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5 days 4 nights

Use highway No 115 in Kamphaeng Phet Muang district and connect through to highway No 1280 to reach Sai Thong Wattana district after 20 km. Visit Ban Noanjan Glass Blowing Centre where you can witness glass-blowing techniques by locals. Products are available in various designs – animal, flower and fruit shapes – which are sold locally and internationally. Then, return to highway No 115 by using the same direction in order to reach Kamphaeng Phet town.

From highway No 1, turn left and drive past the Banana and Handicraft Market until you reach 346 km. Turn left again at the Khlonga Mai Lai market and stay on highway No 1117 and Khlong Mai Lai-Umphang road for 46 km. At Khlong Lan intersection, turn right and drive for 4 km to reach Khlong Lan National Park. It covers the last most abundant Khlong Lan forest in the province and is the source of several streams. Nearby are Khlong Lan and Khlong Nam Lai waterfalls.

BOX – Talat Kluai Khai (Banana Market) is on the Kamphaeng Phet-Nakhon Sawan highway No 343. It sells raw and ripe small bananas and a wide range of products, including sweet, fried bananas, baked honey bananas, fried tapiocas and woven rattans, which are top-quality souvenirs of the Chakungrao city, the province’s ancient name.

From the Kamphaeng Phet town, take highway No 101 for 5 km along the Kamphaeng Phet-Phran  Kratai road, turn left and go straight until at 360 km, you will arrive at Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park The huge archaeological site is made of bricks and features the planning concept of the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park and the Si Satchanalai Historical Park were declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco in 1991. It is open daily from 8am to 4.30pm. Admission fee is Bt10 for Thais and Bt40 for foreigners. An extra Bt50 is charged per car for visitors who wish to drive through. (055-711-921).

P Resort on the bank of the Ping River is available at Bt350-500 per night. Each room has air-conditioning, a refrigerator, water heater with free coffee and 24-hour Internet service (055-701-288).

From the Municipality Stadium intersection, turn left, and go along highway No 1084 for 3 km. Kamphaeng Phet Hospital (055-711-234) is on the right side. From the Municipality Stadium intersection, go straight along highway No 101. Turn right to the Muang district office, which is diagonal to the Muang Kamphaeng Phet Police Station (055-716-868).

The next morning, prepare supplies for your trip to Thi Lo Su Waterfall. Booking for accommodation can be made at the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary. Bring your own tents but you have to pay Bt20 fee per person for camping. In case you have no tents, they are available at the site.

Drive along highway No 1 and move past Kluai Khai Market from 346-350 km. Fill up your car tank at petrol stations of your choice: PTT, Bangjak, Caltex or Shell. After that, head towards Muang Tak district by using highway No 1. Shortly before reaching Tak town, turn left at the intersection to take highway No 105. Keep driving for 70 km on a tar, winding road up the mountain. Be prudent as many cars are expected on this main route. Before Mae Sot intersection, there is a PTT petrol station. Move past the station, turn left to take highway No 1090 towards Umphang district.

It takes 165 km and approximately 3-4 hours to reach Umphang, depending on the car and the acquaintance of the drivers with the route, which is winding and narrow.  This two-lane road features a total of 1,219 curves. A resting point is provided for travellers at the halfway stage. About 88 km further is the Baan Umpiam immigrants’ community where you can stop by for taking pictures of houses built on mountainside.

Before Umphang district, turn right at the intersection to visit the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary located on the Umphang-Maeklong Mai-Mae Chan road or highway No 1167. At 20 km, turn left and drive along the asphalt road in the forest for 26 km to get to the sanctuary.

BOX: Those who wish to enter the Thi Lo Su Waterfall area driving a personal car, must ask for a permission card from the Umphang Tourism Promotion Office (055-561-338).

Tip : The office closes the inbound route between June 1-October 31 to prevent accidents due to the heavy rains during the period. If you wish to enter the area, take a raft service and continue on foot. The way can be very muddy when it is raining.

Raft service is widely available in Umphang district. Price includes meal and accommodation. Cars can be parked within the office area.

BOX: The route to Thi Lo Su is narrow with chasms on both sides. Travelling with a pickup or a four-wheel-drive car is recommended. Avoid evening or night journey. You should arrive at the Muang Umphang Police Station before afternoon. (055-561-1011).

Thi Lo Su Waterfall is located within the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, 1.8 km away from the Umphang Tourism Promotion Office. It is a limestone waterfall 500 metres in width and 300 metres in height. Amidst the evergreen forest, Thi Lo Su is rated as one of the six most beautiful in the world. It is open until 5pm. Food, plastic bags and bottles and foam boxes are not allowed.

BOX: There is an area for camping outside the Umphang Tourism Promotion Office. In case you arrive in the late afternoon, you will be allowed to walk up to the waterfall only the next morning.

After breakfast the next morning, you can spend half a day enjoying the waterfall. After lunch, go back to Umphang district. On the way, stop by at the Takobi cave with children in the area as your guides. After you pass the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary exit, turn right and follow the same route back to Umphang district. You can stop at the orange orchard for photographing or shopping for fresh oranges. At the Umphang district area, you can take a coffee break and buy some souvenirs at Kru Sun shop. Advance room reservation is suggested if you wish to stay overnight in the district. For those who reserve rooms at hotels near the river, you can have extra activities such as a swim tube cruise.

Get up at dawn or before 5am to watch the beautiful sunrise at Doi Hua Mot. Use the Umphang route towards Baan Palatha for 10km. At km 9, you can observe a beautiful view but it’s a 20-minute drive up the hill. If not, move right to km 10 and walk for a few minutes to reserve a spot to witness the stunning sunrise and take magnificent pictures.

Return to your accommodation to pack your stuff, eat breakfast and leave for Mae Sot district by taking highway No 1090. At 37 km, you will notice a sign saying “Pha Charoen Waterfall National Park” on the right hand. Turn right and go along a small concrete road for 700 metres to reach the site. Pha Chaproen is abundant with water all year round. It’s 97-tiered limestone waterfall where a special area for capturing the picturesque views is provided.

Drive along highway No 1090 to Mae Sot. Mae Sot Police Station (055-531-112) is on this route. Stop for lunch at Rimmeoy Market, which is near the border between Thailand and Burma’s Myawaddy city. The Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge is used for people from both countries to cross from one side to another. A wide range of food, products and jewellery, the famous items of the area, are available at the market as well as reasonably-priced home decors and furniture.

If you wish to cross the border to Burma, here are the procedures:

Thai citizens can use their identity card to make a temporary pass at the Thai-Burma Bridge Immigration Office. Passport is not accepted for non-Thai citizens. Show the border pass to officials at the immigration office to cross the border. You must not take pictures or record VDO inside any of the Burmese government offices.

To cross the Mae Sot border in a car, car ownership document and two copies must be presented. Only the owner of the car is allowed to bring the vehicle out of the kingdom unless the driver shows the power of attorney of the owner.

The fee for driving across the border and insurance (required by Burma) is Bt250 per four-wheel car and Bt500 for over four-wheel vehicles. Road fee is Bt50 for less than four-wheel car and Bt100 for over four-wheel car. Municipality tax is Bt50 per car and passenger fee is Bt10 per person.

From Mae Sot, make a transit to highway No 105 in Muang Tak district and connect through to highway No 12 towards Sukhothai province. Sukhothai Historical Park is situated across from Ramkamhaeng National Museum. Witness the grand structures of the ancient city, which was prosperous in olden times. It is open from 6am to 9pm (ticket sales close at 6pm). Light show is open from 7pm to 9pm. Entrance fee is Bt10 for Thais and Bt40 for foreigners. Package ticket is Bt30 for Thai and Bt150 for foreigner.

For guide, contact the Sukhothai Historical Park office.

Box:  The Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival is grandly celebrated on the full-moon night every November. Cultural arts and traditional Thai musical performances, lighting of lanterns, and the light and sound presentation of the Sukhothai Kingdom during the prosperous time, which is the highlight, are featured in the festival.

Ruen Thai Hotel, which is built from wood in Thai style, offers a standard room at Bt1,000- Bt 1,200 per night (055-612-444).

Don’t miss Sukhothai noodles, which tastes identical with the ancient flavour. Ran Mai Klang Krung in the Sukhothai Muang district is recommended (055-612-855).

In the morning, leave from Sukhothai Muang district for Si Satchanalai district by using highway No 12 and then connect to No 101. Shell petrol station is at 34 km and PTT petrol station at 26 km. Drive for 40 km past Si Samrong district, Sawankhalok district to Tombon Tachai in Si Satchanalai district. Experience the making of gold and silver ornaments, ancient-looking gold and silver products, which are entirely hand-made by distinguished skilled goldsmiths. A wide variety of uniquely designed items such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, bangles, bags and caskets which are made of 99.99 per cent pure gold make spectacular souvenirs.

Orn-anong Thong Bolaan, a gold shop, is located at the Tha Chai market on highway No 101. Ready-to-wear products are displayed in the shop and made-to-order requests are accepted (055-679-229, 055-631-631).

Proceed along highway No 101 until 18 km. Turn left to use highway No 1201, which is a two-lane concrete route running through a village. Drive over the Yom River bridge, turn right and continue for 1.5 km to reach Si Satchanalai Historical Park. It’s an ancient city, which was the administrative centre during the reign of Phra Ruang. Inside the city lie several main historical sites such as Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Temple, alternatively called Phra Borommathat Muang Chaliang Temple or known as “Pha Prang Temple” by the locals. Another significant site is Chang Lom Temple, which features a huge bell-shaped chedi supported by 39 elephants. Chedi Chet Thaeo Temple constructed in different artistic styles and influence makes it the most outstanding temple in the province.

The Si Satchanalai Historical Park (055-697-310) is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Admission fee is Bt30 for Thai and Bt40 for foreigner. Package ticket is available at Bt30 for Thai and Bt150 for foreigner. If you wish to bring your vehicle into the park, you have to pay a fee between Bt10-50.

Have lunch at restaurants along the bank of Yom River where you can catch a glimpse of the currents which flow past thousands of stones called “Kaeng Luang”.

Drive up the north along the Yom River for 5 km, you will see remains of Sangkhalok stoves on both sides of the road before the entrance to Sangkhalok Stoves Study and Reserve Centre in Ban Koh Noi. After the discovery of numerous Sangkhalok ceramics and potteries, some in perfect condition and some damaged, the centre has put these historical items, which represent the development of ancient potteries, on display. It is open daily from 9am to 4pm. Admission fee is Bt10 for Thai and Bt40 for foreigner.

Take highway No 1201 up north for another 7 km. Drive past PTT petrol station until the Si Satchanalai Hospital (055-630-039) three-way junction. Turn right and cross the Yom River bridge, go past Muang Si Sachanalai Police Station (055-671-234), turn left at the Government Savings Bank three-way junction to get back to highway No 101 (If you turn right, you will find a Shell petrol station within one km distance) to Tumbon Hat Siao, Si Satchanalai. Drive for 2 km to central market, you will find Sathorn shop, which sells gold products and good quality hand-made fabrics, across the market. Hat Siao fabric comes with an embossed-end, done by descendants of the Thai Phuan community, which migrated from Vientiane, Laos. Nearby is a Caltex petrol station, which is next to the Wat Bot temple. It is the last petrol station before departing Si Satchanalai district to Phrae or Uttaradit provinces.

Kanom Kliow (Crispy Twist) is the famous snack of Sukhothai. Fried nuts of Si Sam Rong district is original and has been sold for over 200 years. Hat Siao fabrics are valuable souvenirs.