On the Nan River in the north of Thailand, Phitsanulok sits against a landscape of mountains, rice fields, and forests— a place that was home to a settlement of Khmer people in the 10th century. Centuries later, the capital of the Sukhothai kingdom moved here, and the Ayutthaya kingdom later declared it as its capital too.
The 18th-century Wat Mahathat is one of Bangkok’s royal temples, and one of the most important in the city. It’s a center of Mahanikai Buddhism, one of Thailand’s major Buddhist schools, and houses Thailand’s first Buddhist University. Vipassana meditation classes are held here, so it’s a popular place with both locals and travelers, and there are many buildings to check out.
Kanchanaburi Safari Park is a great place to take a photo with giraffes and see several other animal species roaming around their pens. Crocodile and elephant shows are also available, which can be an entertaining way to learn about these animals that most people don’t encounter every day. This makes it a fun activity for the entire family.
Just 38 miles (50 kilometers) from the Cambodian border in Thailand’s Isan region, the Phanom Rung Historical Park (Prasat Hin Phanom Rung) houses a spectacular Khmer temple perched atop an extinct volcano. Follow in the steps of long-dead pilgrims up the warm sandstone staircase to discover towers, bridges, galleries, walkways, and more.
Khao Laem Lake in the heart of Kanchanaburi is an artificial reservoir but has become a vital haven for wildlife. Rich with biodiversity, Khao Lem has mangroves, swampland, and forests along its length of 37 miles (60 kilometers). Locals live on the water in houseboats, and there are houseboat hotels to stay in that keep you close to nature.
Home to migrating birds and vast fields of hot pink lotus blooms in season, Bueng Boraphet is Thailand’s largest freshwater lake, spanning over 80 square miles (210 square kilometers). A tourism complex features an aquarium, a crocodile farm, an indoor food hall, a walking loop trail, and a dedicated waterfowl park for bird watchers.
Check out the Buddhist temples hiding in the hills near Kanchanaburi, especially Khao Pun Cave Temple (Wat Tham Khao Pun), known as one of the best. Statues of the Buddha, Hindu deities, stalagmites, and stalactites all take residency in this impressive cave system.
