Thailand, " The Land of Smiles "
Introduction
Thailand is country that does not need a lot of introduction, because for a long time it is a very popular destination for travelers to Asia . But nevertheless we will give you some information about this magnificent country because besides the well known tourist sites, there are also a number of sites that are less well known and that are also worth visiting.
Besides the great hospitality of the people, a real benefit of traveling in Thailand is that the infrastructure is very well developed. This means that it is possible to put together all kind of trips that will fit exactly your time availability, budget and interests.
And besides this it also is very easy to connect to neighboring Mekong countries such as Myanmar , Laos and Cambodia . Therefore Thailand is the natural gateway to Indochina .
In Thailand you can have a complete holiday. Whether you are interested in ancient cultures, of prefer a beach holiday with diving and kayaking, or whether you prefer to have an adventure with trekking, cycling and climbing, or whether you would like to visit the people living in the mountains and experience their unique life style, it can all be arranged in Thailand . And your trip can be stopped off with some wonderful shopping in Bangkok 's open air markets and department stores.
Culturally and historically the Thais are closely related to the other people in the Mekong region. The first settlements in Thailand date back to more than 5,000 B,C. the first historical records have been kept date back to the 11 th and 12 th centuries. These records document that the first independent Thai Kingdom was established in the year 1238 named Sukhothai. One can still visit the city of Sukhothai and admire the various pagodas and stupas that were erected during this period.
During the Sukhothai era the society grew and prospered and the people spread throughout the Chao Phraya river basin. Also during this Buddhism was established as the main religion and the Thai alphabet was created. One of the most well known Kings from this period is King Ramkhamhaeng who lived until the year 1317. After the death of King Ramkhamgaeng, the Kingdom of Sukhothai went through a number of ups and down and eventually the seat of power was shifted to the Kingdom of Ayutthya , a young Kingdom further down the river valley. Ayutthya was destined to become one of the world's greatest and most beautiful cities, greater than London or Paris during the same period. Unfortunately the Kingdom was attacked and destroyed by the invading Burmese. One can still visit the remnants of Ayutthya.
After the expulsion of the Burmese by King Taksin, the city of Thon Buri became the new seat of the Kingdom, and King Rama I moved the capital to other side of the Chao Praya river to the hamlet of Bangkok , right opposite form Thon Buri. Nowadays the Royal Palace is still exactly located where Kung Rama I is still exactly located where Kung Rama 1 had established it and one can still see many landmarks of Bangkok 's old city. Ever since the Kingdom of Thailand has lived in peace with its neighbors and the Kingdom has flourished and developed into a modern nation.
Places to visit
Bangkok and its surroundings
Bangkok is the excellent place to start or finish your travels in the Mekong Region. There are many things to enjoy such as a visit to the Royal Palace and famous temples, a boat trip on the old canals of Thon Buri and visit the beautiful pagodas and orchid farms. Or one can make a cruise to the ancient city of Ayuttaya , or a trip to the colorful floating market at Damnoeun Saduak.
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is a mountainous province West of Bangkok, with lush jungles and beautiful rivers. The distance from Bangkok is only about 128 km. So a short trip from Bangkok will take you there. In Kanchanaburi one can take a steam train trip to visit the famous Bridge over the River Kwai and Hell Fire Pass. And one can visit the Erawan Falls and the impressive limestone cave of Tham Dawadung which are considered one of the most beautiful in Thailand , located in evergreen rain forest. Kanchanaburi is suited also for soft adventure, rafting jungle trekking, cycling and horseback riding.
Northern Thailand - Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai - Mae Hong Song
Northern Thailand has a uniquely different flavor reflected its history, culture, language and its people. It can be reached by flight ( 55 minutes ), by air-conditioned coach or, more popular, by train ( night trains with sleeping berths are available ). Chiang Mai is filled with dozens of stunningly beautiful temples, some imposingly large, others ticked into hidden corners of the city, appearing like magic as you turn a corner.
A very enjoyable programme can built around activities such as: visit to an elephant camp and visit orchid farm; visit traditional craft villages where you can observe the production of traditional umbrellas, silk weaving, silver smith, lacquer ware, etc. And of course one a visit to some of the ethnic minorities living in the North is an unforgettable experience. Also in this region there are many opportunities for soft adventure such as: jungle trek, rafting, elephant rides, cycling, white water rafting, home stay in hill people villages, etc.
From Chiang Mai one can take a flight to Luang Prabang in Laos.
From Chiang Rai one can travel over land to Laos and to Myanmar.
North-east Thailand ( Isan )
This one of the less traveled regions of the country and that makes it all the more worthwhile to make a visit here if you want to step beyond the traditional tourist resorts. And if you want to travel over land to Laos and to Cambodia , going through Isan is the most convenient way.
The culture is a rich mixture of Thai, Lao and Khmer influence with great hospitality and beautiful cuisine. Even though Isan is known for and unhurried lifestyle, its festivals are known for their color and zest.
The Northeast represents one third of the total area of Thailand . It is a vast area covered mostly by rice fields and mountain. Most of the tour destinations are places of interest. There are few possibilities for adventure tours. Main places if interest are: the beautiful pagodas in the city of Nongkhai, the archeological site and museum at Ban Chiang, the Khmer temples at Pimai and Buriam, Khao Yai National Park, Phu Kradung National Park, Surin's annual Elephant Round-up, Khao Pra Viharn Khmer temples, etc.
From Isan, one can travel over and to Laos.
From Isan, one can travel over land to Cambodia.
Eastern Thailand
Eastern Thailand is of course well-known for its beaches in Pattaya and Rayong. However there are also other very interesting places. A relatively new destinations is for a beach holiday is Koh Chang island in Trat province. It is wonderful place with great nature, superb beaches and few tourists. Other places of interest are various National parks with water falls and white water rafting in Chanthaburi province.
Southern Thailand
In the South of Thailand the beaches are main attraction for foreign visitors. Everyone seems to know Phuket and Koh Samui. But there are also many other, less well-known places which are fantastic destinations to spend holiday. Some of the provinces that are worthwhile for exploring are: Chumphon, Phangga, Krabi, Ranong and Satun province with the island Tarutao and its National Park.
In the South, there are also many National Parks located near the coast lines and on the islands. So a beach holiday does not mean that there is nothing else to do besides the spending time on the beach. One can have a really active holiday with jungle trekking, bird watching, elephant rides, seeing water falls, cycling, rock climbing, etc. These places can be easily reached form your accommodation at the coast. And of course on the water one can enjoy sea kayaking to visit beautiful secluded beaches and mysterious caves, one can do scuba diving and snorkeling, sailing with catamarans, fishing, etc.
Of course the above has only been a very short summary of the attractions that Thailand has to offer in the various regions of the country. If you need more details information for planning your trip, or if you have any questions, please send us an e-mail and we would gladly give you all the information required .
Travel tips
Traveling to Thailand
By air
Thailand is very well placed in the center of the Mekong Region and there are numerous links by air to reach this country. Many airlines fly directly to Thailand from all parts of the world. When purchasing a ticket to Thailand and one has a plan to make a trip to other countries to the Mekong Region, it is worthwhile to check if one can purchase a ticket which allows for partial surface travel. This might often be cheaper.
For example, flying from Europe to Asia with the pan to make a trip through Thailand , Vietnam and Cambodia , it would be cheaper to by a ticket with the outgoing route Europe-Bangkok-Hanoi and for the return portion Bangkok-Europe. So one can fly straight to Hanoi , with or without a stop-over in Bangkok , and form Hanoi make the trip through Vietnam , Cambodia and Thailand . And after completing the holiday one can embark the flight back to Europe in Bangkok without having to travel back to Hanoi . This is just an example. There are many other options.
For travel by air to the other Mekong countries there are many options. From Bangkok one can connect by air almost to all major cities. And new routings and new airlines are coming up all the time.
If you need updated information about flight connections in the Mekong region or you need information and assistance to develop your programme, please sent us an e-mail.
By Overland
Overland Thailand can be reached form all three neighboring countries Myanmar , Laos and Cambodia . For more information please see the respective sections.
Domestic travel in Thailand
Domestic travel in Thailand is very convenient. We mention the following options:
Travel by air. There is an extensive network of domestic flights connecting Bangkok to many of theprovincial capitals. Price are reasonable and safety is good.
Travel by train . By train one can travel conveniently to any of the 4 regions in Thailand but the network is not very well developed. The train network does not branch off form the main line. So once you have arrived at the main stop over along the route, you will need other transport to bring you to any other place. But the train is a very nice way to travel. At daytime one can reserve second class reclining seats and with the windows open one can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. On the routes to Chiang Mai, to the North East and to the South one can also travel at night and reserve a first class air-conditioned sleeping cabin, or one can travel in second class bogeys with sleeping experience and we can recommend this way of travel. Safely for travel by train is good.
Travel by air-conditioned bus is the most common way of travel for the Thais. There is and extensive network linking Bangkok to almost every major city in the country. The buses are clean and comfortable. The buses do not have toilets but regular stops are made to accommodate this problem. From safety point of view we recommend to travel at day time.
Travel by boat. This is available mostly to travel to various the islands where people want to enjoy a beach holiday. Another popular trip is from Bangkok to Ayutthaya which is taken as a day excursion.
Important note: if you want to travel by domestic transport during any of the national holidays or festival periods, it is absolutely necessary to make reservations well in advance. Because during these days the Thais also travel and all means of transport are absolutely packed!
Visa requirements
Many nationalities do not need to acquire a visa before they travel to Thailand . A 30 day permit of stay will be given automatically when one arrives at any of the international entry points. These permits are also given when traveling overland form Myanmar , Laos or Cambodia . A passport with a validity of at least 3 month is of course required.
Sometime the immigration officers might ask to see your ticket for the onward journey. So be prepared! Some nationalities need to obtain a visa before arriving in Thailand . These regulations are subject to change.
If you want to find out which regulation applies for your nationality, please don't hesitate to send us an e-mail.
Currency
In Thailand only Thai Baht are used. But of course once can change any of the major currencies at the banks.
Credit cards and traveler cheques are accepted widely.
ATM machine are used available everywhere.
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