You don't need to take weeks off work to see far-flung destinations, you can pack in the sights on a long haul holiday to Thailand in just seven days – from the beaches of Phuket to the bright lights of Bangkok.

Thailand has been a popular holiday destination for British travelers for years thanks to its balmy weather, Full Moon parties and great value hotels. It’s a country rich in history and culture with elaborate Buddhist temples and enticing cuisine.

It’s surprising what you can pack in over a seven-day trip, hopping from the capital Bangkok to Krabi on the west coast in three hours. Finally, I took a taxi over to the island of Phuket which is connected by a land bridge.

While in Thailand you can enjoy everything from relaxing beaches to bustling party streets, effective massages and gorgeous natural attractions and even street food, the best fruit you've ever tasted and jaw-dropping sunsets. You just have to be willing to endure the 10-hour flight (a far more comfortable prospect if you opt for business class).

Bangkok: two nights

While it would take weeks to take in most of Bangkok’s sights and sounds you can hit some of the main spots within a day and a half. Like any big city, Bangkok doesn’t have the relaxing nature that much of Thailand embodies – it’s all hustle and bustle, but you can pick up a one-day BTS Skytrain pass for $5 that will take you around much of the city.

The main sights are the glorious temples and palaces. Wat Arun Ratchawararam, The Grand Palace and The Temple of the Emerald Buddha are all majorly impressive in their size and grandeur. Just make sure your shoulders are covered and you observe the rules around what you can photograph. Those interested in culture can head to the National Museum to see Thai art and ancient artefacts.

If you want to feel more involved in the culture, then there are some craft classes on offer where you’ll be shown how to do traditional Thai handicrafts. The Craft Creator Studio lets you use a special wax-glue mixture to create a batik – a painted scarf with intricate patterns similar to a tie-dye.

Visitors who want to experience the backpacker’s lifestyle should head to Khao San Road which is lit up in bright lights at night and is full of tourists, bars and parties. Cannabis is now legal in

Thailand so those who want to partake can find some for as little as £2 in the official shops dotted all around the city.

Finally, experience one of the famous food markets, Or Tor Kor, where there’s an abundance of barbecued meats, curried seafood, spice pastes, satay sticks, desserts like mango sticky rice and fresh fruits for as little as £1 a dish. The mango in Thailand tastes nothing like ours here in the UK and I’d highly recommend eating copious amounts.

Travelers looking for a hotel with a great bar can check out INNside by Melia which boasts a pool bar on its top floor with panoramic views and a giant swing (not advised for those afraid of heights).

Krabi: two nights

Having hopped on a plane over to Krabi you’ll immediately be taken in by the change in atmosphere from Bangkok. This area is far more rural with resorts only really taking off around 20 years ago according to locals. Now, it’s home to luxury hotspots like Banyan Tree where you can stay in rooms with incredible ocean views out over Phang Nga Bay and the Andaman Sea.

The water is bright turquoise blue, warm even in winter, and is studded with islands and white sand beaches. You can book boat tours on a traditional Thai longboat where you’ll whizz through the water using their modded engines to the islands where you can sunbathe, snorkel and spot wildlife.

Not only are there plenty of fish to spot, but also crabs, stingrays and even dolphins. Drinks and meals on Hong Island cost from around $2.50 to $5. I’d also recommend trying your hand at stand-up paddle boarding while in Krabi as when you fall you’ll only land in warm water and soft sand.

The food of the region is impressive too – I discovered Tub Tim Grob; a dessert made from coconut milk and grenadine-soaked water chestnuts – sweet and refreshing. It’s also the home of massaman curry – a sweet, rich lamb dish perfect with dosas thanks to the small local Muslim population. Plus, the Pad Thai is sweet, sour and spicy at the Naga restaurant at Banyan Tree. They also serve an incredible breakfast, with access to a white sand beach and a view of the islands.

Phuket: three nights

There’s a fantastic temple on the route from Krabi to Phuket known as Wat Bang Thong that I would recommend. It’s unlike lots of other temples, featuring huge statues of figures holding snakes and other animals. The temple itself is a towering golden structure and it’s filled with intricate statues lining the walls and can often be very quiet with the only sound the chanting Buddhist monks.

When you arrive in Phuket you’ll feel transported to another world. Monkey howls occasionally sound out and you may even spot some. There are plenty of beaches and Phuket Town is filled with colourful shop fronts. Street food vendors line the roads selling skewers and fruits, and it’s the home of the Phuket Big Buddha – an enormous statue built in 2004.

I stayed around 45 minutes away from the main town near Nat Thong and Banana Beach at the Trisara Resort. You can enjoy kayaking out to small uninhabited islands from Trisara beach, but I wouldn’t recommend swimming due to the sharp rocks. In the evening Phuket comes to life as crabs – hermit and otherwise – take to the sands in their dozens.

The area is also home to the PRU restaurant, a Michelin- star destination that serves fresh Thai ingredients in unusual ways. This is where I tried durian fruit for the first time. Also known as the King of Fruits or the corpse fruit, due to its smell, I wouldn’t personally recommend it. Instead opt for the fresh duck on offer. Vegetarians should aim to dine at Jampa where fruit and vegetables grown on the restaurant’s farm are shown off to their finest.

For the ultimate relaxation before your 11 hour-plus journey home (you can fly from Phuket to Bangkok and then take another flight to the UK) I’d recommend a Thai massage.

This aggressive form of treatment will bend you in unusual ways before painfully kneading out knots and painful muscles – like an odd mix between yoga and massage. It’s worth it though. You can head to the Jara Spa in Trisara for the fancy option $150) or go down to the main public beaches for a cheap alternative massage (around £10). And the good news for your long trip home is that the dreaded durian is banned by almost every airline in the world, so there’s little danger of an “aromatic” aircraft for 11 hours!

>>Return to Newsletter

Daily Star  UK