Thailand

The Andaman's southernmost region, Satun was until recently mostly overlooked, but that’s all changed thanks to the dynamic white sands of Ko Lipe – a one-time backpacker secret turned mainstream beach getaway. Beyond Ko Lipe, the rest of the province passes by in the blink of an eye, as visitors rush north to Ko Lanta or south to Pulau Langkawi (Malaysia). Which means, of course, that they miss the untrammelled beaches and sea caves of Ko Tarutao, the rugged trails and ribbon waterfalls of Ko Adang, the rustic beauty of Ko Bulon Leh and easy-going Satun itself.

I myllrande metropolen Bangkok finns goda chanser att njuta av hotellyx till en hyfsat billig penning. Här tipsar vi om tre guldkorn i varje prisklass – lyx, budget och mittemellan.

Allting börjar och slutar i Chinatown. Ingen annanstans är Bangkok mer färgsprakande, poetiskt och välsmakande.

One tourist brochure we came across described Phayao (พะเยา) as the 'Vienna of South East Asia'. Although this is just slightly stretching the truth, Phayao is certainly an elegant and attractive town. Its setting on Kwan Phayao, a vast wetland, gives the town a back-to-nature feel that’s utterly lacking in most Thai cities, while the tree-lined streets, temples and traditional wooden houses of ‘downtown’ Phayao provide a pleasing old-school Thai touch.

Despite its remote location and relatively small size, Mae Sot (แม่สอด) is among the most culturally diverse cities in Thailand. Walking down the town's streets you’ll see a fascinating ethnic mixture of Burmese men in their longyi (sarongs), Hmong and Karen women in traditional hill-tribe dress, bearded Muslims, Thai army rangers and foreign NGO workers. Burmese and Karen are spoken as much as Thai, shop signs along the streets are in Thai, Burmese and Chinese, and much of the temple architecture is Burmese. Mae Sot has also become the most important jade and gem centre along the border, with much of the trade controlled by Chinese and Muslim immigrants from Myanmar.

Tiny Ko Samet (เกาะเสม็ด) has been attracting backpackers making the relatively short hop from Bangkok for years, but these days you'll find just as many Thais and Chinese tour groups. The sandy shores, cosy coves and aquamarine waters attract ferry-loads of Bangkokians looking to party each weekend, while tour groups pack out the main beach and many resorts. Fire-juggling shows and beach barbecues are nightly events on the northern beaches, but the southern parts of the island are far more secluded and sedate.

When people refer to Khao Lak, they're usually talking about a series of beaches hugging Phang-Nga's west coastline, about 70km north of Phuket. With easy day trips to the Similan and Surin Islands, Khao Sok and Khao Lak/Lam Ru National Parks, or even Phuket, the area makes a central base for exploring the northern Andaman.

Multistorey malls, outdoor shopping precincts and never-ending markets leave no doubt that Siam Square, Pratunam and Phloen Chit combine to form Bangkok's commercial district. The BTS (Skytrain) interchange at Siam has also made this area the centre of modern Bangkok, while only a few blocks away, scruffy Ratchathewi has a lot more in common with provincial Thai cities.

Surrounded by forested mountains and with a remote and pretty setting by a tranquil lake, Mae Hong Son (แม่ฮ่องสอน) fits many travelers’ preconceived notions of how a Northern Thai town should look. A palpable influence from Myanmar and a frontier-settlement feel don’t clash with this image and, best of all, there’s hardly a túk-túk or tout to be seen. This doesn’t mean Mae Hong Son is uncharted territory – tour groups have been coming here for years – but the city is far more laid-back than Pai, while its potential as a base for activities, from boat trips to trekking, ensures that your visit can be quite unlike anyone else’s.

Tuffa förbi Victoriafallen på gränsen mellan Zimbabwe och Zambia, genom engelska och indiska landskap eller upp i Alperna. Vi listar världens lyxigaste chartertåg som bjuder på guldkantade drömresor på räls.