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Bangkok - Thailand's capital
city
  Thailand's
capital city presents a kaleidoscope of contrasts, moods and colour. The tropical
heat, the glittering temples and Royal palaces, the gleaming glass office blocks,
the hustle and bustle. Traditional and modern sit side by side. Eat on the street
from a roadside vendor or sit in air-conditioned comfort in a sophisticated restaurant.
Bargain
at noisy sprawling Asian markets or stroll through upmarket shopping malls. Marvel
at the splendour of the Grand Palace. Ride a local boat on the river, or travel
on the new "Skytrain", Karaoke, go-go bars, trendy music pubs, fine
dining, plush cinemas and traditional Thai classical dance performances plus a
unique cultural history. It's unforgettable Bangkok.....
Where
to Stay? Shopping, business, or pleasure? Check out our location guide.
Where to Go? See our suggestions...
Where can I go from Bangkok? - Chiang Mai,
Phuket,Samui -
all just over a one hour flight away..... The
North - Chiang Mai
 Chiang
Mai presents a wonderful contrast to Bangkok. Thailand's second largest city,
set in forested hills, has a cultural legacy which dates back to the 13th century.
Once the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom, the city has preserved its unique
heritage and is a treasure house of centuries old temples, northern arts and architecture.
The old city walls and moat still remain, which is where you'll find plenty of
old wats (temples), leafy lanes and cafes.
Outside the city the surrounding
countryside is home to a number of hilltribes who have their own distinct culture,
religion, language and style of dress. Chiang Mai makes an ideal base to visit
the hilltribes and is also a great place for adventure activities like bamboo
rafting, elephant riding, and river trips by local boat. Although the city has
expanded in recent years, there is little of the frantic pace which typifies life
in Bangkok. The 'Rose of the North' retains its relaxing place and and easy going
people who still hold to traditional ways and values.
Where
to Stay? Shopping, business, or pleasure? Check out our location guide.
Where to Go? See
our suggestions... Chiang
Rai
 Much
smaller and quieter than Chiang Mai, this provincial town close to the Golden
Triangle (where the borders of Myanmar (Burma) Thailand and Laos meet) makes a
good base for river adventures, elephant trekking and hiking to some of the more
remote areas. There's a smaller "night bazaar" similar to Chiang Mai
selling hilltribe cloth, handicrafts and jewelry, and a few low key entertainment
areas. Accommodation is fairly limited but comfortable with small guesthouses,
bungalows and resorts. Attractions include stunning mountain scenery around
Mae Sai, Doi Salong and along the Burmese border. Hilltribes, especially the Akha
live around this area.
The
South - Phuket
Phuket
island - one of Asia's premier destinations, has all the elements of a great holiday.
Beautiful beaches, great accommodation, great scenery, good food and lots to do.
The main town, also called Phuket, has grown rapidly over the last few years,
incorporating new hypermarkets and leisure facilities such as bowling alleys and
a new cinema complex. The town has some notable Sino-Portuguese buildings, a legacy
from the Phuket's days as a major tin mining centre, and some good restaurants
as well as the ubiquitous MacDonalds and the usual fast food outlets. Good food
markets at night and a few music pubs, although most of the tourist action is
down on the main beaches. Where
to Stay? Shopping, business, or pleasure?
Check out our location guide.
Where
to Go? See our suggestions... The
South - Phi Phi
Island
 Picture
postcard perfect, with classic white sandy beaches, surrounded by impressive limestone
cliffs and sunlit crystal water, Phi Phi actually consists of two islands, Phi
Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, so gorgeous it was used as a location for the Hollywood
film, "The Beach." Phi Phi offers a great laid back tropical lifestyle.
Soak up the sun, go beach hopping, or simply enjoy the great outdoors in some
of the most beautiful scenery in Asia! Where
to Stay? Shopping, business, or pleasure?
Check out our location guide.
Where
to Go? See our suggestions... The
South - Krabi
 Krabi
province contains some of the most spectacular scenery in southern Thailand, including
a marine national park. If you love the sea, enjoy snorkelling and simply want
to relax in the sun for days on end... this is it! Where
to Stay? Shopping, business, or pleasure?
Check out our location guide.
Where
to Go and what to do? The South
- Samui
 Koh
Samui - "the island of the coconut tree" is Thailand's 3rd largest.
A backpacker's secret for years, this sun lover's paradise, with its coconut plantations,
rolling hills, curved sandy beaches and offshore islands, has gradually developed
into a holiday destination with a distinctly local island flavour. Where
to Stay? Shopping, business, or pleasure?
Check out our location guide.
Where
to Go? What to Do? See our suggestions... Central
Thailand - Sukhothai
 Founded
in the 13th century, and once the capital of the Kingdom, old Sukhothai is now
a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a good place to spend a few days on a bicycle,
exploring the elegant old ruins of royal palaces, temples, and city walls. New
Sukhothai, 10 kilometres or so to the east, has plenty of accommodation, with
a few bars and restaurants to keep you occupied after dark.
What to do
in the day - Must see the old city site, Sukhothai Historical Park,
laid out in large square gardens, with ponds and moats. Take your camera. You
can hire a bike when you get there to speed your trips between the main attractions.
Each of the five zones within the old city walls charges a separate admission
fee. The area around Sukhothai also contains other sites worth visiting. The old
town of Si Satchanalai was one of the most important satellite towns of the Sukhothai
Kingdom and the ruins of the Si Satchanalai-Chalieng Historical Park lie on the
bank of the Yom River, north of Sukhothai. It is considered by many as the pinnacle
of Thai city planning, with temple complexes at the heart, surrounded by city
walls, river, and forest. The Celadon Kiln Site Study and Conservation Centre
4 km north of Si Satchanalai contains more than 500 oval-shaped kilns and Celadon
ceramics excavated in perfect condition. Opened in 1984, the Sawan Woranayok National
Museum features sculptures and crockery from various periods. The Si Satchanalai
National Park has high jungle covered mountains, waterfalls, a hot spring, Khangkhao
Cave and the Thara Wasan Cave.
Central
Thailand - Kanchanaburi
 More
a small town than a city, only 120km west of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is famous as
the historical site of the bridge over the River Kwai, part of the infamous railway
built by allied prisoners under the Japanese occupation. There's more than just
the bridge though, it's a gateway to a region of rugged natural beauty. Jungle
covered hillsides, waterfalls, mountains and fertile river valleys (the Kwae Yai
and Kwae Noi) have inspired the development of hydro-electric power and expanded
tourism into the countryside and along the river. Trips along the river and around
the area are available with accommodation in raft houses and river lodges. Adventure
activities like rafting, are also becoming very popular. What to do - Look
at the bridge, of course. There's also the JEATH war museum, which starkly brings
home the horrors of the Japanese occupation of this part of Thailand during W.W.II
and Kanchanaburi's two prisoner-of-war cemeteries. There are thousands of graves
are laid out neatly in rows among the pristine lawns and flower gardens. Hire
a boat and take a trip along the river, stopping at caves and temples, or, take
a trip to the waterfalls in the Erawan National Park, 65km northwest of the town.
The South -
Nakorn Si Tammarat
 The
second city of the south, after Hat Yai, and it's strung out in a long thin ribbon
along the banks of the Na Wang river. It's not on the standard traveller trail,
but offers you a chance to see modern Thailand without international hotel chains
and package tourists.
Close to Wat Mahathat, a temple believed to be at
least 1,000 years old, is the shadow puppet workshop of Suchart Subsin, which
forms the centrepiece of the southern Nang Thalung puppet theatre. This uniquely
Southeast Asian form of entertainment is in danger of dying out in Thailand. Although
traditional, shadow puppets are not as obscure or old fashioned as you might think
- with humourous elements, bawdy behaviour and some modern storylines. In
addition to its great history, Nakhon Si Thammarat boasts pristine verdant jungles
abundant with luxuriant vegetation and is also noted for picturesque beaches waterfalls
and caves. The South -
Had Yai
 Hat
Yai is a bustling, car-filled city close to the Malaysian border. It's not a place
where many westerners stay, but it's hugely popular with holiday-makers from Malaysia
and Singapore, who come for the shopping, entertainment, markets and food. The
city has lots of accommodation located in the centre of town, within easy walking
distance of shopping facilities. Leather goods, Asian food items, fruit,
watches, clothes, Thai music and souvenirs. The stall holders set up at around
10am and don't clear away until after dark. Some of the more unusual Chinese dishes
including traditional Chinese "cures" and " restoratives"
can also be found here.
The South -
Songkla
 Small,
clean and friendly, this southern fishing town has few western tourists and a
small expatriate community attached to the offshore oil industry. A popular place
with tourists , it's located between the Gulf of Thailand on the east side, and
a huge saltwater lake (called Thale Sap) on the west side. At the north end of
the peninsula, there's a quiet little beach where the seafood is delicious, and
where you can sit all day and read a book while sipping from a coconut under a
tree. There's also a replica of the Danish "Little Mermaid" statue on
the seashore.
The South -
Trang
 Clean,
quiet streets, and few tourists. Trang tends to win municipal awards such as "Cleanest
City in Thailand" and is famous for its cake, similar to a Madeira cake.
There are a selection of nearby beaches to the west, and a number of waterfalls
for day-trippers. The beach at Pak Meng, for example, an hour from Trang, is a
long stretch of sand with a little road running by and a selection of deserted
restaurants which are more used to catering for Thai holiday-makers rather than
tourists.
Check out the pungent local market, with its curry pastes,
ripe durians, fresh fish and meat laid out on slabs. Eat at one of the many
foodstalls near the clocktower which serves khanom Jin, a rice-noodle dish with
a sweetish curry sauce, accompanied by plates of crunchy fresh green vegetables.
As an alternative, sit down at one of the many Chinese restaurants. The
North East - Khon Khen
 The
commercial and political centre of northeastern Thailand, Khon Khen is home to
the largest university in the this north eastern region, also known as Isan. Once
the quiet capital of one of the poorest provinces, it has undergone dramatic change
with modern development and is typical of the developing face of Thailand. Old
blends with the new as water buffalo weave in and out of traffic alongside BMW's
and Mercedes; traditional food vendors selling barbecued chicken and sticky rice,
set up outside western fast food outlets. Notable for its hospitable people, folk
music, elephants, distinctive spicy food and handicrafts, and special whisky.
It's bustling and busy but still traditional. It's also a good starting point
for excursions into Laos and Cambodia.
Attractions include the Phu
Kao - Phu Phan Kham National Park - 56 km northwest of Khon Khen, which offers
guesthouses, trekking, and camping. Phu Wiang National Park - 90 km northwest
of Khon Khen, which contains several archaeological sites and dinosaur fossils
in addition to scenic mountains, valleys, caves, and waterfalls. Tortoise Village
- 50 km south of Khon Kaen in Mancha Khiri District, has approximately 2,000 tortoises
living in the main Shrine and the surrounding area. The
North East - Nakorn Ratchisima (Korat)
Gateway to the North-eastern Region, Nakorn Rachisima (known as Korat) is situated
on a plateau, about 260 kilometres northeast of Bangkok. Korat is a good base
to explore the many Khmer ruins, temples and historical sites found around this
area. Wat Khao Chan Ngam, 58 kilometres from Korat is famous for the prehistoric
colour paintings on a huge rock depicting human and animal figures about 3,000
years old. Phra Non Sema, located 4 kilometres from Sung Noen District, is a reclining
Buddha image made of red sandstone - the largest in Thailand and possibly the
oldest (dated around 1,200 BC) Prasat Hin Phimai is the largest sandstone
sanctuary in Thailand almost situated in the centre of the ancient city of Phimai.
The Sanctuary has been magnificently restored and is now a National Historical
Park. Phimai Boat Racing
Over a hundred years old, this annual
festival, now takes place during Loy Kratong Festival (October or November) and
draws thousands of tourists both from Korat and neighboring provinces. The
North East - Nong Khai
 Located
on the banks of the Mekong river, in the north eastern region, Nong Khai offers
a gateway to neighbouring Laos. Once a sleepy border town, the opening of Thai-Laos
Friendship Bridge has transformed it into one of the busiest commercial centres
in the region. Yet, it still retains its peaceful, riverside charms and French
influences. The people are friendly, the pace of life is still slow, and there
are plenty of hotels and places to pick up gifts and Laotian handicrafts. Outside
the city is a wealth of beautiful scenery with forests and small, local towns
dotted along the banks of Mekong River.
Attractions Go for
a trip along the river in a local river boat, or visit the strange sculpture gardens
at Sala Kaeo Koo, or Wat Khaek 5km east of the town. Check out the Indochina Market
off Rim Klong Road (Mekong Riverside Road) the focal point of the lively, local
trade between the Thais and Laotians. Merchandise sold here includes clothing,
pots and pans, food products, mortars, and other knickknacks. The
North East - Surin
 Over
the last few years, Surin has gained fame for the Elephant Roundup - an annual
event held in November, when the Suay tribe demonstrate their abilities to capture,
train and raise elephants. The festival attracts thousands of visitors and includes
demonstrations of how elephants are trained, a tug-of-war between elephant and
men, an elephant soccer match, elephant dances, a parade, elephants at war, and
cultural performances. The Suays are believed to have immigrated to Thailand from
Central Asia in the early 9th century and were the first people to use elephants
for construction work, particularly in building Khmer temples.
Surin is
famous for its many Khmer temple sites, and the wide variety of handicrafts and
silk produced by the locals. The Kawao Sinrin Village has beautiful locally woven
silk products and also makes silver and golden beads, used for decoration. The
neighboring villages of Ban Choke, Ban Sador, and Ban Chanrom also produce beautiful
silver products, woven silk fabrics, and basketry sold to shops and visitors.
City attractions include Sri Khorn Phum Sanctuary (Ban Rangaa Sanctuary)
a 13th century, Khmer-style temple site and Ban Pluang Stone Sanctuary, with intricate
stone carvings, dating back to the 12th-13th century. The
North East - Yasothon
Considered the nation’s smallest province, it gained its autonomy in 1972
after separating from the large province of Ubon Ratchathani. Yasothon is well
known for its high-quality jasmine rice but particularly for the annual, colourful
Rocket Festival, is held during the second weekend of May. The festival, originally
staged to promote unity and ask holy spirits for seasonal rain, has now become
a national event with a grand rocket procession, local dances and the launching
of huge rockets at the Phaya Thaen Park. |
