Known for its beautiful mountain and forest walks, cool streams, waterfalls and fruit orchards, this 570-sq-km park (0 1228 2051; admission 200B) surrounds Khao Luang (1835m), the highest peak in peninsular Thailand. Along with other forested igneous peak
Category: Thailand Destinations
Post-tsunami construction and rebuilding are underway, but two years after the event, locals worry they’ve been forgotten. Hotels remain unfinished, restaurants empty and the lack of tourists is all too obvious.
Although less than 85 sq km, Khao Chamao/Khao Wong National Park (0 3889 4378; [email protected]; admission 400B; 8.30am-4.30pm) is famous for limestone mountains, high cliffs, caves, dense forest and waterfalls. Secreted in the rugged landscape are tiger
Karon’s gorgeous beachfront is developing rapidly, but the area still has an isolated feel. The beach road, once nearly void of development, now features a string of mainly top-end resorts. Luckily, most are tasteful and set far enough back from the sand
This frontier province stretches from the fertile sugar-cane fields of the namesake provincial capital all the way to the sparsely inhabited western border with Myanmar. It is home to some of Thailand’s largest tracts of preserved land, gushing waterfalls
With field, forest and stream, Kanchanaburi has become a catch basin for new arrivals overwhelmed by Bangkok (a mere 130km east) and a closer alternative than Chiang Mai for Thailand’s soft version of ‘trekking’ (elephant rides, short hikes and bamboo raf
Kamphaeng Phet Province offers a nice departure from the tourist hordes. Spend the day exploring the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park then visit the small night market before heading to one of the town’s karaoke discos to belt out a tune or three. And be su
Formerly known as Chakangrao or Nakhon Chum, Kamphaeng Phet (Diamond Wall) was once an important front line of defence for the Sukhothai kingdom but it is now mostly known for producing the tastiest klûay khài (‘egg banana’, a delicious kind of small bana
At 3000 sq km, Thailand’s largest park (0 3245 9291; www.dnp.go.th; admission 400B; visitors centre 8.30am-4.30pm) is home to the stunning Pa La-U waterfalls, and includes long-distance hiking trails that snake through forests and savannah-like grasslands
Hua Hin’s inevitable rise to become Thailand’s first glamorous getaway began in 1922 when King Rama VII instructed his Italian architect to construct Phra Ratchawang Klai Kangwon (‘Far from Worries’ Palace) in what was then just a humble fishing village.