Thailand Holidays

There are at least a dozen reasons why Thailand is the destination of choice for millions of holidaymakers every year. The country's natural beauty has to come top of the list, from its idyllic beaches and rainforest national parks in the south to the northern mountains with their scattering of hill-tribe villages. After that might come the fantastic food, the Buddhist hospitality, the climate, the historical treasures, the islands, the wildlife, the coral reefs, the shopping, Bangkok... We could go on.

The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. 95% of Thais are Therevada Buddhists, and the country's culture is inextricably linked with its religion, as seen in the temple architecture and the costumes of classical Thai drama, known as khon and lakhon. Sukhothai, the first notable kingdom of the Thai people, flourished during the 13th and 14th century, and the current Chakri monarchy began with King Rama I in 1782, the same year the capital moved to Bangkok. Thailand managed to resist the colonising advances of the European powers during the 19th century, becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and in recent times has witnessed something of an economic boom, but move a few miles outside Bangkok and the main tourist centres and you'll still find a tranquil land of rice farmers and fishermen, where kite-flying is a national pastime and the salads are hot and spicy.