6 Weekends Away in Thailand

There is little doubting that Pattaya is a fantastic place to live but sometimes it is nice to get away and see something new and different. There are plenty of places that you can go for a weekend away that are all within relatively easy travelling distance of Pattaya. We agree that we may have missed some of your favourites off our list but here are some of the places that we would like to recommend.

Ayutthaya

The former capital of Siam, Ayutthaya is located just over an hour to the north of Bangkok so just take the Highway 7 from Central Pattaya. It is a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site has some magnificent examples of ancient temples and monasteries. Situated on an island surrounded by 3 rivers, the ancient city was well protected from attack by other seafaring nations. This is well worth a visit.

Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi was the setting for the 1957 film Bridge on the River Kwai that is based on a true story of the construction of the Hell Fire Railway by Prisoners of War during WWII. Here you can visit the railway, see the famous bridge, visit the war museums or just spend some leisure time floating on the river in a rubber ring! Aside from the history element, there is plenty to do in this western province that is around 4 hours from Pattaya.

Not far from highways and gateways for weekends, superb 4 bedroom house for sale

Khao Yai

Khao Yai is a magnificent National Park in Central Thailand and is around 3 hours from Pattaya. It has stunning grasslands, mountains and forests and is home to a very diverse range of wildlife including elephants, gibbons and even bears! This is a great place to get away from it all and relax – especially if you get away from some of the more commercial areas. The scenery is breathtaking so you can just enjoy the peace and tranquillity. The downside is that it has become quite expensive in recent years.

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is located just across the Gulf of Thailand from Pattaya and can easily be reached by high-speed ferry from Bali Hai Pier and takes about 2 hours. Although this is another beach resort, it is completely different from Pattaya and has a much more sedate way of life. You can visit the famous railway station or stroll along the beach. This is a great place to get away from it all and requires little travelling time.

With the fantastic views from 17th floor of Amari, you will also see the Hua Hin ferry route

Koh Chang

There are lots of excellent islands relatively close to Pattaya but Koh Chang (around 4 and half hours away) is arguably the finest. Here you have the option of the nightlife of White Sands or you can take yourself off for the day and find a smaller, quieter beach of your own. As this is the 3rd largest island in Thailand, the chances are you will be able to find something fairly peaceful.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second city and is in the north of the country. You can travel by bus or train but the best method is to fly from Bangkok or U-Tapao with flights taking a little over an hour. This is a mountainous city surrounded by greenery but in the old city, you will find the ancient city walls, excellent temples and many street stalls. This is a backpacker haven but just a short journey out of the city and you are at Doi Suthep or in the mountains where you can see some superb waterfalls or sit in the hot springs.