Where tourism: 2011-08-14

Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Best of Thailand: Top 10 places to visit

The diverse, mystical and golden land of Thailand is Asia’s most popular tourist destination. It’s reputation for hedonism attracts thousands of backpacker’s and it’s outstanding areas of natural beauty and idyllic beaches attract an increasing amount of holiday-makers. It’s a country rich with culture, history, smiling locals and some interesting quirks. With so many tourist attractions on offer, how does a first timer to this far-flung land know where to start? Here is our list to the best of Thailand and top ten places to visit:

1. Bangkok

Bangkok is a pulsing, exciting and often chaotic metropolis and an essential part of a trip to Thailand. Although not everyone’s cup of tea, this fume soaked, noisy city has some incredible places of interest that you would be foolish to bypass. The exquisitely bejewelled Grand Palace should not be missed and if you have time also try to visit the beautiful Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Po where a huge golden reclining Buddha resides. The more adventurous head for the infamous backpacker’s paradise Khao San Road, Chinatown’s alleyways and bazaars and the Patpong Night Market (set in the city’s notorious red light district).

2. The Floating Market

The Floating Market located on the Damnoen Saduak Canal in the Bangkok region was made famous by the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun.” Although a major tourist attraction, the market is a fun and photogenic experience where visitors can get an idea of what trading was like in Thailand before the modernisation of the city. Here if you want to buy something you can hail down a narrow long boat piled high with local produce. The region is also abundant with vineyards, orchards and local businesses which are great to view by canal boat on route to the market.

3. Chiang Mai

The spiritual city of Chiang Mai is a much calmer city than Bangkok but still an essential visit on the travellers trail if you want to see the best of Thailand. Dotted with temples, craft shops, delicious restaurants, Thai massage and cooking schools the city has somehow a relaxing and comparatively tranquil atmosphere. Many travellers often cite Chaing Mai as their favourite Thai city and once visited it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. It’s location high in the north mountainous region of Thailand also makes it’s a perfect base for the popular mountain treks and organised treks can be arranged very easily here. The trails from Chiang Mai are although very interesting are often a well-worn path and many backpackers now head for nearby Pai – a gorgeously located traveller’s mecca popular with artists and musicians. Pai also offers less touristy and more ‘rustic’ treks and visits to hill-tribes.

4. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

San Kamphaeng is located 36km from Chiang Mai and it’s popular hot springs set in beautifully landscaped 40 acre parkland are well known for their restorative properties. The springs come from a deep source, are over 100 degrees centigrade and high in sulfur. You can also camp, dine, bath in the mineral rich waters or boil some eggs!

5. The East Coast Islands

Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are islands on the east side of Thailand that are very popular with tourist and backpackers. Both have gorgeous palm tree lined white sandy beaches, clear turquoise beaches, a diverse range of places to stay and a laid back attitude. Koh Phangan also plays host to the world-famous monthly full moon parties and bohemian style bars and cafes. Nearby Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan are much less touristy due to their more isolated location and are perfect for those looking for peace and world class snorkelling and diving.

6. Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son is the capital of Thailand’s northwesternmost province and it’s close proximity to the Burmese boarder gives the city a very different feel to the rest of Thailand. Very quiet and isolated this mountainous city is often shrouded in an atmospheric mist. Visitors come here for the unusual and beautiful natural scenery, the mountain trekking and the hill tribe communities – one of which is the famous Karen long neck tribe. The Thanon Thongchai range between Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand is popular for trekking and so is the impressive Pha Sua waterfall. Handicrafts and artworks of the hill-tribe people can be purchased at the local night market-ideal for unique souvenirs.

7. Ayutthaya

Only an hour outside of Bangkok, Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom existing from 1351 to 1767. The ancient city is now ruined but the remains of the elegant, extraordinary and often towering temples and buildings are now classed as a UNESCO world heritage site and should not be missed. Hiring a motorbike to cover the surrounding areas is recommended and don’t forget to bring your camera!

8. Railay

Railay and the coast of the Krabi province located in the South of Thailand is a tropical paradise characterised by towering rugged limestone cliffs, turquoise water and powder white sand. From this area it’s also easy to take a trip to the iconic “James Bond Rock” in neighbouring Phang Nga. Railay is a beautiful secluded beach accessible only by boat and attracts backpackers, well-heeled tourists and enthusiastic rock climbers. Surrounded by lush vegetation and mountains the area is also popular with trekkers and water sports lovers. Completely cut off from the daily grind it’s a place many travellers choose to stay for a lot longer than originally planned.

9. Koh Phi Phi

The tiny but idyllic west coast island of Koh Phi Phi is seen by many as the ultimate island paradise. Even though it has now fully recovered from the tsunami, the island has suffered from rapid tourist growth especially since the release of the popular film “The Beach”. Having said that it still manages to retain a relaxed vibe which seems to keep the backpackers and vacationers happy. Koh Phi Phi highlights include climbing the high viewpoint to watch the sunset and hiring a long tail boat to snorkel the beautiful surrounding waters.

10. Hin Daeng

Diving enthusiasts shouldn’t miss Hin Daeng in Andaman Sea. Literally meaning the Red Rock, this area is often thought to be one of the top diving spots in Thailand. Hin Daeng features large underwater pinnacles, incredible carpets of anemone and colourful coral. It’s also teeming with wildlife including large shoals of fish, round batfish, manta ray, barracuda and the odd whale shark.

Amman Travel Information

Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan and a fascinating mixture of ancient and modern. The city is a commercial centre with modern hotels and good shopping opportunities in the numerous malls, most of them located in Western Amman, as well as museums and historical ruins from Roman, Byzantine and Arab origin. In addition, Amman is an ideal starting point to trips to other destinations in Jordan, like the Dead Sea or the famous ancient city of Petra.

King Abdullah Mosque in Amman

Historic old town, colorful souq and modern facilities in lively Amman

Most tourism attractions in Amman are located in the Old town centered around the Souq, the colorful traditional marketplace of Amman. The beautiful Old Town of Amman, Balad, built of white stone is home to many wonderful museums, monuments and cultural sites like the Roman Amphitheatre and King Hussein Mosque. Amman’s Roman Amphitheatre which is one of the largest in the Middle East has been carved into a mountain. Other interesting sights in Amman include the Al-Qalah Castle surrounded by a Greek wall, the Umayyad Palace and an art gallery. They are all located on a top of the Citadel hill and offer great views over the city of Amman.

Amman cityscape at sunset

Shopping & culture. Amman is a modern metropolis with new highways and avenues, modern hotels and resorts. There are good opportunities for affordable shopping in Amman in the many modern shopping malls in the city. There are also interesting cultural centers, theatres and museums in Amman. Amman hosts the Jordan Short Film Festival in September. The city is also a good base for visiting nearby historical and biblical sites including Jerash,Petra and Mount Nebo, and mountain areas that are good for outdoor activities such as trekking. The shores of the Dead Sea are close to Amman as well.

Practical information for your stay in Amman

Located in a hilly area in the northwest of Jordan, Amman enjoys Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Although the weather in Amman is generally ideal for sightseeing year-round, the best times to visit Amman are in spring or in autumn when the weather is mild and pleasant.

Amman city lights at night

How to get there. Most international flights to Amman arrive at the Queen Alia airport 35 kilometers south of the capital. This airport receives flights to Jordan from many countries around the world.

The new bus station in Northern Amman offers bus connections to Amman from major cities in Jordan and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Local transport. Taxis and buses are available for transportation inside Amman. Local taxis are cheap but do not have meters, so agree on a price beforehand. Car rental in Amman is a good option if you want to explore the country on your own, as the highways in the country are in a fairly good condition.

Nuts for sale in an Amman souq

Visitor services. There is a full range of hotels in Amman from budget hotels to luxurious five-star hotels. Therestaurants in Amman offer a wide range of cuisines representing all kinds of international and local Jordanian delicacies like Mansaf, Shwarma and roasted lamb. The majority of the friendly inhabitants of Amman consist of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees and they always welcome a visitor. English is spoken by many people in the city.

Safety. Amman is generally a safe city with no major crime problems, but due to some recent terrorist attacks, a bit of caution is advised. Watch out for the local traffic as well.

Tartu Travel Information

One of the oldest cities in the Baltic countries, Tartu offers plenty of historical attractions to be admired. In addition to that, this lively Estonian university town is rich also with cultural life and possibilities for entertainment. If you are interested in outdoor sports, the most famous Estonian ski resort Otepää is located nearby, and summer season of Tartu is also filled with possibilities to enjoy active pursuits.

tartu university main building

Tartu, Estonian university town with cultural and historical attractions

Lively university town and the second largest city in Estonia, Tartu offers much to see for visitors. Much of the charm of Tartu comes from its historical background as one of the oldest cities of the Baltic countries. Particularly interesting is the old part of town where you can find several churches and historical monuments from different eras to be explored. One of the main sights of Tartu is the Toome Hill, on top of which nature and historical buildings form an interesting combination. Thanks to its strategic position in the middle of the city, Toome Hill has formerly been used for military purposes, but today the area is a public park with museums and monuments of national importance.

A fountain in the city center of Tartu

Culture and sports.Apart from being a historically interesting city, Tartu offers interesting attractions also from cultural point of view. You could visit a local theater of enjoy the lively nightlife in Tartu. The city is also rich with special events such as sport contests, cultural festivals, and concerts. If you are looking for outdoor sports, skiing near Tartu is popular, and your possibilities for biking near Tartu are just as good as facilities offered for kayaking in Tartu. You might want to enjoy also the popular university botanical gardens of Tartu, or try shopping in Tartu’s malls and markets. If you want to do some walking in the area of the city, you will probably enjoy also the lovely wooden architecture of Tartu, which brings special atmosphere into the city.

Downhill skier in Otepaa

Practical information for your trip to Tartu

Tartu is located in the southern part of Estonia, some 170 km / 100 miles south from the capital of Estonia, Tallinn. If you want other alternatives for flights and travelling to Tartu, also Helsinki or Riga could be worth considering. Moving around in the city is easy with buses and taxis, and car rental in Tartu is the easiest way to move around in the surroundings of the city, where you will find for instance the winter sport resort of Otepää.

A streetscene from Tartu, with Christmas lights

Climate in Tartu is continental with four seasons and variable weather. Average monthly high temperatures during the summer of Tartu are around 20 -22⁰C, and winter temperatures are around zero degrees Celsius. Overall, Tartu is best between May and September, unless you come for winter sports, which are best available in Tartu between December and March. For special events, check the calendar of the local tourist board.

Tartu town hall

Visitor services. Tartu is a lively town with 100,000 inhabitants and with a calendar year full of touristic events such as music festivals and sport events. Therefore, the city has good resources of alternatives for hotels in Tartu and is rich also with restaurants in Tartu. As for nightlife and shopping, there are plenty of interesting choices available in this safe South Estonian university town. English is commonly spoken in Tartu by the younger generations. Many locals also speak German or Russian.

Tallinn Travel Information

A historical seaside city with an interesting medieval old town, the Estonian capital Tallinn is one of the rising tourism destinations in Northern Europe. Famous for its lovely and compact Old Town, Tallinn is also a good place for shopping and entertainment as it hosts a great variety of reasonably priced shopping facilities and vibrant nightlife.

An orthodox church in Tallinn

Historical Old Town and shopping facilities: Attractions of Tallinn

The most popular travel destination in Estonia is its seaside capital Tallinn, a charming mixture of Medieval and Soviet-style architecture and western influence gained during the earlier history of Estonia and updated during the last decades. The most popular sight of this city with 400,000 inhabitants is its historical Old Town that is covered with medieval buildings and cobblestone streets and soaked in friendly atmosphere. The most popular sights of this internationally appreciated historical city dating back to 15th and 16th centuries are the Danish Castle and the Russian-built Orthodox Church.

A city view of Tallinn, clouds above the city

Entertainment and culture. In addition to its historical sites, the Estonian capital attracts many also with its reasonably priced facilities for shopping in Tallinn, not to mention the nightlife of Tallinn that offers something for everyone. Nominated the European cultural capital of 2011, Tallinn also hosts several interesting museums, cultural attractions and a nearby zoo. Pirita with its sailing ships, sport facilities and parks is a popular attraction, and a lovely place for a relaxing afternoon picnic or for a mountain bike ride. Spa hotels in Tallinn are also available, offering pampering treatments after your long day of sightseeing in Tallinn.

Traditional architecture in Tallinn

Practical information for your stay in Tallinn

Weather in Tallinn is changeable with snowy winters and warm summers. Average monthly high temperatures during the summer (June-August) are around 20 degrees of Celsius, whereas wintertime is much cooler with its three month period of below zero temperatures (December-February). The best time to travel to Tallinn for summer activities is from May to September, and for skiing between January and early March.

Tallinn by night

How to get there. Located in Northern Europe by the Baltic Sea, Tallinn is an easily reachable destination.

Flights to Tallinn are available from most European main airports, and you can also travel to Tallinn by ferry from Finland, Sweden or Germany, or by road from Russia or Latvia. Most of the main attractions in Tallinn are located within walking distance from each other, but if you want to see the outskirts of the city, taxis, buses and rental cars in Tallinn are widely available.

Central square of the old town in Tallinn

Visitor services. There is a wide variety of hotels in Tallinn available, and restaurants in Tallinn offer you varied culinary experiences. What is even better, this charming city is a quite safe travel destination if only you are wise enough to avoid common problem situations found in most big cities. However, be aware of pick-pocketing, which is a quite common problem particularly in the outdoor markets of Tallinn, and keep your wits with you when enjoying the local nightlife. Keep an eye on your belongings and avoid moving around alone in silent areas. English is commonly spoken in Tallinn. Many locals also speak German or Russian.

Parnu Travel Information

Estonian wellness resort by the Baltic Sea with white-sand beaches, sanatoriums and healthy surroundings,Pärnu is a good choice for all those who are in need of health-improving spa treatments and rest in the middle of beautiful nature. This small coastal town in Western Estonia offers you also some lovely historical and cultural sights, from churches to art galleries and museums.

Pärnu, Estonian spa town with white-sand beaches and sanatoriums

Estonia is one of those places in Europe where health care and spas are a central part of holiday culture. Pärnu, on the other hand, is one of the absolute best health resorts of Estonia, offering you several comfortable spas in Parnu where you can enjoy modern spa facilities and mud baths, as well as white-sand beaches and beautiful natural surroundings with pine forests and healthy sea-air. Thanks to all this, Pärnu is one of the most beloved Estonian travel destinations.

A beach in Parnu

Sights and activities. Apart from the spas and beaches, Pärnu offers also other kind of attractions that will easily keep you busy for a day or two. You can admire the spectacular 18th century churches and medieval architecture of the town or explore the wonders of local art gallery and museums in Pärnu. In case of a rainy day, you could also visit the most popular indoor water park of the area, Vee Park, or try shopping in Parnu, which thanks to the reasonable prices can be a quite a rewarding experience. Also of interest, the newly built concert hall of the town hosts concerts in Parnu suitable for many tastes.

Wind playing in the sand dunes of Parnu

Practical information for your trip to Parnu

Located by the Baltic Sea coast in western part of Estonia, Pärnu is best reached through the Estonian capital, Tallinn. For travelling to Parnu from Tallinn, you can use train or road connections, which in Estonia are quite okay as long as you stay on major roads. Thanks to the small size of the town, you can easily get around inside Pärnu by foot, but if you want to do some touring in the surroundings of the town,rental cars near Parnu are a good choice. If you want a bigger portion of fresh air, you could also try biking in Parnu.

A park in Pärnu

Climate in Pärnu is subject to big seasonal changes.

Average monthly high temperatures during the Pärnu summer are around 20°C, whereas during the winter temperatures drop to below zero degrees and snowfall is usual. Overall, Pärnu is at its best during the summer season from May to September, and if you want to enjoy the white-sand beaches, come in July or August, which are the two warmest months here. Parnu is one of the most popular travel destinations in Estonia. Although this does not make it a top worldwide destination, summer season in Pärnu can be quite busy.

Orthodox church in Pärnu

Visitor services in Estonia are generally quite good. Prices are reasonable, and local people usually have a friendly attitude to tourists. Hotels in Parnu suit many tastes and budgets, and a good variety of restaurants in Parnu is available to serve the hungry visitor. Nightlife here is not nearly as good as in Tallinn, but local spas, hotels and restaurants still offer some possibilities. English is commonly spoken in Pärnu by the younger generations. Pärnu is a quite safe destination, although it might be wise to keep an eye on your belongings.