City life takes its toll on all of us and all of us have yearned for a get-away-from-it-all long weekend to refresh the lungs, rejuvenate the body and recharge the brain cells. Thailand is blessed with weekend destinations for every taste. Fancy a relaxing few days in the countryside, or snorkeling, diving or merely lazing on the beach? What about visiting one of the Kingdom’s many ancient monuments and sites.
Ayutthaya
Travel back to a different time in one of the country’s many impressive historical sites. Ayutthaya is just a couple of hours from Bangkok and is one of Thailand’s historical highlights, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya for over 400 years before the Burmese sacked it in 1767 forcing the movement of the capital to Bangkok.
The Kingdom established a diplomatic mission at the court of King Louise XIV and it was also wooed by the Dutch, English, Portuguese merchants as well as the Chinese and Japanese. The city and kingdom have a long history of welcoming visitors and in its glory days its magnificence was legendary with many visitors claiming that Ayutthaya was the most illustrious and glittering city in South East Asia.
The splendor of Ayutthaya’s past can be glimpsed in its magnificent ruins that are scattered around the modern city like pebbles on a beach. Majestic is a word that does not do justice to the relics of this ancient kingdom. Phra Nokhon si Ayutthaya Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, this vast stretch of ruins is near the heart of the modern city. It is home to many significant ruins like the Wihan Somdet Hall, which is cloistered on three sides and was the first building in Ayutthaya to be covered in gold leaf. A fitting decoration for coronation, and investiture ceremonies that used to he held there.
While relaxing away the long weekend visit the Viham Phra Mongkol Bophit in the Ayutthaya Historical Park it is home to one of the Thailand’s largest bronze Buddha images, even though a restoration of the original which was badly damaged by a lightening strike this Buddha image is still impressive.
The ancient city walls are visible below their later reconstruction by Rama IV; it is fun to have the kids trace the original extent of this old city. The building style too is interesting being a fascinating mix of Hindu and Khmer-inspired motifs and styles.
A little way outside Ayutthaya is the Prasat Nakhon Luang the skeleton of the former summer retreats of the Ayutthaya kings. It sits on the banks of the Pasak River, one of the rivers and canals that formed the city’s defences.
Today there are groups of ruins and rows of headless Buddhas where once a grand empire thrived, but even in their present un-restored state the relics of Ayutthaya are breathtaking in their grandeur and awe-inspiring in their antiquity.
The little known Thai Boat Museum contains intricately hand carved models of traditional Thai and South East Asian boats. There are over 100 detailed models on display tracing the development of South East Asian naval architecture and design.
There are so many sites of interest in and around the city that the most efficient way to see them all is to hire a bicycle at one of the many hire shops.
Even older than Ayutthaya is another capital of a former kingdom, Sukhothai was founded in the 13th century as the first truly independent Thai kingdom that enjoyed a golden age under King Ramkhamhaeng who was credited for devising the Thai alphabet.
Sukothai
Sukhothai Historical Park is another of Thailand’s UNESCO Heritage Sites and is a must see. So what is to see? The park is 12 kilometres from Sukhothai town the ruins of royal palaces, Buddhist temples, the ancient city gates, walls and even moats are an entrancing spectacle especially as the setting sun sheds a tangerine coloured cloak over the ruins. The countryside around Sukhothai is laced with old and interesting temples.
The age-old city walls of this impressive site enclose a variety of attractions. The old royal palace lies in the centre of the town and is surrounded by the original moat it covers a immense 160,000 meters. It was in the royal palace that the stone containing the first written Thai words were discovered during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). In the middle of the 19th century King Ramkhamhaeng’s original throne was installed in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.
Within the walls is a large eight meter tall Buddha image that sits in an avenue of partly ruined pillars. Stroll to the back of the shrine and a mill-pond-still lake reflects the scene as if viewed in a looking glass. This is a tranquil place and perfect for a contemplative moment or two.
To the south stands a pedestal of a large Chedi built up in steps, the lowest platform is adorned with beautiful stucco figures of demons, elephants and lions with angels riding on their backs. Look out too for the famous ‘pineapple’ chedi at Wat Phra Phai Luang.
The Sukhothai National Park has been immaculately restored by the Thai Fine Arts Department and the gardens are ablaze with plants and flowers of every hue.
A little way north of Sukhothai is Thailand’s second city often called the Rose of the North – Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai
The city has been settled for over 700 years and is rich in culture and tradition, Chiang Mai truly is a delightful antidote to its capital city brother. Chiang Mai is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to find in the heart of the city centuries-old chedis and temples next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels. The original city layout still exists as a neat square surrounded by a moat with vestiges of the fortified wall and its four main gates offering prime access to the old town. Much of the old wall has been sensitively restored. The city remains a low-rise one with very few sky-scrapers or tall buildings, those that are there are outside the city centre itself.
The city occupies a natural basin surrounding by mountains that give this part of Northern Thailand a more moderate climate than the rest of the country.
Chiang Mai has its share of bars and pubs to explore at night and the open-air Simon’s Cabaret provides fabulous entertainment for the whole family. The cabaret combines song and dance showcasing Lanna, Thai and Western influences on the region and Thailand.
Not to be missed is Chiang Mai Zoo although it is hilly and can be quite a slog, and the regular trolley rides are very welcome on a hot day. While at the zoo you must see the pair of Pandas recently donated by China, they are entrancing even when just slumbering.
The city boasts 300 hundred ornately decorated Buddhist temples, the most famous include; Wat Phra Singh with its Sinhalese Buddha, the 700-year-old Wat Chiang Man, visible from many parts of the city are the enormous ruins of Wat Chedi Luang and the teak built Wat Phan Tao. A little way out of town are Wat Jet Yod and Wat Suan Dawk, both over 500 years old and have fascinating histories.
A trip to the top of Doi Suithep and its temple that looks over the city is a must, the temple is one of Thailand’s most revered and the views from the top take in the entire city and valley. The hill is steep in places so it is best to hire a taxi, if the weather is good take some time to visit the many waterfalls on the way to the top. They are refreshing and cooling on a hot day.
Chiang Mai is home to many hill tribes and trips to their villages are increasingly popular and give an insight into this unique way of life. Also popular are trips to the excavated old Chiang Mai settlement of Wiang Kum Kham, southwest of the city. These 13th century ruins were only recently re-discovered. The city is also a good launching point for hill treks which include river rafting and elephant riding.
The National Elephant Reserve between Chiang Mai and Lampang is an interesting side visit, there is a twice daily elephant show that demonstrates both the strength and grace of these national beasts. You can also see the work of vets as they tend to the ill and injured animals that are brought to them from the outlaying districts.
Chiang Mai’s night bazaar is enormous and is a bargain hunter’s paradise, packed with local produce, silk and fine cotton clothing, accessories and trinkets this is a shopping experience to be savoured at a leisurely pace. Once done shopping you will find respite in the many bars, pubs and restaurants.
Pattaya
But if the sedate pace of Thailand’s historic sites is not for you and the coast and shore beckon then the Kingdom offers a cornucopia of watery delights. From hectic, bustling, brash Pattaya, to the genteel refinement of Cha Am or Hua Hin and everything in between Thailand has it all. Not forgetting the many islands of course.
Pattaya along with its more demure neighbour Jomthien are Bangkok’s nearest beach resorts taking just a couple of hours from the capital. Some people may think of Pattaya as a schizophrenic town, on the one hand it has a reputation for wild night life and on the other it has its more refined side too. North Pattaya is perhaps the quietest part of Pattaya and one that resembles the old town with its air of an ancient village characterised by traditional wooden houses, bobbing fishing boats, narrow streets and little shops selling handicrafts and other trinkets. Here too are a string of the world’s leading hotels to choose from ranging from the Amari and Dusit group hotels, the Montien, Marriott and the unique Rabbit Resort. There is of course a plentiful supply of budget and super-budget accommodation available too.
Pattaya has many attractions to keep child and adult occupied for a long weekend, The Elephant Village is a sanctuary where former working elephants can live out their remaining years in dignity and peace. There are elephant treks and daily shows to showcase the majesty of these magnificent beasts.
Pattaya Underwater World is the largest ocean aquarium in Asia; this theme park has over 4,000 marine animals and from 200 species ranging from the common to the rare.
Rippley’s Believe It Or Not Museum is a collection of over 250 weird and wonderful exhibits that include African voodoo dolls and masks made from human skin. The Motion Master Panorama Theatre is a high tech ride that features dynamic seating and digital surround sound to thrust you into the middle of the action of specially produced movies. A real thrill ride.
Other attractions include Pattaya Water Park with its swimming pools, whirlpools, and waterslides. Take in spectacular views of Pattaya Bay from the revolving restaurant at the top of the Tower.
As well as a range of water sports like diving, sailing, snorkeling, and water jetting you can experience the thrill of sky diving or taking a flight in a microlight aircraft.
For a quieter stay but not too far from the action and excitement of Pataya, Jomthiem is the perfect location. Pattaya’s night time delights are just a song taew ride away. Jomthien beach is no where very far from anywhere in Pattaya.
Hua Hin and Cha Am
A very different experience awaits at Cha Am and Hua Hin. These two resorts are dignified and a world away from the frenetic experience that Pattaya has to offer. Both are small enough to wander around without the need for transport and the hotels in each resort are no more than minutes from the beaches with many fronting the beach.
In Hua Hin the white sand beach stretches for miles and as on all Thai beaches umbrellas and loungers are provided for comfort and relaxation. Vendors will tempt you with cool drinks, snacks and traditional Thai massage right on the beach, and there are even pony rides available for the young and youngish.
For a grandstand view of Hua Hin and the Gulf of Thailand take a tuk tuk to Hin Lek Fai Hill just outside the city. The views from this vantage point are amazing and stretch for miles up and down the coast, little fishing boats and yachts seem perfectly still on the Gulf’s calm waters.
Also worth a visit is the Monkey Temple where it is possible to feed the wandering and sometimes marauding wild monkeys. It is great fun to see how they interact with each other and the daily stream of tourists. Afterwards climb the steps to the top of the temple for more spectacular views of the town and Gulf.
The fishing harbour and pier is a busy 24-hour operation with boats dropping their catches fresh from the sea. If you want to sample just-out-of-the-water fish and shell fish there are plenty of restaurants near by.
Both Cha Am and Hua Hin are renowned for their excellent golf courses, indeed the first course in Siam was built in Hua Hin in the early 1900s. This is the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course that was designed by Scottish railway engineer A.O. Robbins in 1924, it has the air and feel of an English country club course. These are just one of a number of excellent courses in and around Hua Hin and Cha Am.
A trip worth making is the is to Ratchaniwet Marukhathaiyawan Palace also known as the ‘palace of love and hope’ was built in 1923 by Rama IV as a rainy season retreat. The airy rooms and elevated teak walkways give a beautiful view of the beach and the Gulf. This is the perfect place to spend a few contemplative hours away from the rat race. Although it is located in a Border Patrol Police base just tell the guard that you are visiting the palace and you will be let through. There is no admission charge.
Phi Phi and the Similan Islands
On Thailand’s western seaboard are the famous islands of Phuket, Phi Phi, and the Similans. The Similan Islands are a divers’ paradise and are by far the most beautiful of dive sites any where in the world. This is an archipelago of nine islands covered in lush tropical forests, the clean blue waters of the Andaman Sea wash against some of the world’s finest beaches.
If interacting and photographing small, colourful fish is for you then these islands offer no better opportunity. Immediately you enter the water you become aware of the sheer numbers of different fishes like lion fish and clown fish among others. You may be disappointed by the lack of big fish as the islands are not known for the larger species.
Phi Phi islands are another attractive diving and snorkeling destination that are well worth a visit.
Thailand’s biggest island Phuket is only an hour’s flight from Bangkok and as Thailand’s longest established island holiday destination Phuket has a well established vacation culture and infrastructure. Phuket is an island of diversity with resorts that have vibrant nightlife with endless stretches of bars and pubs to quiet and secluded resorts hotels in out of the way bays.
Marine sports enthusiasts are amply catered for, with dive sites galore where you can hire all you need for a thrilling underwater experience. There are many PADI approved diving schools on the island too that provide internationally accredited dive instructors to safely teach you to dive.
Phuket
For the best in nightlife Patong can not be beaten, it is the most developed of Phuket’s resorts and has a range of hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation that will accommodate any pocket. It is also packed with top notch restaurants that seemingly serve the cuisine of the world. Patong’s beach is justly famous for its three kilometer long stretch of white sand and clear blue sea with views to the north and south that are breathtaking.
But if neon-lit nights are not for you then the smaller and quieter resorts of Karan and Kata will provide a soothing, relaxing weekend away but are close enough to the more vivacious nightlife available at Patong.
Phuket boasts many attractions suitable for the whole family Simon’s Cabaret is an extravagantly fantasy song and dance show that is a continuously moving tableaux that transports you for a musical extravaganza that pays musical visits to every continent.
Phuket FantaSea is a 140 acre theme park packed with a multitude of activities and entertainment: a festival village with carnivals, games, handicrafts and shopping. Night time at FantaSea has a breath-taking Las Vegas-style theatrical show that vividly highlights Thailand’s rich cultural heritage. Phuket FantaSea will not disappoint and will be remembered for a long time.
Phromthep Cape is perhaps one of Phuket’s most important landmarks, the cape juts into the Andaman at dusk it is a popular viewing point, when it is popular to view the approaching night as it falls across the island. Sunset at Phromthep Cape is a kaleidoscope of changing hues, shifting light and lengthening shadows and it is one and the same a calming yet exhilarating experience; it is a natural spectacle that is atmospheric, mesmerising and memorable.
Phuket’s other not to be missed sites are the butterfly farm, the aquarium.
The island has its own archipelago of smaller islands surrounding it, some of which are secluded and uninhabited. Many of them can be reached by chartered boats.
Trang and Krabi
Trang and Krabi are favourite getaway destinations too.
Trang has both mainland beaches and a whole string of offshore islands. For visitors interested in light-adventure activities such as cruising coastal waters, visiting notable sights like the enchanting Emerald Cave, which is accessible only by water, this destination will prove to be outstanding experience.
The near by Mu Ko Petra National Park has beaches and islands lapped by the warm waters of the Andaman Sea. Some of the dive sites in the national park are world-class. There are also wildlife sanctuaries such as Namtok Khao Chong and Khlong Lamchan Park with waterfalls, nature trails and caves. For those looking for a relaxed, tranquil ambience, Trang is a perfect place to unwind amidst stunning scenery.
Krabi is one of most attractive destinations in southern Thailand. Krabi is an ideal getaway spot teeming with natural attractions including white sandy beaches, fascinating coral reefs, numerous large and small islands and verdant forests with caves and waterfalls.
Krabi’s topography is mostly mountains and highlands separated by plains in some parts and its Andaman coast is famous for long stretches of white sandy beaches. Krabi has many canals that are thickly lined with lush mangrove forests.
Kho Samui
But don’t forget the Gulf of Thailand and its renowned islands, particularly Kho Samui. Samui is part of Surat Thani province its mainland has high plateaus and forested mountains while there are low basins in the center and along the eastern coast.
The numerous islands along the coast make Surat Thani a perfect weekend hideaway. The ideal destination for many is Kho Samui, Thailand’s third largest island, and its neighbour Kho Pha-ngan a celebrated island that hosts the biggest beach full moon party. North of Kho Pha-ngan is Kho Tao famous for its excellent coral reefs. To top it all is the dazzling 250-square-kilometer Ang Thong Marine National Park, where a stunning archipelago greets visitors with their charming palm-fringed beaches, crystal clear water and colorful coral reefs.
Thailand provides a cornucopia of venues and experiences for the jaded soul and tired frame, from relaxing beaches, to exhilarating water sports and diving to insights into the history of the Kingdom and the enthralling experience of its northern capital. There is no need to break the bank either as even in the high season accommodation may be very reasonably priced.
However, if traveling out of Bangkok is not on your agenda then what about a long weekend in Bangkok. But that is another story.
