Doi Luang Chiang Dao may only be Thailand’s third highest mountain, but it is easily the country’s single most impressive peak. A limestone massif towering above the tropical lowlands, Doi Chiang Dao’s dramatic rise inspired locals to give it its original name: Doi Piang Dao, the Mountain That Reaches the Stars. With three kids between the ages […]
Chiang Dao Beyond the Summit: Golden Temples and Jungle Trails Read More »
Travel writers often describe a location as “remote,” as if the benefits of that description were self-evident. At Doi Luang National Park, seclusion is not some vague selling point, but the heart of the experience. Most days, you’ll arrive at an empty trailhead, a simple parking lot with no stalls, stands, or services. You’ll enter truly wild
The Wild Solitude of Doi Luang: Hiking Phu Kaeng Waterfall Read More »
Staying even a single night in Chiang Rai is the only sure strategy for enjoying this cultural capital properly. Visiting the temples early in the morning (before the first bus from Chiang Mai has arrived) and late in the afternoon (after the last one has left) allows a far more intimate experience than non-residents could
Chiang Rai After Hours: How to Miss the Day-Trip Crowds Read More »
Phu Sang and Phu Chi Fa were only the first stops of our 10-Day Journey across Northern Thailand from Laos to Myanmar. Click the link to start planning your own Northern Thailand adventure.. To treat Chiang Rai as a mere day trip from Chiang Mai is a mistake and a missed opportunity. Venture beyond the
Chasing Phu Chi Fa’s Epic Sunrise on the Thai-Laos Border Read More »
If the Pranburi and Prachuap coast is quiet, the beaches to the south are simply, in the best possible way, deserted. Abandon the main highway and instead drive along the patchwork of asphalt strips that form the Royal Coast Road; it is some of the finest coastal driving in the country. If you missed the first installment
Gems of the Royal Coast: Bang Saphan, Koh Talu, and the Stunning Red Cliffs Read More »
We’ve visited dozens of waterfalls across Thailand over the years, but none are as dramatic or spectacular as Thi Lor Su. The Klotho Creek spills over a ridge extending 400 meters, with dozens of individual falls forming a curtain of braided cascades. When we visited at the end of the rainy season, the falls shrouded themselves in
Viewing Thi Lo Su Waterfall and rafting the Mae Khlong River are among the most extraordinary natural wonders Thailand has to offer. If you’re thinking of going, you already know the reason more people haven’t: the 1,219 curves of the ominously named “Death Highway.” Even if you survive, someone’s probably going to vomit. While proper
Driving the Umphang Highway: How to Survive the 1,219 Curves Read More »
Easily one of Thailand’s most atmospheric locations, it also has the added advantage of being especially well suited to children. The core of the historical park is closed to motorized traffic, making it an excellent place for even the smallest cyclists to pedal around. Jump Ahead The Founding and the Fall of Sukhothai In 1238
Biking Sukhothai: Three Must-Visit Temples in the Historical Park Read More »
Our visit to Hup Pa Tat was part of a larger 9-day roadtrip across Northern Thailand. To see the full itinerary, visit Sukhothai Ruins to Thi Lor Su in 9 Days. In 1979, a monk from the local Buddhist monastery scaled the limestone cliffs of the Kao Huai Sok mountains in western Uthai Thani province.
Wat Chantharam was only the first stop of a much bigger trip, see how it all fits together in our comprehensive 9-Day Northern Thailand Road Trip Itinerary. The Uphill Battle of Another Wat “They’re going to take us to a temple,” one of them says with a mix despair and resignation. “It’s probably on top of a
How to Make Merit in the Crystal Halls of Wat Chantharam Read More »