Honeymoon in Thailand

Ko Samui, Surat Thani A perennial honeymoon favourite, Ko Samui blends palm-fringed beaches, clear water and a wealth of world-class resorts. Chaweng and Lamai are the lively beaches, while quieter Bophut and Maenam offer a more intimate setting for couples. Day trips to the emerald lagoons and limestone cliffs of Ang Thong Marine National Park add a sense of adventure to the romance.

Phuket, Southern Thailand Thailand’s largest island is a classic honeymoon choice, with everything from glamorous beach clubs to secluded clifftop pool villas. Couples can laze on the sands of Kata and Karon, watch the sunset from Promthep Cape and indulge in luxurious spa treatments. Phuket’s excellent flight connections and easy boat access to the Phi Phi islands make it a convenient and versatile base.

Krabi, Southern Thailand With its towering limestone cliffs, jade-green water and dreamy beaches, Krabi is one of Thailand’s most romantic corners. Ao Nang and the boat-only beaches of Railay offer stunning scenery for lazing or adventuring together. Couples can kayak through mangroves, explore hidden caves or take a longtail out to the islands scattered across the bay.

Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand For a cooler, more cultural honeymoon, the northern city of Chiang Mai is a wonderful choice, ringed by misty mountains and lush countryside. Couples can visit the hilltop temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, drift over the landscape on a dawn hot-air balloon flight and learn to cook together in a traditional Thai class. Boutique jungle retreats and riverside spa resorts add plenty of romance.

Khao Sok, Surat Thani For couples craving nature and seclusion, Khao Sok is a magical jungle escape built around one of the world’s oldest rainforests. The centrepiece is Cheow Lan Lake, where floating raft-house bungalows sit beneath dramatic limestone karst rising straight from emerald water. Waking to mist over the lake, kayaking past soaring cliffs and listening to the forest at night make for an unforgettable honeymoon.

Similan Islands, Phang Nga For a honeymoon centred on the sea, the pristine Similan Islands offer some of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches and world-class snorkelling and diving. Powder-white sand, granite boulders and impossibly clear turquoise water make this protected national park feel like a private paradise. As the islands have no large resorts, most couples visit on a liveaboard or day trip from luxurious bases on the mainland at Khao Lak.

Koh Lipe, Satun Tucked away in the far south near the Malaysian border, tiny Koh Lipe is a jewel of powdery beaches and glassy water within Tarutao National Marine Park. Its remoteness keeps crowds down and lends a castaway intimacy perfect for newlyweds. Days drift by snorkelling over vivid coral, island-hopping by longtail and watching the sun sink over the Andaman.

Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan The genteel seaside town of Hua Hin offers a quieter, more relaxed honeymoon within easy reach of Bangkok. Long sandy beaches, elegant colonial-era and modern resorts, and a famous night market give couples plenty to enjoy at a gentle pace. The nearby vineyards and Kaeng Krachan National Park provide easy day trips for those wanting a change of scene.

Ko Lanta, Krabi Laid-back Ko Lanta is ideal for couples seeking a peaceful island honeymoon without the party crowds. A string of long, quiet west-coast beaches catches spectacular sunsets, and stylish yet unpretentious resorts line the shore. Excellent diving, snorkelling and boat trips to the Trang islands lie right on the doorstep.

Ko Phi Phi, Krabi Made famous by the film “The Beach”, Phi Phi is a tropical dream of soaring cliffs, crystal water and vivid marine life. Couples can snorkel and dive straight from the boat, hike to the panoramic island viewpoint and cruise to the celebrated Maya Bay. Staying at one of the more secluded northern resorts lets you enjoy the beauty away from the busy main beaches.

Bangkok, Central Thailand Thailand’s dazzling capital adds a dose of big-city glamour to the start or end of a honeymoon. Luxurious riverside hotels, rooftop bars with sweeping skyline views and romantic dinner cruises along the Chao Phraya set the scene. Between visits to the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, couples can unwind with a decadent couples’ spa treatment.

The Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai Where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, the Golden Triangle offers one of the country’s most distinctive luxury honeymoon experiences. A cluster of exclusive tented-camp resorts sits amid forested hills above the Mekong, several with their own resident elephants and superb spas. Sunset over the great river, elephant encounters and remote mountain scenery make it wonderfully romantic and utterly different from the beaches.