2 weeks itinerary in Thailand : in the heart of history

Do you love old stones and do you love history ? Do you have two weeks of vacation ahead ? So this itinerary is for you ! Discover the oldest royal capitals of the Angkor Empire, between fortresses, Buddhas and temples.

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Itinerary details

 

The itinerary step by step

 

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Ayutthaya

What to do in Ayutthaya ?

Discover the ancient royal capital of Siam and dozens of temples in ruins evoking the past grandeur of the city.

• Visit the Palace of Bang Pa In, originally built in the 17th century and revisited in the 19th century by the kings Rama Iv and V. Today, the palace mixes eclectic architectural styles and is organized around the 19 hectares of gardens. Go for a walk between the Wehart Chamrun Chinese Complex, the Ho Withun Thasana Red Strip Observatory and the Thai Pavilion. Some buildings require that women wear traditional sarongs before entering (they are loaned for free).
• Discover the temple of Wat Ratchaburana founded in 1424 and its detailed sculptures of lotus flowers and mythical creatures. If you do not feel dizzy and are not afraid of bats, go inside the “prang” to visit the crypt (the largest in Thailand) whose walls are decorated with Buddha paintings.
• Do not miss the temple of Wat Phra Si Sanphet and its three wonderfully intact stupas that form one of the most iconic sights in Ayutthaya. Unlike many other temples, you will be able to climb the stairs to have an exceptional view of the site.
• Discover the most tourist attraction and photographed of Ayutthaya: the sandstone Buddha head entangled in the intertwined roots in the temple of Wat Mahathat.
• Assist to a ceremony of merit in the temple of Wat Phanan Choeng. Every day from 8h to 17h people come to cover their heads with the end of the dress of the great Buddha Phra Phanan Choeng of 19 meters high sitting in an open space and surrounded by 84 000 small images of himself along the walls.
• Go to Ayutthaya Historical Park to discover the ruins of the ancient capital. The sites are divided into two districts. The ruins “on the island” in the city center west of Th Chee Kun are easily accessible by bike. Those located off the island, facing the river and the center, are only accessible by boat. Feel free to visit the Ayutthaya Visitor Center to retrieve temples information leaflets.
• Do not miss an amazing sunset at Wat Chai Wattanaram Temple.

 

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Lopburi

What to do in Lopburi ?

Discover the “city of the monkeys” of Thailand, one of the oldest cities of the country dating from the 6th century. Explore the remaining palaces and temples.

• Visit the site of Prang Sam Yot, a Buddhist temple built by the Khmers in the 13th century. Watch out for the many monkeys that live there and love playing with backpacks.
• Head to Phra Narai Ratchaniwet, an excellent museum housed in the ruins of a 17th century palace and used to host foreign dignitaries. Discover by a narrow walk the stables of King Narai, the reception rooms and the ten storage buildings.
• For a peaceful and monkey-free experience, walk through the magnificent site of Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat. This temple, built in the 12th century is now in ruins but retains much of its original details as beautiful lotus and complex Buddhas.
• Want some calm ? See you at Ang Sap Lek Reservoir. With its calm waters, the view from the shore is authentic and picturesque. Take the opportunity to eat on the water in one of the overwater restaurants.
• On the last Sunday of November, attend the Monkey Festival. Discover magnificent buffets loaded with fruits and sweets deposited four times a day for the monkeys to devour them. Walk around the street fair and enjoy dance performances around the city.
• Once a year, do not miss the King Narai Fair. The festival features reconstructions of period ceremonies, a sound and light show, a parade of elephants and a “retro market” using an old-fashioned coin.
• Enjoy your second day in Lopburi to explore the surrounding countryside. Stay speechless in front of the sunflowers that line the fields east of the city from November to January.
• Climbing lovers, climb the limestone peaks in the shape of needles of the surrounding mountains.
• For a breathtaking panorama, head to Wat Khao Chin Lae temple where peacocks strut freely.

 

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Sukhothai

What to do in Sukhothai ?

Welcome to Sukhothai, one of Thailand’s most visited sites as considered the first Thai kingdom. Discover the remains of the kingdom called ‘Meuang gòw’ which means “old town”.

• Do not miss the Sukhothai Historical Park which is one of the most impressive sites in Thailand. Explore the remains of 21 historic sites around the four large ponds. The site is divided into 5 zones: the 3 central zones, the north zone and the west zone. Despite the popularity of the park, it is possible to feel alone as the site is vast. Rent a bike to discover some of the most impressive ruins outside the walls of the old city.
• For a panoramic view of the Sukhothai ruins, visit the temple of Wat Saphan Hin, located on a hilltop 200 meters above the plain. It is reached by a slate path and the original bridge.
• Visit the ancient spiritual and administrative center of the city, Wat Mahathat. This building is surrounded by brick walls and a ditch supposed to represent the outer wall of the universe and the cosmic ocean.
• For a good introduction to the most famous product of Sukhothai (ceramics), go to the small museum of Sangkhalok. Discover the impressive collection of Thai pottery found in the area and the beautiful Buddha statues.
• Explore the island of Wat Si Chum, located northwest of the old city. Admire the magnificent sitting Buddha 15 meters high.

 

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Si Satchanalai National Park

What to do in Si Satchanalai National Park ?

In the middle of peaceful hills, discover this national park with the ruins of the ancient cities of Si Satchanalai and Chaliang. This 720-hectare park is surrounded by a ditch 12 meters wide.

• South of Wat Chedi Jet Thaew, discover the chedi (conical or pyramidal tower-shaped construction) of Wat Nang Phaya. Sinhala style, it was built in the 15th and 16th centuries.
• Head to Wat Chao Chan to discover a large restored Khmer-style tower in fairly good condition. On the hill overlooking Wat Chang Lom, visit the remains of Wat Khao Phanom Phloeng‘s chedi and a large seated Buddha, columns of stones that once supported the roof. Enjoy the view to imagine the past of this beautiful city.
• Continue your visit to the park through the ruins of Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat, a great 15th century chedi. Observe the big image of seated Buddha.
• Visit the beautiful temple of Wat Chang Lom which marks the center of the old city. Elephants surround a bell-shaped chedi which is very well preserved.
• Next door, the ruins of Wat Chedi Jet Thaew contain 7 rows of chedis, the largest of which is a copy of Wat Mahathat that you could visit in Sukhothai.

 

 

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Thung Salaeng Luang National Park

What to do in Thung Salaeng Luang National Park ?

Continue your nature break with this 1262 km2 national park, one of the largest and most important wildlife sanctuaries in Thailand. The entrance is at kilometer 80 of Route 12 where the park information center is located.

• Discover the temple of Wat Phrathat Sonkaeweedftr, often cited as the most beautiful temple in Thailand. The original architecture and the details are impressive. Take time to observe the beautiful landscapes all around you.
• Next to the park, visit Wat Pha Sorn Kaew : a monastery and Buddhist temple located in Khao Kor. Built on a cliff top at 830 meters high, you will be breathless. The main pagoda and surrounding buildings are adorned with more than 5 million colorful mosaic tiles and pottery items.
• Do not miss the sunrise over a sea of ​​clouds from the heights of the park. An unforgettable moment !
• In the middle of the mountain, discover the falls of Sri Dit, a beautiful little waterfall and a small river that winds in a beautiful undergrowth.

 

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Phimai

What to do in Phimai ?

Welcome to the quiet little town of Phimai. It is home to one of the most beautiful Khmer temple complexes in Thailand.

• Explore Phimai Historical Park : Prasat Phimai. These are the most impressive Khmer ruins in Thailand, not just their size but their intricate details. Enter a temple naturally fortified by a Naga cruciform bridge, symbolically representing the passage of the earth. Take a raised passageway (formerly covered with a tiled roof) that leads to the main inner sanctuary 28 meters high and is covered with beautiful sculptures. A free brochure is at your disposal to guide you in the area.
• Visit the National Museum of Phimai, one of the largest in the region. Located on the shores of Sa Kwan, a 12th century Khmer reservoir, the museum consists of two large buildings. They house a fine collection of Khmer sculptures, Muang Sema artifacts, Ban Prasat pottery and Buddha images from different periods.
• For a nature break, walk through Sai Ngam Park, a bit to the east from the city.
• Then discover on an island the oldest and biggest banyan (tree) of Thailand that looks like a small forest with its vast system of nested branches and gnarled trunks.
• For a quiet visit, opt for the small ruin of the temple Kuti Rusi in which was a health center in the 13th century.
• Stop in front of the most intact and most remarkable of the three gates of the city : the door Pratu Chai.

 

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Buriram

What to do in Buriram ?

Stay in this friendly little town, the perfect starting point for exploring hundreds of unmissable Khmer relics in the surrounding countryside.

• Do not miss Prasat Phanom Rung ! Crowning the summit of an extinct volcano, this temple is 200 meters above the rice fields below. Southeast, you can see the Dongrek Mountains in Cambodia, and this is where the capital of the Angkor Empire once stood.
• In the small village of Khok Meuang, discover the restored temple of Prasat Muang Tam. Although it is large and very well maintained, it is because it is not very visited, it is the favorite temple of some people. Be alone and meditate on the reflections of its water lily ponds.
• Visit the temple to the modern buildings of Wat Khao Angkhan, also on top of an extinct volcano.

 

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Bangkok

What to do in Bangkok ?

“The same but different”. This Thai philosophy sums up Bangkok, a city where exoticism and the familiar meet, like the flavors of a pat-tai dish.

• Experience an authentic culinary experience. If you have not eaten noodles on a Bangkok street in the middle of a cloud of exhaust fumes, you have not eaten Thai food yet. The mix of flavors can be intense: spicy, acidic, sweet, salty… and the most adventurous will love the experience !
• Bangkok is THE city that is best suited for urban exploration. Go on a boat trip to visit a hidden floating market, stroll off the beaten track in Banglamphu and have a surprise conversation with a monk. Lose yourself in the lanes of Chinatown and stumble upon a Chinese opera in the middle of the street. At nightfall, take the BTS (skytrain) to Sukhumvit, where the local nightlife reveals a cosmopolitan and vibrant city.
• Enjoy all the contrasts that give Bangkok its rich personality. Air-conditioned shopping malls sit alongside village houses dating back more than 200 years ; slow traffic is bypassed by long-tailed boats on the Royal River ; Buddhist monks buying the latest smartphones and food carts in the streets are overlooked by upscale restaurants perched on top of skyscrapers.
• Shoppers, go to the neighborhoods of Siam Square, Pratunam and Phloen Chit. Together they form the city’s commercial district, very modern with multi-storey centers and endless markets.
• Visit the most typical district of the city : Banglamphu. Discover its leafy streets, its antiques, its markets and its golden temples.
• Surrounded by rice fields, take a rural break in the district “North Bangkok“. Here you will find the best markets in the city and the Thai boxing club in Lumpinee.
• Do not miss the artificial island of Ko Ratanakosin, the birthplace of Bangkok. Visit its Buddhist temples and royal palaces. On the other side, facing the Chao Phraya River, walk through the residential areas of Thonburi connected by pretty canals.
• Explore Chinatown, Bangkok’s most vibrant neighborhood. Walk through the streets teeming with small restaurants and shops of gold and precious stones, all under flashing neon signs in Chinese characters.