Thailand - Koh Chang

Koh Chang the largest among the 52 islands of Trat, is also the nation's second largest island, after Phuket. Covering an area of 429 sq. kms., it features fine beaches, coral reefs, and plentiful marine life. It is also rich in natural resources, teeming with hills, forests, waterfalls and streams, the latter being an important source of freshwater. Dotting the island are many fruit orchards.

Most of the scenic beaches and bays are located on the western side, extending from the north to the south. They include Ao Khlong Son, Hat Sai Khao, Hat Khlong Phrao and Hat Kai Bae. A road cuts through the western shore almost all the way to Hat Kai Bae. From here, a nature trail through Ao Bai Lan and Ao Kruat meanders through wet forestland to Ban Bang Bao, a fishing community located at the foot of the hill in the south.

To the east are Ao Sapparot, where a ferry landing is situated, and Ao Salak Khok. Along the eastern shoreline is a road that cuts through to Ao Salak Phet, a community and a boat pier in the south of the island. However, care should be exercised while driving for the roads on Koh Chang are unpaved, with steep hills in some sections. The best places for viewing coral reefs are at Ao Khlong Son , near Koh Chang Noi, and around the islands to the south of Koh Chang.

To the east are Ao Sapparot, where a ferry landing is situated, and Ao Salak Khok. Along the eastern shoreline is a road that cuts through to Ao Salak Phet, a community and a boat pier in the south of the island. However, care should be exercised while driving for the roads on Koh Chang are unpaved, with steep hills in some sections. The best places for viewing coral reefs are at Ao Khlong Son , near Koh Chang Noi, and around the islands to the south of Koh Chang.

On Koh Chang itself are several accessible waterfalls. The Khlong Phlu waterfall is located 3 kms. from Ao Khlong Phrao and a further 20 minutes walk from the parking lot. The Khlong Nonsi waterfall is a 4-km. walk from the park headquarter, while the Khiriphet and Khlong Nung waterfalls are about 3 kms. from Ban Salakphet.

Second in size to Koh Chang, Koh Kut is located in the southernmost point in Trat territorial waters. A speedboat transport visitors to the island within one hour. The inhabitants grow rubber, coconut and other fruit-yielding plants, while others are fishermen. With scenic beaches shaded by rows of pines and coconut trees mostly located on the western shores, it is also blessed with rich mangroves.

Credit:kohchang.sawadee.com

Hua Hin - Attractions Places And Thing To Do

There are numerous sightseeing opportunities in and around Hua Hin and Cha-Am. In addition to several wats, temples and palaces, there are natural attractions like caves, waterfalls, isolated beaches, mangrove swamps, mountain vistas and a variety of animal life. Although it is possible to use public transport to reach some of the attractions, those without a set of wheels often take one or more tours operated by one of the tour operators in the area.

Kaeng Krachan National Park

With an area of 3000-sq-km, this is Thailand's largest national park. Located primarily in the mountains adjacent to Myanmar, and only 40km from Hua Hin, it has lots of rain and an abundance of rainforests and some grassland areas. Animal life includes deer, tigers, gibbons, bears, hornbills, wild elephants and dusky langurs. One of the park's most popular attractions is the eleven-tiered Pa-La-U Yai and Pa-La-U Noi waterfall. This park is difficult to access so the falls are best visited on an organized tour. Several companies is Hua Hin provide tours to the falls and other areas of the park.

Maruekhathaiyawan Palace

Like so much in Hua Hin this summer seaside palace was built in the early 1920's during the reign of King Rama VI. It was designed by an Italian architect with lots of verandas, latticework and covered boardwalks using golden teak from the demolished Hat Chao Samran Palace. Open daily from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM, it is located 9km south of Cha-Am at the Camp Rama VI military compound.

Khao Takiap

Located at the southern end of Hua Hin's main beach, this 227m rocky hill provides striking views of Hua Hin and nearby Singto (lion) Island. There is a temple and restaurant on the hill, which can now be reached by a newly constructed road. There is a 20m golden Buddha and several excellent restaurants at the base of the hill. Beware of the larcenous monkeys at the shrine near the Buddha; they have been known to run off with people's cameras.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

Although it is 60km south of Hua Hin and 40km south of Pranburi, many visitors to the region spend time at this interesting national marine park. The name means three hundred mountain peaks, a reference to its numerous limestone peaks between which there are marshes and mangrove swamps. The mountains and wetlands contain an abundance of wildlife, including barking deer, crab eating macaque and serow, an Asian goat-antelope. The park is also home to more than 300 resident and migratory birds. One of the park's most popular attractions is Tham Phraya Nakhon, a cave with a hole in its roof that allows a shaft of light to shine upon a Thai-style pavilion built for King Rama V.

Built during the reign of King Rama VI, and only a short distance from the centre of town, Hua Hin's railway station and the adjacent Royal Waiting Room are attractive and brightly painted wooden buildings that are Thai in concept and design, but somehow manage to have a 'Victorian' feel. Even if you don't arrive at the resort by train, go and have a look.
Credit: www.mountain-designs.com

Chiang Rai - Rafting and River trips down the Mae Kok River

Lots of opportunities for rafting both along the Mekong and Mae Kok rivers. The Mekong, one of Asia's mightiest rivers, begins in Tibet and flows some 4,500 kilometres eventually into the South China Sea. The Mekong can be explored from Chiang Saen by an exhilarating 3-hour boat trip downstream to Chiang Khong, or, far more sedately, from Sop Ruak.

The 130-km-long Mae Kok is one of the most scenic and unspoilt rivers in Thailand. Rafting trips are often combined with ''inland" excursions, like elephant trekking to hilltribe villages. You can take a short trip or cover longer distances, staying at local villages on route.

You can also hire a long-tail boat along the river, any time from 7am until 11pm, stopping at sites along the way. A full-day trip to Thathon and back costs around 2,100B for boat hire. Stop off at the Buddha cave, a temple within a cavern; an elephant camp, a hot spring; and a riverside Lahu village. If you have limited time, you can hire a boat stopping at only one or two attractions. Costs vary from 300B to 700B depending on the stops and your bargaining ability. The ferry pier is beyond the bridge across from the Dusit Island Resort.

Wonderful countryside, cool mountain air - definitely back to nature. Most scenic attractions can be visited in a day from Chiang Rai. In the vicinity of Chiang Rai, you can tour historic Chiang Saen, visit the scenic Golden Triangle, shop at the Mae Sai border, or explore the cool hillsides of Doi Mae Salong. Here's a few of the ones you really shouldn't miss...

Mae Sai on the Burmese Border
The northernmost town of Thailand is separated from the Burmese border town of Tachilek by a small river also called Mae Sai. A popular spot for both Thai and foreign tourists, who come to see the sights and buy jade and other precious stones produced in Burma. Mae Sai is a thriving trading post for local goods, clothing, hilltribe products, jade ornaments, trinkets and jewelry of Burmese origin. Current attractions include an elephant show (including rides) and a nature park, as well as orchid nurseries. Most of these attractions are packaged by Chiang Mai tour operators as a half-day trip costing around 700B.

Doi Mae Salong
After the Communists took over the mainland of China in 1949, a division of the Nationalist Chinese army fled to the Thai-Burmese border areas. Some of were allowed to settle down on a border mountain called Mae Salong in 1961. The road up the mountain has enchanting scenery and plenty of hairpin bends, penetrating the mountains for some 35 kilometres to end at Santi Kiri, the mountain top settlement where the descendants of the defeated Nationalist Chinese soldiers tend tea and coffee plantations, orchards and flower and vegetable gardens. A resort complex allows an overnight stay. The village, a sort of 'high-altitude Chinatown' contains several spice shops, teahouses and restaurants.

Pu Kaeng and Other waterfalls
Waterfall enthusiasts will enjoy the plentiful waterfalls around Chiang Rai. Pu Kaeng is the largest with around 17 "steps". Located in Doi Luang National Park about 58 km from Chiang Rai. Mae Kon, another beautiful waterfall is only 30 km from the provincial town. Sai Khao Waterfall only 240m away from the main highway No.1, also has hot springs nearby.

Chiang Saen
Chiang Saen was one of the ancient capitals of the Lanna Thai (The Kingdom of One Million Rice fields) which dominated northern Thailand from the late 1200s. Older than Chiang Rai the town is historically important, forming the beginning of a distinctive style of Buddhist sculpture during the late thirteenth century. The remains of several noteworthy religious monuments can still be seen. The town museum contains bronze Buddha images and artifacts excavated locally.

The Golden Triangle
Located 9 km north of Chiang Saen is where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos meet, known as "The Golden Triangle." You can stand at the very point where the Rauk River from Burma flows into the Mekong, to take a lovely view of the rice fields and the distant mountains. To get a wider view, you can climb up Doi Chiang Miang on the riverside. Don't expect to see poppy fields, heroin factories, drug addicts or traffickers here - just enjoy the view. The heady days of the international drug cartels are over and Chiang Rai sits quietly at the gateway of a Golden Triangle where the power of the tourist currency outweighs the draw of drug money.

Credit: www.gochiangmai.com

Chiang Mai -Top Things To Do

1. Stroll Around the Old City
The old city is the most interesting and historic part of Chiang Mai and where many important temples are located. Back in the 13th century, Old Chiang Mai City was the capital of the powerful Lanna Thai kingdom which ruled the entire region, plus parts of Laos, until the Burmese intervened in the mid 16th century. Remnants of the walls still remain along with city gates and the old moat which was restored in 1800.

Start at Tapae Gate, traditionally considered the main entrance to the ancient moated city. Tha Pae Gate restored to its former glory, forms the entrance to an area which has become the place for top end handicraft boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, bars and secondhand bookstores. A great place to browse.

The Pae is also the backpacker area of Chiang Mai with small guesthouses, inexpensive restaurants and charming old timber residences hiding behind screens of frangipani.

Sunday street festivals have now become established around Tha Pae with concerts, buskers, stalls, and general street entertainment attracting over 100,000 visitors in high season, reaching a peak in April for the annual Songkran festival.

2. Discover Doi Suthep
Dominating the skyline rising 1,668m above sea level, Doi Suthep mountain west of Chiang Mai city can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. A winding road (157 bends!) snakes up through the Doi Suthep National Park, considered a sacred area and a lovely place to enjoy the forest and cool air.

Right at the top, sits Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - one of the region's most revered temples and a place of pilgrimage for many Thais. To reach the temple is a hefty climb up 290 steps flanked on each side by a balustrade of impressive nagas (mythical dragon-headed serpents) but its worth it for the views, the beauty of the temple and the cool breeze.

Chiang Mai has hundreds of temples, one of the most contemplative and peaceful is Wat Mahawan, shaded by leafy trees and guarded by the fearsome nagas. Other notable wats to explore should include Phra Singh and Wat Jet Yot.

3. Go Shopping - Head for the Night Bazaar
For jewellry shop along Wulai Road (southwest from the moat) - the traditional Silversmiths area where the metal has been crafted for generations. In the grounds of Wat Sri Suphan temple, craftsmen hammer on sheets of pure silver, tracing out intricate filigree designs. Inexpensive and reasonably priced.

Even if you're not a shopaholic, you'll be hard pressed not to buy at the famed Night Bazaar. Sandwiched between the east side of the Old City and the Ping River, this sprawling market is filled with handicrafts, souvenirs and general arts and crafts. At night it's also a great place to simply people watch.

4 Take a Thai Cooking Class
Chiang Mai cuisine is quite distinctive from other Thai food. Although the same ingredients are used, influences from Burma and Laos result in a different style. Learn how to cook real Thai food in a traditional Thai setting, with skilled and friendly teachers in a fun atmosphere.

5. Sample a traditional Khantoke Dinner
Sample some of the north's unique cuisine with a traditional Kantoke Dinner - ultimate dining seated on cushions around a low table (Khantoke) filled with mouthwatering dishes. Mmmm!

6. Be enchanted by the Mae Rim Valley
About 20 kilometres north east from the city centre lies the beautiful Mae Rim Valley - picture perfect with green rice fields backed by impressive forested hills. Stop off at a waterfall (Mae Sa waterfall) visit a snake farm, look at rare orchids and pop into the Mae Sa Elephant Project. It's here you'll find top notch hotels like the spectacular Four Seasons Chiang Mai Resort and the utterly stylish new Chedi Chiang Mai.

7. See an authentic Thai Boxing Match
While you're wandering...take the opportunity to see an authentic Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing) tournament. An amazing spectacle and adrenaline rush if you like martial arts. Kawila Boxing Stadium, just across the river from the night market (7.30pm till midnight, most nights, $10 entrance fee). Occasionally, one bout with a kateoy (ladyboy) boxer is featured.

8. Get some cultural appreciation
While slightly touristy, the Chiang Mai Arts & Cultural Centre offers an insight into the history and culture of this fascinating area. Located on the original site of the "navel of the city" there's a modern multi-media museum and cultural education centre plus evening shows and traditional Khantoke Dinners.

9. Find a gift at the Handicraft Villages
On the outskirts of the city where you can see the artisans at work A must for visitors interested in hand painted umbrellas, hand made paper, teak furniture and paintings.

10. Take a tour around the countryside.
You can hire a car and drive yourself, tours take away the hassle and save precious holiday time. You can trek, go rafting and take a elephant ride, all in one day.

Visit Doi Intanon National Park - a beautiful area brimming with waterfalls and also home to several hilltribes. Or visit Mae Rim, elephant camps at Chiang Dao. Further north, tour Chiang Rai province and the more remote hilltribes.
Credit: www.gochiangmai.com

Koh Lanta in Krabi

The Koh Lanta archipelago consists of 52 islands, of which only 12 are occupied. Of these there are two Koh Lanta Islands - Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi. Koh Lanta Yai is probably the only island in the group to offer proper accommodation for tourists and over the last number of years it has changed from a remote island inhabited by Muslim fisherman explored only by backpackers to a popular destination that is increasingly becoming more like a resort. As a result of its increase in popularity, Koh Lanta Yai offers more and more of the comforts required by the modern tourist.
The island is very impressive. It offers a number of excellent beaches that haven�t been ravaged by tourism. Alongside a limited amount of diving over coral beds, this lack of commercialism adds up to an extremely laid back atmosphere which is very appealing.
At present, around a dozen bungalows stretch along the west coast of the Island from Ban Sala Dan in the north to Ban Sangka U in the south. This is though very likely to change in the near future. Ban Sala Dan is Koh Lanta Yai�s biggest town and offers restaurants, shops, and, probably most importantly, a bank, Internet shops and a couple of ATM machines. These are the only ones on the island so be warned � this is not currently the most developed of islands! Unlike other islands you might visit, there are far more mosques here than temples.

Details:

From June to October (low-season) the monsoon rains make getting around the island difficult and visitors are sometimes allowed on a single beach. It might be best to contact TAT when planning your trip to find the best time for a visit during the low-season. It is possible to hire bicycles to get around the islands, and it�s also possible to rent motorcycles for around 200 Baht a day. Depending on where you will be staying, bringing your own supplies might be necessary.

How to get there:

Koh Lanta Yai is not easily accessible and involves a ferry ride from Krabi. From Trang you can catch buses and minivans that will take you straight to the island. From Ban Sala Dan (on the island) motorcycle taxis are available to the beaches at varying costs starting at 20 Baht. Credit: www.discoverythailand.com

Ao Nang Beach in Krabi

Originally a fishing village, Ao Nang is now a major city beach resort and a travel destination in its own right catering for the full range of foreign tourists. Ao Nang�s chief feature is a long white sand beach set against crystal clear water, but people also come here for a full range of activities such as diving, kayaking and trekking. Less developed than other beaches in Thailand, Ao Nang none the less offers guesthouses and hotels that fit any budget.

The beach enjoys a vibrant nightlife which includes excellent seafood restaurants dotted along the beach and some bars that offer live music. However, this is not an �expat� type scene oppressive numbers of go-go bars, etc. It has a much nicer feel and is a good choice for families. Ao Nang has numerous agencies were it is possible to arrange trips to attractions and activities available in the vicinity. Bird watching is a favourite in the area, as are jungle treks and boats to neighboring islands. Diving is another popular draw and again agencies in the area arrange dives for all levels. They also offer liveaboard trips that take in the local islands. Day trips are relatively inexpensive, but ask around for the most reliable places and shop around for the best deals. Despite everything on offer, Ao Nang is quite a small beach and can get crowded.

How to get there: A taxi from the airport will cost around 500 Baht. Long tail boats run seasonally and cost around 50 baht from Krabi to Ao Nang. Songteaws from Krabi cost 20 Baht during the day and 50 Baht after 18:00. Credit:www.discoverythailand.com

Naklua Beach in Chonburi

There are three main areas in Pattaya. Pattaya Beach is the central stretch of coastline that supports some of �raunchier� aspects of local tourism; bars, restaurants, go-go � pretty much a hedonist�s paradise! Jomtien Beach is much more laid back, offering family friendly establishments and excellent windsurfing. Naklua Beach is the most northerly of the bays and by far the quietest.
Naklua is much smaller than its neighbours and it does not suffer from the mass development Pattaya Beach has experienced. Like Jomtien it is more family friendly. The Pattaya municipality spent 1.8 million Baht on cleaning up the waters around Pattaya, and in Nakula it is now possible to see fish in the water. This makes bathing in the sea a genuine pleasure. Nakula is also a centre for windsurfers and windsurfing equipment can be hired from the beach.
Credit: www.discoverythailand.com

Jomtien Beach In Chonburi

Featuring a long straight coastline and long white sand beach, Jomtien Beach is located around 2 kilometers from its less salubrious neighbour � Pattaya Beach. Whereas Pattaya Beach is more geared for the party animal, Jomtien Beach has carved a niche as a more �family-friendly� environment. Like its neighbour, Jomtien Beach is popular for water sports such as jet skiing, but with water that is considerably less murky, it is also a much more attractive location for swimming. Given its natural wind conditions and calm sea, Jomtien Beach is also a destination of choice for wind surfers, and a number of instructors work from the area. Jomtien features every conceivable type of accommodation available to those who want to stay in the area. Like Pattaya Beach, Jomtien hosts an expatriate community but doesn�t have the edge Pattaya Beach does. It does though have just as many great restaurants offering cuisine from every corner of the globe. It also has as many hawkers, plying anything from peanuts and fruit to pictures of the king and massages. They can prove annoying when you are trying to relax, but again, on Jomtien even this is not as hardcore as Pattaya Beach. How to get there: Just like everywhere else in Pattaya, Jomtien is easily accessible through the multitude of Songtaews that continually move around the ring roads that encircle the coastal areas. A trip is 20 Baht wherever your start or finish.

Featuring a long straight coastline and long white sand beach, Jomtien Beach is located around 2 kilometers from its less salubrious neighbour � Pattaya Beach. Whereas Pattaya Beach is more geared for the party animal, Jomtien Beach has carved a niche as a more �family-friendly� environment. Like its neighbour, Jomtien Beach is popular for water sports such as jet skiing, but with water that is considerably less murky, it is also a much more attractive location for swimming. Given its natural wind conditions and calm sea, Jomtien Beach is also a destination of choice for wind surfers, and a number of instructors work from the area. Jomtien features every conceivable type of accommodation available to those who want to stay in the area. Like Pattaya Beach, Jomtien hosts an expatriate community but doesn�t have the edge Pattaya Beach does. It does though have just as many great restaurants offering cuisine from every corner of the globe. It also has as many hawkers, plying anything from peanuts and fruit to pictures of the king and massages. They can prove annoying when you are trying to relax, but again, on Jomtien even this is not as hardcore as Pattaya Beach. How to get there: Just like everywhere else in Pattaya, Jomtien is easily accessible through the multitude of Songtaews that continually move around the ring roads that encircle the coastal areas. A trip is 20 Baht wherever your start or finish. Credit: www.discoverythailand.com

Travel Guide-Phi Phi Island

The islands of Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lek offer visitors wonderful opportunities for climbing, caving, kayaking and scuba diving in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Overview

The two islands of Koh Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh are undoubtedly among Thailand's most beautiful and enchanting destinations. Although the islands ever-increasing popularity with tourists and the inevitable development that has followed now means that Phi Phi has lost most of its former tranquility, visitors can not fail to be impressed by the areas natural beauty and crystal clear waters. Set at the heart of a national park, the islands remain one of the country's most popular holiday destinations.

The larger of the two islands, Phi Phi Don consists of two massive limestone outcrops bridged by a strip of white sand and with beaches on both sides. The southern beach of Ao Ton Sai is the most developed and its beautifully calm bay is a popular spot for boats to drop anchor.

Attractions

The islands may not be as peaceful as they once were but excellent resort-style accommodation and top quality restaurants are now easy to find. The pretty northern beach of Ao Lo Dalam is less developed, has fewer bungalows than Ao Ton Sai and a more laid-back feel to it. The eastern side of the island, known as Koh Nai, also has several lovely beaches while to the north Laem Thong is home to a community of chao leh or sea gypsies, most of whom now make a living by supplying fish to local restaurants and ferrying visitors backwards and forwards in their boats. Koh Nai's beaches include Ao Lo Bakao, Hat Yao and Hat Lanti, the latter of which is particularly popular with surfers. The western portion of Phi Phi Don, Koh Nawk, is mostly uninhabited and has so far escaped development.

Activities

Phi Phi Leh lies 6 km south of Phi Phi Don and comprises mainly of limestone cliffs surrounding a beautiful lagoon. The islands Viking Cave is known for its prehistoric wall-paintings and as a place where daring men can be seen climbing flimsy bamboo scaffold to collect swallows nests from the cavern walls for birds nest soup.

Phi Phi Don offers a wide range of interesting activities including climbing, caving, diving, snorkeling. Fishing trips can also be arranged from Ton Sai and sea kayaks are available on Ao Lo Dalam. For the more adventurous, the island's cliffs offer climbers over 100 challenging routes.

Times to visit

The best time to visit Phi Phi Island is during the cool season, from November until February. However, as everybody has the same idea it can get very busy. If you can stand the heat try visiting between April and August as there will be fewer people. The rainy season is no the best time to visit as there are frequent storms and the water is not as clear. Be aware that some resorts do close during the low season so it is always worth checking in advance.

Hat Klong Prao in Phuket

Hat Klong Prao, which means the bay of coconuts, derives its name from a number of coconut trees found along its beach. This beach begins at Chaiyachet Cape, which offers a good viewpoint of the island at sunset. The beach is less crowded than Hat Sai Khao and suitable for swimming and water sports.

Fifteen kilometres from Hat Klong Prao is Hat Kai Bae. It is a popular place among foreign tourists who come here for sunbathing. The beach has a slight slope into the sea that is favourable for swimming. Tourists who want to visit neighbouring islands such as Koh Yuak, Koh Man Nok and Koh Man Nai can hop in a boat from this beach. Hat Kai Bae is more colourful at night with restaurants and pubs vying for customers.

Hat Sai Khao

Hat Sai Khao is famed for delicate white sand along a 6-kilometer beach. The beach is dotted with towering palms and coconut tress. At night Hat Sai Khao is illuminated with lights from pubs and bars, restaurants that are located along its beachside road. There are plenty of grocery stores, car and motorbike rental shops and petrol stations.

Both Natural And Historical Attractions At Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is a green land. It sits on mountainous terrains that are covered by verdant forests and two big rivers running through the city. Waterfalls, national parks (one of them is accredited as UNESCO world heritage), historical sites and tranquil riverside landscape are the main attractions. It has a frontier with Myanmar to the west with a mountain range as its borderline.

Attractions

Main attractions in the city revolve around war memorials of World War II. The most visited place of all is the Bridge over the River Kwai. Built in 1943 by war prisoners and conscripted labourers, the black iron bridge spanning over Kwai Yai River is a part of the railway

that the Japanese army aimed to use as a line to transport supplies to their frontline soldiers in Myanmar during World War II. More than 150,000 people died during the construction of the railway. The original railway, particularly the section that perches on the cliffs, is still in use today while the bridge was destroyed during the battle and rebuilt shortly after the end of the war.

War cemeteries and museums can be found in both in and outside Kanchanaburi city. The farthest of all is the Hell Fire Pass Memorial Museum about 80 kilometres north of the city centre. Built by the Australian Government in 1998, it has exhibition of contemporary photographs, maps, models, illustrations, memorabilia from the war and a 7-minute audio-visual presentation. It is located on the hillside that has a waling trail that allows visitors to walk to the Hellfire Pass. The name derived from flickering bonfires illuminated at night for Australian war prisoners who were forced to work all night to build the railway. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free.

Adventurers enjoy plenty of activities in Sai Yok National Park. The 300-square-kilometre park has caves, waterfalls (some of them are known as the most beautiful in the country), rivers and lush forests. Besides bamboo rafting, which is the most popular recreational activity here, you can do trekking and camping. Bungalows and resorts are available near the park. Situated 104 kilometres from Kanchanaburi town centre, the park can be reached by boat and car.

However, the most visited national park in Kanchanaburi is the Erawan National Park. Its close proximity to the city (65 kilometres from Kanchanaburi city) allows Thai weekenders get in touch with the nature. The park has mixed deciduous forests, lots of wildlife, waterways and the Erawan Waterfall, which is one of the most famous waterfalls in Thailand.

For those who have a few more days to spend, the border town of Sangkhla Buri is definitely worth your visit. This mountainous town is about 220 kilometres toward the Thailand – Myanmar border. It has a countryside of scenic valleys that are home of hill tribe villagers. Active tours such as trekking on elephant backs and rafting can be done here. The town is well known for the wooden Mon bridge and the Three Pagoda Pass. The former is the 850-metre-long wooden bridge across the Sonkaria River link the town to Myanmar. It has a fantastic viewpoint of tributary of three rivers. The latter is the miniature pagodas which are the war memorial from the 19th century war between Thais and Burmese.

Credit: www.thailandwonders.com

Hua Hin-The Paradise Place At Prachuap Khiri Khan

Part of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, this resort town is about 200 kilometres south of Bangkok. Hua Hin is the oldest beach resort of the country and has been the Thai royal family's summer residence since the 1920s. The construction of a railway station in the city as part of the Southern Railroad in the reign of King Rama VI resulted in making Hua Hin stand out from many other quiet fishing villages.

Overview

This well-established beach destination is becoming increasingly popular not only among rich Thais but tourists in search of peaceful and relaxing holidays from around the world. Its 5 kilometers of clean white sand and crystal clear water has continued to provide peace and serenity Hua Hin is renowned for.

Attractions

Cha-am Beach -- It is known as a twin town of Hua Hin but more popular among Thai tourists. Just about 28 kilometres north of Hua Hin, Cha-am offers several activities such

as Jet Ski, banana boat and bicycle riding on the beach front. And the beach road is lined with shops, restaurants, hotels, and motels.

Klai Kangwon Palace -- This summer palace consists of 3 Spanish style mansions facing the sea. Located just north of Hua Hin, it was constructed under the royal command of King Rama VII. Some parts of the palace are open to the public daily from 9 am to 4 pm.

Khao Takiap Vantage Point and Beach -- Located 5 kilometres south of Hua Hin - Wat Khao, situated on top of the hill, is famous for its giant Buddha Statue standing against the cliff. Behind this “chopstick hill” is expanses of beach and calm shallow waters.

Pranburi beach-- Pranburi is some 30 kilometres south of Hua Hin. The beach itself may not be spectacular but its peaceful environment infuses a sense of privacy a

nd exclusivity. Today, the town is famous for its increasing numbers of chic and boutique resorts.

Activities and events

Hua Hin -- The beach can be tranquil with clusters of umbrella shaded deck chairs and activities such as horse riding, kite boarding, and water sports can also be arranged during the day. The night market on Dechanuchit Road is a great stop for food and local crafts. Small alleys near the beach provide visitors with various types of restaurants, many open air cocktail bars, handicraft shops, local tailor shops, and small guesthouses.

Golf -- Hua Hin is a paradise for golfers. There are about 7 golf courses within an hour drive from the city centre. Reservations are suggested an

d necessary most weekends. Many of the hotels run FOC shuttles and most clubs can arrange pickup and drop-off to any hotel.

Spa -- Hua Hin is famous for its fine spas and each of the top resorts offers either their own signature spa treatments or international spas to pamper their rich clients.

Annual kite festival – Thais celebrate their affection for this popular pastime by holding an annual kite festival at Somdej Phra Si Suriyothai Camp, Suan Son Pradipat, around end March to early April. This event features kites from the four regions of Thailand and all over
the world.

Time to visit

During November and May are the most sunshine and least rain mon

ths. Mid-December to mid-January, Hua Hin reaches peak levels and bookings should be made well in advance.

Credit: www.thailandwonders.com