We left Lampang early the next morning, driving about 90 minutes north to reach Wat Phraphutthabat Sutthawart. Our plan, and our strong recommendation to fellow travelers, is to begin the climb while the long path up the mountain is still in shadow. Even in Thailand’s coolest season, an exposed hike in direct sun can be punishing. Just […]
Exploring the Sky Pagodas of Lampang: Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Read More »
Lampang feels cool the moment you arrive, though explaining why is harder than it should be. Like most cool places, you recognize it long before you can name it. The Wang River and Kad Kong Ta, the main commercial street, give the town its shape. It’s the details that set Lampang apart, though: gingerbread woodwork of old
Lampang: Northern Thailand’s Most Effortlessly Cool City Read More »
Thai Rum, Thai Mead, and Japanese Botanicals This is a stirred, spirit-forward cocktail that sits somewhere between a Rum Sour and a botanical-driven cocktail. It uses homemade mead as a low-ABV “softener” for the rum, resulting in a drink that has more weight and texture than a standard cocktail but isn’t as heavy as a
Capturing the Local Spirit: The Bee’s Shortcut Read More »
Despite being Thailand’s only national park accessible by train, Doi Khun Tan is far quieter than the other parks within day-trip range of Chiang Mai. You’ll share the trail almost exclusively with Thai locals, many of whom take the one-hour train ride south from the city and walk up to the park directly from the
Doi Khun Tan: An Easy Train-to-Trail Hike Near Chiang Mai Read More »
This is the anchor post for our series on Northern Thailand. See below for our detailed itinerary, with links to detailed destination descriptions throughout. Click on any of the following for deeper looks at Chiang Dao, Chiang Rai, and Phu Chi Fa. An 11-day road trip across Northern Thailand, from the Laotian border to the forests near
Thailand from Laos to Myanmar: Complete Cross-Country Itinerary Read More »
A Rum Sour with a Thai Twist Rum drinks in Thailand have a reputation (not always undeserved) for being both exceptionally sweet and very likely to land you with a tremendous hangover. Phraya Elements deserves a better fate than that, so we’ve thrown out the obligatory pineapple slice and given it a starring role in
Capturing the Local Spirit: The 24 Shortcut Read More »
This nine-day itinerary takes you through the heart of ancient Sukhothai before turning west into the remote jungle forests of Tak Province. Here, you’ll raft the Mae Klong River and stand before Thi Lo Su, Thailand’s highest waterfall. It’s a journey of contrasts: ancient stone cities that once stood at major crossroads set against modern
Your Complete Roadtrip Itinerary: Sukhothai Ruins to Thi Lor Su in 9 Days Read More »
There’s an idealized version of coastal Thailand where sleepy fishing villages back onto broad, curved bays. The only sound: the gentle lapping of turquoise waters and the rustling needles of casuarina trees. For miles on end, the only footprints are your own. You’ll hear that the authentic Thailand vanished decades ago, swallowed up by resorts and beachside
Jump Ahead Driving to the Summit of Doi Inthanon Doi Inthanon, the “Roof of Thailand,” is a two-hour journey from Chiang Mai. That sounds like a haul, until you realize that by the time you step out of the car at the end of the drive, you’ve already covered most of the climb to the
Doi Inthanon Day Trip: Cloud Forests, Waterfalls, and the Walk to Ban Mae Klang Luang Read More »
This is the sixth in a series of posts that tracks our 10-Day Journey across Northern Thailand from Laos to Myanmar. Read our last entry from Chiang Dao, or start from the very beginning at Pu Chi Fa. The drive to Pai is more famous than fearsome. Over 135 winding kilometers, drivers navigate Highway 1095’s
The 1095 to Pai: Fantastic Family Stops On Thailand’s (Fourth) Curviest Road Read More »