Mae Hong Son : Thailand

Mae Hong Son is one of the most famous destinations in Thailand for those who wish to see the National Parks and fantastic scenery. You can get to Mae Hong Son by taking a short (40min) flight or driving along the northern or southern route. The northern route takes you through Pai and Soppong and shows you some of the most breathtaking hill scenery in Northern Thailand. The southern route takes you through Chomthong, Mae Sariang and Khun Yuam. This route also has fantastic scenery. Visiting Mae Hong Son you will notice the distinctive change in temple style; this is because the temples in Mae Hong Son are Shan style, the same as those in the Shan state of Burma. Mae Hong Son is the most sparsely populated province in Thailand, so you will notice there are less towns and villages and more forest and open space. It is a good place to go, for those escaping from a big city and looking for holiday to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Your Holiday in Mae Hong Son can be either laid back or adventurous. If you want to tour the area and take in the scenery then try a tour of the sights, overland one way and flying to or from Mae Hong Son. If you want to do something more adventurous try a combined trek and tour, showing you off the beaten track as well the more well known highlights.
A combined trek & tour - this will show you the hilltribe villages, rural life and the amazing scenery of the area. See all the famous sights as well as some adventure such as elephant riding, rafting or hiking.
A relaxing tour - will take you to the sights of the area, such as temples, caves and some hilltribe villages. Take in the fantastic scenery whilst touring in a comfortable A/C vehicle.

The History of Mae Hong Son, dates back to the nineteenth century, when the town was founded as a training camp for elephants. The royal family of Chiang Mai hired the Shan people to capture wild elephants and train them in the area. The camp grew around the lake (Jongkham Lake), which was the elephants bathing spot. The people were kept busy here with the elephant trade which boomed and flourished along with the logging trade in the late 19th century and early 20th century. When the logging trade declined, Mae Hong Son then became a sleepy "backwater" town. It was often used as a place to transfer out of favour government officials, as it was so far from any other town. Mae Hong Son wasn't connected by any paved roads until the late 1960's, effectively cutting it off in the rainy season.
In the last couple of decades, Mae Hong Son has become a popular tourist destination, due to the magnificent scenery and peaceful atmosphere.

The Temples of Mae Hong Son are unlike the others in Thailand, being of Shan style architecture. They have distinctive, intricate multi-tiered roofs.
Wat Doi Kong Mu is situated on a hill overlooking the town.The temple has two distinctive chedis which house the ashes of respected 19th century monks. In the viharn there is an unusual white marble Buddha.
Wat Jong Kham is an often photographed temple which stands on the Jong Kham Lake. This temple houses an intricately carved sermon throne and the much revered Buddha image of Luang Pho To.
Wat Jong Klang is famous for its paintings on glass. These paintings depict stories from the Buddha's previous incarnations as well as the Buddha's life. There is also a collection of impressive teak statues brought over from Burma. These statues are meant to depict characters from a Buddhist tale, using typical figures of Burmese society.

Information : http://www.wayfarersthailand.com/maehongson.htm

Chiang Rai : Thailand

Chiang Rai is situated in the very north of Thailand (180kms north of Chiang Mai). It takes approx. 3hrs. to drive from Chiang Mai or less than an hour by plane. There are also direct flights from Bangkok. Chiang Rai is used as a base for those wishing to explore the Golden Triangle area, it is a short drive to Mae Sai, Chiang Saen or Mae Salong. The province borders with Burma and Laos, so it provides a good opportunity for those who wish to glimpse Thailand's neighbouring countries. This area can easily be accessed from Chiang Mai, but for those short of time or who have already visited Chiang Mai it can be used as a base to visit the Golden Triangle.
Chiang Rai itself is a small town and easy to get around, there are some noteworthy temples worth visiting, a small nightmarket and a folk museum.

The History of Chiang Rai dates back to 1262, when King Mengrai chose a new capital to consolidate his conquests in the Lanna kingdom. He chose the present day site of Chiang Rai. However he wasn't to remain here for long and as his sights turned southwards, he moved his capital to Chiang Mai. The Burmese occupied Chiang Rai during the 16th to the 18th century and like Chiang Mai it wasn't until the 20th century that it became part of Thailand.

The Temples - Wat Phra Kaew is famous because it once housed the Emerald Buddha that is now found at Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew. Legend has it, that the chedi was struck by lightning in 1436 to reveal the famous 'Emerald' Buddha. You can now see a jade replica on display.
Wat Phra Singh was built in the 15th century and houses a replica of the Phra Singh Buddha, (the original now being in Chiang Mai).
Wat Doi Tong is on a hilltop to the northwest of town. It provides a panoramic view of the valley and houses the city pillar.

The Museum and handicraft centre is operated by the Population & Community Development Association. There are crafts for sale, anthropological exhibits and a slide show on the hilltribes.

Chiang Saen is approx. 60kms from Chiang Rai. It is a small town situated on the banks of the Mekhong River. A short distance upstream is the town of Sop Ruak, where the three countries of Thailand, Burma and Laos converge. This point is what most people call the Golden Triangle, although in fact the Golden Triangle covers a large area of the three countries that became notorious for opium cultivation and drug smuggling in the past.
Chiang Saen has an interesting museum and some ancient temples. The museum has exhibits from the Lanna and Sukothai periods as well as hilltribe artifacts and is well worth spending some time there. Wat Pa Sak is in a well preserved compound and dates back to 1295. There is a large stupa with six smaller chedis and temples. Wat Chedi Luang has a large brick chedi of Chiang Saen style and dates back to the 14th century.

Mae Sai is approx. 60kms north of Chiang Rai and is a border town on the Thai side of the Thai-Burmese border. The corresponding town on the Burmese side is called Tachilek. The main reason for visiting Mae Sai is for shopping and to glimpse Burmese life by crossing over to Tachilek. The crossing costs US$5/person. On both sides of the border you will find mostly gems, jade, textiles, Burmese tapestries, laquerware as well as other handicrafts and some Chinese products.

Mae Salong is situated to the north west of Chiang Rai and is a very unique place in Thailand. The original population were remnants of the Chinese Kuomintang, who originally fled to Burma but were pushed out of Burma in the 1960's. The Thai's allowed them to settle in Mae Salong which has evolved into a distinctive Chinese settlement in Thailand. You can see traditional Chinese style houses and taste Chinese cuisine. They also have some of the best Chinese tea and a range of Chinese herbs are available. There is a bustling morning market where the hilltribe and Chinese cultures entwine. Mae Salong is a convenient location to tour some of the surrounding hilltribe villages and makes an interesting daytrip or overnight stop from Chiang Rai.

Click here for maps of Thailand and Northern Thailand.

Information : http://www.wayfarersthailand.com/chiangrai.htm

Chiang Mai : Thailand

Chiang Mai is the most popular destination in Northern Thailand. There are good transportation links with the rest of Thailand and it offers high standards of accommodation, restaurants and shopping. You can use Chiang Mai as a base to tour around the rest of northern Thailand or touring Chiang Mai and the surrounding area can be a holiday in itself.
There is a vast selection of accommodation in Chiang Mai, very reasonably priced. Choices range from downtown hotels in the heart of the Night Bazaar to quiet secluded resorts nestled in the hills surrounding the city.
Chiang Mai also offers a vast selection of restaurants with a wide variety of cuisines. Try the traditional Northern Thai food, Central Thai or European; you may also find Indian, Chinese and Japanese without difficulty.
Chiang Mai is definitely one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Thailand and it is the premier destination for shopping. It is the major area for the production of handicrafts in Thailand and it's artisans are some of the most skilled in the world.

Your holiday in Chiang Mai can be as adventurous or relaxed as you like. Many people come to Chiang Mai because they want to get out in to the countryside and do some trekking. Many people want to simply relax and tour the temples and look at the most extensive range of handicrafts in Thailand. Chiang Mai has something for everyone.
We have put together some links for the types of holiday people are often searching for:
An Adventure - involves trekking in the hills and National Parks, meeting with different hilltribes and maybe elephant riding and rafting.
A relaxing tour of Chiang Mai and the surrounding area - choose from our range of accommodation and take some day trips to explore the sights.
A complete break from the city - living and working in a big city can take it out of you; take a break in one of our selected resorts situated in the hills around Chiang Mai.

The History of Chiang Mai dates back to 1296, when it was founded by King Mengrai. It became the centre of the Lanna kingdom, which spread throughout Northern Thailand, Laos, Burma and Southern China. It became important as a cultural and religious centre for many hundreds of years. The next phase of it's history, from the 16th to the 18th century, was dominated by Burmese invasion and occupation, which finally ended when it was recaptured by a noble from Lampang (Chao Kawila) and King Taksin (from Bangkok). From then on, it once again flourished with trade from Burma and China and also the logging industry. The 20th century saw increasing links with Bangkok but it wasn't until the 1930's that Chiang Mai was fully incorporated into the Thai kingdom (before then it had been ruled by local noble families).

The Temples of Chiang Mai are a major attraction. It's very unlikely you will visit all the temples in Chiang Mai (there are over 300 ) but most people choose some of the most well known to explore.
Doi Suthep is the most famous temple and is situated on a hill to the North West of the city. This temple was founded in 1383; it's site was chosen by placing a relic of the Lord Buddha on an elephant's back and letting the elephant roam until it came across a place where it trumpeted and circled before laying down. This was taken to be a signal that an auspicious place had been chosen to build the temple of Doi Suthep. It is a 12km uphill drive to reach the temple; once you have arrived there are approx. 200 steps to climb or you can take the small cable car, to the top. There is a magnificent golden stupa at the top and from the outer courtyard you get a magnificent view of the Chiang Mai valley. Tour to Doi Suthep Temple
Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, built by King Mengrai when he first founded the city. He donated the site of his first palace to build the temple. This temple houses two very important and venerated Buddha images - Phra Sila (a marble Buddha) and Phra Satang Man (a crystal Buddha).
Wat Phra Singh was founded in 1345 and is another example of classic northern Thai style architecture. It houses the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly venerated image, which was brought many years ago from Chiang Rai.
Wat Chedi Luang was founded in 1401and is dominated by the large Lanna style chedi which was started at the same time, but took many years to finish building. The chedi was damaged by an earthquake in the 16th century, so now only two thirds of it remain. The chedi was recently restored to a resemblance of its former glory, although still not to its original size. The city pillar of Chiang Mai is also situated in the compound of this temple.
Wat Suan Dokh is distinctive for its large open air viharn and striking whitewashed stupas. It also has played an important role in the history of Chiang Mai, notably being the site where the ashes of many of the Chiang Mai royal family are enshrined.
Wat Ched Yot is located on the outskirts of the city area, near the museum. This temple was built in the 1455 and hosted the Eighth World Buddhist Council in 1477. This must have been a very important event, (considering how difficult travel was at that time), as monks came from many countries. Tour to the City Temples
Vieng Kum Kham is situated on the southern outskirts of the city and was the earliest settlement in Chiang Mai, for which there is historical evidence.Today, we can see the temple remains. This site is of great historical importance, both because it's believed to be the first settlement in the vicinity of Chiang Mai and also because many articles of historical importance have been excavated at this site. Tour to Vieng Kum Kham

Getting to Chiang Mai

Click here for maps of Thailand and Northern Thailand.

The Handicrafts are an important feature of Northern Thailand; an area famous for its skilled artisans. It is well worth taking a shopping trip for half a day to explore the Bosang umbrellas and famous Thai silk centres at Sankamphaeng. Along the way you will also see silver, lacquerware and celadon and many other crafts. If you are keen on woodcarving and furniture then head south to Ban Tawai - the famous woodcarving centre. For small crafts of many shapes and sizes, the Sunday market along Rachadamnoen Street and Tapae Gate is a shoppers paradise.

Thai Cookery classes are great value in Chiang Mai at around 800Bt/person/day. You will visit the local market, learn about Thai food and be able to prepare, cook and eat a number of famous dishes. It is a good option for a day after trekking to be able to relax and learn something new at the same time.
Click here for a recommended Thai Cookery School with daily classes.

Spas in Chiang Mai are world class, and a visit to the North of Thailand gives you the opportunity to try out the wide variety of treatments and massages available.
Visit our recommended Chiang Mai Spa for a full range of treatments.

Elephant Tours in Chiang Mai are a must for anyone wanting to see these magnificent creatures in their natural environment. The north has the reputation for the best kept elephants and leads the way in many projects for elephant conservation and welfare. We pick out the best places for you to enjoy your experience with the elephants. All the camps are well managed and are involved with elephant conservation and welfare.
Click here for elephant tours.

Rafting Tours in Chiang Mai can range from a relaxing trip on a handmade bamboo raft to negotiating grade 3-4 rapids on a whitewater trip using international standard inflatable rafts. The rivers do vary according to the seasons although bamboo rafting is available normally all year; the trip being quite slow February-May and much quicker in the rainy season July-October. Whitewater rafting is normally only available June-February.
Click here for rafting tours.

Adventure Tours in Chiang Mai can range from longer treks to an exciting day trip. Our most popular adventure tours are the Whitewater Rafting Trip and the 1 day Mini Adventure. For a longer trip try our 3 day Doi Inthanon National Park Trekking Adventure.

Touring the Upper North of Thailand can be done using Chiang Mai as a base. Visit the Lao and Burmese borders as well as seeing the places of interest along the way such as Chiang Saen, Mae Sai, hilltribe villages and the Mekhong River. Our popular tour- Golden Triangle Explorer shows you the sights of the upper north at a leisurely pace.

Information : http://www.wayfarersthailand.com/chiangmai.htm

Sukothai : (Sukothai Information)

Sukothai is situated between Bangkok (430kms from Bangkok) and Chiang Mai. It was the first capital of Thailand and is famous for the extensive historical ruins, which after restoration, became a Unesco World Heritage Site. Sukothai's golden era was from the 13th to the 14th century, the art and architecture produced in this period are considered to be some of the best. Sukothai today consists of the old and new towns (located 12kms apart from each other); most of the accommodation and all facilities being in the new town. The old town of Sukothai consists mainly of the large Historical Park, where most of the remains of the original city can be seen. To explore the Historical Park, the best method of transport is bicycle, these can be hired nearby the front entrance. The whole Historical Park covers an area of about 70 square kms so many many of the sites are better reached by car. To get to Sukothai it takes 5-6 hrs to drive from Chiang Mai. Alternatively, the train stops at nearby Phitsanuloke or there are flights (from Bangkok or Chiang Mai) to Phitsanuloke or Sukothai itself.

The History of Sukothai dates back to 1238, founded by two Thai generals, who helped to push the Khmers from this area. For over a century a society developed in Sukothai, which is seen to be the Thailand as we know it today. Theravada Buddism was introduced and Sukothai became a thriving religious and commercial centre. The ceramics industry also flourished centred in the town of Si Satchanalai. This continued on until Sukothai eventually lost its power and became a vassal state of Ayutthaya in the 15th century.

The Ruins - many of these are worth a visit, the most important being:
Wat Mahathat was the spiritual centre of the city. It was the king's temple and therefore the symbol of his power.There are many ruins of chedis and viharns just within this compound; the stupas feature the famous lotus bud style (a feature of Sukothai style temple architecture).
Wat Sri Sawai by contrast features typical Khmer architecture. It could have been a Khmer shrine before the Sukothai kingdom was established, supported by the fact that there are Buddhist additions that have been made to it at a later date.
Wat Trapang Ngoen features an impressive lotus bud chedi and is set on an island giving it an impressive setting surrounded by water.
Outside the main park one of the most impressive temples is Wat Si Chum. Within a small walled compound you can see a majestic 50 feet tall sitting Buddha. There is a passageway running up the wall to the same level as the top of the Buddha and it is said this was used to make the Buddha 'speak' to certain worshippers, ie. a person would be sent up beforehand and act as the 'Buddhas voice'.
Also worth visiting are Wat Chang Lom and Wat Saphan Hin.

Si Satchanalai was the most important satellite town of Sukothai (57kms from Sukothai). This town also has its own ruins and is worth exploring.
Wat Chang Lom has a magnificent chedi on a square base featuring 39 life sized stucco elephants.
Wat Chedi Jet Taew features seven rows of chedis thought to enshrine the royalty of Si Satchanalai.
Wat Nang Phaya is famous for its stucco reliefs on the viharn walls

Sawankhaloke was the site of many ceramics kilns in the Sukothai era. The area became famous because of its fine quality clay and ceramic products were exported to many countries in Asia. Today you can see some of the ancient kilns that have been unearthed, along with samples of the products that were made there.

Information : http://www.wayfarersthailand.com/sukothai.htm

CNN.com : Travel

CNN.com - Travel
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Thailand Do's and Don'ts.

Do's and Don'ts

The Monarchy : Thai people have a deep, traditional reverence for the Royal Family, and a visitor should be careful to show respect for the King, the Queen and the Royal Children.

Religion : Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire.

Source : Tourism Authority of Thailand

Instruction on the Export of Antiquities or Buddha Images from the Kingdom of Thailand

1. Buddha images, Bodhisattva images or related fragments, part of ancient monuments and prehistoric objects, are forbidden to be taken out of the Kingdom. Newly cast Buddha images in complete condition can be exported for worship, cultural exchange or educational purposes with licenses issued by the Fine Arts Department. Not more than 5 pieces per person shall be allowed.
(more information contact to 0 2628 5032)

2. Reproductions of antiquities can also be exported with licenses.

3. Procedures to obtain a license for export of antiquities or Buddha images:

3.1 The following documents ahould be produced together with the application form :

(a) two copies (3x5 inches) of front view photograph of the object(s)

(b) a photocopy of the applicant's passport (in case of export of Buddha images the photocopy of passport must be certified as true copy by the related Embassy or Consulate in Thailand.)

3.2 Bring the object(s) and the documents to apply for a license at any of the following places:

(a) Office of Archaeology and National Museums, 81/1 Si Ayutthaya Road, Theves, Dusit, Bangkok, Tel: 0 2628 5032

(b) Chiang Mai National Museum, Superhighway Road, Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai, Tel : (053) 221-308

(c) Songkhla National Museum, 13/1 Jana Road, Tambon Bohyang, Amphoe Muang, Songkhla, Tel : (074) 311-728, 311-881

(d) Thalang National Museum, Tambon Si Sunthorn, Amphoe Thalang, Phuket, Tel : (076) 311-426

3.3 Please allow 4 working days for license issuing process

From Infomation : http://www.tourthailand.info/Thailand-Do--s-and-Don--ts

General Information.

With over six million foreigners flying into the country each year, Thailand has become Asia's primary holiday destination and is a useful and popular first stop on any overland journey through Southeast Asia. The influx of tourist cash has played a significant part in the country's recent development, yet Thailand's cultural integrity remains largely undamaged. In this country of fifty-three million people, over ninety percent are practising Theravada Buddhists, and King Bhumibol is a revered figure across his nation. Tiered temple rooftops and saffron-robed monks dominate every vista, and, though some cities and beach resorts are characterized by high-rises and neon lights, the typical Thai community is the traditional farming village: ninety percent of Thais still earn their living from the land.

Most journeys start in Bangkok . Thailand's huge, noisy, polluted capital can be an overwhelming introduction to Southeast Asia, but there are traveller-oriented guesthouses aplenty here, and heaps of spectacular temples to visit. It's also the best place for arranging onward travel and visas for neighbouring countries. A popular side-trip from the city takes in the raft houses of Kanchanaburi, the infamous site of the Bridge over the River Kwai. After Bangkok, most travellers head north, sometimes via the ancient capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai , to the enjoyably laid-back city of Chiang Mai , where they organize treks to nearby hilltribe villages. There's tranquil countryside in bucketloads up in the northern highlands around Mae Hong Son and along the Mekong River in Thailand's northeast (Isaan), where you can stay in village guesthouses and hop across the border into Laos. The northeast is the least visited area of Thailand, but holds two fine ancient Khmer ruins at Phimai and Phanom Rung, and the country's most popular national park, Khao Yai .

After trekking and rural relaxation, most visitors want to head for the beach - and Thailand's eastern and southern coasts are lined with gorgeous white-sand shores, aquamarine seas and kaleidoscopic reefs. The most popular of these are the east coast backpackers' resorts of Ko Samet and Ko Chang, the Gulf Coast islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao, and the Andaman coast idylls of Laem Phra Nang, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta and Ko Tarutao. The southern island of Phuket and the east coast resort of Pattaya are more expensive, package-tour oriented spots. In the deep south, Thailand merges almost seamlessly with Malaysia, and there are plenty of border crossing points here; the city of Hat Yai in particular offers convenient long-distance bus and rail links to many Malaysian towns. Getting into Cambodia overland is not so easy, but there are two crossings currently open, Poipet and Trat.

The climate of most of Thailand is governed by three seasons: rainy (roughly June to October), caused by the southwest monsoon; cool (November to February); and hot (March to May). The cool season is the pleasantest time to visit and the most popular. Christmas is peak season, when accommodation gets booked way ahead and prices rise significantly. In the hot season, temperatures can rise to 40ฐC. The rainy season hits the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi) harder than anywhere else in the country - heavy rainfall usually starts in May and persists at the same level until October. The Gulf coast (Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao) gets hardly any rain between June and September, but is hit by the northeast monsoon, which brings rain between October and January. This area also suffers less from the southwest monsoon, getting a relatively small amount of rain.

From information : http://www.tourthailand.info/General-Information