Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From this stop there are frequent buses to Chiang Rai (37B, 1½ hours, 5.30am to
5pm) and two daily departures to Chiang Mai (2nd class air-con/1st class 165/212B,
five hours, 7.15am and 9am).
To Bangkok,
Sombat Tour
( 08 1595 4616; Th Phahonyothin)
offers approxim-
ately 12 seats in a daily VIP bus (920B, 12 hours, 5pm), departing from a small of-
fice adjacent to Krung Thai Bank.
Getting Around
Motorbike taxis and săhm·lór will do short trips around town for 20B. They congreg-
ate near and across from the bus stop.
A good way to see the Chiang Saen area is on two wheels. Mountain bikes and
motorcycles can be rented at
motorcycle rental
( 08 9429 5798; 247/1 Th
Phahonyothin; 9am-5pm)
and
Angpao Chiangsaen Tour
( 0 5365 0143;
www.angpaochiangsaentour.com
;
Th Phahonyothin; 9am-8pm)
. The latter can
also provide a vehicle with driver, and conducts a variety of local tours.
PHITSANULOK PROVINCE
Phitsanulok
POP 84,000
Phitsanulok sees relatively few independent travellers, but a fair amount of package
tourists, perhaps because the city is a convenient base from which to explore the
attractions of historical Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet.
Sights
WAT PHRA SI RATANA MAHATHAT
( admission free; 6am-9pm)
The full name of this temple is Wat Phra Si Ratana
Mahathat, but the locals call it Wat Phra Si or Wat Yai. The main
wí·hăhn
appears
small from the outside, but houses the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, one of Thailand's
most revered and copied Buddha images. This famous bronze statue is probably
second in importance only to the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew.
Temple
