Thailand pulls in many long-term visitors because there is simply so much to do. But for time-strapped travellers, the essentials of an unforgettable trip can be found in two iconic places
Thailand’s greatest luxury is its singular experiences. Memories of a lifetime arrive quicker than a longtail speedboat. Those who love urban vibrance and culture may choose to make them in the country’s sprawling capital city, Bangkok. But for those more attuned to the laid-back life, Koh Samui offers the ultimate island escape. The most indulgent option? Connoisseurs of the high life can choose both …
Among Bangkok’s greatest bon viveurs of the last century was the American entrepreneur Jim Thompson. In the 1950s and 60s he helped revive Thailand’s silk industry, elevating it from a local craft to an iconic product worn by Thai royalty and, now, White Lotus celebrities. Thompson had a magpie eye too. While travelling Thailand by boat and train, he shipped 17th-century ceramics and Buddhist art back to his bohemian Bangkok home.
Here’s the magical memory. Thompson’s downtown oasis is now a publicly accessible heritage home. Aesthetes can follow Thompson’s footsteps along teak walkways shaded by betel-nut palms. They can sip fresh coconut milk next to his black-painted pond, in which Japanese koi zigzag like fireworks. A top concierge can arrange an after-hours visit, when Thompson’s home exudes a cinematic energy. A dozen other opulent heritage homes – some serving cocktails, others offering Thai cooking classes – grace Bangkok.
