The islands in the Andaman seaThe Andaman Sea is home to almost 50 Thai islands © Office National du Tourisme de Thailande
For seaside lovers Thailand is paradise with over 1684 miles of coastline. Instead of the unattractive beaches close to Bangkok (like Pattaya in the east), go for the southern shores where you'll find the hundreds of islands that render Thailand's beaches famous. As well as the gulf of Siam which has done a good job of preserving its natural environment, Ko Samui, the 'coconut kingdom', holds the world's record for the most coconut trees within a square kilometre. It is among the most popular islands, with tourists and locals alike.