Enjoy These 4 Quick Escapes from Bangkok"s Hectic Pace
Quick escapes from Bangkok can save a little sanity once Thailand’s capital gets to be a bit too much. And while Bangkok’s edginess will certainly grow on you if given enough time, sometimes the traffic, crowds, and urban humidity can wear a traveler down. When that happens, consider one of these four great getaways just within striking distance of the big city.
Perhaps the closest and most impressive escape from Bangkok is Ayutthaya, Thailand’s ancient capital just to the north. Ayutthaya was founded around 1350 and thrived until the Burmese sacked the city in the 1700s. Today, ancient ruins stand alongside of modern buildings in a busy-but-pleasant setting. Plenty of ancient, crumbing temples and structures can be visited in tranquil urban parks. Sometimes you may find yourself the only explorer wandering around less popular attractions, lost in time.
Ayutthaya became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and is home to the famous Buddha’s head encased in a tree. While many of the Buddha statues were decapitated by antiquity looters, this particular head was saved by a tree while the rest of the statue was crushed to dust by growth.
Getting there:
Ayutthaya is best reached via a scenic train ride. Trains depart regularly from Bangkok’s Hualamphong Train Station and take around two hours.
Situated east of Bangkok at the confluences of the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi is a cheap, pleasant alternative to the bustle of Bangkok. While the heart of Kanchanaburi can be every bit as hectic, travelers head to Mae Nam Kwae Road -- a long tourist street that parallels the river. Many bars, restaurants, and guesthouses maintain shady, peaceful gardens along the river. Forget traffic, instead think: hammocks, flowers, and muddy water flowing past bungalows.
Kanchanaburi is a home to the bridge over the River Kwai, a part of the infamous Death Railway constructed during World War II at a terrible cost of life. An estimated 100,000 forced laborers, including Allied POWs, perished during construction. A war cemetery in Kanchanaburi is the final resting place for many.
Along with plenty of war history, Kanchanaburi is a great base for hiking and swimming in the waterfalls located at nearby Erawan National Park.
Getting there:
Most travelers opt to reach Kanchanaburi either by bus or tourist minivan. Depending on Bangkok’s voracious traffic, the journey takes a little more than four hours. Going by train is also an option, however, trains leave from Bangkok’s inconvenient Thonburi Train Station, not Hualamphong.
Although a little farther than Koh Samet, the island of Koh Chang is still within striking distance of Bangkok. Koh Chang is a big island, Thailand’s second largest, and is packed with plenty of beaches and areas from which to choose. From pricey resorts to backpacker bungalows and cheap bars, Koh Chang accommodates a very diverse crowd of travelers who are looking to escape Bangkok.
Getting there:
You can splurge on a one-hour flight to Koh Chang or grab a bus-and-boat combo from any travel booking office. With traffic, the land journey to the pier takes around six hours; the ferry to Koh Chang takes approximately an hour.
Trading concrete for sand is always a good thing. The small island of Koh Samet is developed but still enjoyable. The island is actually part of a national park, so despite lots of tourism, you’ll still find fresh air and greenery to be enjoyed. White beaches and extremely clear water are on hand, along with plenty of nightlife if you so choose.
Getting there:
Reaching Koh Samet requires a 3.5-hour bus or minivan ride from Bangkok to Rayong. From there, a short ride to one of two piers will put you on a ferry over to the island. Ban Phe pier is the best option; ferries take around 45 minutes to reach the island.
- If you’d like to go farther, consider one of these top 10 destinations in Thailand.
1. Ayutthaya
Perhaps the closest and most impressive escape from Bangkok is Ayutthaya, Thailand’s ancient capital just to the north. Ayutthaya was founded around 1350 and thrived until the Burmese sacked the city in the 1700s. Today, ancient ruins stand alongside of modern buildings in a busy-but-pleasant setting. Plenty of ancient, crumbing temples and structures can be visited in tranquil urban parks. Sometimes you may find yourself the only explorer wandering around less popular attractions, lost in time.
Ayutthaya became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and is home to the famous Buddha’s head encased in a tree. While many of the Buddha statues were decapitated by antiquity looters, this particular head was saved by a tree while the rest of the statue was crushed to dust by growth.
Getting there:
Ayutthaya is best reached via a scenic train ride. Trains depart regularly from Bangkok’s Hualamphong Train Station and take around two hours.
- Read more about visiting Ayutthaya.
2. Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Situated east of Bangkok at the confluences of the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi is a cheap, pleasant alternative to the bustle of Bangkok. While the heart of Kanchanaburi can be every bit as hectic, travelers head to Mae Nam Kwae Road -- a long tourist street that parallels the river. Many bars, restaurants, and guesthouses maintain shady, peaceful gardens along the river. Forget traffic, instead think: hammocks, flowers, and muddy water flowing past bungalows.
Kanchanaburi is a home to the bridge over the River Kwai, a part of the infamous Death Railway constructed during World War II at a terrible cost of life. An estimated 100,000 forced laborers, including Allied POWs, perished during construction. A war cemetery in Kanchanaburi is the final resting place for many.
Along with plenty of war history, Kanchanaburi is a great base for hiking and swimming in the waterfalls located at nearby Erawan National Park.
Getting there:
Most travelers opt to reach Kanchanaburi either by bus or tourist minivan. Depending on Bangkok’s voracious traffic, the journey takes a little more than four hours. Going by train is also an option, however, trains leave from Bangkok’s inconvenient Thonburi Train Station, not Hualamphong.
- Read more about visiting Kanchanaburi.
3. Koh Chang
Although a little farther than Koh Samet, the island of Koh Chang is still within striking distance of Bangkok. Koh Chang is a big island, Thailand’s second largest, and is packed with plenty of beaches and areas from which to choose. From pricey resorts to backpacker bungalows and cheap bars, Koh Chang accommodates a very diverse crowd of travelers who are looking to escape Bangkok.
Getting there:
You can splurge on a one-hour flight to Koh Chang or grab a bus-and-boat combo from any travel booking office. With traffic, the land journey to the pier takes around six hours; the ferry to Koh Chang takes approximately an hour.
- Read more about visiting Koh Chang.
4. Koh Samet
Trading concrete for sand is always a good thing. The small island of Koh Samet is developed but still enjoyable. The island is actually part of a national park, so despite lots of tourism, you’ll still find fresh air and greenery to be enjoyed. White beaches and extremely clear water are on hand, along with plenty of nightlife if you so choose.
Getting there:
Reaching Koh Samet requires a 3.5-hour bus or minivan ride from Bangkok to Rayong. From there, a short ride to one of two piers will put you on a ferry over to the island. Ban Phe pier is the best option; ferries take around 45 minutes to reach the island.
- Read more about visiting Koh Samet.
- See some other popular islands in Thailand.
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