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 »
From Chumphon, we drive south along the Isthmus of Kra. We cut east across the river flats of Surat Thani, and climb into the coastal mountains of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The final stretch into Khanom is a rewarding detour: a quiet, well-paved road flanked by karst hills which leads to a secluded coast. It feels like you are
Shadow Puppets & Silver Seas: A Guide to Nakhon Si Thammarat Read More »
The air gets warmer and the water clearer the further down the coast we travel. By the time we reach Chumphon, universally known as the “Gateway of the South,” we’ve left Central Thailand behind and crossed into a new and distinctly different part of the Kingdom. The food is spicier, the Southern Thai dialect is (for
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
Seeing an elephant in Thailand is easy. Seeing one ethically is a different story. An estimated 250-300 elephant camps are dotted along the country’s tourist trails, and many packages offer opportunities to engage with the animals. I certainly don’t want to shame anyone for joining these: the reality is that more than 3,500 former working elephants require
Kui Buri: See Thailand’s Wild Elephants in Their Natural Habitat Read More »
While many visitors come for the much-photographed Phraya Nakhon Cave, there is far more to see inside Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park than its most famous attraction. The Bueng Bua Boardwalk is unbeatable for bird watchers and offers a dramatic setting to watch the sun sink below the Thung Sam Roi Yot Marsh. You’ll have to compete with Thai influencers for a
Sam Roi Yot National Park: The Best Things to See Beyond Phraya Nakhon Cave Read More »