Thailand and Maldives, 13 Days: Bangkok, Phuket, Maldives

About the destination: Bangkok, one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities, is the capital of Thailand. Bangkok is hot and crowded, but it's fairly clean and offers lots of fun things to do. Bangkok has great shopping, plenty of culture, amazing temples, delicious food and a decent art scene. Most of Bangkok's sights are concentrated on the island of Rattanakosin, often referred to as the Old City. The Grand Palace is the absolute must see site. The Grand Palace complex also houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Keow, the most sacred Buddhist temple. Other famous temples in Bangkok are the Wat Pho and Wat Arun temples. Bangkok is a great place for shopping. There are many shops, shopping centers and markets to satisfy every wish. The nightlife scene in Bangkok is as varied as the city itself, from beer bars to exclusive clubs, night shopping markets, discos to hippie parties. Bangkok is a large sprawling metropolis, noisy and crowded yet peaceful and delicate. It is one of the world’s top destinations that one has to visit at least once in life.

About the destination: Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and one of its premier tourist destinations. There are many activities you can do at Phuket, especially if you like beaches and islands. Phuket is such a great place to get out and explore. It really has it all, from sandy white beaches and crystal blue waters to a green countryside, beautiful temples and unbelievable views. Then add the shopping, nightlife and delicious seafood and you have just about everything you could want on a holiday. Island hopping is the best way to see and explore some of Phuket’s beautiful islands. You will find lots of huge rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites. Phi Phi and Khai Islands are the most popular islands of the archipelago. The Phi Phi View Point has an excellent view of the Ao Ton Sai and Ao Lo Dalam Bay. Patong Beach is the most visited beach and it is sometimes crowded, but has the best nightlife of the region. For more laid back beaches visit the beautiful Kamala, Surin, Laem Singh, Karon and Kata Beaches. Phuket is truly a wonderful place for a relaxing trip. A lot of amazing wonderful resorts, great tasty restaurants, white sandy beaches, amazing outlining islands and exciting nightlife. Everything you need for a true holiday.

About the destination: The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, are an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 coral atolls. From these small islands, only 203 are populated. Kaafu is where the capital, Male, and the airport are located and it is home of most tourist resorts. The Maldives really are the dream destination it appears to be in the holiday brochures, the water really is that crystal-clear and turquoise, the sand really is that white, and the sunsets really are all the shades of red and orange you could imagine. The Maldives are famous for blissful surroundings, its excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities, its beach villas, its dark-blue sea with turquoise-colored lagoons and its exquisite food. A trip to the Maldives is always an unforgettable experience, a satisfaction for the soul and a pleasure for the eyes, crystal clear waters, tropical white sand beaches, colorful flora and untouched nature. But beware, paradise is not cheap.