Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Central Thailand
Why Go?
The past is never far behind in Central Thailand. Cycle around the temple ruins in Ay-
uthaya and you can imagine how this former majestic capital must have once looked. Visit
the memorials and Death Railway in Kanchanaburi and you can discover new empathy for
the WWII prisoners of war who suffered there.
Central Thailand doesn't just do history, though. Nature is a major player here as the
jagged mountain ranges that dominate the horizons host spectacular waterfalls, vast nation-
al parks and new adventure resorts.
After a few days exploring the war sites in Kanchanaburi, travellers tend to head north to
trek or camp in the national parks and maybe catch a glimpse of wild elephants, gibbons or
even tigers. Others cycle around Ayuthaya's fabled ruins or browse for bargains at tradi-
tional markets. Lopburi tends to combine both nature and history, as dozens of monkeys
scamper among the Khmer-style temples in what was once Thailand's second capital.
Head up to the very north of Kanchanaburi to be within touching distance of Burma
(Myanmar). Sleep among the tree tops at Thong Pha Phum National Park or visit remote
Sangkhlaburi, where volunteer work to help ethnic groups is hugely rewarding.
When to Go
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Central Thailand experiences the country's three seasons in equal measure; Kanchanaburi
can have baking sunshine while torrential rain buffets Sangkhlaburi. It is hot in the region
from February to June, rainy from June to October, and cool (relatively speaking) from
October to January: the one constant is the humidity.
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Because of altitude, it can be cooler in Sangkhlaburi and surrounding national parks than
in other areas. Ayuthaya and Lopburi sit in a wide-open plain that receives similar amounts
of rain and heat as Bangkok.
Best Places to Eat
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Blue Rice (
Click here
)
