6 alternative Thai islands for an active break, from snorkelling and sailing to hiking

Under a pilot program, Sri Lanka will be issuing free tourist visas through next March to visitors from seven countries: India, China, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. This initiative is part of Sri Lanka’s broader strategy to revitalize its tourism sector and achieve a target of 5 million arrivals by 2026.

Considering a destination wedding? Discover romance by the blue waters in Thailand. Whether it’s a beachfront paradise you desire, or some bling in the heart of a city, these venues offer everything you need to create an unforgettable experience. Explore the most gorgeous wedding venues in Thailand below.

The words “shirtless” and “official meeting” may not appear in the same sentence often, but trust AirAsia parent Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes to do things differently.

Cambodia has a brand-new airport for travelers flying directly to its popular attraction of Angkor Wat, offering an upgraded experience to get to the famous site in an effort to boost tourism.

Thai Airways is selling its fleet of Airbus A380 planes.

It's been over a century since Thailand’s first train line – a scant 50 miles linking Bangkok and the former royal capital of Ayuthaya – was completed. Tracks have since been extended to most of the country, and while train travel has almost entirely been superseded by bus and air, scenic railway routes and sleeper trains remain one of the best ways to see the country.

On Saturday, violence erupted across Israel and Gaza in one of the worst conflicts the region has seen in decades, according to The New York Times. After Hamas militants began launching thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli towns early Saturday morning, the conflict has continued to escalate, with Israel’s military responding with massive air strikes. The violence has left thousands dead, according to CNN. Thousands more are injured on both sides.

Travelers in Asia are showing growing interest in vacation rentals according to Trip101.

The capital of Northern Thailand has been an epicentre of craftwork for centuries. Before becoming incorporated into Siam in 1932, the Chiang Mai region —surrounded by the highest mountains in the country, dense jungle and rolling rice fields —was an independent entity, part of the Lanna Kingdom. The devout Buddhist Lanna province was known for detailed temple wood carving and terracotta clay work, ornate hill-tribe ceremonial silver production and incredible hand-woven textiles with patterns distinctive to each village. Today, Chiang Mai’s artisans continue the creative Lanna legacy, respecting their heritage while adapting creative wares for contemporary times.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lauren Juliff, a 35-year-old who's traveled to over 80 countries. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Connected by a 30-minute boat ride across the Gulf of Thailand, the sister islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are the grandaddies of Thailand’s travel party scene. But while Koh Samui may have a reputation for raucous nightclubs and Koh Phangan’s popularity was founded on glow-stick-lit full-moon parties, they both now have another side to them. Whether you want to spend your days doing yoga overlooking the sea, explore a tropical detox programme or seek spiritual balance meditating in a cave — these islands can cater for all.

Central Pattaya shopping center is collaborating with the government sector and partners to delight all participants in the event called “NAKIZ presents Pattaya International Bikini Beach Race 2023”, this sexy beach-running event, aiming to organize the largest of its kind in Thailand.