by Ian Farquharson

Created on: November 28, 2009

Travel Destinations in Thailand

Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and has a great mix of big cities, stunning natural landscapes and fantastic islands. I have been lucky enough to live in the country for a few years and have visited some great locations during this time. Some of the best places to visit in my opinion include the following.

Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is obviously world famous for the River Kwai Bridge and war time history and a great time to visit is around the end of November and start of December. The River Kwai festival is usually in full swing at this time and is an excellent way to see the bridge and enjoy some festivities. The market at the festival sells some great souvenirs and also a lot of delicious food and spending some time walking around this is a must. However the highlight of a visit is the show they put on documenting the history of the bridge. It lasts around half an hour and provides details of the building of the bridge and its subsequent destruction. The show ends with a great firework display simulating the attack of the allied forces on the bridge and there are false tracks attached to the bottom of the bridge which crash down into the river as the fireworks go off. It's a spectacular way to view the bridge and the shows are on daily during the festival.

There are also some great guest houses along the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi itself, which are a relaxing place to spend some time and enjoy the sights of the town. The area around the town also has some wonderful natural landscapes and some of the best to visit include the Erawan Falls, Sai Yok Yai waterfall and Talad Yai cave. The town is around a two hour drive from Bangkok and is a good place for a day out, although staying there for a few days is a better way to see the place and gives you a bit more time to explore the attractions.

Koh Samet

I have visited this island a few times and if you are a beach person then it is a relaxing place for a trip. Koh Samet has some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand and a trip to get there usually starts by travelling to Ban Phe in Rayong Province where boats sail to the island. Many of the hotels and resorts have their own boats and it is fairly easy to get to the island and the trip across by boat gives you a chance to relax and enjoy the scenery.

The island itself has many guest houses and hotels from budget to higher end and there is something for all tastes. I have usually stayed at the Vong

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