Far smaller than its big brother Phuket, you can’t help but fall for the chilled island ambience Koh Samui emits through its gentle waves, secluded bays and dreamy pool villas. For a glimpse of local life, Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village was once famed for its daily catch, but now its rustic huts are home to boutique shops and a charming café culture, while the buzzing beaches on its east coast are perfect for a sundowner. Near neighbour Koh Phangan carries an undeserving label of being a backpackers’ haven but it’s easy to escape to idyllic coves and unspoilt jungle. Anantara Rasananda offers a sophisticated base from which to explore, with the bright blue lagoons and forested islands of Ang Thong National Marine Park within easy reach.

Feeling more like a sleepy ancient town than one of Thailand’s biggest cities, Chiang Mai’s historic moated centre is an attractive collection of 1,000-year-old temples, wooden houses and tranquil pagoda gardens. Among its gilded antiquity lies the hilltop Wat Pra That Doi Suthep, one of the country’s most sacred Buddhist sites and a great place to take it sweeping views of Chiang Mai is all its majesty. Make sure you venture beyond the moats though, as a wealth of wild experiences lie beyond, including river rafting, ethical elephant experiences and walking through virgin jungle inhabited by hill tribes eager to show you their traditional culture. Even further north lies the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Burma (Myanmar) and Laos meet on the banks of the Mekong River.

Krabi is the Thailand you imagined – dramatic karsts rising above turquoise waters and rugged limestone cliffs hanging over perfect white curves of sand. Its fine beaches make it a great holiday destination to relax in a tropical setting but the surrounding jungle-clad hillsides remind you it’s an adventure waiting to happen, with jungle trails taking you to churning waterfalls and hidden caves. For water babies, dip below the ripples off Koh Lanta for an underwater world like no other. Hin Daeng is home to manta rays and whale sharks, Ko Rok has a kaleidoscopic coral garden teeming with colourful fish and Ko Muk hides a secret lagoon.

In the ‘Land of Smiles’ nowhere will have you grinning from cheek to cheek quite like Elephant Hills. Set among the wilderness of Khao Sok National Park, with one camp in the heart of prime rainforest and the other floating on Cheow Larn Lake, it’s a heartening and ethical way to engage with elephants. Wash them, feed them their daily meals and watch them grazing and roaming free in their stunning natural environment. As well as spending time with these beautiful beasts, there are plenty of other ways to soak up the jungle, from canoeing down the Sok River to trekking through its wilds.

We all know and love Thai cuisine. Food is a way of life here and it’s essential to try its many flavoursome dishes to understand Thailand. The local markets of Bangkok are a treat for the senses, a rich array of smells, colours and sounds, while fine-dining restaurants are a tasty window into how Thai food has been interpreted in modern cooking. The markets of Chiang Mai show off its staple ingredients but the best way to appreciate the flavors of Thai food is through a cooking class, where a local chef will help you buy ingredients from the markets, cook it the traditional way and then devour your creations. Yum!