While Bangkok has been the country’s capital for more than 200 years, the ancient 14th-century city of Ayutthaya was once the thriving seat of monarchy and business. Sacked by the Burmese in 1767, a slow meander through the remains of grand temples and stupas, offers an immersive reimagining of its former glories. In the far north, the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge to form the Golden Triangle. A cultural and culinary hotspot, head to charming Chiang Rai to visit the filigreed fairytale White Temple and discover the old city with its cool art and architecture scene.

The Land of Smiles is also a land of contrasts. Hungry for something sweet, sour, salty and spicy? From north to south, Thai food is deliciously diverse. Start at the top of the country with a zesty bowl of khao soi, coconut curry noodle soup; divert east to the birthplace of sticky rice and signature Isan dishes like a fiery larb salad; then wend your way to southern shores for fresh seafood. Southern Thailand is also the home of massaman curry, which merges flavours from India to the Malay archipelago, and hawker stalls selling grilled fish and other local favourites are night market staples.

Fuel your appetite with some outdoor exploration in Khao Sok National Park with a hike or elephant trek under the canopy of the world’s oldest evergreen rainforest in the shadow of looming limestone mountains and set to a soundtrack of gushing waterfalls and birdsong. Greenery gives way to the sugary white sands of Railay Beach on Krabi island for some supine downtime or cruise to tip of the Similan and Surin islands to access some of the world’s best diving sites. Swim with whale sharks off Richelieu Rock, which was first discovered by legendary underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau, or descend to the depths off Koh Bon to marvel at manta rays.