Phuket, Pearl of the south

Wat Phra Thong, or 'Temple of the Gold Buddha', near Thalang

Pearl of the South in the Land of Smiles.

Dubbed 'Pearl of the South' by the tourist industry, Phuket is Thailand's largest, most populous and most visited island. A whirl of colour and cosmopolitanism, Thailand's only island province revolves around and thrives on tourism, but still retains a spark of the real Thailand.

There are a hundred and one ways to pass the day in Phuket. There are also more tourists here than on any other Thai island - it certainly knows how to cater to tourists' every whim. Most flock to the beaches on the southwestern side, which are loaded with amenities and entertainment options.

Transsexual show girls at club in Soi Katoey ('Ladymen St'), Patong Beach



Small part of Karon Beach, one of Phuket's longest and best beaches




Parked cars and signs choking main street in Patong



View over pool and sea, at Novotel Phuket Resort, Kalim Beach, Patong



Fish, men and purple plastic baskets at Seafood Market in Phuket Town



Young men about to pierce themselves with skewers, at Vegetarian Festival



Scooter noodles on the go in Phuket Town

Ko Samui, Beach Paradise Central.

Children finding joy on a pile of coconuts, Ko Samui

Beach paradise central.

Party island Ko Samui has long been the locale of choice for paradise-seeking voyagers of all stripes. Its turquoise waters and sun-bleached, sandy bays are lined with multiple bungalows and resorts, a plethora of restaurants to satisfy hungry epicureans, and thumping nightlife providing a soundtrack to the temperate, starry nights.

Sunlight shapes stream through a Thai rice paper umbrella on Hat Bang Rak

Local fisherman enjoying a hard earned rest on Samui Island

Ko Phi Phi, long and long beaches...

Approaching Ao Bakao by longboat on the island of Ko Phi-Phi Don

Scenic hills, awesome limestone cliffs and long, long beaches.

Consisting of two islands, Phi-Phi Leh and Phi-Phi Don, Ko Phi-Phi is the Thailand of holiday dreams and tourist brochures. The emerald waters and remarkable sea- and bird-life are sublime, but rampant over-development of Phi-Phi Don threatens to spoil the island's riches.

Beats toast. A colourful, tropical fruit breakfast, Ko Phi-Phi Don



Unloading a supply ship while the sea shimmers on Ko Phi-Phi Don

Ko Lanta, very rilexing...

Two people get a Ko Lanta beach all to themselves

Morning beach strolls, afternoon elephant rides, and partying till the wee hours.

Long relegated to the back seat by tourist draws like Phi-Phi and Pha-Ngan, Ko Lanta first became popular with backpackers looking for something a bit different. And while it now has loads of accommodation for pockets of all depths, Ko Lanta remains a friendly, relaxing place to stay.

HMAS what? Detail of fishing boat script

Ko Chang, Home of Flaura and Fauna

This is the life - relaxing in a beach bungalow on Ko Chang

Ko Chang's mountainous interior is home to a Jurassic Park of flora and fauna.

Ko Chang is bursting with biodiversity: exotic reptiles and technicolour birds are as much a part of the experience as watching sunsets on idyllic beaches. A sandy coast skirts the island revealing postcard-perfect bays. Jungle-encrusted mountains are veiled under a shroud of mist.

Silhouetted in a liquid gold dusk off White Sand Beach



Buddha gleaming through the foliage

Chiang Mai,Old fashioned Thai style.

Mother and children of Hmong tribe in all their finery

Old-fashioned Thai-style hospitality in a thriving metropolis.

Chiang Mai has a striking mountain backdrop, over 300 temples and a quaint historical aura. It's also a modern, friendly, internationally-flavoured city with much to offer the visitor - food, accommodation and shopping are all top quality and cheap, and the nights are relatively cool.

Thailand's second-largest city and the gateway to the country's north was founded in 1296. You can still see the moat that encircled the original city. Doi Suthep, topped by one of Thailand's holiest wats, rises behind the city, providing a dramatic backdrop and fine views of the city.

Gilded fence at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, most sacred of northern Thai temples



Pilgrim to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep makes offerings to a reclining Buddha



Dancer performing at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Centre



Mahout washing his elephant at Mesai Elephant Camp



Farmer tilling his field near Chiang Mai



Monk going about business at dusk in Wat Chedi Luang



Young monks collecting alms in front of one of Chiang Mai's 300 temples



Abuzz with activity: Chiang Mai night market



Local delicacy: skewered chicken feet, freshly grilled and ready to eat

Bangkok- City full of entertainment

Wat Phra Kaew, also known as 'Temple of the Emerald Buddha'

The modern Asian metropolis at its steamy and exciting best.

Bangkok has dominated Thailand's urban hierarchy as well as its political, commercial and cultural life since the late 18th century. Distinctly modern and Westernised, Bangkok is still a sleepy Thai village with a louder soundtrack of traffic and nightlife.

Bangkok proper seethes on the east side of the Mae Nam Chao Phraya (Chao Phraya River), drawing rural Thai folk into its cluttered fold daily. The city is reportedly sinking at a rate of 5cm (2in) every year, but there's too much sànùk (a Thai sense of fun) going on for that to get anyone down.

Fresh and dried chillies in Bangkok market



Wat Saket (Temple of the Golden Mount) at dusk



Dancing during dinner at Sala Rim Naam restaurant, Oriental Hotel



Thai boxing, with fists and feet, at Sanam Muay Lumphini Boxing Stadium



Forest of signs and stream of traffic on Khao San Road



Wat Mahathat, temple and Buddhist university, offers free meditation lessons



Traders at one of Bangkok's many floating markets



Enormous gold 'modern style' Buddha, outside Wat Intharawihan



Detail of tuk-tuk , a three-wheeled motor-taxi

Thailand, Heaven of Earth!

In the picture at Phra Nang Beach.

Sun, tôm yam and spiritual enlightenment.

The Kingdom of Thailand draws more visitors than any other country in southeast Asia with its irresistible combination of breathtaking natural beauty, inspiring temples, renowned hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of fabulous ancient kingdoms. Few countries are so well endowed.

From the stupa-studded mountains of Mae Hong Son and the verdant limestone islands of the Andaman Sea, to the pulse-pounding dance clubs of Bangkok and the tranquil villages moored along the Mekong River, Thailand offers something for every type of traveller.

Relaxing bungalow accommodation in a leafy rubber plantation, Andaman Beach



Phimai Temple, an Angkor period Hindu/Mahayana Buddhist temple



Messing around in longtail boats at Ao Lo Dalam



Sunset over the ancient stupas of Sukothai Historical Park



Silom Road stalls offer everything from hats to soap to flower offerings



The seated Buddha at Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai Historical Park



Buddhas in a row at Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai Historical Park



Cooked birds for sale in Chinatown