Thailand is one of the most popular backpacking destinations, and for good reason, it's cheap, the weather, the beaches, the nightlife, the amount of outdoor activities, and the wonderful people.

• Bangkok
• Phuket
• Ko Phi Phi
• Ko Samui
• Ko Pha Ngan

Bangkok

You'll do well to stick more than a few days in this hectic town. It's dirty, smelly, noisy, and very hot. But it's also lots of fun and definitely worth a visit, albeit a short one.

Khoa San Road is the main tourist area, where pubs, clubs, and restaurants line the street. Near Khoa San is Banglemhu, another good entertainment spot.

Make sure to check out a Muay Thai fight, thai boxing is very important here and it's a must to check this out when in the country. It's probably the most brutal and devastating martial arts on the planet so if you're squeamish, it's probably best avoided.

If you want to experience some Thai culture, head to Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Budda. The Grand Palace is also on the same grounds. You can also get tours from Bangkok to a WWII war cemetry, the bridge on the River Quai, elephant trekking and bamboo rafting down a river.

Bankok is quite a safe place but beware of muggings and cons, where people will promise you tours and the like and never folow through. Also beware of Tuk Tuk drivers who will bring you to Ruby factories or other places when you asked to go somewhere else. Make it quite clear where you are going and that you want to straight there.

Phuket

Phuket has some wonderful big beaches with warm, green waters. Patong beach and Karon Beach are two of the best but they are full of tourists and the people that prey on them, ie aggressive vendors that want to get you in to their stores. The Royal Palm Resort in Patong is a god place to stay, and was actually the first hotel to open after the Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004. The Beshert hostel in Karon is very good value.

There is very good diving in Phuket, try do a live aboard so you can get out to the surrounding islands. There's also good snorkelling along the west coast. Phuket town is actually a much nicer place to stay, although it is inland a bit.

Ko Phi Phi

Ko Phi Phi Don is a must, it is breathtakingly beautiful. Diving is also awesome here. The blockbuster movie, The Beach, was filmed on Ko Phi Phi Leh which is just off Ko Phi Phi Don. You can get a short boat trip over there.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is a large island south of the mainland. It is beautiful, although very developed in terms of hotels and bars aimed at tourists. Lamai and Chaweng are two of the liveliest places as well as two of the best beaches. The nightlife is crazy in Chaweng. It's great fun although the ladies might not enjoy the local girls trying to tempt their men into the local bars, just ignore them. Chaweng is a good place to catch a Muay Thai fight as they are quite regular.

Be aware of getting mugged or drugged here. There have been murders of western women so do not walk alone at night. The most danger you will face, however, is on the roads. Koh Samui has the highest death rate on the roads in Thailand, and many times it's tourists that end up killed after crashing their mopeds, so be careful. Get the Ferry from Surat Thani on the mainland.

Ko Pha Ngan

It's quite a beautiful island but most travellers come here for the famous full moon parties. Head to Hat Rin for a night of wild, unreserved partying.