Thailand

From a tourism perspective, Thailand is perhaps Southeast Asia’s superstar: Travelers from all corners of the globe point their compasses toward this varied country, drawn by visions of flawless beaches, lovely Buddhist temples, and exotic nightlife. There’s more than one Thai experience, from the hedonistic to the adventurous to the reverent, and visitors tend to leave the country knowing that they have much more to explore the next time around.

To many a traveler, Thailand means little more than beaches and all-night partying. And more than one genuine seaside paradise has been bogged down by overdevelopment and the displacement of authentic local culture by the frenzy of resorts and nightclubs. That said, there’s no question that Thailand—with several thousand miles of South China and Andaman Sea coastline—has some epically gorgeous beachfront. It’s possible even in such heavily hyped resort destinations as Phuket and Ko Chang to find sheer beauty in arrangements of buff-colored sand, turquoise waters, lazily leaning coconut palms, and straight-edge sea cliffs. And the coral reefs aren’t bad, either.

There’s so much more to Thailand than full-moon parties and clubbing, though. For one thing, the natural splendor isn’t restricted to the beaches and islands of the seacoast: Rainforest-robed mountains along the Laotian and Burmese borders, prowled in a few precious redoubts by tigers, elephants, and gibbons, offer visions of mainland Southeast Asia in its primordial verdure. And travelers who spare time for the country’s national parks, such as Pa Hin Ngam in the central plateaus and Khao Sok in the rainsocked south, discover a mesmerizing wild Thailand worlds away from beachside revelry.

Thailand is equally a storehouse of immense archaeological and cultural heritage. The Buddhist antiquities alone are staggering: Golden stupas, stone-carved bodhisattvas, and other treasures are scattered from the heart of cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai to the deepest countryside, many dating from the glory years of the Lanna Kingdom. Thai cuisine, meanwhile, has by now firmly demonstrated its worldwide appeal, but you’ve never appreciated it in its full depth and breadth until you’ve navigated Thailand’s street markets, crammed eateries, and roadside stalls.

From the limestone islets of Phang Nga Bay to the ancient Siamese Kingdom ruins of Ayutthaya, from a restaurant in enormous, nonstop Bangkok to a secluded temple complex in the Phetchabun Mountains—Thailand scintillates. Sure, you can come here for an idyllic beach escape, but there’s a lot more to Thailand than that.