grounds Bangkok

Admission: THB 100 Open daily 8:30am-4:30pm. Classical Thai dance, folk dance, and martial art demonstrations given daily at 10:30am and 2pm.

Telephone: (0)2 281 8166

Chatuchak Market

Address: Bangkok

Admission: Weekends 8am-6pm.

Muay Thai

Address: Rajadamnern Stadium, 1 Rajadamnern Nok Rd Bangkok

Tiger Temple

Address: Saiyok District, Kanchanaburi Bangkok

Admission: Between THB 600 and THB 5,000, depending on the programme. Daily, 9am-4:30pm.

Lopburi Monkey Temple

Address: Lopburi, 93 miles (150km) north-east of Bangkok. Bangkok

Ayutthaya

Address: At the junction of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers Bangkok

Pai

Address: 83 miles (135km) from Chiang Mai Chiang Mai

Hilltribe Museum and Education Centre

Address: 620/25 Thanalai Road, A. Muang Chiang Rai

Telephone: +66 53 740 088

Doi Tung Royal Villa

Address: Chiang Rai

Chiang Mai Temples

Address: Ratchadamnoen Road Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center

Address: Prapokklao Road Chiang Mai

Admission: THB 90 8:30am-5pm daily except Mondays.

Telephone: (0)5 321 7793

Lisu Hill-Tribe Display

Address: Chotana Road Chiang Mai

Admission: Weekdays 9am-4pm.

Telephone: (0)5 321 0872

Bhubing Palace

Address: Doi Buak Ha, Doi Suthep Chiang Mai

Admission: THB 50 (adult), THB 10 (child). Daily 8:30am-4:30pm. Closed January to March.

Telephone: (0)5 322 3065

Dokmai Garden

Address: Near Namprae on Soi Dokmai Chiang Mai

Telephone: (0)8 943 39045

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden

Address: Mae Sa Valley Chiang Mai

Admission: Daily 8:30am-4:30pm.

Telephone: (0)5 329 8171

Maesa Elephant Camp

Address: 119/9 Tapae Road, Muang District Chiang Mai

Admission: THB 120 (entry and show), THB 1,200 (rides per hour). 8am-3pm

Telephone: (0)5 320 6247

Bangkok Children's Discovery Museum

Address: Chatuchak Park Bangkok

Admission: THB 70 (adults); THB 50 (children). Open Tuesday to Friday 9am–5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am–6pm. Closed Mondays.

Telephone: 0(2) 615 7333

Dusit Zoo

Address: Rama V Road, Dusit Bangkok

Admission: THB 100 (adults); THB 50 (children). Open daily 8am–6pm.

Telephone: 02 282 7111-3

Siam Ocean World

Address: Basement floor, Siam Paragon Shopping Centre Bangkok

Admission: THB 900 (adults); THB 700 (children) Open daily 10am–9pm, last entry 8pm.

Telephone: +66 (0)2687 2000

Snake Farm (Thai Red Cross Farm)

Address: Corner of Henry Dunant and Rama IV Roads Bangkok

Admission: THB 70 Open Monday to Friday 8:30am–4:30pm; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 8:30–12pm. Show times: Monday to Friday 11am and 2:30pm. Weekends and holidays 11am.

Bangkok Butterfly Garden and Insectarium

Address: Rotfai Gardens, BTS Mochit Bangkok

Admission: Free. Bicycles can be hired for THB 30 per day. Open daily 8:30am–4:30pm. Closed Mondays.

Telephone: 02 272 4359

Museum of Insects and Natural Wonders

Address: Srimankalajarn Road Soi 13 Chiang Mai

Admission: THB 200 Open daily 9am–5pm.

Telephone: 053 21 1891

Phang Nga Bay

Address: Phuket

Thalang National Museum

Address: Pa Khlok Rd, north of Phuket City Phuket

Admission: THB 100 Daily 8:30am-4pm, closed holidays.

Telephone: 076 311 025

Wat Chalong Buddhist Temple

Address: Bypass Road, 8km south of Phuket Phuket

Admission: By donation. 7am-5pm

Similan Islands National Park

Address: Phuket

Admission: Open 2 November to 30 April.

Koh Yao Islands

Address: Phuket

Sukhothai

Admission: THB 100

Chiang Rai Temples

Address: Chiang Rai

Hill-Tribe Trekking

Scuba Diving

Rock Climbing

Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Thai Cooking Lessons

Wedding and Honeymoon

Phranakorn Bar and Gallery

Address: 58/2 Soi Damnoenklang Tai Bangkok

Food Type: Thai

Le Banyan

Address: 59 Sukhumvit Soi 8 Bangkok

Food Type: French

May Kaidee

Address: 33 Samsen Road, Soi 2, Bang-lam-phu Bangkok

Food Type: Vegetarian

The Mango Tree

Address: 37 Soi Tantawan, Surawongse Road Bangkok

Food Type: Thai

Somboon Seafood

Address: 169/7-11 Surawongse Rd Bangkok

Food Type: Seafood

The Rain Tree Café

Address: 61 Thanon Witthayu Wireless Road, Lumphini, Pathumwan Bangkok

Food Type: International

The Wave

Address: 199/1 Rat Burana Bangkok

Food Type: Thai

Dosa King

Address: 153/7, Sukhumvit Rd, Soi -11/1 Bangkok

Food Type: Indian

Ricky's

Address: 18 Th Phra Athit Bangkok

Lemongrass

Address: 5/1 Sukhumvit Soi 24 Bangkok

Food Type: Local

Le Coq d'Or

Address: 11 Soi 2 Koh Klang Rd Chiang Mai

Food Type: French

Set nostalgically in a colonial house near the Ping River, Le Coq d'Or is both distinguished and ambient, and offers tremendous service. With imported beef, lamb and local fish prepared in French and Belgian styles on the menu, diners won't leave unsatisfied. The foie gras or salmon tartare are popular as a starter, while the chateaubriand and the Norwegian salmon come highly recommended for mains. There is a good selection of wines to accompany the meal.

The House

Address: 199 Moon Muang Rd Chiang Mai

Food Type: Thai

The House is elegant and sophisticated, with large draped windows and delicate silk finishes. This restaurant offers a diverse menu of regional flavours accented by classical dishes and grilled delights. The imported steaks and lamb are delicious, as is the local seafood. These can only be followed by one or more of the sumptuous desserts... Dinner can be nicely wrapped up with a drink at the Moorish lounge bar outside.

Aroon Rai

Address: 45 Kotchasarn Rd Chiang Mai

Food Type: Thai

Le Grand Lanna

Address: 51/4 Chiang Mai-Sankampaeng Rd Chiang Mai

Food Type: Thai

Le Grand Lanna is fashioned on a Lanna nobleman's home, constructed entirely of old teak on raised stilts. Aside from it's comfortable dining hall with beautiful Lanna art, there is also sheltered terrace seating outside overlooking the tropical gardens, which are home to exotic birds and butterflies. Flaming torch lighting and traditional music set the scene beautifully for evening meals. Pomelo salad, khao sawy and gaeng hang lan (red pork curry) with sweet mango chutney are favourites on the menu, satisfyingly topped off by homemade lychee or yam ice-cream.

La Gondola

Address: 201/6 Charoenrat Rd Chiang Mai

Food Type: Italian

In Chiang Mai, La Gondola overlooks the tranquil Ping River and is known for its vast glass aviary collection and romantic balcony seating. In true Italian fashion, this restaurant is very lively and serves rather large portions of food. There is a broad menu offering Northern Italian cuisine, including an assortment of delicious pastas and mouth-watering steaks, as well as various specials.