The North is a mountainous region comprising natural forests, ridges and deep, narrow, alluvial valleys.
A mountainous area where winter temperatures are cool enough to allow the cultivation of temperate fruits such as apples, strawberries and peaches, the North offers the tourist a pleasing alternative to the bright lights of Bangkok and the beaches of the south and the Gulf of Thailand.
It occupies an approximate area of 170,000 square kilometers, bordering on the territories of Laos and Myanmar.
The Northeast is ancient traditions and customs are still reflected in fairs and festivals found nowhere else in the country. These include the colorful Bun Bang Fai (rocket festival), the Candle Procession and the Wax Castle Festival.
Probably the most well-known local products of the Northeast are the world - famous Matmee silk, wickerware, earthenware and edible items such as sausages, Mu Yong and Mu Phaen.
i-san is noted as the center of an age-old civilization dating back to pre-historic time and to the period when the Khmer people held away in the region. Relics and monuments still stand, attesting to the splendors and majesty of the ancient era. The Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom, the Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung in Buri Ram and the Prasat Hin Phimai in Khorat, are some of the most important and interesting structures in the area. Ban Chiang village in Udon Thani, where remains of pre-historic skeletons and tools have been discovered, serves as concrete evidence of a Bronze Age civilization flourishing 5,000 to 7,000 years ago.
Central & East
Located in a fertile basin where the main activity is rice farming and the area is regarded as the rice bowl of our country. Besides being the kingdom's most fertile land for rice growing, the Central region is also famous for its tourist attractions which focus on natural resources and ancient historic remains. Trips to thick forests, high waterfalls, caves and beaches are easily combined with visits to ancient ruined temples or palaces and historical places.
The Eastern part of the region annually attracts hundreds of thousands tourists to the famous beach resorts of Pattaya and Rayong. The eastern sea coast reaching from Chon Buri to Trat is among the most attractive seaside destinations. Nature has endowed the area with waterfalls and mountains, beaches and islands, and man has added facilities and conveniences to make this a truly beautiful and enjoyable destination. The Eastern coastal region is also rich in archaeology and history.
South Thailand
The region is located on the peninsula between the Andaman Sea of the Indian Ocean to the West and the South China Sea of the Pacific Ocean to the East
The South offers some of the most spectacular scenery in our country, with superb beach resorts and lush tropical islands. Two of the main attractions are the beautiful islands of Phuket and Ko Samui with their dazzling palm-fringed beaches. Other attractions of the south include coral reefs teeming with marine life for the diving enthusiast, remote national parks, mountains, waterfalls, historical sites and scenic wildlife sanctuaries.
