Four days three nights

Get your car ready for a long journey up and down the hill. Leave Chiang Mai town by taking highway No 107 to go up north towards Mae Rim district and Mae Taeng district. Before turning left onto highway No 1095 to go to Mae Hong Son’s Pai district, you should go straight a bit further to fill petrol. It is a precautionary step in case you empty your tank before reaching the destination as the whole stretch towards Pai has only one small petrol station and the road is quit steep uphill.

Turn left onto highway No 1095 and go straight for some time, then turn right to the Mae Malai market to shop for food and go back the same way to turn right at the red-light intersection to go to Pai district. Highway No 1095 is a newly-constructed asphalt road but it is quite winding and has several steep sharp bends. It takes about 2-3 hours to drive 110 kilometres to Pai.

Before heading to see the beauty of “Nam Tok Mok Fa” or Mok Fa Waterfall, drop by to sip a coffee at “Paen Kled Coffee Corner” in a relaxing atmosphere at 20 km, which is the entrance to the waterfall. The distance from the entrance to the waterfall is only 2 km and you can reach there by cars on a well-paved asphalt road.  The one-floor waterfall cascades beautifully throughout the year. Visitors have to pay an admission fee to enter the park.

Tip: Keep the ticket to enter Pong Duad Pa Pae, Huai Nam Dang National Park and Ta Pai hot spring on the same day.

Continue the journey till you reach a curve at 42 km. There is a sign: “Pong Nam Ron Pong Dueat” or “Pong Dueat Pa Pae”. Drive anotbher 6 km till you reach the car park. Toilets and restaurants are nearby. From the car park, follow the natural walkway for 300 metres before you arrive at the country’s biggest and highest hot spring. Near the car park, there is a hot spring in which you can soak your feet or legs to loosen up tense muscles.

At 65 km on highway No 1095, turn right and go straight for 6 km onto the asphalt road, which goes up and down the hill to the office of the “Huai Nam Dang National Park”. Some stretches of the road are very narrow. Drive carefully and use low gear. Check into the hotel and enjoy the spectacular view of the mountains, the beauty of flowers, white floating fog and cool climate of the high altitude. Winter multiplies the beauty of the place with more captivating views of the sea of fog that blankets the mountain ranges. There are two panoramic viewpoints – at Doi Kiew Lom, and Doi Chang, the highest mountain top. To get closer to nature, bring food and tents to camp out in the national park. But if you prefer proper accommodation, contact the Royal Forestry Department’s National Park Division. (0-2579-5734, 0-2579-7223)

Wake up to see the sunrise and the famous panoramic view of the fog at Huai Nam Dang National Park. After breakfast, start the journey on highway No 1095 to head to Pai. On the way, you will pass “Khun Mae Ya”, also known as the Pink Mountain, because when the wild Himalayan cherry (Prunus  cerasoides  D.  Don) – locally known as the Thai Sakura – is blossoming, you will see the mountains covered with pink flowers. At 67 km, which is the Khun Mae Ya checkpoint, turn left and go straight for 8 km on a gravel road to Khun Mae Ya Water Management Division.

Some parts of the road are so steep and rough that they are not accessible by cars and vans that cannot run over ruts. Even four-wheel-drive vehicles cannot access the road during rainy season. The best time to visit this place is when the Thai Sakura blossoms. However, no one knows the exact month or date that the flower would blossom as it depends on the weather. Mostly, it blossoms between mid-December and mid-January.

At 80 km on highway No 1095, there is a left turn to highway No 1265 to go to “Ban Wat Chan Pine Forest”. It takes 41 km to reach there but the road is well-paved for the first 10 km and the last 15 metres is bending and very steep. Do not drive more than 40 kph on dangerous curves. If you go in winter, you can behold the beautiful sight of trees sporting leaves and flowers of myriad colours along the stretch till you reach Moo Ban Wat Chan.

From the village, if you go back on the same route for 5 km, you will see the Forest Industry Organisation situated in a pine forest. You can rent a mountain bike for Bt100 per day to ride around and catch a glimpse of nature and pine trees or click some pictures if you like. The weather is cool throughout year. In winter, you might get to see the Thai Sakura here. Call 0-5324-9349 for the Forest Industry Organisation, which provides toilets and a nice and large area to erect tents.

Take highway No 1095 till you reach 88 km where the Tha Pai Hot Spring is situated. Take a right turn and drive a further 2 km onto a narrow asphalt road to reach the hot spring. You will find both a well and geysers that are over 80 degrees Celsius. The place provides bathrooms for tourists to take a hot spring bath amid the greenery of the teak forest. You can erect tents to stay overnight but there other facilities are not available.

Go back the same way to highway No 1095 and turn right to Pai. You will enter Pai through a historical bridge that is like a gateway. The bridge is a World War II memorial. Click some pictures to remember the green bridge that stands in contrast to the red river, blue sky and the mountains as a background.

After crossing the bridge, go a little further. On the left is Kong Laen or the Pai Canyon. You have to park the car and walk 200 metres to reach the Kong Laen carved by soil erosion spanning across five rai. You can visit this place at any time of the year.

Take a break at 95 km to freshen up with a cup of coffee at “Coffee in Love”. Click some pictures of the shop beautifully situated on the hill with panoramic views of mountain ranges as a backdrop.

Pai is a small peaceful town where people live a simple life on the bank of the Pai River. Time moves slowly in Pai and that is what attracts Thai and foreign tourists to find guesthouses here or the nearby areas to experience the simple way of life. Since a number of tourists go there in winter, which is a high season, it is recommended that you reserve accommodation. Most inexpensive accommodations are walk-in type. You can find a number of guesthouses along the river or in the town. Check the room first before deciding to book. If you arrive there at noon or in the afternoon, driver further to the district office.

BOX:  Visit a somtam shop in front of the district office because it offers a variety of somtam for you to taste. If you go later than 2pm, you may not find anything left because this shop does roaring business of this popular Thai-style salad. The shop opens late and closes early. Opposite the somtam shop is the tourist centre where you can get information about tourism attractions and accommodations in Pai.

Park the car and take a stroll or rent a bicycle to ride around a riverside market where food, snacks, herbal drinks and tea are sold on the street. You can even have dinner in the market.

Box: Buy souvenirs such as bags, hand-woven cloth from hill-tribe villagers at the night market situated on the main street. You will find lots of goods and hand-made products, including inexpensive postcards sold on the streets.

Feel the atmosphere of Pai. Stroll along the bank of the river. Click pictures of beautiful resorts and the Pai River that glitters with the reflection of the orange sunlight on the water surface. Walk further to sip a coffee or have breakfast at the famous coffee shop, “All about coffee”, opposite Mit Thai shop. The shop sells not just coffee but both food and other drinks. If you want to send postcards to loved ones, just cross the road to the Mit Thai shop that impresses tourists with its unique and lovely designs and decorations as well as the hospitality of the shop owner. Many postcards featuring Pai in every corner are for sale here. You can write the postcards and mail them right at the shop.

Start the journey to Wat Nam Hoo, which is 3 km west-bound from Pai, beyond Pai Hospital ((0-5369-9211), in Tambon Wiang Tai. The temple houses the 500-year-old Luang Phor Un Mueang, a Buddha statue whose head is filled with water and can be opened from the top of the head. A pagoda is situated at the back of the statue. History has it that King Naresuan the Great built the statue to keep the remains of his older sister, Phra Supan Kanlaya

Go a bit further; and you will reach Ban Santichon or Yunnan Chinese Cultural Centre village, formerly a drug trade centre of the Wa, the Burmese ethnic group. The area was declared a red zone but now it is a popular tourist attraction, which has more than 1,000 Chinese hill-tribe villagers. Every one wears hill-tribe costumes and lives in mud houses. Khun Bunlor (08-1024-3982), the community leader, has introduced new jobs to the villagers such as agro-tourism and operating Chinese Yunnan restaurants. Do not miss one of the popular dishes – braised pork’s leg with Chinese bread. Support the community by buying local souvenirs. Take a horse ride for sightseeing. Mud houses for two are for rent at Bt1,000 per house, two-bed houses for four at Bt1,500 and six-bed houses for 12 people is at Bt4,000.

Continue the journey on Highway 1095 to Pang Ma Pah heading to the Royal initiative Pang Tong 2 Project, known as “Pang Ung”, passing Tham Pla National Park – Namtok Pa Sua (0-5369-2055, 0-5361-9036). The cave has a stream running throughout the year. The entrance of the cave is 2 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep. A shoal of Soro Brook Carp, a large-size of grey-black, and blue fish called Pla Mung or Pluang, live in the cave. Villagers do not catch these fish because they believe they are sacred fish.

Namtok Pha Sua is a medium-sized waterfall, 10 metres high and 15 metres wide, cascading from the Sa-nga River. The waterfall cascades fully down the cliff in the rainy season looking like a mat but the water runs dry in the dry season but the areas still hold the charm of the beautiful rocks around.

This stretch of the road is paved with concrete and then gravel. The road is winding, up and down the hill. In winter, thick fog reduces the visibility of the road. Stay overnight at Pang Ung. Call the Royal initiative Pang Tong 2 Project: 0-5369-2056, 0-5368-1740, 0-5368-1323 for reservation of accommodation, which range from Bt1,500 to Bt2,000. Tents are for rent from Bt250 to Bt400. A huge area is provided to erect tents. Or you can opt for home stay. Parking area is provided and cars are not allowed to be parked at the reservoir area.

Ruam Thai Guest House (0-5361-1244) offers rooms with a beautiful-lake view at Bt250 per night. Walk a bit further to Ban Lung Pa La home stay (0-5369-2144) to experience the local way of life. The room with breakfast and coffee is between Bt100-350 per night. Please reserve the room seven days in advance.

Watch the beautiful dawn. In winter, the lake is filled with thick fog. The golden sunlight, the green pine trees as a backdrop and the mountain ranges reflected in the lake offer a beautifully view. The weather is cool throughout the year. In winter, the temperatures hover around 10 degrees Celsius. The place is dubbed the Switzerland of Thailand.

Go back using the same direction heading towards Mae Hong Son. On the way there is enough time to try a mud mask on your face at Phuklon Country Club Health Mud Spa 1, one of the “Unseen Thailand” destinations and only one of the world’s three mud and mineral spas. With temperatures of around 90-140 degrees Celsius, it was discovered under ground in 1995. The boiling black mud is used to mask the body and face to get clear, glowing and youthful complexion. The rich-mineral mud also helps promote blood circulation. The place offers natural spa service in a natural mineral pool all year round (0-5361-2265, 0-6198-0722). To reach there, turn right at 191 km and go straight for 4 km to Mooban Kung Mai Sak-Ban Huai Na Kan.

From Phuklon Country Club Health Mud Spa, drive 6 km to Mae Hong Son. If you do not have enough petrol, stop over at a petrol station and have lunch at Fern shop, located at the centre of the town.

Box: Take a certificate that shows you have won the victory by driving through 1,864 curves to Mae Hong Son. Just show your identification card and pay a Bt20 fee to officials on the second floor of the Provincial Chamber of Commerce, opposite Fern shop.

Drive around to see an old temple, Wat Phra That Chong Kham – Chong Klang, situated at the centre of the town, near Nong Chong Kham Public Park. The temple was built in 1827 in a beautiful Thai Yai (Burmese) art style. Not far from the temple is Wat Chong Klang that houses a replica of Phra Phuttha Sihing with beautiful gold leaves attached all over the statue. Visit Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu to see the Thai Yai architecture, formerly known as Wat Plai Doi, a temple dating back to ancient times. Also, this hill-top temple affords an exceptional aerial view of the city and surrounding mountains and valleys.

Continue the journey to Doi Mae U-kho (96 km). On the way, you can drop by to visit the famous long-neck Karen hill-tribe at Huai Sua Thao. From Muang district, take highway No 108 to Mae Hong Son Provincial Hall, the same way to Khun Yuam. As you drive past the provincial hall, you will see Mae Hong Son Gate and a T-junction. Take a right turn and drive straight to the main road to cross a bridge over Pai River and pass a helicopter landing path and turn left to take the path parallel to the landing path. The distance from the town to Huai Sua Thao is about 12 km. The path is narrow and has water spillways.

Continue the journey on highway 108 heading towards Khun Yuam district. The distance is 67 km. One km before you reach Khun Yuam district, there is a Krung Thai Bank, opposite Khun Yuam District Police Station (0-5369-1115). Not far from the bank, there is a junction. Turn left to highway No 1263, drive straight for 27 km to see the Dok Bua Tong (wild sunflowers) at Doi Mae U-kho. The road is well-paved but the last 13 km is narrow and very steep in some stretches and has many turns. The blossoming Dok Bua Tong, spanning over 1,000 rais of land, beautifully paints the entire hilly area of Doi Mae U-kho.

Box: The Dok Bua Tong blooms from November to December painting the mountains in a brilliant yellow. The tourist attraction is facilitated with restrooms and tents as well as restaurants. A large area is provided to erect more than 100 tents. Thung Bua Tong tourist centre has tents for rent.

Box: If you come to see the Dok Bua Tong when they are in full bloom, you should camp out overnight on the hill to get close to nature, otherwise, staying overnight in the town is recommended. The next morning, go straight to Muang district to Tham Kaew Komol without stopping over at Doi Mae U-kho.

The next morning take the same route back to highway No 108 to Mae La Noi District to T-junction of Mae La Noi Hospital (0-5368-9060). Take a left turn to highway No 1266 at 132-133 km and drive on for another 5 km to Tham Kaew Komol Park (0-5361-2078). The route is a concrete, well-paved road, but do not drive too fast while passing the village.

Tham Kaew Komol Park (Calcite Crystal Cave) is another of the “Unseen Thailand” destinations. Calcite Crystal is found in the cave. White fluoride covers the surface of the cave’s wall and that why it is called ice cave as the fluoride glitters beautifully when reflecting with light. This type of cave is found only in the three countries – Australia, China and Thailand.

Tip: Since air inside the cave is thin, only 20 visitors are allowed to go in each time. In winter, the place attracts a number of tourists. Fee for adults is Bt40, and for children Bt20. The cave opens every day from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Car parking in front of the cave is limited. Find more parking at the tourism centre of Mae La Noi Tambon Administrative Organisation. Then catch a local bus to the cave.

Leave for Chiang Mai in the afternoon by taking highway No 108 down to Mae Sariang district. Continue the journey on highway No 108 to go to Hot District then go to Chom Thong district, San Pa Tong district and Chiang Mai Muang district.

4 Days 3 Nights

Leave Bangkok by using highway

No 35 (Thon Buri-Pak Tor). Many

petrol stations are located along the

way. Turn left to cross the bridge to

Samut Sakhon province. Once you

get off the bridge, you will see an

LPG gas station, and past this point is

a resting stop for PTT where you can

fill up on NGV gas. Pass the Mahachai

New Town to reach the intersection

to Samut Sakhon City. You will spot

the Mahachai Hospital (0-3442-4990).

Keep going straight to the end of the

road to visit the City Pillar Shrine,

situated near the Mahachai Port

where you can park your car.

Heading towards Samut

Songkhram, you will spot a Bangchak

petrol station just before you reach

Phra Ram 2 (Rama II) checkpoint,

and along the way you will see salt

beds and shops. At 62 km, there is

the original Khun Lin Restaurant selling

good food. There is a left turn to

the entrance of Wat Bang Jakreng.

Going in the soi, follow a sign for Wat

Satthatham.

Recommended: Wat Satthatham

is a Mon temple housing the country’s

only teak ordination hall engraved

and inlaid with pearls. You can also

pay respects to Lord Buddha’s relics

there.

Then turn left, go up the bridge

and head to the city area. Turn right

at the three-pronged intersection,

cross the railway line and turn right.

Go straight and turn left at the

first traffic light intersection before

crossing Mae Klong Canal. You will

find a PTT petrol station and a counter

service center. Pass Wat Chong Lom

and Wat Kaew Fa, turn left at the

tourist information centre and cross

the Somdet Phra Amarin Bridge. Turn

right at the intersection and pass Wat

Thong Khung. Then turn right at a

three-pronged intersection, pass Wat

Bang Khae Noi, cross the Kwai Om

Bridge, and find Wat Bang Kung on

your left (there will be signs to tell you

directions to this place).

Recommended: Wat Bang Kung

(unseen in Thailand) has its ordination

hall covered with the roots and

branches of a banyan tree.

Leave the temple for the

floating market, take a right turn to

go back to the intersection. Keep

straight to pass Amphawa Hospital

(0-3475-1846-7, 0-3475-2560).

When you reach a three-pronged

intersection, take a left turn towards

Amphawa district and drive for about

three km on highway No 35. Heading

to Amphawa district, you will find a

yellow-painted bridge in less than

one km, cross the bridge and turn left

to visit Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram.

Inside the temple hall, there are

beautiful wall paintings.

TIP: You can park your car inside

the temple and school compound to

visit the Amphawa Floating Market.

Wake up at 6am to give food

offerings to Buddhist monks on their

morning alms round along the river.

Most accommodations also have

boat trip tour packages on daily

basis. In the afternoon, you can drive

on highway No 35 heading back to

Bangkok.

Ban Rak Amphawa

provides accommodation

and you can park your car at the

Vegetarian Hall. You can walk to

the floating market. There is also

a boat trip to watch fireflies.

Visit Don Hoi Lot on your way

back. When you reach the entrance

of Wat Bang Jakreng, where you

earlier used to go to Wat Satthatham,

be prepared because the entrance

to Do Hoi Lot is another four km

further. You should also pay respects

to the highly-revered shrine of Krom

Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, the

father of the Thai navy.

TIP: Beyond the parking lot’s

entrance, there are restaurants where

you can eat while waiting to see

the Razor Clam shells emerge at

around 6pm on the sandbar sediments.

Or you can opt to take a boat trip

through the coastal mangrove forest.

Use highway No 35 and drive

to Phetchaburi province. When you

reach the intersection at Muang

Phetchaburi, take a right turn to the

end of the road to visit Khao Luang

Cave. There are local tour guides

to take you around. The cave has

three chambers and the second one

is the most beautiful with a balcony

engraved with the names of all royal

family members in the King Rama IV.

King Rama V named this chamber

Wiman Chakri, a heaven of the

Chakri dynasty.

Leaving Khao Luang Cave, use

the same route to reach highway

No 4 and keep straight until 195 km,

there is a PTT petrol station. Turn left

at the intersection towards Cha Am

district. When you reach the city

area, drive eight km further from the

entrance to Cha Am Beach at 216 km.

Recommended

Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, often

referred as “the palace of love and

hope”, opens from 8am to 4pm

everyday except on Wednesday.

There is also the Sirindhorn International

Environment Park featuring the

energy-saving system and other

learning activities.

Return to the Cha Am

Intersection and visit the beach.

After that, drive along the main

road towards Hua Hin. When you

reach the intersection to the beach,

turn right and park your car in front of

the beach entrance. Recommended:

Hua Hin Market is a good place to

shop and get some food.

At the Lucky Seafood 2

Restaurant, located near the jetty,

you can select live fish from the

front of the restaurant for your

delicious meal.

Drive further down to the far

south part of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

On the way there are many petrol

stations. The road is not so safe to

drive at night because there are

many tour buses. Keep straight along

highway No 4 until you reach 345 km,

then turn left and drive on for six km.

Duangjai Seafood at the Hua

Hin Market Intersection offers

good food at reasonable prices.

Recommended: Phrachomklao Na

Wako Science Park. Visitors can enter

free-of-charge from 9am to 4pm.

Use highway No 4 and exercise

caution at 364-365 km, which is a

dangerous left-turn curve and at

372 km, another dangerous left-turn

curve with road surface erosion. At

376 km, there is a garage. At 382 km

is the entrance to Ban Krut Beach,

located 10 km further.

Lan Platu Ruay

(0-3251-2275) offers all dishes

made from mackerel fish. The

must-try dish here is a spicy and

sour red curry soup called Kaeng

Som Prik Nok. The place is

situated in Soi Hua Hin 55 or on

Chom Sin Road. Call them in

advance to check availability

because mackerel fish is seasonal.

Restaurants:

Tha Reu Pattrakhan (Kia Nguan 3 Seafood)

at the Mahachai Port; Tel 0-3441-1084

Hai Piang in Hua Hin; Tel 0-3251-1072, 0-3251-2070

Souvenir Shops

Nu Lek Bencharong in Samut Sakhon’s

Krathum Baen district; Tel 0-3484-3371

Talad Khong Dee Mae Klong on Rama II Road

at 69 km in Samut Songkhram.

Hospitals

Samut Sakhon Hospital Tel 0-3442-7099

Cha Am Hospital Tel 0-3247-1007

Hua Hin Hospital Tel 0-3252-0401, 0-3252-0371

Police

Muang Samut Sakhon Police Station

Tel 0-3442-9271-5

Amphawa Police Station in Samut Songkhram

Tel 0-3475-1300, -3472-5625-7

Tourist Authority of Thailand’s Central Region

Area 2 Office covering Phetchaburi,

Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon

Tel 0-3247-1005-6

4 Days 3 Nights

Leave Bangkok by using the

Boromrajchonnee elevated

highway (Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisri).

After you get off the highway, you’ll

find the petrol stations along the way.

When you reach 26 km, you will see

a road sign to Wat Don Wai. Take a

left turn and you will get a chance to

observe the local community’s way

of life with fruit orchards and orchid

plantations along the road. About

five km from the intersection, you will

find yourself at Wat Don Wai. You can

stop by the Tha Chin riverside market.

Boats are available for rent for

scenic river trips to observe riverside

way of life and also visit nearby

temples.

Next, you can stop by other

interesting places in the area.

Recommended: Wat Tha Phut, which

has three main Buddha images from

the Ayutthaya period. It also houses

Nakhon Pathom’s sole pagoda,

representing the mythical Chulamanee

Pagoda in heaven that contains Lord

Buddha’s tooth relic and is believed

by Thai Buddhists to be an important

place for people born in the Year of

the Dog. You can also visit a museum

within the compound to admire

ancient artifacts that were retrieved

from the river.

If you go further down the road

for another two km, you will reach

Wat Rai Khing to pay respects to the

Buddha image known as Luang Pho

Wat Rai Khing.

Further two km from the temple,

you will reach Petchakasem Road

and then take a U-turn in front of Suan

Sam Phran. You will pass the Sam

Phran Police Station (0-3432-5191-4)

and head towards Nakhon Chaisri

district. When you reach the Tha Na

intersection, turn right and go straight

until you reach another intersection

in front of Nakhon Chaisri Market.

Noi Bakery sells mouth-watering

“marmonjang” cup cake.

You can also buy the district’s

famous Nakhon Chaisri pomelos.

Tik Pochana Restaurant

(0-3433-1753) offers delicious

steamed curry fish custard,

crab sausage, and hot and sour

fish/shrimp soup.

Get back to Petchakasem

Road and take a right turn to Nakhon

Pathom’s Muang district and pass

Wat Sisathong. When you reach Ban

Phaew intersection, go straight and

keep left to go up the four-lane

bridge. There are, on both sides of the

road, state offices, Nakhon Pathom

Hospital (0-3425-4150-4), restaurants

and shops, including the well-known

Khun Au Jelly Shop (0-3425-7348).

Reach Phra Pathom Chedi

from the Na Phra Road. On the right

of the pagoda is highway No 3095

where the National Museum is located

near Nakhon Pathom Police station

(0-3424-2774).

Use highway No 3095 to visit

another attraction in the area.

Recommended: the centennial

Sanam Chandra Palace to admire

the beautiful building and a copper

monument built for Yalae, the pet

dog of King Rama VI. The palace is

open daily from 9am to 4pm. There

are also golf carts for visitors to rent

(0-3425-3840-4).

Tip: We recommend you to

have dinner at the Phra Pathom

Chedi, which has many restaurants

around. Try the “Ice Cream Loyfa”,

open from 6pm to midnight.

Golden city hotel, located just

before you reach Muang Ratchaburi

(0-3231-7140-4), offers bed breakfast

at650.

Head towards Ratchaburi’s

Muang district on Petchkasem Road

to find a place to stay for the night.

From Petchkasem Road to

Muang Ratchaburi, it has some petrol

stations along the way, especially an

LPG gas station at 98 km. When you

reach the elevated section of the

road, get on the bridge and turn left

until you see the Panurangsi Military

Camp. Turn left to go under the

railway and go straight towards Bang

Khon Tee district. When you reach

the three-pronged intersection, take

a right turn, and then go straight

through another intersection. At 9 km,

take a left turn to visit a well-know

Christian church called Wat Phleng,

more than 100 years old. If you want

to look inside, contact the church

officials at 0-3236-3022 and dress

modestly.

From Wat Phleng, return to the

route to Muang district and pass Wat

Phleng Hospital (0-3239-9290) until

you reach 5 km, where you will spot

the sign for Wat Khu Bua. Take a

left turn to highway No 3339 to visit

Ban Khu Bua Ancient City and

Chipathaphan Sathan Ban Khu

Bua and the Thai-Yuan Museum.

Recommended: The folk

museum of the Ban Khu Bua

community has exhibitions of artifacts

from the Dwaravadi Era, mannequins

to show local ways of life, and a

display of ancient-patterned cloths.

It is open everyday from 9am to

4pm (0-3233-7918). Not far from the

museum, about 100 metres, is located

the Ban Khu Bua Jok cloth Co-Op

which you can stop to buy beautiful

clothes of the OTOP brand. Open

daily from 8.30am to 5pm (0-3271-

7165).

Back to the city, drive past the

Panurangsi Military Camp to reach

Petchkasem Road then turn left to

cross the river. When you turn left at

the second intersection, you will spot

Muang Raj Hospital (0-3232-2274-80).

On your left, there is the entrance

to Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat,

whose elegant pagoda is said to be

copied from Cambodia’s Angkor

Wat.

When you leave the temple,

take a left turn and, when you reach

a three-pronged intersection, you

will spot a fruit market. Turn right and

go straight to Khao Wang for lunch.

Use the Petchkasem Road

and drive towards Bang Phae district.

Whene you reach the Bang Phae

intersection, turn right to highway

No 325, which is a four-lane straight

road.

Recommended: Siam Cultural

Park opens daily and features

traditional Thai houses and fibre glass

wax images of important people,

including revered monks from all

regions (0-3238-1401-3).

Back to the Bang Phae

intersection and head to Photharam

district by highway No 3090. When

you reach the three-pronged

intersection with a PTT petrol station,

turn right to highway No 3089, cross

the bridge, then turn right to the Rural

highway No 4005. Recommended:

Wat Khanon has hundreds of Nang

Yai shadow puppets on display in a

Thai traditional house.

Use highway No 3090 to go to

Wat Khao Chong Phran, which is

located at the foothills. During the

evening, at around 5-6pm, you will

spot a giant flock of bats flying out

together out of the cave and forming

a large long black line across the sky.

Then go straight and turn left

to highway No 3089 (Khao Ngu-Berk

Prai Road) and turn right at

the intersection to highway No 3087

towards Chom Bung district. Stop by

to visit the Khao Bin Cave, which

features strange-shaped and

beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has

sponsored a fund to install electricity

system inside the cave with different

colour schemes in each chamber.

Pass the Somdet Phra Yuppharat

Chom Bung Hospital (0-3236-2662-4).

When you reach the Ban Pak Bung

checkpoint intersection, turn right and

then turn left at another three-pronged

intersection. Pass Chombueng

Rajabhat University, Chomphon

Cave, Pong Yup, and head towards

Suan Phueng district. Pass the Suan

Phueng Police Station (0-3239-5111),

keep going until you reach 34 km

where you turn left and pass resorts

and restaurants straight to Bo Khlung

Hot Spring.

Recommended: You can soak

in mineral water from the hot spring,

which provides both modern pools

and natural ponds. It is open from

Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm

and remains open until 6pm during

weekends. There are restaurants

and accommodations in form of

bungalows and tents (08-1313-6575,

08-5219-9224). If you go further down

the road, you can see Kao Chon

Waterfall.

Travel to Kanchanaburi province

by taking a left turn at the intersection

before reaching Chom Bung district

to use highway No 3274 to go to

Dan Makham Tia district and Muang

Kanchanaburi. Beyond the city area,

you will find the Kanchanaburi War

Cemetery (Don Rak) and if you go

straight and then turn left, you will

see the Bridge on the River Khwae.

We recommend you try food at the

restaurant called Ban Lung Chuan

Suan Pa Tew (0-3462-4382). Themoneyexchange

booth is at the War Museum.

Use Saeng Chuto Road and

turn left, you will find a PTT petrol

station with NGV gas service. Turn left

at the intersection to use highway No

323 to go to Sai Yok district. At 9 km,

there is a tourist police booth. There

is also a tourist information centre at

a Bangchak petrol station at 15 km.

There are also many petrol stations

along the road.

Go on to visit Krasae Cave,

Muang Singh Historical Park, Ban Kao

Museum and Wang Krajae Hot Spring.

Stop by at 46 km to rest and have a

meal at Sai Yok Noi Waterfall.

Head towards the Hell Fire Pass

Memorial Museum at 65 km to see

the “Hell Fire Pass”, a part of the Death

Railway that was constructed during

World War II. The nature trail is open

daily from 9am to 4pm.

At 82 km, turn left to visit the

Sai Yok Yai Waterfall and then go

about two km further to visit the

Daowadung Cave. After that you

can take a left turn towards the city

and visit the Pha Tad Waterfall and

then go two km further to visit the Hin

Dad Hot Spring.

Tip: From this point, travel for another

40 km to reach Thong Pha Phum

district or another 70 km to reach

Sangkhla Buri district. You should reach

the town area before dark because

the two-lane uphill route has some

sharp curves therefore is dangerous

for night-time driving.

To go to Thong Pha Phum

district, use highway No 3272 and

head to the country’s western border

area, with the road cutting through

forestland and running along

Vajiralongkorn Dam’s Lake.

From the intersection to enter

the Thong Pha Phum City, turn

right to Sangkhla Buri district using

highway No 323. At 26 km, stop by

the Lam Khlong Ngu National Park

to see the tallest rock column ever

found in Thailand. At 32 km, there is

a resting stop with a police booth,

shops and restrooms at the entrance

of Kroeng Kra Via Waterfall and Dai

Chong Thong Waterfall.

The Khao Laem National Park

is located around 39 km and nearby

is the National Park Protection Unit

(Pom Phi). Here you can admire the

beautiful scene of sunset over the

Khao Laem Dam’s Lake. There are

accommodations, bungalows and

a tent-setting area, as well as boats

and life vests for visitors to rent.

At 58 km, there is a viewpoint

with large parking space, rest rooms,

shops and public phone booths.

Beware the stretch between

55 and 56 km is a winding, uphilldownhill

section that has witnessed

many road accidents.

At the intersection to the Three

Pagodas Pass, turn left to reach the

Sangkhla Buri town area. The Sangkhla

Buri Police Station (0-3459-5300-1)

and the Sangkhla Buri Hospital

(0-3459-5058).

The Burmese Inn offers good

Burmese food (08-6168-1801).

The Porn Pailin (Sri Daeng)

Hotel has delicious freshwater fish

menu (0-3459-5355).

In the morning, watch the sunrise

at the Utamanusorn Bridge (Mon Bridge),

which is Thailand’s longest wooden

bridge at 850 metres long, and crosses

Songkaria River. Besides admiring the

Khao Laem Dam’s Lake, visitors can

also enjoy the famous view of the

merging point or “Sam Prasop” of three

rivers, Songkaria, Bikhli and Ranti.

A concrete bridge was built to link

with this wooden bridge so people

could cross the river conveniently.

You can visit Mon villages to see their

way of life and try rice noodles with

fish curry sauce with banana stalks.

Stop by Wat Wang Wiwekaram

to pay respects to an elegant marble

Buddha image named “Luangpho

Khao”. This made it a tourist attraction

Muang Badan (underwater city).

You can ask for tour boats from hotels

and guesthouses.

Tip - Admire the beauty of the temple’s

interior during February-May

- Admire the Muang Badan view

amid fog above water surface during

July-January

Not far from the temple, the

golden Buddha Gaya Chedi is situated,

containing relics of Lord Buddha. In

front of the pagoda’s entrance,

there is a Lord Buddha footprint

miniature.

Out of Sangkhla Buri district,

return on the same route for four km

until you reach the Three Pagodas

Pass intersection, where you will also

find a PTT petrol station. From the

Three Pagodas Pass, you can cross

to visit Burma’s Phaya Tongsu Market

from 8am to 6pm. Contact the Sangkhla

Buri Immigration Office (0-3459-5335).

The Scenery (08-1000-7070)

provides accommodations in the

country-styled resort resembling a sheep farm,

along with barbeque meal.

Ban Hon Thien Restaurant also

provides accommodations amid

scent candles (08-1841-1895).

3 Days 2 Nights

Start at Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok

Road (highway No 305). Along

the road there are many noodle stalls

and restaurants until the Khlong 15

area, which is known as the country’s

largest hub of flowers.

Then head towards Nakhon

Nayok’s Muang district. You will notice

the Phra Chulachomklao Royal Military

Academy sign at 67 km. Take a left

turn to highway No 3428 and, when

you reach the intersection, go

straight to highway No 3052. Inside

the compound of the academy

and the Armed Forces Academies

Preparatory School, there are aircraft,

and tanks and warfare machinery

on display for visitors (0-3739-3185,

0-3739-3010 extension 62960-3).

Also visit the academy’s 100-year

anniversary museum and pay respect

to Phra Phutthachai, an image of

Lord Buddha on the cliff of Khao Cha

Ngok.

Use highway No 3052 and return

towards the intersection. Turn left to

highway No 33, you will pass Nakhon

Nayok Hospital (0-3731-1219, 0-3731-

1511). Along the road, there are

resorts and restaurants. Then turn left

to highway No 3049.

Go straight to 11 km at the

intersection with highway No 3050,

turn to Sarika Fall and Sarika Cave.

During the drought season, water

would run dry, but you can enjoy

food offered at many restaurants.

Visit Wang Takhrai Garden at 16 km.

This place, covering 1,500 rai of land,

provides accommodation (0-3738-

5164-5). There are many fruit stalls

along the road there. Nearby there is

also the Nang Rong Fall.

Wangree Delight

Restaurant sells a special

recipe sausage. Open from 8am

to 8pm (0-3732-0679)

At the end of highway No 3049

is a three-pronged intersection where

you should turn right.

Recommended: Khundan

Prakarn Chon Dam or Khlong Tha

Dan Dam.

It is the world’s largest compact

concrete dam, 2,594 metres in length.

The dam yields a spectacular view.

Visitors can also enjoy rafting all year

round and there are many restaurants

where you can enjoy food while

dipping your feet in the cool waters.

Find a place to stay for the night.

Krua Manao Restaurant is located

amid a marian plum garden and

features country music from the 1960s

and 1970s (0-3732-8327)

In the morning , head to

Prachin Buri’s Muang district. Stop by

Nong Cha-om Market on highway

No 33 to buy some fruits. Go towards

Sa Kaew province and pass Naresuan

Roundabout to visit Thanon Sai Ton mai

Suai (Beautiful trees road the road along

which there are many flower and tree

shops as well as furniture and garden

decoration items. Also visit Ban Dong

Bung, the agricultural tourism centre

located at 166 km (0-3733-4889).

Thida Grand View offers

hotel rooms and bungalows

for guests (0-3732-8265-7).

Return to the Naresuan Round

about, turn left to highway No 320

and pass Khai Chakkapong Hospital

(0-3721-1591). Go past the Thai

Commercial Bank and then turn left

to Kaew Phichit Road.

Recommended: Wat Kaew

Phichit to visit architecture that

blends Thai, Chinese, European

and Khmer arts.

Leave the temple, drive cross

the bridge then turn left to Prachin

Anusorn Road (highway No 3069).

At 3 km is located Abhaibhubejhr

Hospital. Admire old buildings since

the time of King Rama V. The place

also houses a museum for Thai

traditional medicine and provides

Thai massage service for visitors.

Health-focus tour groups could also

be arranged (0-3721-1088).

Drive along the river towards

the city, pass the old City Hall and

the Muang Prachin Buri district office,

then turn left to Highway No 319 to Sri

Mahosote district office. At 133 km,

take a left turn to Highway No 3070

to visit the Sri Mahosote Ancient City,

which is estimated to have been built

since the Dwaravadi Era. Nearby is

Sa Morakot Ancient Site where visitors

can pay respects to the country’s

largest and oldest Lord Buddha

Footprints. Then pay respects to the

province’s iconic Sri Maha Bodhi Tree

at Wat Tho Pho. It is believed that

the tree grew from the branches of

the tree under which Lord Buddha

attained enlightenment at Bodh

Gaya, India, over 2,000 years ago.

Heading to Sa Kaew province,

go along highway No 319 until it

meets highway No 304, then turn

left and pass the Khaohinsorn Royal

Development Study Centre in

Chachoengsao’s Phanom Sarakham

district. Take a right turn to highway

No 359, which is a two-lane 60-kilometre

straight road, cutting through rubber

plantations, tapioca plantations with

some roadside restaurants and petrol

stations.

Tip: Beware of the trucks

delivering goods to and from the

border. At night this road is rather

dimly lit.

Tip: Pura Hotel (0-3742-1929-

33) with luxurious decoration is

located in the heart of Muang Sa

Kaew, offering breakfast for guests

at Bt750 per person

From the city, use highway No

33 to go to Aranyaprathet district.

When you reach there, take a turn

towards Ban Khok Sa Bang to visit

Prasat (castle) Khao Noi Si Chomphu

in Wat Khao Noi Si Chomphu. You

can drive up close to the castle.

Back to the Aranyaprathet city,

you will find a roundabout where most

state offices are located, including

Aranyaprathet Police Station (0-3723

1203) and Aranyaprathet Hospital

(0-3723-1180). Follow a sign to Ban

Khlong Leuk Border Market, better

known as Rong Klua Market, to buy

many products.

Continue Khok Sung subdistrict

to visit a Khmer-style stone sanctuary

Prasat Sadok Kokthom, by using

highway No 348 (Aranyaprathet-Ta

Phraya Road) until 24 km. Take the

right turn to highway No 3381 and

take a left turn in front of Wat Nong

Samed and follow the sign to the

sanctuary. There you can admire the

beauty of the ancient lintel (Thap

Lang) about the Hindu God Krishna.

There are bicycles

motorbikes and golf carts

for rent

After that, use highway No 348

and head towards Ta Phraya district,

until 35 km. Turn to highway No 3486.

When you reach the intersection of

Ban Kho Khlan School, follow the sign

“Lalu: the natural wonder of soil

collapse”. At this natural attraction,

some part of the soil is still hard and

has been eroded into shapes similar

to a city wall or pillars. Rent a modified

farm vehicle at Bt200 to enjoy the

beautiful view. Contact Lalu Tourist

Centre (08-9098-0772). There is the

province’s first and only home-stay

accommodation, which also features

the new theory of agriculture and

the sufficiency economy philosophy.

You can also buy local products as

souvenirs.

TIP: Typical souvenirs from

Sa Kaew are cantaloupe, pork

sausage and handicrafts, while

wood carving products should be

bought at the Thanon Sai Tonmai.

From the Ban Khlong Luek border market; there will be a

van and a pickup rental service of tour agents to Cambodiaûs Talat Poi

Pet. Contact Aranyaprathet Immigration Bureau at 0-3723-1131.

5 Days 4 Nights

Start with Muang Chachoengsao,

taking highway No 314 and

Theo Khunakorn Road to visit Wat

Luang Phor Sothorn (Wat Sothorn

wararam Worraviharn), which is open

during weekdays from 7am to 4pm

and during weekends and holidays

from 7am to 5pm.

Women should wear

sleeved shirt, blouse and

skirt pants that cover the

knees. If you wear something

too casual, there are some long

shirts for the visitors to cover

themselves before entering the

ordination hall.

From the temple, go straight to

visit Marupong Park, Ancient Fortress,

City Pillar Shrine, Wat Mueang or

Wat Pitulathirat Rangsarit-the latter

which was built during the reign

of King Rama. Nearby is Muang

Chachoengsao Hospital (0-3851-

1033).

Recommended: Wat Chin Pracha

Samoson (Wat Leng Hok Yi) where

you can admire the ceremonial

hall (viharn) with Chinese arts,

pay respects to the three Buddha

images made of paper.

Return to the same route until

you reach the Benchama Rat Rangsarit

School intersection. Turn left to go

up the bridge and then turn left at

the complex intersection to highway

No 304. When you reach Bang Khla

intersection, take a left turn to

highway No 3121, then you will reach

the Y-shaped intersection and turn

left to Wat Pho Bang Khla. There are

as many as 100,000 fruit bats on big

trees within the temple’s compound

during the day. There is also a

floating market in front of the Bang

Khla district office, which is open on

weekends to sell OTOP goods and at

the end of the estuary is located the

pagoda of King Taksin the Great.

At the intersection, go straight

and drive under the elevated bridge

towards Benchama Rat Rangsarit

School on Suphakij Road (highway

No 3200). After passing by the Muang

Chachoengsao Police Station (0-

3851-1111), you will see Wat Uphai

Phatikaram, which houses Luang

Pho To (Phra Trairattananayok), one

of the three Luang Pho To images in

Thailand.

After that, stop by for lunch at

the nearby Ban Mai Market, which

was built during the time of King

Rama V.

Tiffany’s Show (0-3842-1700-5)

Alcazar Pattaya (0-3841-0224-7)

Tuxedo Magic Castle (0-3848-8880)

In the same route to pass

Chachoengsao’s Muang district. You

can stop for petrol or NGV at the PTT

station before going to highway No

7 (motorway) heading towards Chon

Buri to find a place to stay in Pattaya

City.

Next morning, wake up early

and drive through Pratamnak Road

and go up to Wat Khao Phra Bat to

pay respects to Buddha images and

also admire the Pattaya City view

at its most beautiful. At the foothills,

there is the Central Region’s Tourism

Authority of Thailand Area 3 (0-3842-

7667, 0-3842-8750). Then drive back

to the northern Pattaya and pass the

Dolphin Roundabout to the Pattaya-

Na Klua Road and turn left to Soi Na

Klua 12.

Recommended: the Sanctuary of

Truth (Prasat Satchatham). You can

admire a gigantic temple-like structure

entirely made of wood,the only one

of its kind. The place is open from

8am to 5pm on daily basis (0-3836-

7229, 0-3836-7230).

Use highway No 3, Sukhumvit

Road, heading towards Rayong. When

you reach 143 km, stop by the Mini

Siam Pattaya (0-3872-7333, 0-3872-7666)

to admire world architectures in

miniature. Leaving the Mini Siam

Pattaya, drive past Tesco Lotus

Shopping Mall for another km and

you will spot the entrance to the

Pattaya Elephant Village (0-3842-

8648, 0-3824-9145) where you can

enjoy many shows.

Recommended: the Underwater

World (0-3875-6879 ext.114-115,

08-6609-0075) where you can watch

marine species from the acrylic

pedestrian tunnel through an

underwater environment. You can

also get onboard the Bhirom Submarine

(0-3841-5234) to closely enjoy the

underwater world.

At 161 km, you can visit Wat

Yansangwararam Mahawihan to

pay respects to Lord Buddha’s relics.

Near the temple, there is an intersection.

If you turn right there you would visit

the Anek Kuson Sala (Wihan Sian),

which houses beautiful Chinese

architectures in miniature.

Coming back to the main

road, stop by the 163 km marker to

visit Nong Nooch Garden which

houses all kinds of gardening in its

1,300-rai space. There are trams to

take visitors around and accommodation

for guests. (0-3870-9358-61, 0-3823-

8158). Or you can use highway No

3 to to stay for a night in Rayong’s

Muang district.

Wake up early, travel from the

Muang Rayong City Pillar Shrine and

turn to Soi Nakhon Rayong 49 to

visit Wat Pa Pradu, which houses

a left-reclining Buddha image. Then

go back to the mouth of the soi and

turn right to pass Rayong Hospital

(0-3861-7453-60). Turn right to highway

No 3138 (Chantha Udom Road) and

go straight until you reach the Ban

Khai intersection and turn left to

highway No 3143. Stop by the

Suphattraland, an extensive orchard

open to the public, to sit on a tram

around the orchard to taste and

buy fresh fruits. The place on daily

and provides accommodations.

(0-3889-2049). If you don’t visit the

Suphattraland,

Drive along Sukhumvit Road

and take a right turn at 231 km

towards Ban Phe and stop by the

Rayong Aquarium. After that, drive

along the beach to Ban Phe Market,

which sells seafood products and has

piers to Ko Samet. All piers have car

parking services.

Sri Ban Phe Pier (0-3865-1556)

Phe Pier (0-3889-6155-6)

Seri Ban Phe Pier (0-3865-1134-5)

Choke Krisada Pier (0-3865-2040)

Nuanthip Pier (0-3865-1511,0-3865-3639)

Tambon Phe Municipality Pier

(0-3865-3430-1)

The ferry leaves every hour from

8am to 6pm and leaves every half

an hour during the weekends and

holidays

Na Dan-Hat Sai Kaeo 30 minutes

Ao Wong Deuan 40 minutes

Ao Wai 60 minutes

Ao Kiu-Pakarung 70 minutes

Ao Phrao 40 minutes

Ao Noi Na-Samet Cliff 30 minutes

TIP: Wong Deuan Beach and

Ko Phai are often crowded and

buzzing. The peaceful beaches

are at the back of the island.

Use highway No 3145 along

the coast and pass Phe Arboretum

and Suan Son Beach. At the end of

the road is Laem Mae Phim, along

the coast with many restaurants, resorts

and hotels.

From Laem Mae Phim, use

highway No 3161 and go straight until

you reach 12 km to visit Suan Song Khru

Resort, (0-3865-7144, 0-3865-7772),

taste durian, rambutans, mangosteens,

and longan during the months of

April and June.

Stop by at 11 km to take a picture

with the Sunthon Phu Monument. Drive

to Sukhumvit Road 268 km and turn

right before reaching Klaeng Palace.

Visit Wat Saranat Thammaram

whose area around the ordination hall

is surrounded by replicas of major

Buddhist monuments from Thailand’s

four regions.

Drive towards Chanthaburi until

you reach 306 km in Tha Mai district.

Stop by Wat Khao Sukim, located on

a hill covering an area of some 3,200

rai of land. You can find a place to

stay in Chanthaburi’s Muang district.

In the morning, visit the King

Taksin The Great Park, where you can

pay respects to King Taksin’s equestrian

statue, guarded by statues of his

trusted soldiers, situated on an islet

in the middle of the large pond. At

the north corner of this park, there

is the Chanthaburi TAT (0-3935-

0224).

From the park, take a left turn

to pass the Namphu Market and

then turn left to Srichan Road or

Anyamanee Road, the country’s

biggest hub of jewellery and

gemstones trade. Go further down

the road, you will reach Chanthaburi

Police Station (0-3931-1111, 0-3931-

1145).

Turn right to Tha Luang Road,

you will spot Bangkok Hospital

Chanthaburi (0-3931-9888) and take

highway No 3153. You will spot

a petrol station at the curve and

Chanthanimit Hotel (0-3931-3163,

0-3932-1147). Turn right to the soi

opposite the hotel.

Recommended: ‘Unseen

Thailand’ Catholic Church, more

than 275 years old, in Gothic

architecture with beautiful stainedglass

decorations depicting Christian

saints. Its entrance is opposite the

hotel.

TIP: If you stay until late

evening, the church will turn on the

lights, making it glow beautifully

from the outside. Be respectful

if there is a religious ceremony

taking place during your visit.

Back to King Taksin the Great

Park, you now drive along Tha Chalaeb

Road (highway No 3146) and pass

Eastern Hotel before turning to Ban

Samet Ngam. You will spot the tourist

attraction sign for King Taksin Shipyard,

which is the dock-like area with parts

of an old ship found during underwater

archaeological excavations. You

Phim Beach (08-1613-

3978,08-1924-8285)

has white bungalows in the

middle of a garden and a pool.

Nearby is Khun Eke Restaurant,

selling delicious and reasonablypriced

food (08-6542-4194,

08-6353-7095)

can have a meal at Jae Toy Seafood

Restaurant (08-9932-0475) and stroll

along the coast for a beautiful view

and take pictures at a bridge

overlooking the sea.

The Reed Mat Weaving Centre

of Samet Ngam Village provides

Chanthabun mat-weaving demon

for a border pass (0-3958-8084).

stration. Call the rural development

official for a visit at 0-3945-4321,

0-3945-4333.

Go to Tha Chalaeb Road and

head towards highway No 3147

and follow the sign to Khai Noen

Wong (0-3939-1431) and National

Maritime Museum. It opens from

Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to

4pm.

Kullanart Shop. Take Sukhumvit

Road heading towards Trat province

until you reach 347 km.

Recommended: Namtok Phlio

National Park, a middle-sized

waterfall with water all year round.

The fall also features the Alongkorn

Chedi, which was built in 1876 to

commemorate the visit of King Rama V

and Queen Sunantha, and a pyramidal

stupa namely Phranang Ruea Lom

Pyramid, which was built by King

Rama V as a loving memorial to Queen

Sunanthakumarirat, his first consort,

who died in a boat accident. The

attraction also has accommodation

for guests (0-3943-4528).

Take highway No 3 (Sukhumvit

Road) and turn right to highway No

3156 to go to Laem Ngop Beach.

Take a ferry to cross to Koh Chang,

Koh Kut, Koh Wai and Koh Mak.

Kasemsarn Hotel

(0-3931-1100, 0-3931-2340)

is located near the Chanthaburi

Gems Centre,

KP Grand Hotel (0-3932-3201-10)

is conveniently located amid

shopping malls and markets.

TIP: The popular beach is Hat

Kai Bae where visitors are fond of

watching sunset there. It offers

various accommodations from

normal to luxurious prices.

The accommodation provided

on the island has both those with

24-hour electricity and those with

electricity only at night time.

Take a picture with the east

end of Thailand sign at the Laem Ngop

Pier. Nearby is the Trat TAT Central

(0-3959-7255,0-3959-7259-60). Drive

along highway No 3148 and pass

the Laem Ngop Police Station

(0-3959-7033) to enter the Tambon

Ban Nam Chiao Municipality. Further

down the road, you will spot a sign

for the Nam Chiao Natural Study

Centre at the Soi Thesaban 8 Bridge.

You can travel by boat through

mangrove forest. Contact the

Tambon Ban Nam Chiao Municipality

(0-3953-2659, 0-3959-3915) for a boat

for hire at Bt200 per five persons as

well as home-stay service.

Get back to Sukhumvit Road

and pass Trat Hospital (0-3953-1784-6)

before taking a turn to highway No

318 towards Khlong Yai district, a

journey of about 90 km on a twolane

winding road on the seacoast.

TIP: Fill up your petrol tank

because the next petrol station

is only when you reach near the

district’s town area.

The White Sand Beach, the

Ratchakarun, the Mai Rut Beach and

the Ban Chuen Beach are suitable

for swimming. There are restaurants

at the 70 km as well as other parking

lots and OTOP shops.

When you reach 82 km of

highway No 318, stop by to take a

picture at Thailand’s narrowest point,

which is only 450 metres wide. Then

drive through the Khlong Yai district

town area and stop by to shop at

Ban Hat Lek border market.

TIP: You have to bargain and

check the goods’ condition.

You can travel to Cambodia’s

Koh Kong by presenting your passport

at the border checkpoint or apply

Chanthabun mat-weaving demon for a border pass (0-3958-8084).

The Centre Point Ferry Pier (0-3953-8196). It takes

45 minutes to reach Koh Chang where visitors get off the ferry at the

Dan Kao Pier located just before Ao Thammachat. The ferry using the

Laem Ngop-Ban Saen Tung route provides service from 6am to 6pm

every hour. The fare is Bt160 per person while the passenger cars are

free-of-charge.

The Koh Chang Ferry Pier (Ao Thammachat)

(0-3952-8288-9). The trip takes 30 minutes. Visitors get on and off the

ferry at Ao Sapparot. The ferry provides services from 7am to 7pm every

hour. The fare is Bt120 per person per round trip and Bt200 per car per

round trip.

The Ferry Timetable from Trat to Koh Mak

and Koh Kut

Depart from	Time	Fare for express boat to Koh Kut (Nil Mungkorn)	Fare for speed boat
Laem Ngop Pier	1pm	Bt400 per trip	Bt550 per trip
Koh Kut Pier (a deep water terminal)	10am	Bt400 per trip	Bt550 per trip

The ferry schedule for the Laem Ngop-Koh

Mak Route

The Boat Name	Depart from Laem Ngop	Depart from Koh Mak	Fares
Koh Mak Resort’s speed boat (Panun)	11.am 4 pm	8 am 1 pm	Bt450/trip
Koh Mak Kathamaran Express (Sea Cat)	10am 2pm 5pm	7.30am noon 3.30pm	Bt480/trip
Koh Mak Ferry	15.00	08.00	Bt300/trip

4 Days 3 Nights

Takehighway No.321 and, when

you reach 163 km, take a left

turntoKhunChangRoadto WatPhra

Rup to pay homage to a wooden

Buddha footprint and a reclining

Buddha statue, which is said to have

the most beautiful face in Thailand.

Back to the main road, turn left to go

to Wat Pa Lelai to worship a huge

sitting Buddha image named “Luang

Pho To”, 23 metres in height and visit

the “Khum Khun Chang” traditional

houses.

Leaving Wat Pa Lelai, turn right

to the city inbound route. When you

spot the dragon pillars of the City

Pillar Shrine, go straight until you reach

Wat Peung and then turn left to Sompan

Khong Road and highway No 3507.

About 100 metres down, you’ll

find Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat,

featuring ancient Khmer-style prang

(pagoda) and wihans. Next is Wat

Khae to worship four Buddha footprints,

and a giant tamarind tree that has

a 10-metre trunk and is about a

thousand years old. Also visit the

“Khum Khun Phaen”, a traditional Thai

house built as part of the literature

and historical conservation park.

Next, visit Wat No Phutthangkun

to admire beautiful murals in the old

ordination hall that were painted

during the reign of King Rama III.

Travel a little further, you will find

Wat Phra Loi where visitors can enjoy

feeding thousands of fish in the

sanctuary in front of the temple and

watch monkeys, bears and turtles at

a small zoo.

Recommended: Wat Phra Non

(Unseen Thailand) It houses a special

reclining Buddha image, lying supine,

instead of lying on one side as in

other images.

Take a right turn at the intersection,

cross the bridge and go straight

ahead through another intersection

to highway No 340 towards Sri Prachan

district. At the area around 110 km,

there are petrol stations and souvenir

shops along both sides of the road.

At 115-116 km, there is the Buffalo

Village where visitors can enjoy shows.

The place also provides Thai

traditional houses as accommodations to

visitors (0-3558-2591-3). Approximately

5-6 km further down, is located the

country’s largest soil-less plantation

where vegetables are grown on

hydroponics system.

At the Sam Chuk intersection,

turn left, cross a bridge and turn right.

Recommended: The century-old

Sam Chuk Market, offering traditional

food and Thai traditional style

coffeeAlso visit Museum of Ban

Khun Jamnong Jinarak.

Then head to Bueng Chawak.

Along the way, you will pass Doem

Bang Nang Buat Police Station at 142

km (0-3557-8022).

Recommended: Bueng

Chawak Chalerm Phra Kiet, the

country’s largest underwatertunnel displaying freshwater fish,

the zoo, local herb gardens while

there are also many restaurants

around the lake for you to enjoy

lunch.

Bueng Chawak Resort offers tree

houses on riverbanks as accommodation

(0-3543-0099, 0-3543-0100). Visitors

can also enjoy boat rides around the

1,700-rai lake.

Head towards Chai Nat

province and, when you reach the

Saphan Mai intersection, turn left to

visit Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao.

Use highway No 3183 and drive along

the canal before turning right to pass

Wat Singha Hospital (0-5643-0189,

0-5646-1344). When you reach a

roundabout, go straight, following the

temple sign. This old temple is located

on the Tha Chin riverbank and visitors

come here to pay respects to the

late revered monk Luang Phu Suk,

who was a teacher of Krom Luang

Chumphon Khet Udomsak, the father

of the Thai navy.

Return to highway No 340 until

you reach the intersection between

Phaholyothin Road and highway No

1. Turn right until you reach 280 km

and then turn to highway No 311.

You will see the Chao Phya Dam

around which many restaurants are

located.

In front of the park, there is an

OTOP shop, selling the province’s

iconic souvenirs and products

Leaving the dam, take a U-turn

and go straight for another 2 km to

visit Chainat Bird Park to admire bird

models from straw wickerwork and

visit the region’s largest bird cage

covering over 26 rai of land.

From the bird park, go straight

to the intersection between the Asia

Highway and highway No 32 and turn

right at 135 km towards Lop Buri. Pass

Tha Wung Hospital (0-3648-1208),

where you can look for a place to

stay in downtown area of Lop Buri.

Thep Thani Hotel operated by

Rajabhat University (0-3641-1023)

Next morning, start with the city

tour in Lop Buri with San Phra Kan.

On the left of this former Brahman

shrine is a parking lot that charges

Bt10.

Just opposite the shrine is a

Khmer-style pagoda Phra Prang

Sam Yod. Another ancient place

worth visiting nearby is Wat Nakhon

Kosa.

Cross the railway track, turn left

and keep going straight, to Wat PhraSi

Maha That. This temple features the

tallest Prang in Lop Buri. After this visit,

make a U-turn towards the market

and take the first left turn to visit

the Tourism Authority of Thailand to

admire the ancient teak building and

get some tourist information.

Go straight down the road and

you will see Phra Narai Ratchaniwet

(King Narai’s Palace), which also

houses the Lop Buri National Museum.

Go straight through the

intersection, turn right at the Prang

Khaek intersection to return to San

Phra Kan. Drive on to Narai Maharat

Road and then highway No 311. Pass

the special warfare command to the

Sa Kaew Roundabout whose inner

circle is called Sri Suriyothai Road.

Surrounding this roundabout are shops,

banks, and restaurants as well as the

Lop Buri Zoo (open daily from 8am

to 5.30pm)

From Narai Maharat Road,

turn left to Naresuan Maharat Road

and cross the bridge over the

irrigation canal. Turn right and then

leave to the road along the canal.

The area has many groups making

soft-prepared chalk (Thai traditionalstyle

body powder), so you can see

the demonstrations and local way of

life. You can also stop by the OTOP

Centre near the bridge for such

souvenirs.

Back to the Sa Kaew Roundabout,

turn left and go straight to the Phra

Narai Roundabout. This area has

many government offices, including

the city hall and the Lop Buri Provincial

Police Bureau (0-3641-4416).

Stop for lunch and move on

along the inbound Phaholyothin

Road (Bangkok- Saraburi). At about

4 km, turn left at the intersection to

highway No 3017, you will pass the

Sap Lek Reservoir, which was built

during the reign of King Narai. Head

to the Phatthana Nikhom district to

visit the Sunflower Fields along the

way.

TIP: The sunflowers will bloom from

early November to late January.

Drive straight through all

intersections along highway No 3017

to pass Phatthana Nikhom Hospital

(0-3649-1341) and Phatthana Nikhom

Police Station (0-3649-1339).

Recommended: Pa Sak Jolasit

Dam

The dam is located at the end

of the road. This is the longest earthfilled

dam in Thailand with a clay

core (0-3649-4243). If you want to

travel across the reservoir by train on

a railway constructed along the dam

ridge.

You can opt for a horse carriage,

which charges Bt50 per adult and

Bt30 per child, or use a monorail,

which charges Bt25 per adult and

Bt10 per child.

At the dam, you can also enjoy

shrimp and freshwater fish dishes

offered by restaurants in the area.

Nearby there are many resorts.

Use the two-lane highway

No 3017 to visit Ban Pong Manao

Archaeology Site to admire ancient

artifacts.

At the intersection, go straight

to reach Saraburi’s Wang Muang

district. You will pass the Yana Farm,

which raises ostrich, lambs, goats,

cows, birds and chicken as well as

grows grapes. You can stop by at

its restaurant to buy fresh produce

(0-3636-4353, 08-1806-9079).

At 30 km, take a left turn to

highway No 2273 then take a right

turn at the three-pronged intersection

to highway No 2282 and follow the

sign of Ban Pong Manao Archaeology

Site.

Return to highway No 2282 and

go back towards Ban Manao Wan.

Take a right turn at an intersection to

highway No 2338. Go straight until you

spot the Sap Jampa Water Tank and

take a right turn at the intersection to

Rural highway No 4022. Take another

left turn at the first intersection, you

will reach a garden known as Suan

Jampi Sirindhorn, featuring magnolia

sirindhorniae and a natural trekking

route about a km long.

Once you are back on highway

No 2273, head towards Muak Lek

district. At 10 km, take a right turn

to highway No 2224. Exercise more

caution while driving along downhill

curves in this area. Visit Chet Sao Noi

Fall and Muak Lek Fall before finding

a place to stay for the night.

In the morning, leave Muak

Lek district using Mitraphap Road

(highway No 2). Stop by to buy good

quality milk and the famous curry puff

before heading to Saraburi’s Muang

district.

Mitraphab Road is the main

route to the Northeastern region

and there are many petrol stations

and garages along the way. Before

reaching the elevated road, there

is an LPG station, which is open 24

hours a day near Kasemrat Saraburi

Hospital (0-3631-5555-94)

Take a right turn to Saraburi’s

Muang district through Phaholyothin

Road (highway No 1), cross the

railway and keep straight ahead

then turn left at Municipality 5 Road

and highway No 3225. You will notice

the entrance to the Weaving Centre

of Tambon Ban Ton Tan.

Recommended: Handwoven

fabrics.

Here, you can find home-stay

accommodations, Khan Tok dinner

with shows, and tour bus service.

Contact Tambon Ton Tan (0-3672-

5268). Nearby is Wat Khao Kaeo

Worawihan, an old temple on the

foothill where King Rama V used to

visit. In front of the temple, there is

the Thai-Yuan Museum to learn

about the local way of life.

Get back to Phaholyothin

Road and head to Phra Phutthabat

district. At the Na Phra Lan intersection,

there is an OTOP shop to buy souvenirs.

Pass Phra Buddhabhat Hospital

(0-3626-6111) and, when you reach

136 km, visit Wat Phra Phutthabat

Ratchaworamahawihan to pay

respects to the Lord Buddha’s

footprint covered by the Mondop,

a square building with a seven-tier

castle roof on the foothill. Also visit the

Phra Phutthabat National Museum

at the main temple hall.

TIP: Every Buddhist Lent Day, there

is a ceremony for public members

to offer flowers to the monks on

their special alms visits here.

Use Phaholyothin Road to return

to Saraburi’s Muang district and go

straight on the Bangkok-bound route.

When you reach 102 km, take the

parallel road to visit Wat Phra

Phutthachai. At the cliff you will find

a shadow of the Buddha, and some

pre-historic line drawings dating back

to some 3,000 years-like those found

at Ubon Ratchathani’s Pha Taem

National Park.

Inside the dam area, you can rent bungalows or tents (0-3649-4243).

Phetcharat Pasak Resort (0-3635-9196-7)

Magnolia siridhorniae is a new magnolia flower found only in this place.

3 days 2 nights

Use Nakhon In Road, turn right to Bang Kruai-Sai Noi route and then turn right again to the road along Nonthaburi Pier. Turn left to pass Bang Sri Muang Police Station (0-2881-5512, 0-2447-4064) until you reach Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat, a temple featuring Thai and Chinese architectures, built during the reign of King Rama III. The temple is open on weekends and public holidays. Nearby is a 100-rai public park called Kanchanaphisek Park with a fine collection of water plants, garden plants and underwater animals.

Get back to Nakhon In Road and make a U-turn under the Rama V Bridge and turn left near the Tam Saeb Siam Restaurant. You will find yourself at an intersection where you should turn right to Wat Sangkhatan. This temple has the glass ubosot where Lord Buddha’s relics are stored.

From Nakhon In Road, make a U-Turn to cross the Rama V Bridge towards Tiwanon Road. On reaching the Pak Kred five-pronged Intersection, turn left to Bhumivet Road and go along the first soi located before Major Cineplex, and you will find yourself at Wat Klang Kret to worship the reclining Buddha Image.

Go ahead to Wat Sanam Neu, which is located on the Chao Phya riverside and has a pier to cross to Ko Kret or Kret island in the Chao Phya River. Recommended is a trip to Wat Poramaiyikawat to visit the tilted pagoda of this unique Mon style temple. Behind the monastery is located the Wihara of Phra Phut Saiyat (Reclining Buddha Image) whose north entrance enshrines Nonthaburi’s Buddha image named ‘Phra Nonthamunin’.

Tip: From Wat Klang Kret, you can cross to Ko Kret via Wat Chimpli Pier. If you cross the river from Wat Sanam Neu, you will get off the ferry at Wat Poramaiyikawat Pier and can take pictures of the tilted pagoda while you are crossing the river.

Must try! Fish patties with Naw Kalaa (a ginger family plant) and buy ceramics and sweets.

Back to Tiwanon Road, turn left towards Pathum Thani province and take another left turn at the intersection to highway No 307. Cross Nonthaburi Bridge and when you reach Bang Khu Wat intersection, take a U-turn under the bridge towards highway No 3111.

Go straight through the Santisuk intersection until you reach a Y-shaped intersection. You will notice the sign of Wat Chedi Thong, which has a Mon-style golden pagoda copied from Burma’s Jittagon Pagoda and the white Buddha image.

Return to Santisuk intersection and turn left to highway No 346. Cross the bridge to the Krung Siam St Carlos intersection (0-2975-6700) and turn left towards Phaholyothin Road and pass the Rangsit Market before driving up the bridge towards Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road. You will notice roadside noodle stalls along the way. When you reach Khlong 5 Bridge, you will find yourself at the entrance to the National Science Museum (0-2577-4172-8). It is open from 9.30am to 4pm every Tuesday to Friday and from 9.30am to 5pm during weekends.

When you go about 4 km further, you will reach the Supreme Artist Hall (0-2986-5020-4) where biographies and works of national artists are exhibited. The hall is open from 9.30am to 4pm from Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays.

Use the Asia Highway to head to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, and find a place to stay for the night.

Tip: Between 7.30pm and 9pm, the city-island’s ancient sites would be lit up so you can admire the beautiful view of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.

In the morning, travel around the ancient city island starting from Wat Sam Pluem Pagoda by taking highway No 3059.

Recommended: Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon.

Within the complex, there are a huge bell-shaped pagodas and a huge image of a reclining Buddha in brick and stucco, built during the reign of King Naresuan. Stop by to eat noodle dishes near the temple.

Next stop is Wat Phanan Choeng to worship a huge, seated Buddha image named Phra Phuttha Trairattana Nayok or Luang Pho Sam Po Kong. The complex also features a Chinese-style chapel honouring a Chinese princess, Phra Nang Soi Dok Mak.

Using the route along the railway, turn left to the highway No 3053 to the first intersection then turn left, go across the bridge towards the city island and pass the district office. Stop by at the Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre and the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. The end of the road was the old City Hall, standing next to the Tourism Authority of Thailand Office of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthya (0-3524-6076-7).

Take the Si Sanphet Road along the Chao Phya River until the end of the road and turn right to pass Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital (0-3524-1718). Drive on along the river to pass the Somdet Phra Sri Nakarin Park. Turn left at the intersection and get across the river. Near the bridge you will find the entrance to Wat Kasattrathirat Worawihan featuring a beautiful Ayutthaya-era Ubosot.

Mae Choy Nang Nam (0-3525-5268) near Wat Kasattrathirat Worawihan

Crossing back to the city island, turn left to pass the Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya 3rd Fine Arts office, Rear Palace, Si Suriyothai Park, and Chedi Phra Si Suriyothai. Going beyond the Wat Teuk’s row of fences, turn right to Wat Lokkayasutha to pay respects to the large 29-metre-long reclining Buddha with a lotus to support the head rather than a pillow like other images.

Return to the same road and pass the Pridi Banomyong Memorial and turn left to Wat Na Phra Men, which features the principal Buddha image fully decorated in regal attire. From the temple’s entrance, turn right towards the inner city island and straight to Wat Phra Si Sanphet, which is compared to be Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaew as it is also located inside the compound of the Grand Palace. Admission fee is Bt10 per person and it is open daily. Nearby is the Wihan Phra Mongkol Bophit where a large bronze cast Buddha image of the same name is enshrined. Next stop is Khum Khun Phaen and Elephant Palace, which offers tourists a ride on an elephant from 9am to 5pm (0-3521-1001).

From Wat Phra Si Sanphet, go along Naresuan Road to visit Wat Thammikarat where there is a beautiful pagoda surrounded by standing Singha statues. Next door are Wat Ratburana and Wat Mahathat, featuring a beautiful Khmer-style Prang (pagoda). Admission fee for each site is Bt10.

Travel out of Ayutthaya using highway No 309 towards Ang Thong province. At 53 km, there is the entrance to Wat Chantharangsi on the right side. You can stop by to worship the world’s largest sacred “Luangpho Sod” Buddha image, which is nine metres tall and is six metres and nine inches wide from knee to knee.

Make a U-turn back to 40 km of the highway, then turn right to highway No 329. Cross the bridge and turn left to pass Pa Mok Hospital (0-3566-1322) and go straight to Wat Pa Mok Worawihan, which features one of Thailand’s most beautiful reclining Buddha images. At 55 km, turn left to Drum-Making Village in Tambon Ekkarat to buy Ang Thong iconic souvenirs.

Go straight and cross the bridge over Noi River before turning right to highway No 3454 until you reach 31 km where you will find Wat Siroi, which has a seated Buddha image in the posture of Pa Lelai, called Luangpho To, 1 metre high and 6 metres wide from knee to knee. Then go straight to pass Wiset Chaichan Hospital (0-3563-1322) until you reach the intersection where you turn right to highway No 3195.

At 29 km is Wat Muang Charoentham where you can pay respects to the first and largest silver holy Buddha image of the country called Phra Buddha Navamin-Sakayamunee Sriwisetchaichan, the ubosot in the middle of a blooming lotus structure and the Chinese-style pavilion. There is also a large statue of the 1,000-handed female goddess Kuan Im. Use highway No 3195 to travel to Muang district and look for the sign of Wat Tonson This temple houses Somdet Phra Si Mueangthong, the country’s largest seated Buddha image moulded in metal and gilded.

Make a U-turn to the mouth of the soi and turn right to highway No 309 and drive along the canal to 64 km. Turn left at the intersection to cross the bridge and go straight for another four km, you will find Wat Khun Inthapramun, which houses a large and long reclining Buddha.

Go straight to 72 km and take a right turn.

Recommended: Wat Chaiyo Worawihan or Wat Ket Chaiyo to worship the moulded statue of Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi). Near Wat Ket Chaiyo is the entrance to the Bang Chao Cha Village that is famous for bamboo-weaving handicrafts and offers international-standard home-stays and tour guide service (0-3564-4319, 0-3564-4091).

Next morning, use highway No 309 and go straight to Sing Buri province. When you reach Tha Chang district, take a left turn at 78 km to the rural route number 3008 Recommended Wat Phikun Thong, which houses the country’s largest sitting Buddha image.

Return to highway No 309 and turn left to Muang district, before following the signs for Wat Phra Non Chaksi and turn left to highway No  3032. The temple houses a huge reclining Buddha image, 46 metres long, which is revered by the local people. In front of the temple there is also a One Tambon One Product shop for visitors to buy souvenirs.

Drive into the village for about one km, you will find Wat Na Phrathat featuring an ancient brick pagoda built during the early Ayutthaya period. This area is assumed to have been the ancient site of Sing Buri.

Return to highway No 309 and go straight towards Muang district and stop by at Wat Sawang Arom, which is a centre for Buddha-image sculpture, and houses a museum for Grand Shadow Play puppets.