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Where to go in Thailand in 2023? Our travel guide from Bangkok to the islands, via Chang-Mai

2023-02-04T09:30:42.909Z


GUIDE - The Land of Smiles, one of France's favorite destinations in Southeast Asia, subtly combines tradition and modernity. But which Thailand to visit? The stay begins in Bangkok and continues in Chang Mai, in the north, and in the peaceful islands of the gulf, far from tourism...


Fascinating Thailand.

In the heart of Southeast Asia, the simple name of the ancient kingdom of Siam is enough to project oneself into a world of travel anchored in a mystical dimension tinged with a form of magic and a piece of history. open book.

Only the rivalry in the 19th century between the United Kingdom and France will spare it the colonial fate of Burma or Laos, thanks to a monarchy inclined to diplomacy and carrier of reforms.

Sultry or meditative, 21st century Thailand combines tradition and modernity.

The tourist, or

farang

according to the locals, is an economic value, but without trickery or contempt.

Discovering Thailand means encountering a unique culture, living a wide variety of experiences and appreciating the various aspects of

Thainess.

, the Thai way of life, which appeals so much to visitors from all over the world.

The perfect trip - two weeks is not too much - begins in

Bangkok

, the capital.

Then, head north to the historic cities of

Ayutthaya

and

Sukhothai

, before discovering

Chiang Mai

.

Nicknamed "The Rose of the North", the former capital of the kingdom of Lanna has a unique identity restored in the daily life of a multi-ethnic population which has preserved its traditions and customs.

Finally, head to the

Gulf of Thailand

to discover its islands of fine sandy beaches.

Less crowded than Phuket, Ko Samui has become over the last ten years one of the main tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.

Follow the leader.

Read alsoTravel conditions in Thailand: what you need to know to get there in 2023

Discover Bangkok, the “city of angels”

Bangkok in the early morning with the Grand Palace in the foreground.

Adobe Stock

The vast majority of travelers arrive in the Land of Smiles through Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Vibrant, the metropolis is 1 hour by taxi from the airport.

Whether it's the first time or the umpteenth time you come there, the emotion is still just as strong when you arrive in Krung Thep (the Thai name meaning "the city of angels"), a city of incredible contrasts.

TEMPLES

Essential for soaking up Thai culture, the three main ones are very close to each other.

Remember to cover your shoulders and knees, it is a prerequisite for the visit.

For men, no tank top.

In the

Grand Palace

, the former royal palace, trousers are compulsory, it is the only temple where this is required.

Failing this, there are many clothing stands at the entrance and will allow you to buy or even rent them at a low price.

The single entry ticket for the site is 14 €.

Read alsoGood behavior to adopt when you are a tourist in Thailand

Wat Phra Kaew

(Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

This temple is the holiest Buddhist site in the country and is home to the Emerald Buddha statue.

Southtownboy Studio / stock.adobe.com

It is located within the grounds of the Grand Palais, the former royal residence.

Completed in 1784, it is the most important temple in the country.

That of royal ceremonies.

There is the small statue of the Emerald Buddha which, despite its height of barely 66 centimeters, is Thailand's most sacred icon.

Wat

Pho

Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest Buddhist temples in Thailand.

Adobe Stock / Mongkolchon

It is home to Thailand's most famous reclining Buddha.

46 meters long, completely covered in gold.

Impressive.

Go there a little before 5 p.m., to listen to the chanting and prayers of the monks in the ordination hall.

Or in the early afternoon, if you want to enjoy a delicious moment in the Wat Pho massage school.

It is the most famous worldwide for Thai massage, classified since 2019 as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by Unesco.

Admission €6.

Wat Arun (

Temple

of Dawn)

Occupying the right bank of Chao Phraya, Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn, is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

tawatchai1990 / stock.adobe.com

This magnificent Buddhist temple is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, in the Thonburi district.

Wat Arun is taken over every day by hordes of local and foreign visitors, so prefer to go there early in the morning to have every chance of enjoying it in peace.

And the light is wonderful.

It is easily accessible from Wat Pho by a ferry that crosses the river for 10 cts.

Entrance to the temple, 3 €.

CHAO PHRAYA

Practical and economical, the boats that crisscross the Chao Phraya River serve many tourist sites in Bangkok.

Adobe Stock

Nicknamed the Venice of Asia, the metropolis has a whole network of canals called "khlong" which, a century ago, were the main transport and trade routes.

They are still used today for getting around, in particular with bus lines.

Crossing Bangkok on the water is an interesting choice to avoid traffic jams by car.

Simple to decipher, very economical, the walk offers a peaceful view of the city and the opportunity to discover its floating markets.

Please note that they are only open on weekends and public holidays.

An exquisite moment to enjoy Thai gastronomy.

A stop at a floating market for lunch is a must.

That of

Khlong Lat Mayom

is the most frequented by Thais.

GASTRONOMY

With its legendary street food and excellent restaurants, Bangkok has rightfully won the title of culinary capital of Asia.

Adobe Stock

In the capital as elsewhere, do not hesitate to test the stands along the street.

If you have to queue and wait… That's a pretty good sign.

You can taste the famous pad thai,

garlic rice

(garlic rice) or mango sticky rice.

Let's remember the Michelin star received in 2018 by Jay Fai, a small shop on Maha Chai Road which is always full.

His signature dish?

Crab omelet.

Read alsoGastronomy and street food, three days of gourmet madness in Bangkok

EVENINGS IN BANGKOK

To do in the evening, Yaowarat, the main street of Chinatown.

Adobe Stock

Like New York, they say Bangkok never sleeps.

And that's true !

To start the evening, enjoy the sunset on a rooftop, followed by a dinner cruise on the river, count between €25 and €34 per person.

Chic and romantic.

If you are a walker and curious, stroll through the many night markets, such as

Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin

, to the east of the capital, specializing in antiques, retro souvenirs and lined with many bars and restaurants.

Placed in a disused station, it is nicknamed the "flea market" by the French.

Not very practical to access, the taxi is essential because the metro is rather far away.

For foodies, the biggest street-food area is in

Yaowarat

, the main street in Chinatown.

A network of stalls, fragrances, joyful and noisy ramblings, with the possibility of dining seated in an adjacent restaurant.

The

Sky View 360

, the famous revolving restaurant, can be discovered on the 25th floor of the China Hotel.

The nearest metro station, "Wat Mangkhon", is on the blue line of the MRT, 500 meters from the entrance, or a five-minute walk.

Read alsoShould you treat yourself to a dinner at the Sky View 360° revolving restaurant during a stay in Bangkok?

Visit

Ayutthaya and Sukhothai,

historical cities

Accessible by the day from Bangkok.

Ayutthaya, the ancient capital

Buddha statues at Wat Yai Chai Mongkol temple in Ayutthaya.

Adobe Stock

It's our first choice.

The former capital of the Kingdom of Siam (1351 to 1767), dispenses the glorious past of Thailand.

1h30 by road (80 km) or by train, from one of the two train stations in Bangkok.

The railway is to be preferred for the experience and the landscapes crossed.

To see for its city and its historic temples.

Ayutthaya can boast of having the ruins of many superb monuments.

A little further south, in perfect condition, stands the royal palace of Bang Pa-in surrounded by magnificent gardens.

Sukhothai, cradle of traditions

Do not miss the royal palace of King Ramkhamhaeng, Wat Maha That, which is the largest temple in Sukhothai Park.

coward_lion / stock.adobe.com

Halfway between the capital and Chiang Mai, 420 km north of Bangkok, poorly served by train (Phitsanulok, the nearest station, is 70 km away) but with an airport nearby (1h20 from Bangkok, from 60 to 80 euros) followed by a shuttle (50 mins, 18 THB), it was the first capital of the kingdom (1238-1438).

To see for its historical park (located outside the city), superbly landscaped, and its many vestiges of the time.

It is a joy to cycle through it.

In November, it's Loy Krathong, the Festival of Lights, at the full moon.

A major event.

Chiang Mai, the Rose of the North

Located in the heart of the walled city of Chiang Mai, the Wat Phra Singh temple is surely the most visited in the city.

Adobe Stock

Bordered by mountains, surmounted by a majestic temple, Chiang Mai is the flagship destination of the north of the country and 700 kilometers from Bangkok: culture, temples, traditions and festivals, mountains with jungle and waterfalls, tribes, sanctuaries elephants...

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

is the

must-see temple, which you can complete by visiting

Wat Phra Singh

,

Wat Chedi Luang

and the

Silver Temple

(all in town), the latter offers every Saturday evening, on occasion the large

Saturday Walking Street

night market

, Buddhist ceremonies open to tourists.

The province is also ideal for trekking or immersion in a mountain village and even climbing to the most beautiful rice terraces in Thailand in the Doi Inthanon park.

How to get there ?

  • From Bangkok, Chiang Mai can be reached by plane in 1h10 flight.

    Different companies including low cost operate this route.

  • The national train company offers regular services from Bangkok railway station (Hua Lamphong), 6 times a day, by day express train or overnight train with sleeping berths.

    Count from 12 to 2 p.m.

  • By road, the 696 km journey takes 7 hours by car and 10 hours by bus from Bangkok.

The Islands of Thailand

Silver Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Koh Samui.

Fine sand, coconut trees and large rocks form an idyllic landscape.

Alexandr Mitiuc / stock.adobe.com

For the seaside, forget Phuket or Pattaya, overpopulated, glaucous limits, to finalize your trip in beauty in panoramas of postcards.

Our choice:

25 minutes from the east coast, in the Gulf of Thailand,

Koh Samui

, accessible from Bangkok (50 min flight), but also by bus and ferry (10 hours), has an airport and Bangkok Airways offers a twenty flights per day (count a hundred euros).

Between peaceful sites or more lively areas like Chaweng Beach and the famous Green Mango for dancing or the Reggae Bar for live music.

To the north,

Fisherman

, the fishing village, with its market and restaurants, will appeal to fish lovers.

As for activities, the choice is wide: trips to the sea, to the magnificent maritime park of

Ang Thong

, diving, snorkeling, cooking classes, Samui Elephant Sanctuary project set up with Elephant Nature Park, massages with a view of the sea... Vacations!

And for a most peaceful stay,

Ko Mak and Ko Kood

will delight Robinson Crusoes.

Anchored in the northeast of the Gulf of Thailand, on the edge of Cambodia, these satellite islands of the very popular Koh Chang with beautiful hotel infrastructures and paradisiacal beaches could prove to be two island jewels of the Kingdom.

Departures are from the province of Trat.

Count about ten hours to reach them (bus and ferry), half less by plane.

Read alsoKoh Mak and Koh Kood in Thailand: two islands far from the mass tourism of Phuket

Itineraries and practical information

For a complete trip, taking transport times into account, a minimum of three weeks for the capital, the North, historic towns and an island.

Fifteen days for a stay shared between Bangkok and the islands.

The ideal season, to avoid rain and thunderstorms, is from November to April.

Read alsoWhen to go to Thailand?

Weather, festivities… The best period by region

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-02-04

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