I visited tropical island paradise from The White Lotus that's 28C in February

My travel to Thailand 15 years agone with a mate is inactive a cherished memory.

We cycled astir atom paddies extracurricular Bangkok, took cooking classes, visited nighttime markets and temples, admired aureate buddhas, watched breathtaking sunsets, and snorkelled successful the crystal wide waters astir Koh Phangan - each unforgettable experiences. And let's not hide the food!

I wondered if a instrumentality travel to the Land of Smiles, courtesy of the precocious reinstated British Airways nonstop way from Gatwick to Bangkok, could lucifer those fond memories?

Koh Samui

Koh Samui, the larger sister land to Koh Phangan, was my archetypal halt connected this instrumentality journey. It's a favourite among travellers and with the 3rd play of The White Lotus partially filmed astatine the Four Seasons Hotel connected the island, its popularity is acceptable to soar, reports the Express.

It's casual to spot why, with lush forested slopes descending to achromatic sandy beaches and turquoise seas, wherever hotels are tucked distant successful backstage bays.

The Banyan Tree Samui resort's whitewashed villas cascade down tropical jungle slopes to an infinity pool, offering stunning views implicit a backstage bay successful Lamai.

Like each villas, excavation had gates starring to a platform with loungers and seating. A expansive entranceway done an oversized woody doorway leads into a surviving country with a sofa and bar, followed by the chamber and bath with a immense bath - cleanable for a agelong soak portion gazing retired of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

But the existent showstopper... done the sliding doors successful the bedroom, my precise ain backstage pool.

That evening, I arranged for a buggy to articulation my question mates for a sojourn to the adjacent Lamai colony nighttime market.

Lamai is Koh Samui's astir frequented formation area. The formation extends seemingly endlessly on the coastline, with rocky outcrops interrupting the view.

Beachside eateries similar Cactus service up classical Thai dishes specified arsenic prawn Pad Thai and fried elephantine fish.

Its nighttime marketplace is simply a large deed with some locals and tourists. With a Chang brew successful hand, we browsed the nutrient stalls and picked up gyoza dumplings, tempura prawns, murphy spirals and gui chai spinach dumplings, which our guide, Nikkie, suggested, past sat astatine a picnic array and enjoyed our meal.

The Banyan Tree provides a scope of h2o sports from the formation and the yoga classes were cleanable for relaxing my muscles aft a lengthy flight.

The spa boasts an unthinkable rainforest country wherever you tin acquisition assorted blistery and acold h2o therapies earlier unwinding connected a heated lounger if the upwind extracurricular gets a spot tropical.

However, with the prima shining, we embarked connected a 90-minute speedboat travel to the neighbouring land of Koh Tao for immoderate snorkelling.

Colourful parrot food nibbled connected coral, elephantine wrasse cautiously peeked their heads retired from nether coral banks, portion agleam yellowish and achromatic striped angelfish swam astir unfazed by america clumsy humans supra them.

The pursuing time we hopped connected 2 wheels for an extended rhythm thrust astir a little travelled portion of Koh Samui.

Our travel began astatine the Wat Phra Chedi Laem So, a quaint yet stunning aureate temple connected the southbound coast, earlier we ventured done the island's oldest and past earthy coconut grove on the coastline.

We took a intermission astatine Thong Khurt pier, wherever our guide, Khun Bandit, enlightened america astir the accepted agelong boats that person been utilized by the Thais for centuries to question betwixt islands and fish.

These vibrantly coloured crafts are inactive an enactment for question from the mainland, which is conscionable hardly disposable successful the distance, to Koh Samui.

All this exploration calls for immoderate nourishment, and backmost astatine the hotel, we treated ourselves to the chef's array eating experience. Our backstage eating array was acceptable up successful the Edge restaurant, boasting views implicit the bay.

We were encouraged to assistance successful preparing the ingredients, truthful I enactment my chopping skills to usage and chopped up immoderate vegetables and herbs for our starter of grilled beef tenderloin crockery with toasted atom powder.

A fragrant tom yum crockery and salmon wrapped successful reddish noodles with a yellowish coconut curry was prepared for america close astatine the table, each paired with wines from Monsoon Valley winery, located southbound of Bangkok.

It was a delightful and indulgent experience. All excessively soon, our enactment successful Koh Samui was drafting to a close, but not earlier 1 last plunge successful my villa pool.

Then it was disconnected to Bangkok.

Bangkok

Fifteen years ago, I lodged connected the ever-popular Khaosan Road, known backmost past for its popularity among backpackers and for our accommodation, Buddy Lodge (which I'm told is inactive determination and inactive good loved).

The bustling streets of Bangkok's Chinatown, brimming with nutrient vendors and bars playing euphony circular the clock, did not disappoint my expectations for a vibrant atmosphere.

Yaowarat Road is flanked by nutrient and portion stalls, with shops, restaurants and brightly lit signs creating a lively backdrop.

Our guide, Tim, was instrumental successful helping america navigate the champion stalls. We kicked disconnected our culinary escapade with a vessel of crab with dragon noodles, a elemental yet delicious dish.

Other mouth-watering delights included atom cakes with fried radish and cream-filled saccharine bao buns. While I'll ever retrieve the Chinatown acquisition arsenic vividly arsenic Khaosan Road, I mightiness take to hide the deep-fried silkworms.

Nearby is Wallflowers, a charming cafe by time and barroom by night. The erstwhile florist's store retains its taxable with flowers cascading from aged umbrellas connected the ceiling and adorning the rustic tables and cocktails.

My toasted Negroni, infused with java beans and garnished with herbs, had an antithetic sensation that grew connected me.

All this was conscionable a stone's propulsion distant from our accommodation astatine the Shangri-La hotel, which overlooks the Chao Phraya river.

Although the decor could usage immoderate updating, my country was inactive precise luxurious and comfortable. The main excavation was cleanable for a precocious day aquatics followed by an Aperol Spritz sundowner.

Beyond the well-known tourer attractions similar the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, determination are immoderate hidden treasures to beryllium discovered.

Tucked distant crossed the Chao Phraya River lies the quaint Kudi Chin district, a labyrinth of walkways among houses packed truthful tightly that not a azygous car tin marque its mode through. This peaceful enclave is location to descendants of Portuguese traders.

As we meandered done the serene alleyways, we stumbled upon Auntie Amphans cosy kitchen, wherever she delights locals with her homemade sugary confections. Just astir the bend, the Baan Kudichin Museum beckons past buffs into its charming old-world residence brimming with captivating artefacts and tales of this calm neighbourhood amidst the bustling cityscape.

For those seeking further solace, Poomjai Gardens awaits, a verdant oasis adorned with implicit a 100 lychee trees, alongside an array of stunning flora and the Natura cafe the cleanable spot for a gourmet respite.

But earlier bidding farewell to this exotic place, 1 past twilight Hangovertini connected the magnificent Sky Bar terrace astatine the Lebua edifice is simply a indispensable - an unforgettable experience, precocious supra Bangkoks glittering horizon.

It's intolerable not to utter a "wow" upon witnessing the breathtaking presumption that feels similar you're suspended successful air, gazing down astatine the municipality splendour below.

Thailand has outdone itself, proving to beryllium conscionable arsenic enchanting, if not much so, than it was 15 years ago. I look guardant to returning sooner alternatively than later.

Ready to embark connected a Thai adventure?

British Airways Holidays offers a tempting package: 2 nights B&B astatine the Shangri-La Bangkok followed by a five-night enactment astatine the Banyan Tree Samui resort, from £2,689pp. This includes flights from Gatwick, 23kg luggage allowance, and interior transit betwixt Bangkok and Koh Samui each bookable with lightweight deposits from £60pp.

Why hold until 2025?

Book your Thailand vacation now.

For much information, sojourn fanclubthailand.co.uk.

Travel trial - British Airways Club World Business formation from Gatwick to Bangkok, Thailand.

Once settled successful my aisle seat, I was offered a solid of Our Cellar Selection, Brut NV, Champagne. Shortly aft take-off, a three-course meal was served, starting with prosciutto ham and marinated figs, followed by beef abbreviated rib with colcannon potatoes, paired with a solid of Yealands Pinot Noir.

Dessert was a delicious cocoa marble cake.

Wi-fi was disposable connected the flight, but I chose to disconnect from societal media and bask the movie Wicked Little Letters earlier getting immoderate sleep.

Converting my spot into a level furniture required minimal effort, and the footrest folded easily. A fluffy pillow and broad ensured a comfy rest.

The White Company amenity container contained an oculus mask, earplugs and socks, which helped maine slumber until meal was served.

The item of the formation was the originative Bridgerton-esque information video. Drawing inspiration from British play dramas, lit and films, it provided passengers with modular formation instructions successful a precise entertaining way.

I fishy it captured the attraction of galore much passengers than usual.