|
Let your
family have a wonderful holiday in Thailand: A Variety of
destinations
Thailand is
endowed with a wealth of natural resources for business & leisure
travelers. The scenery is rich and varied, ranging from misty
mountains and lush rain forest of the North, passing through the
flat emerald rice fields on the Central plains, to the white sandy
beaches and tropical islands of the East and throughout the Southern
coastline.
Bangkok: A
Majestic Metropolis on the Chao Phraya River, the mighty ‘River of
Kings’ and nearby
 First
impression of Bangkok is the busting modern international
metropolis, but if you look closer you will find a magical kingdom
hidden away among the high-rise buildings and shopping centers.
One of the most
pleasant ways to discover many of the riches of the city is on a
cruise up the Chao Phraya River or along its linked canals. A
journal along the river takes you past the magnificent Grand Palace
and the adjoining Temple of Emerald Buddha, The Temple of Dawn,
whose spires are decorated with millions of multi-coloured porcelain
fragments, and the gigantic Royal Barges with their exquisite
carvings of mythical figures. Along the way you will pass old teak
rice barges chugging to port and colourful ‘long-tailed’ boats
sending plumes of spray into the air as they whisk passengers from
bank to bank.
Bangkok’s museums
are also worth a visi t.
Apisek Dusit Palace houses examples of exquisite handicrafts from
the Royal Vocational Projects and the nearby Vimarnmek Mansion
Museum, made entirely of rare golden teak, is as much a treasure as
the works of art found inside. Then there is the National Museum,
one of the largest in Southeast Asia, and Jim Thompson’s Thai House,
set up by the man who re-established the Thai silk industry, housing
an impressive collection of regional antiques.
For an evening of
local sports, try either Lumpini or Rachadamnern Stadium for
spectacular Thai kick-boxing.
the frontier of 3
countries (known as the “Golden Triangles”: Thailand, Laos & Burma,
and is just 100 km. from China
Between the
northern mountains and the central plains lies Sukhothai, 430 kms
north of Bangkok, the ancient ruins of the first independent Thai
kingdom. It was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
BEACH LOVERS
Pattaya
 A
seaside resort town and the hub of Thailand’s east coast, Pattaya
attracts more than 2.5 million tourists from all over the world
annually. Pattaya has 30,000 hotel rooms of varying categories from
3 stars to luxury 5 star resorts. Modern shopping, night markets,
entertainment, attractions, cultural dances, action water sports,
beautiful golf courses and warm Thai hospitality.
Hua Hin
Hua Hin is located
on the west coast of the gulf of Thailand, 170 kms south of Bangkok.
The superior beaches offer 22 kms of fine white powdery sand
and are relatively un-crowded, calm and relaxing. Hua Hin is,
actually, the genesis of beach holidays for Thailand. The town used
to be the summer capital of Thailand in the days of the absolute
monarchy.
Phuket
 Thailand’s
biggest island, the renowned pearl of the Andaman Sea, 800 kms south
of Bangkok, has turned into a full–fledged international resort
island, the world’s foremost venue of environmentally friendly water
sports. Originally acclaimed for her beautiful pristine bays and
coves, with the presence of five-star hotels and resorts catering to
international up-market clientele. Phuket provides easy access to
nearby world class islands which are famous for scuba diving,
snorkeling and unspoiled natural beauty.
Samui Island
A
major copra-producing source of the country, the island lies 80 kms
offshore in the Gulf of Thailand from Surat Thani province, some 500
kms south of Bangkok. Samui has all the
 attributes
of a south sea paradise:– sunny, coconut palm-fringed beaches with
bone white powdery sand meeting sparkling turquoise
water and gentle sea, in remote unpopulated areas. Samui provides
access to islands in Gulf of Thailand, also famous for scuba diving,
snorkeling, and many other water
Sports.
A day trip to the
west will take you to the famous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’ with
scenic hills and rivers for a favorite rafting and a lazy trip
downriver in Kanchanaburi Province, offering a chance to see exotic
flora and fauna.
Seventy kilometers
north of Bangkok is the former capital, Ayutthaya, from 1350 until
1767, which is the most beautiful city in the Orient and is
carefully preserved ruins of temples and palaces remain as a
testament to its former glory and is a world heritage.
More of the Historic & Scenic Provinces
Chiang Mai and the
North: Gold in the Hills
For a completely
different holiday, take a trip which is less than an hour flight
from Bangkok to the mountains and explore the magical scenery, towns
and customs of the North. 13th century, Chieng Mai was
the capital of Lanna, a dependent Thai kingdom. The city has its own
unique architecture, food, customs and dialect.
Take a leisurely
Pedi cab ride in the old part of the city, and then head for the
nearby Doi Suthep Mountain where you will discover a magnificent
royal palace ,
one of the most beautiful temples in the North and meet some of the
colourful hill-tribe. From the mountain top, you will enjoy the
breath-taking view of Chiang Mai spread out across the valley below.
Nearby Chiang Mai is the city of Chiang Rai, the
 northernmost
province, a verdant highland marked with cool towering mountain
ranges and peaceful jungle rivers, a destination for nature-lovers.
Successful royal projects for the hill-tribe peoples at their
habitats are exhibit there, to replace opium growing. Chiang Rai
also hosts the most ancient Thai Kinghood, founded over 900 years
ago. Many famous places of historical interest including Chiang Sane
on Asia’s most famous River Khong and Wat Pra Kaew, where the
Emerald Buddha, the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand, used to be
kept. The city is also
ACTIVITIES
Shopping
A wealth of
shopping opportunities awaits visitors and bargains abound
throughout the country in traditional handicraft, silk, textiles,
gems, jewels and antiques, ceramics, nielloware, pewterware,
furniture, hilltribe crafts, as well as internationally recognized
brand name items.
Water Sports
With three
coastlines stretching for hundreds of kilometers, many of the finest
beaches and magnificent southern islands, Thailand becomes a major
travel destination for lovers of water sports. A number of excellent
resorts provide the activities of scuba diving, snorkeling, deep-sea
fishing, windsurfing, water skiing, parasailing, swimming, canoeing
and kayaking in crystal clear waters.
Golf
There
are over 200 golf courses, many of them are the 18-hole PGA rating,
scattered all over, both at the beach resort areas and the scenic
provinces. (A pre or post congress golf tournament can be arranged
upon your requests.)
Mountain Biking
The Northern part
of Thailand is most suitable for this activity because it is cooler,
esp. from November to February. A number of companies offer
well-organized biking tours, mostly including guides and back-up
vehicles carrying food and overnight equipment. Pre-arrangement is
advised.
Cliff Climbing
The
most popular area for this activity is Krabi province in the South
of Thailand, where towering limestone cliffs provide the perfect
challenge.
For more activities, please contact the secretariat office in
advanced.
The President’s Office and Secretariat
Siriraj Cancer Center, ChalermPrakiat
Building
Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University
2 Prannok Road Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Fax :(662) 412- 9169 Website :
http://www.afsumbthailand.org |