The Best Of Thailand

The Best of Thailand:

Bangkok

Bangkok’s town is a popular tourist attraction and an essential part of a trip to Thailand.

Bangkok is the beating heart of Thailand , made up of the open canals of Venice, the night life of New York, and many colorful temples of Asia. Bangkok is a place where anyone can find what they are looking for - endless markets and shopping malls, culinary abundance made up of everything and anything, hotels at any rate and visitors from all over the world.

Being the capital of the world's third most popular tourist destination Bangkok combing east and west in a live and thrilling way.

 

San Kamphaeng Hot Springs:

San Kamphaeng Hot Spring is about 36km from Chiang Mai City in Thailand. It is located in the middle of the natural environment of the trees and fertile hilly zones. The drive to the small village of San Kamphaeng weaving requires a large number of trades and the famous village of Bo Sang umbrella. There is a enjoyable park containing the hot springs which is about forty acres and behind 4km from the Bo Sang village.

The park is well equipped surrounded by natural scenic beauty and various type of nice flowers especially in the cool season. The campground, swimming pool, restaurant and cabins segregated mineral water bathing rooms are also available here which is the most attraction of this Park. San Kamphaeng Hot Spring is the best destination for health and physical well-being. 

Mae Hong Son:

Mae Hong Son is the capital of Thailand’s northwestern-most province. Its close proximity to the Burmese boarder gives the city a very different feel to the rest of Thailand. Very quiet and isolated this mountainous city is often shrouded in an atmospheric mist. Visitors come here for the unusual and beautiful natural scenery, the mountain trekking and to see the local hill tribe communities – one of which is the famous Karen long neck tribe. The Thanon Thongchai range between Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand is popular for trekking and here you can also see the Pha Sua waterfall. Handicrafts and artwork from the hill-tribe people can be purchased at the local night market-great for unique souvenirs.

 

Chiang Mai:

The spiritual city of Chiang Mai is a much calmer city than Bangkok but still an essential visit on the travelers trail if you want to see the best of Thailand. Dotted with temples, craft shops, great restaurants and plenty of Thai massage and cooking schools, the city has a somehow relaxed and comparatively tranquil atmosphere. Many travellers often mention Chiang Mai as their favorite Thai city and once visited it’s easy to see why the city is so popular. It’s location high in the north mountainous region of Thailand also makes it a perfect base for the popular mountain treks. Organised treks can be arranged very easily here with almost every other shop offering them. The trails from Chiang Mai are although interesting are often a well-worn path and many backpackers now head for the nearby small town Pai. Pai is a gorgeously located traveller’s mecca popular with artists and musicians. It also offers less touristy and more ‘rustic’ treks and visits to hill-tribes.

 

The Floating Market :

There are countless floating markets throughout the country, many within a couple of hours’ of the capital. The colorfully clad merchants at these lively markets paddle along congested canals in sturdy canoes laden with fresh fruit and vegetables to sell to shoppers on the banks. There is lots of chatter and activity – bargaining is common – that’s all part of the fun -- but don’t expect to get the price down more than a few baht.The most famous of the floating markets is Damnoen Saduak, about 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok. This buzzing market is at its best in the early morning before the crowds arrive and the heat of the day builds up. Our tour further includes a visit to Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakorn Pathom, supposedly the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia.

can be found on the Damneon Saduak Canal. Although now a major tourist attraction, the market is highly photogenic and visitors can get an idea of what trading was like in Thailand before the modernisation of the city. It’s also tonnes of fun. If you want to buy something here you will have to hail down a narrow long boat piled high with produce (which is quite an experience in itself). The region also has plenty of vineyards, orchards and thriving local businesses which are great to view by canal boat on route to the market.

The East Coast Islands:

Koh Samui is the archetypal tropical island, with beaches of powdery white sand and crystal-clear waters. In contrast, a mountain ridge runs east to west of the country, covered in forested hills, coconut palms and emerald paddy fields. From Koh Samui, take a boat across to Koh Phangan an island that has recently emerged into the luxury market with pristine white beaches that are some of the best Thailand has to offer. Further into the Gulf of Thailand, Hua Hin is a charming fishing village with a long, curving bay and excellent golf courses in the area. To the far east of Thailand close to Cambodia lies Koh Kood, an undiscovered gem of an island with untouched jungle interiors and deserted beaches. These islands also offer world-class snorkelling and diving.

 

Koh Phi Phi:

The tiny but idyllic west coast island of Koh Phi Phi is seen by many as the ultimate island paradise. Even though it has now fully recovered from the devastating 2009 tsunami, the island has suffered from rapid tourist growth especially since the release of the “The Beach” (starring Leo Dicaprio). Having said that it still manages to retain a relaxed vibe which seems to keep the backpackers and vacationers happy. Island highlights include climbing a steep viewpoint to watch the sunset and hiring a long tail boat to snorkel the beautiful surrounding waters.

Railay:

Beautiful Railay Beach is one of the most stunning locations in southern Thailand. Formed by a deer's neck of sand that connects the mainland to a spectacular cluster of limestone outcrops, it's a place of breathtaking beauty despite the rapid development that's taken place.

A popular spot for rock-climbers, sun hedonists and water babies, the area has something for everyone from kids to grandmas: take your pick from diving and snorkeling to climbing and beach volleyball. In the evening, regular parties keep the barflies entertained, while others can relax in one of a reasonable selection of restaurants. There even an increasingly popular full moon party here, though not as huge as the huge event on Haad Rin, Ko Pha Ngan.

 

Hin Daeng:

A series of wall dives with intermittent shelves at varying depths. There are more soft corals than hard, but the main attraction is the seemingly endless diversity of marine inhabitants, including leopard sharks, turtles, moray eels, lionfish, bannerfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, pipefish, sea kraits, crabs, shrimps and lobsters.

This is due to the fact that this, and neighbouring Hin Mouang, are the only reef-type communities or feeding grounds within the area. Individually, though, they have different attractions. For instance, the deeper waters around this site are one of the few remaining places in the country where grey reef sharks can be encountered. Manta rays and whale sharks are also regular visitors.

 Ayutthaya:

Just 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Bangkok is the old capitol of Ayutthaya, its pronounced ah-you-tah-ya.) The city became Thailand's capitol in the mid-14th century and remained the capitol until the late 18th century.

The Ayutthaya period is looked on by many as the time when much of what is now thought of as "Thai style" was developed. In temples, this is when you see a marked transition from the Khmer style prangs to the bell shaped chedi. While Sukothai further north is seen as the birth of the Thai kingdom, Ayutthaya is seen today as its high point. Around Ayutthaya are signs of the Japanese, French, Dutch and Portuguese traders that came to the Thai court.

Ayutthaya is usually visited as part of a packaged day trip from Bangkok, which usually includes stops at the Bang Pa In palace as well as the Bang Sai royal arts center. You can spend a leisurely day here and see the main sights, or a quick stop, all with relatively low pressure compared to many other tourist sites. From Ayutthaya you can quickly get on an expressway and be back in Bangkok in about an hour. It's relatively easy to do a day trip on your own, so you can go at your own pace and probably spend a lot less money. Read my How To Do Your Own Day Trip article for details.