Thailand means Land of the Free, and that proud name is no idle boast. Europeans colonized every country in Southeast Asia except one. The nation formerly known as Siam not only remained independent, but it colonized the hearts of its visitors. Somerset Maugham, to take just one example, marveled at the gilded temples of Bangkok: It makes you laugh with delight to think that anything so fantastic could exist on this somber earth.

Thailand's natural wonders are no less fantastic. Tropical and evergreen forests shelter tapirs, pangolins, binturongs, and other exotic creatures. Thai skies are home to diverse fliers: 900 bird species, 1,200 butterfly varieties, and more than 100 types of bat. And explorers are only beginning to chart the varied inhabitants of the coral reefs lining Thailand's extensive shoreline.