Snippets of the past in Ayutthaya
The first thing that might come to mind when you think of Thailand is its sugar-white beaches, but the former Kingdom of Siam has a history as rich as its landscape. Colonisation, war, democracy, and monarchy have all shaped the Thailand you see today – no more so than in Ayutthaya, the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai.
A walk, cycle, or tuk tuk ride takes you around the city’s once-gilded temples (destroyed by the Burmese in 1767) for a snapshot of its golden past.
Nature at its most awe-inspiring
The massive, crane-your-neck limestone mountains that shoot straight up out of the emerald-hued waters of Khao Sok National Park is an image that’s hard to forget.
A traditional long boat ride puts it all in perspective. Weave beneath these towering jungle-topped structures, stepping on land to get closer to the 400 or so species that inhabit the park. Then, a couple of nights in a treehouse lodge immerses you in the sights and otherworldly sounds of the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world.