Thailand Top tourist destination
Bangkok
Bangkok is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities which will touch all of the senses within seconds of your arrival. As with most capital cities, Bangkok is a 24-hour place, constantly on the go, without letting up. Thailand’s sprawling, dynamic and fast paced capital offers more variety, sights and wonders than any other destination in Asia. One full day and night in Bangkok will allow you to explore the main places of interest. But you could also explore Bangkok for a number of weeks and still feel like you have only just scratched the surface. Bangkok encompasses dozens of magnificent temples that form one of Asia’s great spectacles, countless restaurants with superb food at great value, legendary night life to satisfy all possible tastes, excellent shopping and some of the friendliest people in the world. If you explore with an open mind, before you leave Bangkok you will be under its irresistible spell.
Main attractions in Bangkok, apart from the night life and shopping, include The Emerald Buddha Temple, The Grand Palace, timeless canal and river scenes and the most amazing classical dance extravaganza.
Ayuttaya
For over 400 years the rivene island town of Ayuttaya served as the second Royal Capital of Thailand. Though largely destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, many of the restored architectural ruins provide eloquent testimony to the splendor of Thailand’s once most powerful empire. Ayuttaya is one of Thailand’s largest archeological sites, as well as being a centre for Thai art and architecture. Just viewing the beautiful ancient sculptures and paintings in Ayuttaya is enough to make it a more than worthy place to visit. However, once the sight-seeing is completed, there is plenty more to experience. Maybe you’ll want to dine on the river, care of one of the town’s floating restaurants or perhaps stroll through the market where the sights, sounds and smells culminating to offer an opportunity to experience all manner of Thai customs and ways of life. If Ayuttaya sounds like your type of destination, make sure you do not miss the main places of interest, such as The Historical Park of Ayuttaya, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Mongkonborpit. The luxury accommodations in Ayuttaya will not disappoint, having been designed to complement the city’s history. You will find that they are adorned with antiques and sculptures, draped with the most exquisite silks and scattered with priceless antique furniture, which all blend beautifully with the appealing architecture.
Kanchanaburi
The destination of Kanchanaburi is most well-known for its main tourist attraction, The Bridge Over the River Kwai, made famous by David Leans Oscar winning motion picture. But the area itself offers much more than just that to see. This beautiful and relaxing region, three hours west of Bangkok, offers pretty floating raft restaurants, refreshing waterfalls, hiking, national parks, and cool caves filled with Buddhas. The history of the Thai-Burmese Railway construction is strongly represented in Kanchanaburi town, which hosts The JEATH War Museum, Hell Fire Pass Memorial and The War Cemetery and Museum. All of these are a blunt reminder of the atrocities which occurred here during World War II. This destination is a great getaway for those wanting to delve in to the history and enjoy stunning nature in abundance. Also, you only really need a couple of days here to see the main points of interest, making it an ideal mini tour between larger destinations.
Sukhothai
Heading south from Chiang Mai, through the towns of Lampang and Tak, each worthy of a look, you travel down to the very edge of the northern region to legendary Sukhothai. Located 350 km from Chiang Mai, this was Thailand’s first capital, founded in the early 13th century. The numerous ruined temples of what was once a large and glorious city are today preserved in Sokhothai’s wondrous historical park. This ranks as one of Thailand’s not to be missed ancient sights. Spread over a large area are the monuments that attest to the birth of a Thai nation, and which, in their unique architecture, display the first flowering of the Kingdom’s characteristic art. A short distance from Sukhothai are the remains of it’s satellite towns, Sri Satchanalai and Kampaeng Phet, the former uninhabited and enhanced by a hilltop location, the latter a thriving provincial centre. A good base for exploring the Sukhothai area is the town of Phitsanulok, which has some stylish accommodation, stunning architecture and the people are fantastic there too. Other impressive sights and interesting places to visit include Ramkhamhaeng National Museum, Wat Mahathat, Wat Sri Sawai and Wat Sri Chum.
Chiang Mai
Located 700 km from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is pleasantly sited on the banks of The River Ping and situated in a lush valley fringed by forested mountains. The city is popularly known as “The Rose of the North” and presents a huge contrast to 200-year-old Bangkok. Chiang Mai was founded in the late 13th century and is one of the oldest settlements in Thailand. It was once the capital of Lanna, an entirely independent Thai Kingdom, complete with its own unique culture, customs and traditions. Chiang Mai is further characterized by being the world’s largest centre for handicrafts. The traditional crafts of the region include silverware, lacquerware celadon pottery and silk, making the city an extraordinary shopping experience. The region also plays host to the colourful hill tribes, who reside in the highlands. These tribes, each with their own distinct culture, religion and language, welcome visitors to undertake a discovery into the traditions and customs which they have cherished for centuries. Chiang Mai offers easy access to some of Thailand’s most breath-taking scenery. Neighboring areas include the mist-shrouded mountains of Mae Hong Sorn, The Golden Triangle, where Burma, Thailand and Laos meet and the ancient city of Chiang Rai.
Chiang Mai demands at least 4 days of exploration. The most interesting places to visit in Chiang Mai include Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, Sankampaeng Handicraft Centre, The Elephant care program and, of course, all the surrounding mountains, valleys, waterfalls, forests and countryside.
Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai, the northern most province in Thailand, is well known for its crisp mountain scenery and unique hilltribes. Sharing borders with Myanmar to the north and west and Laos to the east, Chiang Rai hosts the Golden Triangle, which offers awe-inspiring views at the convergence of the borders of all three countries. With stunning accommodation, Chiang Rai is a good centre for exploring the far north. The town itself has several impressive temples, while easy excursions can be made to a number of fascinating sights. On the banks of the river Mekong is the charming little town of Chiang Saen, where ancient ruins indicate an importance long before Chiang Rai was founded. Especially worth visiting is Doi Tung, a mountain where Her Royal Highness, The Princess Mother, has instigated hill tribe and agricultural development projects, and maintains a hill-top palace. Other “must-sees” include Wat Rongkhun or the White Temple, Doi Mae Salong and The Hall of Opium.
Mae Hong Sorn & Pai
When you visit Mae Hong Sorn, you will feel an aura of utter remoteness. An array of mountains, hill tribe villages, waterfalls, caves and pristine forests lend the province much of its unspoiled charm. The road leading to Mae Hong Sorn was only established in 1965, which answers for the sense of calm, which this province possesses. Hidden deep in a valley fringed by majestic mountain ranges, the town of Mae Hong Sorn has a leisurely ambience that comes as a welcome contrast to the bustle of most other northern towns. The liveliest time of the day is between 6 and 8am, when a busy market springs up in the centre of the town, with stalls selling food, clothing and household goods, and hill tribe people mingle with the locals. Otherwise, the chief attractions in Mae Hong Sorn are a stroll around the scenic Jongkhum lake, visiting Wat Prathat Doi Kong Mu and taking in the delightful charm of Tham Pla Forest Park. Go to Mae Hong Sorn for a lovely cool climate, over-whelming stunning nature, thrilling adventures and enchanting hilltribe villages.
Phrae
An old and important community of Northern Thailand, Phrae is located in the valley of the river Yom. The former name was Wiang Kosai, which means “Silk Cloth.” Phrae was founded after Chiang Mai had been established as the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom. With one of the largest reserves of teak forests in the country. Covering an area about 6,538 square kilometers and surrounded on all sides by mountains with level plains in the middle. Today, Phrae is known for its temple, homespun indigo dyed cotton, the significant works of Pha Sin Tee Chok, traditional tube skirt hand woven, and rattan furniture.
Nan
A quiet and tranquil province, friendly town with a historical ambience, Nan occupies a small valley in the far eastern highlands of the north- about 50 Km from the border with Laos, the highest mountain is the 2,079 meter high Doi Phu Kha in Amphoe Pua, north-east of the city of Nan towards the border with Laos. Their forebears moved to settle around present-day Pua district which is rich in rock salt deposits, subsequently moved south to the fertile Nan River basin which is much more extensive.
Nan’s history is deeply involved with its neighbors, in particular Sukhothai which played an important role in both political and religious terms before Nan became a part of Lanna, Burma and Thailand in that order. Today Nan is still the home of numerous Thai Lue and other hill tribes who retain highly interesting customs and traditions. Nan is a fairly prosperous town but the old temples, idyllic location, and genuine sense of remoteness make it one of the better destinations in Northern Thailand.
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