Thailand

Sukhothai and Ayutthaya rose as Siamese capitals from the thirteenth century, and Thailand remains the only Southeast Asian country never colonised by a European power. That independence shows in temples like Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, which were built for Thai kings rather than adapted from anyone else’s rule. Bangkok’s markets and Phuket’s limestone islands sit a short flight apart, so one trip covers both city and coast. For Pakistani travellers, the visa is straightforward, Bangkok has a growing halal restaurant scene around Ramkhamhaeng, and the rupee stretches further here than almost anywhere else in the region.