Footprint Thailand

by Spooner, Andrew; Boobbyer, Claire; Sheehan, Daemienne

• ISBN13: 9781904777441
• ISBN10: 1904777449
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-09
• Publisher: Footprint Handbooks

Summary

A country where Buddhism meets hedonism, Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s busiest tourist destinations. While Full Moon partygoers dance all night in the south, serene Buddhas watch over high-powered shoppers in Bangkok, and the hill tribes of the north continue their age-old traditions. The guide offers a complete rundown of the many activities available to free-spirited travelers, including diving, rafting, riding, and therapies. Lively reviews detail Thailand’s bustling food, drink, and party scene. This essential guide includes maps and extensive transportation information to help navigate this sometimes formidable region.

Table of Contents

Introducing Thailand
Thailand highlights	p. 2
A foot in the door	p. 9
Essentials
Planning your trip	p. 18
Where to go	p. 18
When to go	p. 20
Tour operators	p. 20
Finding out more	p. 22
Language	p. 22
Specialist travel	p. 23
Before you travel	p. 26
Money	p. 30
Getting there	p. 31
Air	p. 31
Road	p. 33
Sea	p. 33
Train	p. 34
Touching down	p. 34
Airport information	p. 34
Tourist information	p. 35
Local customs and laws	p. 35
Safety	p. 40
Getting around	p. 42
Air	p. 42
River	p. 42
Road	p. 45
Train	p. 49
Sleeping	p. 51
Eating	p. 53
Entertainment	p. 57
Festivals and events	p. 58
Shopping	p. 59
Sport and activities	p. 60
Health	p. 75
Keeping in touch	p. 81
Bangkok
Ins and outs	p. 86
Sights	p. 91
Old City	p. 91
Banglamphu and Khaosan Road	p. 97
Golden Mount and around	p. 98
Chinatown	p. 101
Thonburi, Wat Arun and the khlongs	p. 103
Dusit area	p. 107
Siam Square area	p. 108
Silom area	p. 111
Sukhumvit Road	p. 114
Chatuchak Market	p. 115
Around Bangkok	p. 116
Listings	p. 120
Sleeping	p. 120
Eating	p. 129
Bars and clubs	p. 136
Entertainment	p. 139
Festivals and events	p. 141
Shopping	p. 141
Activities and tours	p. 147
Transport	p. 151
Directory	p. 157
Central Region
Ayutthaya and around	p. 162
Ins and outs	p. 162
Sights	p. 165
Lopburi	p. 168
Listings	p. 171
Kanchanaburi and the west	p. 174
Kanchanburi & around	p. 175
Sangkhlaburi and Saam Ong (Three Pagodas Pass)	p. 181
Listings	p. 184
Sukhothai and the north central plains	p. 189
Ins and outs	p. 189
Old City	p. 191
Wats outside the Old City walls	p. 194
Around Sukhothai	p. 196
Phitsanulok and around	p. 196
Si Satchanalai and around	p. 199
Kamphaeng Phet	p. 202
Listings	p. 204
Towards Mae Sot and the Burmese border	p. 210
Tak	p. 211
Mae Sot	p. 211
Umphang and around	p. 214
Listings	p. 215
Northern Region
Chiang Mai and around	p. 222
Ins and outs	p. 222
Sights	p. 225
Around Chiang Mai	p. 231
Listings	p. 239
Western loop: Pai, Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang	p. 260
Pai	p. 260
Soppong	p. 261
Mae Hong Son	p. 262
Mae Sariang	p. 264
Listings	p. 265
Chiang Rai and around	p. 272
Chiang Rai	p. 273
West of Chiang Rai	p. 276
Listings	p. 278
Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle	p. 285
Chiang Saen	p. 286
Chiang Khong	p. 289
Mai Sai	p. 290
Mae Salong (Santikhiri)	p. 293
Listings	p. 294
Phrae, Nan and the Eastern Highlands	p. 300
Phrae	p. 300
Nan	p. 302
Listings	p. 304
Northeastern Thailand
Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) and around	p. 310
Nakhon Ratchasima	p. 310
Around Nakhon Ratchasima	p. 312
Listings	p. 319
Ubon Ratchathani and around	p. 324
Ubon Rathatchani	p. 326
Around Ubon Ratchathani	p. 328
Listings	p. 331
Khon Kaen and the Isaan Heartland	p. 340
Khon Kaen	p. 340
Around Khon Kaen	p. 341
Isaan Heartland	p. 343
Listings	p. 344
Udon Thani and the northern Mekong route	p. 347
Udon Thani	p. 348
Northern Mekong route	p. 350
Listings	p. 353
Nong Khai and the southern Mekong route	p. 357
Nong Khai	p. 357
Around Nong Khai	p. 359
Southern Mekong route	p. 360
Listings	p. 364
Eastern Region
Pattaya and around	p. 374
Ins and outs	p. 374
Pattaya	p. 375
Around Pattaya	p. 377
Listings	p. 378
Koh Samet	p. 384
Ins and outs	p. 384
The island	p. 385
Listings	p. 385
Chantaburi to Koh Chang	p. 389
Chantaburi and around	p. 389
Koh Chang National Park	p. 393
Listings	p. 396
Andaman Coast
Ranong to Khao Lak	p. 406
Listings	p. 414
Phuket Island	p. 419
Ins and outs	p. 420
Phuket City	p. 423
Phuket's beaches	p. 425
Listings	p. 432
Phangnga Bay	p. 450
Ins and outs	p. 450
Phangnga town and around	p. 451
Listings	p. 454
Krabi and around	p. 458
Ins and outs	p. 458
Krabi town	p. 460
Around Krabi	p. 461
Listings	p. 463
West of Krabi	p. 471
Ins and outs	p. 471
Ao Nang, Nopparat Thara and Khlong Muang	p. 472
Phra Nang and Rai Leh	p. 475
Listings	p. 476
Islands south of Krabi	p. 485
Koh Phi Phi	p. 485
Koh Jum, Koh Bubu and Koh Siboya	p. 487
Listings	p. 489
Koh Lanta	p. 494
Ins and outs	p. 494
Background	p. 495
The island	p. 495
Listings	p. 500
Trang and its islands	p. 507
Ins and outs	p. 507
Trang	p. 508
Trang's Andaman Islands	p. 509
Listings	p. 512
Tarutao National Park and the far south	p. 517
Ins and outs	p. 518
Tarutao National Park	p. 518
The far south	p. 523
Listings	p. 526
Gulf of Thailand
Phetburi to Chumphon	p. 536
Phetburi and around	p. 536
Hua Hin and around	p. 539
Chumphon	p. 544
Listings	p. 545
Surat Thani and around	p. 556
Surat Thani	p. 556
Listings	p. 558
Koh Samui	p. 561
Ins and outs	p. 561
Sights	p. 563
Nathon	p. 564
Ang Thong ('Golden Beach') Marine National Park	p. 564
North coast	p. 564
South coast	p. 566
West coast	p. 568
Listings	p. 568
Koh Phangan	p. 584
Ins and outs	p. 584
Sights	p. 585
Thong Sala and around	p. 586
South coast	p. 586
Hat Rin	p. 586
East coast	p. 586
North coast	p. 587
West coast	p. 587
Listings	p. 588
Koh Tao	p. 597
Ins and outs	p. 597
Ban Mae Hat and the west coast	p. 598
North coast	p. 598
East coast	p. 598
South coast	p. 599
Listings	p. 599
Nakhon Si Thammarat and around	p. 607
Nakhon	p. 607
Around Nakhon	p. 610
Listings	p. 612
Background
History	p. 618
Modern Thailand (1997-)	p. 640
Culture	p. 664
Religion	p. 697
Land and environment	p. 705
Books	p. 716
Footnotes
Useful words and phrases	p. 720
Glossary	p. 722
Food glossary	p. 728
Acknowledgements	p. 729
Index	p. 730
Advertisers' index	p. 734
Map index	p. 735
Credits	p. 736
Colour maps	p. 741
Map symbols	p. 751
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