Holiday guide to lesser-known Thailand

They’re getting harder to find, but there are still corners of rural and coastal Thailand relatively untouched by tourism. We pick unspoilt islands and stunning national parks away from the crowds

• Readers’ favourite Thai islands

Many come to Thailand with visions of empty, palm-lined, white beaches and exotic cuisine. The reality at the more popular tourist sites is often starkly different: greasy approximations of western food, stands hawking crass English-sloganed T-shirts, and a 7-Eleven on every corner. With 24.7 million international visitors in 2014 and one of the most developed hospitality industries in Asia, Thailand is no longer the region’s most adventurous destination.

Related: Thailand's last unspoilt islands: Koh Yao Noi