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TRAVEL CULTURE
Thailand’s location at the center of
mainland Southeast Asia makes it
a convenient gateway to the rest of
the region. And travelers don’t need
much time or money to get to know
the kingdom —
Lonely Planet
calls it
one of Asia’s best value-for-money
destinations. Here’s our itinerary for a
quick, easy and affordable trip from
south to north, one that takes in a few
classic Thai stops.
LEG 1
From Manila, take a direct
flight to your first stop:
Phuket. Located on the west
coast, this celebrated holiday
island offers an excellent first
taste of Thailand’s natural
charm. Begin your grand
tour by kicking back on one
of Phuket’s many idyllic
beaches. Afterward, head farther out
to explore the rest of the country’s
southern coastline. There’s Krabi
and the Phi Phi Islands with their
stunning limestone cliffs, and Koh
Phangan with its full-moon parties
and crystalline waters.
LEG 2
From Thailand’s southern extreme,
it’s about nine hours to the capital.
Take the night bus to Bangkok, but
don’t get off in the Big Mango just
yet — instead, stop for a day or two at
Samut Songkhram (80km southwest
of the capital) to experience the
province’s traditional riverside
communities and picturesque floating
markets. In many ways, these busy
water villages evoke Bangkok during
an earlier era, when the capital was
still known as “The Venice of the
East”.
LEG 3
Continue onward to the heart of
Thailand where Khao San Road, the
backpacker haven, awaits. Bangkok is
a steamy, chaotic mix of old and new,
the familiar and the exotic, where glitzy
malls share space with centuries-old
temples and royal palaces.
Get your fill of the city’s frenetic pace
before heading north (we recommend
taking the highly efficient state railway
network) for about 90 minutes to the
ancient capital of Ayutthaya. Here
you’ll find the remains of this storied
Siamese kingdom, which boasted
a city that was, in the 1600s, said to
be even more cosmopolitan than its
European counterparts. Destroyed by
the Burmese in 1767, Ayutthaya remains
home to ruined temples and royal
palaces that offer a glimpse of past
glories.
LEG 4
Another fascinating ancient city is
located farther north, about seven hours
overland. Sukhothai Historical Park is
an even more impressive showcase of
Siamese culture than Ayutthaya,
thanks in large part to its grander
structures and more serene
surrounds. Rent a motorbike and
scoot among buildings that have
stood for more than 500 years.
You’re now in Central Thailand,
the country’s rice bowl and the
region where the purest form of
Thai is spoken. From here it’s just
another six-hour bus ride to the
northern city of Chiang Mai.
LEG 5
Hot and dusty Bangkok
stands in sharp contrast to
Chiang Mai, whose cool
and damp climate owes
primarily to its location
in the mountains near the
Thai-Myanmar border. On
these slopes, hill tribes farm
coffee and tea while maintaining
lifestyles that have changed very
little over the centuries. Visitors can
explore this corner of the kingdom
on foot or by elephant; either way,
the trekking is excellent. Or better
still, splurge on a 4x4 to visit the
adjacent mountains of Doi Chaang,
Doi Tung and Doi Mae Salong.
By this time you’ll have enjoyed
a delightfully diverse sampling of
Thailand’s attractions. You can then
choose to head back to Bangkok
(it’s a 12-hour road/rail trip, so by
all means take the night bus or a
sleeper train) to catch an outbound
flight or head off the beaten track
to the kingdom’s equally intriguing
northeastern region.
— By Lester V. Ledesma
Cebu Pacific
flies to Bangkok
from Manila.
cebupacificair.com
