With its intense humidity, hedonistic nightclubs and hurly-burly taxiing of tuk-tuks, Bangkok is an exhilarating attack on the senses. Sukhomvit’s malls and gleaming skyscrapers are just a veneer of modernity for a city firmly rooted in ancient Buddhist beliefs and traditions.

It would be difficult to find a city that reflects more of the country’s diverse cultural heritage and modern aspirations than Chiang Mai. Its heart is its Old City, an area surrounded by vestiges of walls and moats originally constructed for defense. It lies in the shadow of an increasingly expanding city, encircled by gargantuan concrete highways, lined by giant hoardings and superstores.

780km (485 miles) NE of Bangkok; 180km (112 miles) NE of Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northernmost province. The Mekong River makes its borders with Laos to the east and Myanmar to the west. The smaller yet scenic Mae Kok River, which supports many hill-tribe villages along its banks, flows right through the provincial capital of the same name.

The slow evolution of Pattaya from a sleepy fishing town to a sprawling development of high-rise coastal resorts began in 1959 when U.S. Army GIs, stationed in the northeast, came here for R & R. Word spread, and with more U.S. troops arriving to fight in the Vietnam War, the town became a hot destination for weekend partying.

Chumphon was once known for simply being a stop on the way south; plans are now underway to transform this little town into a tourist hub. Today it’s got a pier, completed in 2007, and is a busy transit point for boats to Ko Tao to the southeast and Ang Thong Marine National Park due south, both of which are popular diving areas.

Every traveler in Thailand has an opinion about Ko Samui. Chaweng’s party is better than Bangkok’s, say some; it’s paradise well and truly lost, say others. What is clear is that this island is same, same but very different to when backpackers first set foot on its palm-fringed shores in the 1970s.

449km (279 miles) NE of Bangkok; 190km (118 miles) N of Nakhon Ratchasima; 115km (71 miles) S of Udon Thani. For most travelers, Khon Kaen is just a stopover en route to Udon and Nong Khai. The town is along Route 2, connects by rail with Bangkok and Nong Khai, and has a large commercial airport.

For many tourists, Krabi has become a popular, more eco-friendly alternative to the heavily commercialized Phuket and resort boomtown of Ko Phi Phi. For others, it’s an easy stop along the way. Flights connecting with Krabi’s international airport mean tourists, in fact, can bypass Bangkok and arrive directly from other parts of Asia, or arrange an air or road transfer from Phuket International airport.

Nong Khai is the northernmost of the northeastern provinces of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, and Loei. To the north it borders Vientiane Province, Vientiane Prefecture, and Bolikhamxai of Laos.

Phetchaburi is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Prachuap Khiri Khan. In the west it borders Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar. Phetchaburi is one of the provinces of Thailand.

Phang Nga is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, on the shore of the Andaman Sea to the west and Phang Nga Bay to the south. Neighboring provinces are Ranong, Surat Thani, and Krabi.

The name “Phuket” is derived from the Malay word “Bukit” (meaning hill); true to the name, lush, green hills dominate much of the island’s interior. There are still some rubber plantations and relics of the island’s tin mining operations remaining. Most folks head west to the beaches; Phuket’s are some of the best in Thailand.

Songkhla is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from east clockwise) Satun, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani and Yala. To the south it borders Kedah and Perlis of Malaysia.