Table of Contents
1 Experience Thailand 7
25 Ultimate Experiences 8
What's Where 18
What to Eat and Drink in Thailand 20
What to Buy in Thailand 22
Best Festivals in Thailand 24
Best Temples and Ruins in Thailand 26
Best Temples and Ruins in Cambodia and Laos 28
Best Natural Wonders in Cambodia and Laos 30
Introduction to Thai Architecture 32
Thai Massage 34
Thailand Today 36
What to Read and Watch 38
2 Travel Smart 45
Know Before You Go 46
Getting Here and Around 48
Essentials 52
Contacts 59
Great Itineraries 60
3 Bangkok 65
The Old City 76
Banglamphu 84
Thonburi 87
Dusit and Northern Bangkok 89
Chinatown 99
Pathumwan 103
Sukhumvit 121
Silom, Sathorn, and Bang Rak 129
Suvarnabhumi Airport 144
4 Abound Bangkok 145
Muang Boran 150
Damnoen Saduak 151
Samut Songkhram 153
Nakhon Pathom 154
Phetchaburi 160
Kanchanaburi 162
Greater Kanchanaburi Province 166
Sangklaburi 168
Ayuithaya 169
Bang Pa-In 175
Lopburi 176
5 The Gulf Coast Beaches 179
Pattaya 186
Koh Samet 192
Chanthaburi 200
Koh Chang 200
Cha-am 206
Hua Hin 207
Takiab Beach 210
Chumphon 211
Surat Thani 212
Koh Samui 214
Side Trips from Koh Samui 226
6 Phuket and the Andaman Coast 235
Eating and Drinking Well in Southern Thailand 238
Phuket Town 245
Khao Pra Taew National Park 250
Mai Khao Beach 250
Nai Yang Beach 251
Nai Thon and Layan Beaches 251
Bang Thao Beach 252
Pansea, Surin, and Laem Singh Beaches 254
Kamala Beach 255
Patong 256
Karon Beach 258
Kata Beach 260
Nai Harn 261
Cape Yamu 262
Chalong 263
Phang Nga Bay National Marine Park 264
KohYao 267
Khao Lak 268
Similan Islands 271
Surin Islands 272
Krabi 272
Ao Nang 275
Nang Cape/Railay Beach 278
Koh Lanta 281
Koh Phi Phi 288
7 Chiang Mai 293
The Old City 300
Beyond the Old City 312
Greater Chiang Mai 324
Side Trips from Chiang Mai 329
8 Northern Thailand 337
Eating and Drinking Well in Northern Thailand 340
Nan 345
Phrae 349
Pai 350
Mae Hong Son 355
Khun Yuam 358
Mae Sariang 359
Chiang Dao 360
Doi Ang Khang 361
Tha Ton 363
Chiang Rai 364
Chiang Saen 379
Ban Sop Ruak 380
Chiang Khong 382
Sukhothai 383
Si Satchanalai 398
9 Cambodia 401
Phnom Penh 411
Tonle Bati 427
Phnom Chisor 430
Koh Dach 430
Udong 430
Kampong Cham 431
Kompong Thorn Ruins 432
Kratie 433
Ratanakiri Province 433
Battambang 435
Siem Reap 438
Tonle Sap 457
Kulen Mountain 459
Sihanoukville 460
Kampot 465
Kep 468
10 Laos 471
Vientiane 480
Nam Ngum Lake 491
Phao Khao Khouay 491
Plain of Jars 492
Vang Vieng 494
Luang Prabang 497
Tad Kouang Si Waterfall 511
Tad Sae Waterfall 514
Pak Ou Caves 514
Ban Meuang Ngoi 515
Luang Nam Tha 515
Meuang Sing 517
River Journey to Houay Xai 517
Phongsaly 520
Tha Khek 523
Savannakhet 524
Pakse 525
Bolaven Plateau 529
Tad Fane 530
Champasak 530
Si Phan Don and the 4,000 Islands 532
Index 534
About Out Writers 544
Fodor's Features
Coups & The King 39
The Grand Palace 90
Bangkok Street Food 115
Thai Markets 155
Thailand's Beaches 194
Silk-Making in Thailand 308
Thailand's Hill Tribes- 370
The Buddha In Thailand 384
Angkor 444
Map
Old City, Banglamphu, Thonburi, Dusit, and Northern Bangkok 82-83
Chinatown 100
Pathumwan and Sukhumvit 104-105
Silom, Sathorn, and Bang Rak 130-131
Day Trips from Bangkok 152
Kanchanaburi 163
Greater Kanchanaburi Province and Sangklaburi 167
Ayutthaya 172
Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-In, and Lopburi 175
The Eastern Gulf 186
Pattaya 188
Koh Chang 202
The Western Gulf 213
Koh Samui 216
Phuket 248
Andaman Coast 267
The Old City 302-303
Beyond the Old City 314-315
Greater Chiang Mai and Side Trips from Chiang Mai 324
Nan and Nearby 347
Mae Hong Son 357
Mae Hong Son Loop and the Road to Chiang Rai 358
Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle 365
Chiang Rai 366
Sukhothai and Nearby 394
Sukhothai Historical Park 397
Phnom Penh and Northern Cambodia 412
Phnom Penh 414
Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and Southern Cambodia 439
Angkor Tempie Complex 442
Siem Reap 454
Vientiane 482
Vientiane and Nearby 491
Luang Prabang and Northern Laos 497
Luang Prabang 500
Southern Laos 522
