The Khao Lak district on the Andaman Coast was hit harder by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami than any other part of Thailand. The region’s tourism industry also took a huge blow. Before the tsunami, over 400 hotel and resorts along the coast catered to visitors from around the world. After the tsunami, just 50 hotels were left standing.

To the northwest, the Isaan region is one of the most fascinating and little-explored parts of Thailand, an exhilarating mix of Thai, Lao and Cambodian cultures.

East of the provincial capital Nakhon Phanom along the Mekong River, Wat Phra That is a huge Lao temple, its 50 metre chedi (spire) capped with over a hundred kilos of 24-carat gold.