General information of Trat

Thailand contains many islands, especially in the south and Trat is the province that contains the most island here. Trat is a province right next on the southeastern border of Thailand which is next to Cambodia. As I already mentioned, Trat contains most of the islands here in Thailand. It contains around a hundred islands that you can go and explore! Additionally, most of the islands here are uninhabited and there are very low disturbances from human traffic as it is located in the Mu Ko Chang National Park. So, if you come here for the islands, you will be amazed by what you will see here.

How to travel to Trat

The distance from the capital city of Thailand is quite far as you need to travel approximately 400 kilometers to come here. There are several options you can choose to travel here. First is by plane in which you can only take Bangkok Airways to a very tiny Trat Airport here. However, if you are not fancy about plane that much, you can take a first-class bus service that connects to Trat directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Alternatively, you can depart from Bangkok at the Eastern (Ekamai) and Northern (Mo Chit) Bus Terminal which you will arrive at Trat bus depot early in the morning if you take the overnight bus. You can also feel free to drive, but try not to fall asleep as it is a pretty long drive! I also recommend that you rest for a bit after the drive before going out to explore all the islands.

Things to do in Trat

Let me start with the famous attractions in Trat for your enjoyment.

Ko Chang

เกาะช้าง (Ko Chang)

เกาะช้าง (Ko Chang)

Ko Chang is the biggest island here at Trat and also the third biggest island in Thailand followed by the biggest ones which are Ko Phuket and Ko Samui. This is the place where you can do anything and everything! You can start by walking around on the beaches. Go into the transparent blue sea to see some coral reefs. You can also do some kayaking if you want to! However, if you do not want to go in the water, you can just relax and have a sunbath under the sun at the beach. These activities are just some of the things you can do here at Ko Chang.

There is literally another side of Ko Chang that you need to take a boat for a tour. In this tour, you can see the abundant nature and magnificent views of the forest. You can also the way of life of the fishermen here. In addition, you can take a trip to the forest you just saw to see some waterfalls and experience the nature like you have never experience before. If you want to really experience the way people live here on this island, there are homestays you can stay and rest. There will be activities waiting for you to learn the culture of the people that has been living here for decades.

Another island you can explore is Ko Kut or Koh Kood which is equally amazing, but it is much more beautiful than Ko Chang.

Koh Kood

เกาะกูด (Ko Kood)

Koh Kood is selected to be one of the Dream Destination in Thailand by the Tourism Authority of Thailand because of its beautiful beaches. In one of those beaches, Klong Chao Beach is the most exceptional beach that you cannot miss! You can see crystal clear water and if you can dive, I highly recommend doing it to see the coral reefs. This place is considered to be the Andaman Sea of the eastern region because of its variety in species of fishes. Other than that, the island itself also contains a well-preserved forest, including a 500 years banyan tree and spectacular waterfalls. As mentioned earlier, Trat is the place for island exploration in Thailand, so there are a lot more islands with unique features you can go to such as Ko Kradat and Ko Kham.

Other islands in Trat

Other islands in Trat

‘Local Tells’

The following places are not really that popular with most of the tourist, but it is definitely worth it to go and explore the characteristics of each places.

Black Sand Beach

First up is the Black Sand Beach which is the only beach with black sand in Thailand and one of the five beaches in the entire world.

หาดทรายสีดำ (Black Sand Beach)

You can literally walk on the black sand for two kilometers. One thing for sure is resting your feet on the water here can help your feet to be relaxed without any massage required.

Ban Tha Ranae

Next place is Ban Tha Ranae which is an unseen Thailand that you need to take a boat through the forest to get in.

บ้านท่าระแนะ (Baan Tha Ranae) Trat Thailand

You will see one of the most beautiful tropical forest in the entire province called Lan Taboon and intriguing tree roots on the ground. In fact, the tropical forest here is more than a century old.

Wat Nam Chiao

If you visit Thailand, the place you cannot miss is the temple. Wat Nam Chiao is the main attraction in this community. There are many Buddhist statues inside of the temple that has been here for many decades. One thing to be mentioned is that this community is the perfect blend of Buddhism and Islamic cultures. It means that you can see some mosques around of the place. Why not try some traditional snacks while you are here? Ya Na Rice Crackers and lamp shell (Local Tells) are really famous, and it is pretty rare to find it elsewhere in Thailand. There are also come attractions here to see the vast nature and environment. If you are up for something exclusive that let you get close to the community, head to Ban Nam Chiao where you can study and observe a very traditional culture.

บ้านน้ำเชี่ยว (Baan Nam Chiao)

บ้านน้ำเชี่ยว (Baan Nam Chiao)

Apart from learning about their traditional culture, you can also learn about their handicrafts. Another highlight of this place is the long-tail boat tour of the local fishermen such as shell collecting dive which you can also join in if you want to. You will be able to fully enjoy the nature here and there are homestays if you want to stay longer.

Souvenirs

the things you can buy back home are fruits, especially salacca which is sweet and really famous.

ของฝาก (Souvenirs from Trat)

Living in Trat

The motto for Trat is “City with Hundred Islands, Red Gemstones, Sweet Salacca, Great Thai Ridgeback, and Navy Battle at Ko Chang”. There are quite a lot of hotels in Trat you can choose from, ranging from a simple guesthouse around 150 baht per night to a simple hotel around 1000 baht per night. However, most of the accommodations here are guesthouses. You can get around by simply riding a bike or walk as the town is pretty small. There are also some minibuses and motorcycle taxis in which you should be very careful not to get ripped off. Try to bargain the price first before you get in. Be sure to conquer all the islands!

Contact

Contact our local partner, @ TonyHolidayPage , if you are looking for special tour packages

Suggested cities around Trat

Chanthaburi – The Hidden Gem of Thailand

Chonburi – The East Coast Gem of Thailand

The post Trat – Thailand’s Destination for Islands appeared first on Thailand Local Travel.

General information of Sa Kaeo

A history of a place is best learned by stepping into the town that contains it. Sa Kaeo, a province located at the far east of Thailand, is a famous place for seeing ruins and architecture of the past. It is also a province that is on Thailand’s eastern border next to Cambodia in which you can easily see the mixture between Thai and Cambodia culture right here. Not just culture, you can also see many combinations between Thai and Cambodia architecture that you cannot see elsewhere.

It is a place where you can see the past through many artefacts and monuments which are telling its own history. Other than that, Sa Kaeo is also famous for its nature and environment. There are quite a few of National Parks here for you to explore the abundant nature resource that Sa Kaeo has. For example, Pang Sida National Park and Ta Phraya National Park are two most famous National Park here. As the province is close to the Cambodian border, the place act as a grand gate that connects to Cambodia and its tourism. There is also a market called Rong Kluea Market where it contains various goods from neighboring countries.

How to travel to Sa Kaeo

Sa Kaeo is 275 kilometers away from Bangkok and you can either take a bus or a train to come here. However, if you prefer to drive yourself here, it is totally fine as well. Just remember to carefully follow the GPS or else you might get lost! Once you are here, enjoy the atmosphere and try something local!

Things to do in Sa Kaeo

As Sa Kaeo is considered to be pretty close to Cambodia, there are few ancient remains available for you to explore. If you like to explore and do some adventure of your own, please feel free to do so! Some ancient or historical remains are located in the town, but some are in a forest. However, the most notable ancient architecture is Sdok Kok Thom or Sdok Kak Thom.

The place is a castle from the eleventh century Khmer Empire that is now located at Sa Kaeo, Thailand. The name comes from the fact that there are many papyruses in the area near the castle. However, the Thais previously called this place “Baan Prao Castle”.

It is considered to be the biggest ancient architecture of Khmer Empire in the eastern region of Thailand. The castle was built with rock, sand, and red stone which are the characteristics of ancient Khmer. As of the time that I am writing this, the Fine Arts Department of Thailand is currently renovating this place with the hopes of returning this thousand years old place to its original beauty. If you want to know more, you can ask the guide or the locals there. They probably know the most accurate story of the castle.

Pang Sida National Park

Pang Sida National Park

This is the best place to see butterflies in all of Thailand with more than 400 species.

Pang Sida National Park

This place is recognized as the second natural heritage of Thailand. For seeing the butterflies, there are lots of them in the morning and even more so in the rainy season around June to July. There is also a festival that will be held in June every year in which you can see many species of butterfly here, including hornbills and 300 more species of birds. Additionally, there are waterfalls and a lot of animals you can take a look such as bulls, hornbills, and freshwater crocodiles.

น้ำตกปางสีดา (Pangsida Waterfall)

Local Tells

If you are a type of person who loves the nature and also looking for an adventure, Sa Kaeo will surely satisfy your taste.

Lalu

Let us start with Lalu which is a canyon with weird dirt pillars (Local tells). In fact, they are not something that is man-made at all.

ละลุ (Lalu) Sa Kaeo

It is a product of nature from weathering. This place is separated into different zones for tourists in which you can come here all year round. However, the best time is in the evening when the sunlight lightly shines on the pillars which produces a golden color.

Lalu (ละลุ)

If you fancy caves and canyons, there are two caves you can check out. The first cave is Petch Pho Thong Cave which contains beautiful natural canyons.

ถ้ำเพชรโพธื์ทอง (Petch Pho Thong Cave)

This is a one of the most beautiful medium-sized caves in Thailand with a distance of 700 meters where the interior is separated into four sections. Each section contains unique stalagmites and stalactites with more than a hundred centuries old. One fact about the cave is the feature that influence the name of the cave. The natural canyon here has an egg-like shape in which the surface shines like a diamond when hit by lights. The ceiling also looks like golden Bodhi leaves.

Siva Cave

Another cave is called Siva Cave. The highlight for this cave is the river that runs through the cave with a height of 10 to 220 centimeters.

ถ้ำศิวะ (Siva Cave)

From the opening of the cave to the end is around 350 meters in distance which might take about one to two hours. There is also a spot that you need to swim to get through the river. While you are touring the cave, you can look around and see natural canyons that caused by centuries of weathering. There is also a discovery regarding 19 levels of waterfall, but it is still in the process of exploring which will be open for tourists in the future.

souvenirs

You might also want to have some souvenirs to take home with you. I highly recommend cantaloupes as it is the star of this province. Another thing you can bring back for your family is ceramics. They are truly unique, and their patterns are beautiful beyond believe.

Cantaloupes – Souvenirs from Sa Kaeo

Living in Sa Kaeo

The motto for Sa Kaeo is “The Frontier of the East, Beautiful Forests and Splendid Waterfalls, Plenty of Ancient Civilizations, The Commercial Venue Between Thailand and Cambodia.”

To get around the province, you can hire tuktuks to take you around. However, you also need to cautious of the price they might charge you. So, remember to ask for the price before getting in. There are also motorcycle taxi you can take, just remember what I told you earlier.

For accommodation, you can sleep at the hotels in the city centre which doesn’t cost you a fortune or a resort in the outer ring of the city. There aren’t many luxury hotels here, but mid-range hotel with reasonable price. Do enjoy your time here and don’t forget to bring back some goods!

Contact our local partner, @ TonyHolidayPage , if you are looking for special tour packages

Suggested Cities Around Prachinburi

Rayong – One of the Most Famous Destinations for Beaches in Thailand

Prachinburi – One of Thailand’s Most Perfect Combination of Nature and Community

The post Sa Kaeo – A Famous Historical Place in Thailand appeared first on Thailand Local Travel.

General Information of Rayong

If you are looking for a province that consists of one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, Rayong is the place to go. There are many beaches and islands you can go and explore. One of the most notable island in the east of Thailand belongs to the Rayong province which is Ko Samet. It is widely known for its beauty throughout Thailand and many people from all over the country have come to visit this place at least once in their lifetime!

While Ko Samet is the star of Rayong, there are also places like Baan Phae beach which is pretty much as popular as Ko Samet. You can also find great souvenirs to bring back home from your trip here too. Here, you can find delicious seafood and awesome processed food like dried fruits.

How to travel to Rayong

Traveling here is not that difficult either. As it is 179 kilometers from Bangkok, you can take the bus from the Eastern Bus Terminal located at Ekamai. If you prefer to have some privacy while traveling, you can drive there yourself as well. Too tired to drive for three hours to get here? Why not hire a private taxi? You might still be required to pay the expressway fee, but it is quite a convenient choice of travel.

There is a famous local airport called U-tapao Airport located here. However, you need to check with your agent (if you contacted one) if there is place flying here on that particular day or not. Once you have chosen your choice of traveling, you may want to have some sleep as there are much for you to enjoy here at Rayong!

Things to do in Rayong

The famous attractions for Rayong as I have said earlier, are mostly islands and beaches, so we’ll focus on that. As there are many beaches and island available for you to choose, it might be a problem choosing where and which one you should go.

Ko Samet

To save time for you, here is my recommendation. Let’s start with the most famous one and that is Ko Samet. The word “Samet” comes from the red and white Samet trees around the whole island and that is where the name comes from. The island is notable for its bays and magnificent beaches.

Ao Prao

อ่าวพร้าว (Ao Prao Bay)

Ao Prao or Prao Bay, is where most foreigners decide to stay at. It is also renown for the most beautiful spot to see the sunset in the entire island.

Sai Kaew Beach

If you want to feel some action, I recommend heading to Sai Kaew Beach where you will find many activities to participate such as jet ski riding, banana boat, sailboat, and etc.

Sai Kaew Beach at Rayong Thailand

A word of warning, this is the most crowded beach as well.

Ko Man

If you want to have some private space and experience some exotic places, you can take a visit to a group of three islands called Ko Man.

Ko Man Nok

The first island is called Ko Man Nok which contains the most beautiful beaches of all three islands. The island itself is quiet and you can really enjoy some private time with yourself. If you are looking for a resort, there is only one available here. The highlight activity here is sunbathing on fined white sand beside the greenish blue sea. You can also go into the water and dive to see the coral reefs which is also suitable for ones who are looking for a place to relax.

Ko Man Klang

Next up is Ko Man Klang which also has only one resort and have a very peaceful characteristic. This place is suitable for diving and you can also see the separated sea here.

Little sea turtle at Ko Man Nai

Lastly, Ko Man Nai which is the biggest island of them all. The island contains a center for turtle preservation and a sea turtle museum with many species of sea turtles for you to see.

Ko Talu where you can see the most amazing natural rock formation

Other than Ko Samet, there is also Ko Talu where you can see the most amazing natural rock formation with a height of more than 10 meters. This place contains a landmark that you should really come and take a picture, including clear water and the most amazing coral reef in Rayong! If you like diving, you cannot miss this beautiful spot!

Local Tells 

The aforementioned places are really the main attractions for Rayong, but if you are looking for something more local, this is for you. Thailand is famous for its temples and nature. Rayong is simply reflecting what Thailand is. You can see various types of trees here and they are a beautiful sight to see.

Tung Prong Thong

ทุ่งโปร่งทอง (Tung Prong Thong)

Tung Prong Thong is an eco-tourism place with more than 9,600,000 square meters that also has a bridge with more than two kilometers in distance. You can easily be the one with nature by strolling through the thick forest. In the forest, you can see tall Prong trees that reflects light green colors throughout and it will be even more beautiful in the evening when it turns gold which you can take a picture of if you would like to.

น้ำตกเขาชะเมา (Khao Chamao Waterfall)

Khao Chamao Waterfall is a great place in Rayong to see some eight levels waterfall! However, level 7 is the most beautiful of them all. You can dive in the water and feed the fish here as well. Apart from the waterfall, the water is also clear enough for you to see Mahseer barbs on every level of the waterfall. If you are visiting Thailand, one of the must see here is temples. One of the temples in Rayong is the Khao Prathun Cave Temple in which the main highlight here is a boat trip through the cave in the rainy season which creates a small underwater city inside the cave that you can experience the peacefulness of nature.

Khao Prathun Cave Temple

However, in the drought season, you can easily walk through the cave. It is really something you should experience yourself rather seeing it from a brochure.

Baan Phae Beach

If you are looking for souvenirs to take back with you, Baan Phae Beach is the place to go.

Baan Phae Beach

It is one of the top places in Rayong for buying quality and local souvenirs. The tips for souvenirs that I could give you is to buy processed seafood such as fish sauce, shrimp paste, and dried shrimp. If you fancy fruits instead, I highly recommend dried durian, mangosteen, rambutan, and longan. Be sure to check out other local goods as well! If you come here around April to July, most fruit gardens will have a fruit buffet where you can infinitely eat delicious fruits like durian, mangosteen, rambutan, longan, and zalacca.

Fruits – Souvenirs of Rayong Thailand

Living in Rayong

Every province in Thailand has a motto and Rayong is no different. The motto for Rayong is “Delicious Fruit, Advanced Industry, Tasty Fish Sauce, The Beautiful and Luxurious Ko Samet, and Soonthorn Poo the Poet”.

To get around town

you can use minibuses which will be able to take you anywhere with the right price. Please ask about the price first before getting in. You can also go to the bus station of the town to take the bus.

Accommodation

If you are finding a place to stay, there are various types of places you will find, ranging from a hotel that costs 800 baht a night to a large beautiful resort that can cost you a lot. It depends if you are staying on an island or in town. Are you planning to take a trip to the sea? I recommend coming here on November to April in which it is the prime time for the best season. Enjoy your stay!

Contact

Contact our local partner, @ TonyHolidayPage , if you are looking for special tour packages

Suggested Cities around Rayong

Trat – Thailand’s Destination for Islands

Chonburi – The East Coast Gem of Thailand

The post Rayong – One of the Most Famous Destination for Beaches in Thailand appeared first on Thailand Local Travel.

General information of Prachinburi

Prachinburi, a province that contains so much history that dated back 800 years ago and most of are still well preserved to this day. Prachinburi is pronounced as “Pra-jean-boo-ree”. It is a province located next to the border with a total area of approximately 4,762 square kilometers. In this province alone, there are many ruins that contain a lot of discoveries of artefacts such as pottery, bronze, and Buddha images. The province itself was built around communities of people along the Bang Pakong River since the ancient times. It used to be the centre of prosperity in art, culture, and many traditions. It was also once a trading hub that interacts mostly with India and China.

How to travel to Prachinburi

With just 135 kilometers from Bangkok, there are many traveling options you can choose to come here and explore the history yourself. The first option is to take the train from Bangkok at Hua Lamphong Station. It will take you two hours and 45 minutes to get here by train. If you are not so fancy of trains, you can also take a bus here. You can take the bus at Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal on Kamphaeng Phet Road and it will take you about two hours to arrive at Prachinburi. The third option is to drive a car here which proves to be the most convenient way to come here. It will also take you less time if you choose the route wisely from Bangkok to Prachinburi. Once you are here, you can start exploring the nature provided and get ready for some sightseeing!

Things to do in Prachinburi

If you love history or ancient artefacts, Prachinburi is the place that you definitely need to come and visit!

Phraya Aphai Phubet Hospital

This place – Phraya Aphai Phubet Hospital has been constructed since the King Rama IV was in reign. The building is decorated with yellow that truly catches your eyes while the inside is preserving to be the way they are in the past. There are Thai medicine museum located here where they provide information about Thai herbs, including a Thai herbs store, health consultant, health rejuvenation spa, and Thai massages.

Phraya Aphai Phubet (พระยาอภัยภูเบศร)

They also manufacture and sell famous Prachinburi’s souvenirs here! As Thailand are mainly a country with Buddhism believers since the past, there are many traces of the practice of Buddhism here in Thailand and Prachinburi is no exception.

Ton Pho (Banyan tree) Si Maha Pho

Wat Sri Maha Pho

Ton Pho (Banyan tree) Si Maha Pho is the oldest banyan tree in Thailand with a height of more than 30 meters and a diameter of 25 meters. Its branches are as wide as 50 meters. It is also the symbol of Prachinburi itself. This tree has been first planted here in Thailand at this temple. There are other Buddha statues in different pose here as well. This temple holds quite a few events which usually involves religious rituals. People speculated this tree as the banyan tree that the Buddha has enlightened. There are more histories you can delve in if you visit Thailand, especially in Prachinburi. For example, the Prachinburi National Museum is the place where they showcase many artefacts from the eastern region of Thailand. If you are the one who loves an adventure, let me introduce you to an adventure that you cannot miss.

Prachinburi National Museum

Kan Hin Perng is the place where you can really enjoy adventuring through the stream!

Kan Hin Perng

It is also the highlight of the rainy season at this province! The place has a famous rafting activity with more than 7 stages from two to five level of difficulties that could take you up to 2 hours to pass them all. The distance of all the courses is around 4.5 kilometers. The fun can only be enjoyed with your friends. You can take your group of friends with you in which the numbers can be up to 8 people at a time. However, this activity only available on the rainy season of Thailand around July to October.

Local Tells

There are also more places you can go that is not really mainstream, but important nonetheless. If you are interested in museums, there is one that you should see. Yusuk Sawan Museum or the lamp museum is truly a unique place for you to come and see.

Yusuk Sawan Museum

Outside of the museum consists of various species of plants while inside you can see more than 10,000 old lamps in which the lamps were made from different countries and they are fully hanged on the ceiling. There are many zones inside where you can see real ancient tools, silver, and even motorcycles from the year 1972. However, the owner starts to collect these things since the year 1977.

Wat Rattana Nettaram

Wat Rattana Nettaram is a temple with unique features that you cannot see elsewhere in Thailand. The architecture of this temple is decorated with sea shells that are truly beautiful. This is the work of the head of the temple and the monks that are living here. They gathered different kind of sea shells and carefully place them together to depict some small and large flowers.

Wat Rattana Nettaram (วัดรัตนเนตตาราม)

Not just the walls, you will see that the ceiling, pillars, and interior are filled with these sea shells. Other temples in this province also have a spin-off like this temple as well that you can take a look at. Prachinburi is also the land of the fireflies as there are many abundant forests. In these peaceful forests, you can see the 100,000 fireflies come out at night, especially around 6:30pm to 8pm, but only in the rainy season.

Prachinburi is also the land of the fireflies

However, the rules that you must remember to follow when you are here is no usage of flash, lights, or any kind of noise when taking pictures. To end your journey, don’t forget to bring some souvenirs back with you. Other than the Thai herbs I mentioned earlier, there are seasonal fruits and phai tong which is a sweet bamboo. Both of them are really famous here in Prachinburi!

Phai Tong

Living in Prachinburi

Every province of Thailand contains a motto and Prachinburi’s motto is “City of the Sacred Bodhi Tree, Sweet Bamboo Shoots, Tasty Fruits and Ancient Remains of Dvaravati Towns”. If you wonder what’s more that this province can offer, just read the motto to find out. To get around in town, I highly recommend walking to really see the unique cultures of the town. If it gets tiring, you can always find tuktuks and motorcycle taxis. You can also take minibuses around town, just make sure to tell the driver where you want to go. The accommodations here are really cheap. You can find a hotel for the price as low as 490 baht. However, there are no hotels that are close to the river on the city side of the province. Enjoy your visit here at Prachinburi!

Contact our local partner, @ TonyHolidayPage , if you are looking for special tour packages

Suggested Cities Around Prachinburi

Sa Kaeo – A Famous Historical Place in Thailand
Rayong – One of the Most Famous Destinations for Beaches in Thailand

The post Prachinburi – One of Thailand’s Most Perfect Combination of Nature and Community appeared first on Thailand Local Travel.

If you are talking about a province that was once a city in Thailand where it contains so much history, Chachoengsao would be one of the top provinces that comes up in the discussion. Chachoengsao is a province that was built on faith and beliefs. Its history goes back to the Ayutthaya period in the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat. However, it was not until the reign of King Rama V that the city of Chachoengsao became a province in 1916. Like most ancient civilizations, the population are mostly settled by the Bang Pakong River and canals. Most people living here called this province as Paet Riw as the province’s nickname. The nickname actually comes from a story of the giant snake-head fish which has been cut into 8 stripes on the side of it. The word “Paet” in English means eight and “Riw” means stripe, strip, or slice. The place contains some of the most beautiful temples in the entire eastern region of Thailand. If you want to see the craftsmanship from the ancient times, you will definitely not regret coming here!

How to travel to Chachoengsao

There are three ways of traveling here which are equally convenient. If you plan to come here by train, you can take the train from Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. Be sure to arrive early if you want a seat as the train can get pretty crowded at times. However, if you definitely want to sit, you can come here by bus. You can take the bus at the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) and it will take you around one hour and 20 minutes to get here. You can also drive here by yourself by following the suggested route from your preferred GPS navigation. If you are not driving, just sit back and relax because you will need a lot of energy to see all of what Chachoengsao can offer!

Things to do in Chachoengsao

Let me start off with the famous attractions in Chachoengsao. As you may already know, Thailand has a long history of Buddhism. This means you will see a lot of temples around Thailand, especially in Chachoengsao. You will be able to see really beautiful temples, including wall arts from bottom to top of the place which screams for your visit. The first place is Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan or Luang Pho Sothon Temple.

Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan or Luang Pho Sothon Temple at Chachoengsao Thailand

This is the most famous temple in all eastern region of Thailand! There are three annual events here and there are many people that comes here every year for these three events, so you should not miss. However, the dates are not exactly the same every year, but if you come and visit Thailand around the following month, you might be able to catch it. The first event is held in the Chinese New Year celebration, the second event is in May, and the final one is in December. It does not really matter if there are festivals here or not, there will still be a lot of people at this temple as people have faith in the holiness of Luang Pho Sothon in which you can come and pray for your own luck. Please be cautious of your belongings as the place is always crowded with worshippers. Chachoengsao is also known for the city of Ganesh in Thailand. There are three giant Ganesh statues at three different places around Chachoengsao. If you are a worshipper of Ganesh, you should come and visit them all once you are here. The first statue is the sleeping Ganesh located at Saman Wattanaram Temple, the second statue is the sitting Ganesh located at Phrong Akat Temple, and the last statue is the standing Ganesh located at the Khlong Khuean Ganesh International Park.

Khlong Khuean Ganesh International Park

Phrong Akat Temple

Also, the sleeping Ganesh at Saman Wattanaram Temple is the biggest one of its kind in Thailand with a height of 16 meters and 22 meters long.

Saman Wattanaram Temple at Chachoengsao Thailand

The meaning behind this statue is convenience and fulfilling happiness in every way. There are more things at this temple you should check out and pay respect to. The second Ganesh located at Phrong Akat Temple is 49 meters tall which is the tallest sitting Ganesh in Thailand and the meaning behind this statue is power, peace, and success. It is also standing beside the golden Chedi of the temple that you can see from a far. The last Ganesh is the tallest standing Ganesh in Thailand with a height of 39 meters which located in the middle of nature that signifies the abundant nature of the land at the Khlong Khuean Ganesh International Park.

‘Local Tells’

If you don’t get enough with temple just yet, there are temples that you should go and take a look at. These temples are not really tourist attractions, but they are beautiful nonetheless. Each of these temples have unique characteristics that you may be interested to see.

Paknam Jolo Temple at Chachoengsao Thailand

Paknam Jolo Temple is the only temple in Thailand that is covered in gold color, both internally and externally. The place also showcases some antique tools and boats. Next up is Hua Suan Temple in which the entire temple is built by stainless steel.

Hua Suan Temple at Chachoengsao Thailand

The intention for this kind of construction is to make this temple lasts a thousand of years. While the outside is already amazing, inside of the temple contains wall arts and magnificent statues.

Nakhon Nueang Ket Temple at Chachoengsao Thailand

Nakhon Nueang Ket Temple is built mainly by earthenware which is quite an eye-opening sight. The entire temple is entirely brown which is really rare in Thailand. If you are done with temples, you can visit Bang Pakong River delta and take pictures of some birds nearby as well. If you are here around November to February, you might get a chance to encounter Irrawaddy dolphins near the delta which is also an eco-tourism place of this province.

Irrawaddy dolphins at Bang Pakong River, Chachoengsao Thailand

“Bang Pakong River is the source of life” is one of the phrase in Chachoengsao’s motto and it is not just a fancy phrase. This province contains many floating markets, but there are only four main ones: Baan Mai Market, Nakhon Nueang Ket Riverside Market, Bang Khla Floating Market, and Khlong Suan 100 Years Market.

Floating Market

These four markets are similar to each other. You can get a feel of the vintage vibe and enjoy the atmosphere along the riverside. They are the places where you can see the century old culture, eat some delicious local foods, and buy great souvenirs that consists of local snacks, Thai traditional coffee, and more. An additional souvenir that you can buy is mango which is really famous. It is sweet and smells really good to your pallet!

Souvenirs of Chachoengsao Thailand – Mango

Living in Chachoengsao

The motto for Chachoengsao is “The Bountiful Bang Pakong River, The Sacred Buddha Image of Luangpho Sothon, Phraya Si Sunthon the Scholar of Thai Language, The Pristine Ang Rue Nai Forest”. To get around town, you can use some of the public transportations available such as minibuses, air-conditioned bus, and tuktuks. However, you will rarely see a bus around the town, so you may want to stick with minibuses or tuktuks. For accommodation, there are some cheap hotels as low as 600 baht and some beautiful resorts with cheap prices as well. The hotels are easily accessible if you arrived here from Bangkok. Enjoy your stay and take some pictures of temples back with you!

Contact our local partner, @ TonyHolidayPage , if you are looking for special tour packages

Suggested Cities Around Prachinburi

Rayong – One of the Most Famous Destinations for Beaches in Thailand

Prachinburi – One of Thailand’s Most Perfect Combination of Nature and Community

The post Chachoengsao – Thailand’s Ancient Province with a Long History and Beliefs appeared first on Thailand Local Travel.

General Information of Chonburi, Thailand

With only 81 kilometers away from Bangkok, Chonburi welcomes tourists with its beaches and beautiful sightseeing such as seas and mountains. It’s the perfect solution for anyone who’s looking for an escape from fast and chaotic life without traveling too far from the capital city. No matter what taste you have or what you are looking for, the place has so many varieties in which it can guarantee to have everything that will satisfy you.

Beach lovers? We got you. Chonburi consists of many beaches you can take a stroll on or bring your loved ones for a romantic date. Don’t want to stick in the mainland? There are many islands that you can go to in which all of the islands you’ll find will have one thing in common which is diving and seeing the most beautiful coral. Sunbathing and watching as the sunset are also things that you can enjoy.

How to travel to Chonburi

         There are many ways you can go to Chonburi as it isn’t far from the capital city that much. It would take you around one and a half hours to get here by car, or you could also take a plane here too. Check out U-Tapao International Airport but if you will travel from Bangkok, just take a van, a taxi, a bus from the bus terminal or International Airports in Bangkok and you will arrive at Chonburi before you know it!

Things to do in Chonburi

Let’s talk attractions. As Chonburi has so many attractions available for you to go to, it is impossible to go through all of them and even more so, to go to all of them in one trip. So, as a matter of convenience for you, I will mention three attractions in which you must go and experience!

Bang Saen Beach

Bang Saen Beach, Chonburi, Thailand

First off, this is an extremely famous beach among Thais and foreigners for so many years. It is a place where if you want a nice relaxing time at a beach with delicious seafood, this is the place that first comes to mind. You can spend time sitting on the beach chair, looking in a distant far from the shore, and feel the sea breeze.

However, if you want to feel some action, a banana boat is at your service. You can also enjoy swimming in the sea for hours, but I recommend not to go there on the weekends as the place will be packed!

Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya is also one of the most amazing attraction here in Chonburi

Other than Bang Saen, Pattaya is also one of the most amazing attraction here in Chonburi. While there are so many places you can go in Pattaya, the Cabaret show is a performance show by ladyboy in which they are great performers and have unique characteristics. The show comes with sound, light, and colors, including the beautiful decoration on the stage which blend well with the performance.

The Four Regions Floating Market is the place you must go and see.

As the name implies, all of the good things from them, four regions of Thailand exist here in this market. From local handcrafted goods to products that are famous in each region, they are all here! There are also activities like traditional shows, a boat tour of the market, and a buffet where you can sample all of the delicious food from all over Thailand.

Koh Lan

Talking about islands here in Chonburi, if you are already enough with Pattaya, you can take a boat to Koh Lan to see the beaches they provide there.

If you are already enough with Pattaya, you can take a boat to Koh Lan.

In Koh Lan alone, there are six beaches which they are all unique to each other. Is it amazing to just going to one place and see many beaches in one trip? It is also the place where it has one of the most preserved coral in Thailand, be sure to check it out and take pictures while you’re there!

Local Tells

The places I mentioned earlier are kind of mainstream where tourists would go, but there are other exotic places for you to experience as well.

The Sanctuary of Truth

If you talk about Thailand, you would think of temple, is that right? I recommend you to take a visit at the Sanctuary of Truth in which it is the largest wood architecture in Thailand.

Sanctuary of Truth – the largest wood architecture in Thailand.

It took more than 20 years to build, and there is no nail used with the structure at all. Take a deep dive into the history and sculptures that has its own stories. There is also an English-speaking guide that could help you with that too.

Nong Nuch Garden

If you like to take pictures with nature, you can go to Nong Nuch Garden for a sight you’ll never forget.

Nong Nuch Garden

Nong Nuch Garden was once a Thai representative in the world’s flower competition called Chelsea Flower Show in London. It has 6^th consecutive wins from 2010 to 2015. They have a lot of species of flowers with more than 18,000 species of tropical plants, and they are beautiful to watch. There are more than 20 gardens in different styles to suit what you might be looking for. If you love flowers or gardening, this is a place that you cannot miss.

Koh Samae San and Koh Kham

Enough with the flowers already? Why not try some of the exotic island other than being in Bang Saen and Pattaya? In Sattahip District, there are many peaceful beaches around the province, but two of the most beautiful beaches are located at Koh Samae San and Koh Kham – the more exotic spots you could take a look.

These two islands have one of the greatest views and contain the most abundant nature in the entire eastern region. You can indulge yourself with the beautiful beaches and crystal clear water. It is also a great place for a sunbath, diving, and riding around the island to see the nature. As it is not that mainstream, nature here is quite untouched by people.

Buffalo racing

Buffalo racing at Chonburi Thailand

This is one of the things mentioned in the motto of this province. It is one of the most iconic events here in Chonburi. The event exists to pay back the respect to the buffalo that farmers use for their farming, especially rice farming. Above is just a glimpse into what Chonburi has to offer and trust me, there are more you can explore.

Souvenirs

You can also find local Thai souvenirs at Nong Mon Market where it contains some of the most delicious food like sweet sticky rice in bamboo and Ho Mok (Local Tells).

Nong Mon Market where it contains some of the most delicious food like sweet sticky rice in bamboo

The sweet sticky rice in bamboo or Khao Lam tastes sweet and gives a sticky texture in your mouth. It is also chewy, and you can smell the fine ingredients inside of the sticky rice. However, the best bit is the top of the sticky rice as it is where the majority of the filling is. You would never find a place where everything you wish for exists more than this place.

Living in Chonburi

For accommodation, the average cost is around 1,500 baht per night. There are some places where the hotel is on the beachside which you can take a look at the beautiful sunset pretty easily. To get around, you can take the minibus, and you can also rent it as well. Prefer to have your car and drive instead? No problem, you can rent a car here which will cost you around 1,190 baht per day. However, there are some places that you might not want to have a car as the car is not accessible in some places. If you prefer to ride a motorcycle, the average cost of rent per day is around 300-400 baht. Planning to go to an island as well? Make sure you have prepared for the boat fees. A boat to Koh Lan is around 40 THB per trip, and if the island is far or not well known, it would cost you around 300-400 baht a trip. I hope you enjoy your stay here in Chonburi!

Tips from locals

To maximize your experience of your stay, try to avoid coming in the rainy season around May to mid of October. It will surely spoil your fun. Don’t worry about finding a place here and your budget is not a concern not to come here as well. You can stay at a place from luxurious resort or hotel to a single guesthouse which is cheap and also comfortable.

Contact our local partner, @TonyHolidayPage , if you would like to visit Chonburi

Suggested cities close to Chonburi

Rayong – One of the Most Famous Destination for Beaches in Thailand

Chanthaburi – The Hidden Gem of Thailand

Bangkok – The Capital City of Thailand

The post Chonburi – The East Coast Gem of Thailand appeared first on Thailand Local Travel.

General Information of Chanthaburi

The east of Thailand is a hub to many great places you can explore and one of the most fruitful provinces is Chanthaburi. Chanthaburi is famous for its tropical fruits, especially durian in which I highly recommend you give it a taste (Local Tells). You wouldn’t find a unique taste of it elsewhere in Thailand. As the province span over a large area, it consists of many attractions of nature you can find here.

There are plains, mountains, plateau, and sea shores in this region alone. The amazing thing is that there are hills and waterfalls you can take a look if you want to have atmospheric change from the forest scenery. There is also a river that has been crossed over by three bridges in the central area of Chanthaburi. Those three bridges are separated from each other and located in different directions in the north, south, and southeast.

How to travel to Chanthaburi

It might be a good adventure to see all these things in one day, however, if you’re planning to stay here for a few days, it will take no sweat at all. The distance from Bangkok is about four hours by bus. Other than a bus, you could also drive your own car or take a van here.

After you arrived, you can either choose to stay at a simple guesthouse to a four stars hotel or even a resort as well. This is the ultimate place in Thailand that is surrounded by the greens where you can enjoy and relax with any size of budget.

Things to do in Chanthaburi

There are so many places to go in Chanthaburi, where should I start? As Chanthaburi is one of the places where you can really enjoy staying with nature in Thailand, many attractions here will be focus more on the experiences you will get from living with the atmosphere surrounded by nature.

Chanthaboon Waterfront

Chanthaboon Waterfront, Chanthaburi, Thailand Travel by the local tells

First on the list is Chanthaboon Waterfront, a place with rich community that lives on the waterfront for more than 300 years. It does a great job in keeping the same look throughout the existence of the community and it also used to be a trading hub between sea and land.

You can also see different architectures which are separated by three districts: Tha Luang, Central Market, and Lower Market. You wouldn’t really be here at Chanthaburi if you missed this place! There is also another market nearby called Nong Bua Market which opens on the weekends where it sells pretty weird snacks like Monkey’s Penis snack.

Chanthabun Community

There is also a Catholic Church near Chanthabun Community and it is more than 100 years old. The interior is decorated with beautiful ancient art, marble floors, colored windows, and the saint covered with silver that is decorated with 200,000 sapphires crystals.

Namtok Phlio National Park

If you’re looking for a famous waterfall here in Chanthaburi, Namtok Phlio National Park is the place for you. The word “Namtok” means waterfall which is also a word in the province’s motto as well, so you know it is one of the main attractions to see here. The water here is clear enough that you can see Mahseer Barbs swimming in the water and of course you can go into the water and try to play with the fishes.

Khitchakut Mountain

Want to see a Buddha statue that is high up in the mountain? Take a trip to Khitchakut Mountain where you’ll see the highest Buddha statue here in Thailand which is approximately 1,000 meters above sea level in which there is a sightseeing spot that enables you to see the amazing views from the top. There are lots of people that solely go there to pay respect to the Buddha, especially on the Chinese New Year which is around January to March of every year.

‘Local Tells’

Enough with the attractions, how about some local tips of activities you can spend your time doing here? Let’s start with beaches. While there is a lot of greens here in Chanthaburi, there are also beaches.

Jao Lao Beach

Truly an escape from all the noises and chaotic life. It might not be known for having a clear water or beautiful white sand, but the charm of this place is that it is peaceful. The nature here is also well preserved unlike any other beaches. Other than the scenery and atmosphere, the food here are cheap, delicious, and really fresh!

Kung Wiman Beach

Another beach that I want to mention is Kung Wiman Beach, a beach with a great sightseeing spot. Nang Phaya Scenic Point is considered to be one of the ten Dream Destinations by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Other than that, the sea drive along the coast is the most beautiful in all of the east. You can see the entire view of the ocean and an awesome place to see the sunset with your lovers.

Chedi Ban Hua Laem

จุดชมวิวเจดีย์หัวแหลม (Jedi Ban Hua Leam)

Another sightseeing spot you can check out is called Chedi Ban Hua Laem which is pretty close to Nang Phaya Scenic Point. There is a wooden bridge that goes out into the sea to see the Chedi that situated in the middle of the water. The chedi is more than 200 years old and you can only go near it when the water level is not high. The best time for a visit is when the sun is setting or rising.

Welu River

If you want to see some culture and the sea, you can go to Welu River. As the place is fertile, the people here decided to build a village around here. You can really see the way people live and how they farm their fishes and shells. I recommend eating seafood here as you’re really close the source.

A rare sight to see here is the beach with black sand which is truly amazing, and you can walk on it too. There are also home-stays where you could feel more of the community and take a look at the Red-backed sea eagle with white head which surely is another rare sight.

Red-backed sea eagle with white head

souvenirs

After the awesome trip, souvenirs are what you should take back home with you. As fruits are really famous here, taking it back would be a great choice. There are also the famous Chanthabun mat and pepper which are the best sellers here in Chanthaburi for souvenirs. Do you like gems? It is a famous good here in Chanthaburi. You can take a look and purchase gems and accessories at Gems and Jewellery Centre. They also showcase their unique gems there too.

Living in Chanthaburi

The motto for Chanthaburi is “Magnificent Waterfalls, Fruit City, Good Breeding Peppercorns, Loads of Gems, Chanthabun Mat, Fertile Nature, King Taksin the Great’s Liberation Army Gathered at Chanthaburi”. So, you know what you can expect here.

How you get around in Chanthaburi

One more thing I like to mention is how you get around in Chanthaburi as the place is quite massive!

If you’re fancy on riding a motorbike, you can rent it here for around 300 baht a day. More than one day is 200 baht per day and if you want to rent for a week it’s 1000 baht a week.

However, if you don’t want to ride it yourself, you can choose to travel by motorcycle taxi as well, but make sure you ask for the price before you get in!

There are minibuses you can take at the bus station in the town, you can hire the drive to take you around privately and again, you and your driver should agree on the price for each person beforehand. Be really careful not to get ripped off from these drivers.

One recommendation I could give to you is that if you really want to enjoy your time in the town, I suggest you walk from places to places. It will give you much in-depth experience of how people live and what the town is really like.

Contact

Contact our local partner, @ TonyHolidayPage, if you would like to visit Chanthaburi

Suggested Cities around Chanthaburi

Rayong – One of the Most Famous Destination for Beaches in Thailand

Prachinburi – One of Thailand’s Most Perfect Combination of Nature and Community

Chonburi – The East Coast Gem of Thailand

The post Chanthaburi – The Hidden Gem of Thailand appeared first on Thailand Local Travel.