Category: VACATION TOUR

Most Amazing Destinations of Mae Sai in Northern Thailand

Most Amazing Destinations of Mae Sai in Northern Thailand The northernmost destination in all of Thailand is Mae Sai. The town is used as a stepping stone for those interested in visiting Myanmar, but it also boasts a lot to do in its own right. The Wat Phra That Wai Dao, a stunning temple, is open to the public, and a smaller Burmese temple stands to one side. You also won’t want to miss the giant scorpion statue, with its claws outstretched toward Myanmar, which is a show of the Thai people’s strength and past prowess in war. Mae Sai is a great place to go shopping at the local markets, and some of the most popular souvenirs to pick up include jewels imported from Myanmar and items carved from local sandalwood. At first glance, Thailand’s northernmost town can appear to be little more than a large open-air market. But Mae Sai (แม่สาย) serves as a convenient base for exploring the Golden Triangle and Doi Mae Salong, and its position across from Myanmar also makes it a jumping-off point for those wishing to explore some of the more remote parts of Shan State. Because occasional fighting within Myanmar or disputes between the Thai and Myanmar governments can lead to the border being closed temporarily, it’s always a good idea to check the current situation before travelling to Mae Sai. Rain and Flooding Maesai has a pronounced wet season during which it is likely to experience flooding 2 or 3 times. The Ruak River rises quickly and falls almost as quickly. It is not uncommon for there to be some flooding in the centre of town, but not the border crossing itself. On 5th September 2014 there was a heavy overnight storm which caused an exceptionally high river flow and flooding and the river flowed over the border bridge (in the picture). Some of the market areas are especially low lying and suffered worst.

Visit Largest and beautiful cave of Tham Khao Luang Cave in Thailand

Visit Largest and beautiful cave of Tham Khao Luang Cave in Thailand Located approximately five kilometers from Khao Wang, this cave is regarded as the largest and the most beautiful cave in Phetchaburi. Apart from beautiful stalactites, the large hole on the ceiling allows the plenty of lights down to the cave floor creates the stunning scene in the cave. An easy escape from Bangkok, Phetchaburi (เพชรบุรี) should be on every cultural traveller’s itinerary. It has temples, palaces and cave shrines, and is a convenient stop on your way to the beach. Best of all, Phetburi, as it’s usually called, remains an untouched and largely untouristed provincial town, complete with riverside markets and old teak shophouses. It’s a great place for random wandering. Historically, Phetchaburi is a visible timeline of kingdoms that have migrated across Southeast Asia. During the 11th century the Khmer empire settled in, although their control was relatively short-lived. As Khmer power diminished, Phetchaburi became a strategic royal fort during the Thai-based Sukhothai and Ayuthaya kingdoms and in the 17th century it flourished as a trading post between Myanmar (Burma) and Ayuthaya.The town is often referred to as a ‘Living Ayuthaya’ because while the great temples of the former capital were destroyed, smaller but similar ones here live on. This cave also houses a Buddha image cast under the royal command of King Rama V as a dedication to King Rama III and King Rama IV. At the foot of KhaoLuang Hill, there is a large monastery locally known as Wat Tham Klaep or Wat Bun-thawi. Attractions within the compound are a large multi-purpose hall and a ordination hall laden with beautifully carved door panels.

Visit Famous Temple of Phetchaburi in Thailand

Visit Famous Temple of Phetchaburi in Thailand When you’ve got a sweet tooth, indulge it at Phetchaburi. The Thai city is famous for its desserts, especially khanong mor gaeng, a custard. The capital of a province with the same name, Phetchaburi is one of the oldest cities in Thailand. A hill is a highlight of the city, mainly because the royal palace (Khao Wang) and a wat or temple sits atop it. Spelunkers might enjoy a visit to the Khao Luong Caves outside of town. One cave features Buddhist statues set among the stalactites while the other features an ancient tree in the middle. Phetchaburi is at the north end of the Malay Peninsula, with the Gulf of Thailand to the east and the Tanaosi mountain range forming the boundary to Myanmar. Except for these border mountains most of the province is a flat plain. With an area of about 3,000 km² the Kaeng Krachan National Park is Thailand’s largest national park, covering nearly half of the province.[2] It protects mostly rain forests in the mountains along the boundary to Myanmar, but also the Kaeng Krachan Reservoir is part of the park. The only significant river of the province is the Phetchaburi River. History Phetchaburi is an old royal city, dating back to the Mon of the 8th century. Later Khmer settled in the city, as can be seen by the prangs of Wat Kamphaeng Laeng.In 1860 King Rama IV built a palace near the city of Phetchaburi, commonly known as Khao Wang, but its official name is Phra Nakhon Khiri. Next to the palace the king built a tower for his astronomical observations. On the adjoining hill is the royal temple Wat Phra Kaeo.

Visit Most Stunning Temple of Million Bottles in Thailand

Visit Most Stunning Temple of Million Bottles in Thailand The Temple of a Million Bottles (Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew) isn’t your usual Buddhist temple; indeed, it is one of the more unique temples in you’ll find in Thailand. The complex incorporates about 1.5 million recycled glass bottles in its design; glass bottles are even used in the toilets. Mainly green Heineken and brown Chang bottles are used; bottle caps are used to create mosaics. The complex has about 20 buildings, including prayer rooms and a water tower. In fact, the name understates the reality – as the temple has more than 1.5 million bottles.Those bottles – mainly green and brown of various sizes – have been used to decorate different buildings and structures in the temple, like the arch at its entrance, the main hall, the bell tower, crematorium, parking space, monks’ abodes, and even toilets. The idea of using bottles to decorate the temple came from its founder, Phra Khru Vivek Dharmajahn, who is better known among his followers as “Luang Pu Lot”. The monk once set up his tent during an austerity trip on foot in a burial ground that houses the temple today. At that time, many local residents came to discuss teachings of the Lord Buddha and learn about Dharma with him. So the monk then decided to build a temple on the deserted burial ground. He found that a lot of bottles were dumped near the area so he decided to use them to decorate the first abode he built inside the temple area in 1984. By using bottles, he could save a lot of money that might otherwise be used for paint or tiles. The monk later managed to collect more bottles from nearby villages to |decorate other structures to be built in his temple. People who learned about his idea later often brought empty bottles with them when visiting the temple. With a plentiful supply of bottles, the monk managed to construct more buildings and structures. Bottles are used as decorations in most of the temple’s buildings and structures that are made with concrete. But some structures are constructed mainly with bottles – such as a pavilion built in water that has been made of almost 100,000 bottles of different colours and sizes.The “Temple of a Million Bottles” has now become an important tourist destination in Si Sa Ket.

Visit Most Sacred Temple Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Thailand

Visit Most Sacred Temple Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Thailand Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is one of the most sacred temples in Thailand, home to a strand of Buddha’s hair. It also is considered one of the best examples of Lanna architecture. The 13th century temple has a conical spire, or stupa, that is more than 400 meters (125 feet) high. While other temples have been modernized, this temple has been restored to its original form. The temple is one of the best examples of Lanna style architecture in Thailand. Its viharns that are open on all sides are typical of the early Lanna style. Whereas some temples have been restored using modern materials and modern building techniques, the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang has been preserved in its original state. The temple was founded in the 13th century. Its name translates to “the temple of Lampang’s Great Buddha Relic”. The architecture is a mix of Lanna and Thai Lü styles. Fortified temple The Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is a fortified temple or wiang; it was built on top of an earth mound and is surrounded by high brick walls. In the early 18th century when Lampang was occupied by the Burmese, the invaders occupied the temple. It was later freed by a group of 300 local people led by a man named Thippachak, whose statue can be seen on the temple grounds. The highly revered Phra Kaew Don Tao Buddha image cast in the 16thcentury is enshrined in this temple, after it was brought here from nearby Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao temple. To get a good overview of the fortified temple complex atop the mound, hire a horse drawn carriage to take you around the temple. Buildings on the temple complex The complex contains a large number of buildings in a very original state, including the oldest surviving wooden viharn in Thailand. The temple grounds are surrounded by high fortified walls. A Naga stairway leads to the large, elaborate entrance gate that gives access to the complex. In front of the stairway are two large guardian lions.

Visit Relaxing Place of Mu Ko Surin National Park in Thailand

Visit Relaxing Place of Mu Ko Surin National Park in Thailand Mu Ko Surin are a protected group of islands in the Andaman Sea, 60km (37 miles) from the mainland. These islands offer many great snorkeling spots, with clear waters, stunning coral reefs and many kinds of fish, sea turtles and other marine life. Established as a national park in 1981, Surin Islands are an archipelago of five islands in Phang Nga Province 55km off the coast at Andaman Sea on the oceanic border of Burma. The park is covering an area of 141 km² of which 76% is sea. The islands are popular destination for divers from all around the world for it’s various coral reef life and white beaches. The main islands are Ko Surin Nuea and Ko Surin Tai, the other three small islands are Ko Ri, Ko Khai and Ko Klang. Although being outside the national park boundries, Richelieu Rock is part of the park. Headquarters are located at Ko Surin Nuea. Many websites counts Koh Ban and Koh Tachai to Surin Islands for business reasons and offers trips to these islands only. Both islands are 50km south and belongs to Mu Ko Similan National Park. There are also some great spots for diving, such as Richelieu Rock, a world famous diving site. You can take organized tours to this marine park or visit on your own. Some of the islands offer camping or bungalows for rent. Mu Ko Surin National Park is the ideal destination if you want to spend time relaxing on the beach or snorkeling.

Visit Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Thailand

Visit Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Thailand This national park, which is in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, is notable for its limestone hills. The name of the park means “mountain with 300 peaks.” Many visitors come here to see Phaya Nakhon Cave, a large cave that has a Buddhist temple inside. Living in Thailand for quite some time now, we still stumble across amazing places that are truly undiscovered. What makes that even funnier for us is that one of us is a Thai national so you would think we would know all the good places by default. When we visited Khao Sam Roi National Park for the first time, we were impressed and pissed off at the same time – impressed by the variety of ecosystems available in the same locations and pissed off that we hadn’t discovered this place sooner. The park is also a popular destination for bird watchers, and you can see some 300 species of birds here. January and February is especially good for observing migratory birds. If you are staying in Hua Hin, it’s easy to arrange for a day trip to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. Khao Sam Roi Yot (translating to “mountain of 300 peaks,”) is located about 60 miles south of Hua Hin in Thailand along the south-western coast. This location is blessed with a variety of ecosystems making it a blast for tourists who want nature in various forms. Khao Sam Roi Yot combines limestone mountains, freshwater marshlands, coastal beaches, shrimp fishing, cave exploration, offshore islands and mangrove swamps. We are not bird watchers but the park office told us it is home to over 316 species of birds and over 50 species of mammals. Not many other places in Thailand provide beaches, caves, wildlife and mountain scenery all in one place.

Largest National Park of Kaeng Krachan National Park at Thailand

Largest National Park of Kaeng Krachan National Park at Thailand Kaeng Krachan is Thailand’s largest national park and is on the border of the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve in Burma. The park is mostly rainforest, and is famous for the dense morning mist covering the park with hilltops sticking above mist cloud around December-March, creating a spectacular view. The park is also well known for its diverse wildlife, especially birds and butterflies. The name Kaeng Krachan comes from a large reservoir stretching to a dam and park headquarters on the park’s eastern rim. Park-run campgrounds and private resorts are available in this scenic area, though wildlife spotters should head deeper into the park and camp at Ban Krang or near the 1,207-metre peak of Khao Phanoen Thung. Quite a few Thai travellers flock up here at dawn to watch sheets of fog drape over the valleys. More than 400 species of birds have been identified here, including rare species such as giant pitta, great argus and whooly-necked storks. There are also many mammals, such as leopards, wild dogs, bears and elephants.The only humans to permanently inhabit the park are Karen and Kariang people who have struggled to stay put in their ancestral home. In 2016, Thai judges controversially ruled that park officials had done nothing wrong when, five years earlier, they torched a village where a small number of Karen appeared to be living in harmony with nature. Among the shocked members of this mountain tribe, labeled “encroachers” by Thai authorities, was a 105-year-old man who was born in the forest long before it became a national park. You can take boat rides on one of the parks two rivers or large lake. Kaeng Krachan National Park is an exciting destination for a variety of activities, including hiking through forests, bird watching, boating or scaling one of the park’s tall peaks.

Visit Beautiful Island of Ko Kradan in Thailand

Visit Beautiful Island of Ko Kradan in Thailand If you need some downtime on your whirlwind tour of Thailand, the island of Ko Kradan in the Andaman Sea just might be the ticket. Ko Kradan is a short, narrow island that’s part of Had Chou Mai National Park. The small island of Koh Kradan is reputed to be the one in Trang province with the most beautiful beaches. A reputation Kradan island deserves but a little bit damaged by the presence of waste at the top of the beaches far from the area where all resorts are located. Nevertheless, its scenery with turquoise waters and white sand beaches is like a postcard. The sea on the east side is ideal for swimming. Opposite to Koh Mook island, Koh Kradan, unlike the latter, has no village or local life, There are only small resorts one after the other and a minimart (at Kradan Beach Resort) on its third owned by private owners. The rest of the island is part of Hat Chao Mai National Park. The beach with the bungalows is on the east side. There tou can watch beautiful sunrises. Sunset Beach is a great place to go snorkeling in coral reefs that are close to shore of Sunset Beach. The island’s other main beach, Paradise, doesn’t have good snorkeling but it does have great sandy beaches for lazing on or beachcombing. It’s a great place to view other islands and the mainland.

Visit Beautiful Place of Northern Thailand Tour

Visit Beautiful Place of Northern Thailand Tour Northern Thailand is a treasure-trove filled with glittering temples, ancient ruins, exotic markets and sumptuous foods. Explore the capital of Siam’s golden age at Sukhothai, visit the bustling markets of Chiang Mai, stay at a special homestay with local friends and enjoy a traditional khantohk dinner – there’s so much to discover on this tour through Thailand’s northern kingdom. The vibrant cultural and historical tapestry of Northern Thailand makes it one of the most authentic places to visit in Thailand. Starting from Bangkok, a typical tour of Northern Thailand will include the ruins of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, a visit to a hill tribe village near Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai and a ride on an elephant through the jungle. In Bangkok tourist will see the bustling streets of Chinatown, the stunning Grand Palace and its Emerald Buddha, watch a Thai kickboxing match or simply indulge in a Thai massage in preparation for the journey ahead. Is this trip right for you? This trip includes a night on an overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Accommodation is simple but comfortable – soft sleeper class multishare compartments with air-conditioning and bunk beds, with sheets and a pillow provided. Overnight trains are a real Intrepid experience and one of the best ways to come face-to-face with the country and its people. There is a night at a homestay on this trip, a wonderful opportunity to witness everyday Thai life. Facilities are basic and multishare, with fold-out mattresses on the floor and shared bathrooms. The rewards of such an authentic local experience are immeasurable. There is an included bicycle ride around Sukhothai Heritage Park on this trip. It’s a leisurely cycle though, and one of the best ways to see the park.