Arriving Bangkok

Depart Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

This famous and important temple founded since 1383 enjoys a prominent position in Chiang Mai, overlooking the city from its mountainside perch. It sits about 3,520 feet above sea level and is accessible via a steep naga staircase comprising around 300 steps.

The temple has a huge golden chedi (spire), within which lie some holy Buddha relics that attract devotees from the world over. To reach the temple itself requires a climb up a naga staircase of 309 steps. For the faint of heart, there's also a funicular cable-car to the top which has just been re-built after several fatal crashes. The fare for the new improved funicular is 20 Baht per person.

The chedi is in a small courtyard at the very peak of the mountain. The courtyard building sits on a larger plaza containing several buildings as well as a lookout point from which you can see, weather permitting, all of Chiang Mai and the surrounding plain.

The visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Sunday. The site is situated at the Continuation of Huay Keaw Road, Chiang Mai 50300 Thailand.

Night Bazaar

Though the main Night Bazaar is located in a rather drab three-storey building, this shoppers' paradise also sprawls along the entire Chang Klan Road. The street stalls sell a variety of items, including fine Thai silk, antiques, silver, clothing, handicrafts, CDs, videos, perfumes and watches. However, you should be careful of many imitation branded goods.

It is opened from 6 p.m. until midnight from Monday to Sunday. It is located at 104-1 Chang Klan Road, Chiang Mai 50100 Thailand.

Doi Inthanon National Park

The park is 1,005 square kilometer located south of Chiang Mai City and is, in parts, mountainous and wild. Species which are not found anywhere else in Thailand can be found here. Doi Inthanon being the Thailand's tallest mountain standing at 2,565 meters, it offers one of the best places in Thailand for bird watching.

On higher ground, one can see wild orchids growing. Trekking tours can be arranged through many agencies in Chiang Mai. It is opened 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Sunday. The charge for foreigners is THB200 and Thai is THB20.

Chiang Mai Zoo

The Chiang Mai Zoo has more than 6,000 animals in an environment comprising two waterfalls, reservoirs, an open park, camping spots and animal breeding areas. Among its recent arrivals are 10 penguins, the first ever in Thailand; gibbons, which are bred successfully; and Chayo, the baby elephant, born at the time of the Leonid meteor shower, who became the symbol of the Bangkok Asian Games. The entrance fee for adult is THB40 and for child is THB20.

Tha Pae Gate

This is one of the five main gates to the old city of Chiang Mai, and a major landmark as well. It was first called Pratu Chiang Ruak because it was situated near Chiang Ruak village when it was built in the reign of King Mangrai in 1296. Each corner and each main gate of the old city faces the eight main points of the compass, with one extra gate on the south side.

You can visit anytime at Moon Muang Road, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand.

Meo Tribal Village

The Meo or Hmong tribal people live in homes that are constructed with the floor slightly raised for storing food supplies or keeping animals beneath.

The Meo people are intelligent, independent and very patient. Usually clad in blue, black and red tribal costumes, they are fond of wearing silver ornaments, especially during ceremonies.

It is situated near Doi Pui, Suthep Mountain Route, Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand.

Bo Sang Umbrella Village

For more than 200 years, almost everyone in the small village of Bo Sang has been earning a living from the umbrella trade, silk and cotton umbrellas and paper parasols.

You can watch the umbrellas being made, then choose one from the variety of beautiful and colorful designs to take home as a souvenir.

There is also an annual fair, held each January on the main street, which features an umbrella procession, beauty contests, exhibitions and the selling of umbrellas and other handicrafts.

You can visit it daily dawn to dusk and is situated at Charoen Muang Road (Road 1006), Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand.

Sukhothai Historical Park

Sukhothai Historical Park is designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, but still is not the only spot in Sukhothai in terms of world history. The glory of Sukhothai is reflected in the abundant ancient temples and Buddha image stuccos, ruined brick pagodas as well as laterite viharn columns. There are more than a hundred sites in the whole complex many of which are worth visiting.

This is located 12 kilometers from town on the Sukhothai-Tak Highway. You can reach the destination by local bus or hired motored tricycle from town. The park also offers tram services as well as bicycles for rent for exploring around its large area.

The Tourist Service Centre in the park (Tel: 0 5569 7527, 0 5569 7310) provides information, as well as displays models of historical buildings and structures in old Sukhothai. The park is open daily from 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. The entrance fee is THB 40 each.

Si Satchanalai Historical Park

The ancient town, formerly called Muang Chaliang, was named Si Satchanalai during the reign of Phra Ruang when a new administrative centre was established to replace Chaliang. Ruins of 134 monuments have been discovered within the park.

Si Satchanalai Historical Park is located on the bank of the Yom River. This may be visited after Sukhothai Historical Park. It is open daily between 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. The entrance fee required is THB 40 each.

Night market

The Sukhothai night market, like the rest of Sukhothai, is not as foreign tourist-dominated as others in Thailand. The night market consists of food stalls and cheap clothing usually full of the local hangout for anyone between the ages of 12 and 18 apparently. Usually, people come here for browsing than shopping. You may also try some tasty Thai food.

Arriving Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya Historical Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ayutthaya's historic temples are scattered throughout this once magnificent city and along the encircling rivers. Several of the more central ruins Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Na Phra Meru, Wat Thammikarat, Wat Ratburana and Wat Phra Mahathat can be visited on foot.

It is possible to add more temples and ruins to travel itineraries by touring the city on a rented bicycle. An ideal combination of modes of transportation for visitors interested in seeing everything would be to hire a bicycle for the central temples and charter a long-tail boat to take a tour of the outlying ruins along the river.

Ayutthaya Historical Park is situated opposite the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. The main attraction in the historical park is Viharn Phramongkol Bophit which houses one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Wat Pra Si Sanphet was built by King U-Thong upon the founding of the city in 1491 inside the compound of the Grand Palace. Its foundations are still visible-and served as the royal chapel, as Wat Phra Kaeo does in Bangkok. It used to be the royal palace as a residential palace. It became a monastery in the reign of King Ramathibodi I.

When King Borom Trai Lokanat commanded the construction of new living quarters, this residential palace was transformed into a temple, and the establishment of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. In Ayutthaya's heyday, this was the largest temple in the city.

The three main chedis which have been restored contain the ashes of three Ayutthaya kings. The temple is situated at the northern end of Si Sanphet Road. The royal chapel does not have any monks and novice inhabitants.

The entrance fee is THB20.

Bang Pa-in Summer Palace

Bang Pa-in Summer Palace is situated a few miles down the Chao Phraya River from Ayutthaya. The site was first used by the royal court as a summer retreat in the 17th century. However, the Palace was destroyed with the fall of Kingdom of Ayutthaya and was restored by King Rama IV in the mid-19th century.

Most of the buildings that exist today date from the reign of King Rama V, who regularly spent his summers there. The structures represent a variety of architectural styles, set in a large park around ponds and waterways. The only royal residence open to the public is the Chiness-style Wehat Chamroon Palace, constructed entirely of materials imported from China. In addition, there is an Italian-style palace, a circular pavilion with steps leading down to a pool, the graceful Thai-style Aisawan Tippaya Asna Pavilion in the middle of a lake, and, across one of the waterways, a Buddhist chapel in the neo-Gothic style with stained-glass windows. Scattered around the extensive gardens are European statues as well as monuments ordered to be built by King Rama V in memory of members of his family, one of them a much-loved Queen who drowned in a boating accident.

It is opened from 8:30a.m. - 5 p.m. everyday while the ticket office opens during 8:30a.m. -3:30 p.m. For more information, you can contact at Tel: +66 2 224 9477 or visit the website at http://www.palaces.thai.net/

The address is Bangkok, CM 13160 Thailand