Thailand’s pristine province

The province of Isaan has all but escaped the tide of tourism that has swept across Thailand in recent decades, says Sasha Bates in the Daily Telegraph. There, in the country’s "neglected" northeast, you can still see people "going about their business as they have done for centuries – fishing, weaving or trading with their Cambodian and Laotian neighbours in colourful markets".

And you’ll encounter few foreign visitors among its many spectacular ancient sites and "delightful" national parks – places such as Pha Taem, with its "mushroom-like stone formations" and 3,000-year-old rock paintings.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the region is its fantastic Khmer temple architecture. Among several fine examples, the 1,000-year-old Phanom Rung stands out, smaller than Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, but scarcely less magnificent.

Audley Travel (01993 838000) offers 10 days in Isaan from £1,995pp incl flights. ·