Thailand: Elefanten Bush Camp, Cities & Beachhopping

About the destination: Chiang Mai is the hub of Northern Thailand and the Capital City of the Province of this name. With a population of over 170,000 in the city proper, it is Thailand's fifth-largest city. Located on a plain at an elevation of 316 m, surrounded by mountains and lush countryside, it is much greener and quieter than the capital, and has a cosmopolitan air and a significant expat population, factors which have led many from Bangkok to settle permanently in this "Rose of the North". Chiang Mai's historical center is the walled city. Sections of the wall remain at the gates and corners, but of the rest only the moat remains. Inside Chiang Mai's remaining city walls are more than 30 temples dating back to the founding of the principality, in a combination of Burmese, Sri Lankan and Lanna Thai styles, decorated with beautiful wood carvings, Naga staircases, leonine and angelic guardians, gilded umbrellas and pagodas laced with gold filigree. The most famous is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which overlooks the city from a mountainside 13 km away. Modern-day Chiang Mai has expanded in all directions, but particularly to the east towards the Ping River, Mae Nam Ping, where Chang Klan Rd, the famous Night Bazaar and the bulk of Chiang Mai's hotels and guest houses are located. Loi Kroh Rd is the center of the city's night life.

About the destination: Bangkok, one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities, is the capital of Thailand. Bangkok is hot and crowded, but it's fairly clean and offers lots of fun things to do. Bangkok has great shopping, plenty of culture, amazing temples, delicious food and a decent art scene. Most of Bangkok's sights are concentrated on the island of Rattanakosin, often referred to as the Old City. The Grand Palace is the absolute must see site. The Grand Palace complex also houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Keow, the most sacred Buddhist temple. Other famous temples in Bangkok are the Wat Pho and Wat Arun temples. Bangkok is a great place for shopping. There are many shops, shopping centers and markets to satisfy every wish. The nightlife scene in Bangkok is as varied as the city itself, from beer bars to exclusive clubs, night shopping markets, discos to hippie parties. Bangkok is a large sprawling metropolis, noisy and crowded yet peaceful and delicate. It is one of the world’s top destinations that one has to visit at least once in life.

About the destination: The second largest island of Thailand is located near the Cambodian border and forms a maritime national park together with the neighboring islands. Koh Chang is very hilly in the interior of the island, in the dense jungle you will find numerous waterfalls in a wild romantic setting. The fine-sanded, palm-lined and casuarine-lined beaches with mostly flat-sloping shores will be narrower in flood, and sandflies may occur at times. In recent years, Koh Chang has evolved from "Backpackers Paradise" to an island with charming resorts, but the atmosphere is still "easy going". Especially on the beaches of Hat Sai Khao (White Sand Beach) and Klong Prao there is variety in the form of shops, streets, small supermarkets, country-style restaurants and bars. Bangkok Airways flies you only 45 minutes from Bangkok to Trat (mainland), the next transfer by minibus and ferry takes an average of 90 minutes. The best time to visit Koh Chang is from November to April / May. In the off-season it is quieter, the sea can be disturbed and possibly not swimming.

About the destination: "Pattaya is a city in Thailand, a beach resort popular with tourists and expatriates. It is on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Pattaya City is a self-governing municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue and Na Kluea and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. The city is in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone. Pattaya is the centre of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Beaches. You find a beaches like are Jomtien Beach is more calm and serene, a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and is also popular for its amusement park and tower, to keep children entertained; The Pattaya Beach; Wong Amat Beach, which is accessed from Naklua; and beyond the southern end, around the Buddha Hill headland that separates Pattaya Bay from Jomtien, are several more smaller beaches; Wong Phra Chan Beach is small tranquil one kilometre beach is on the northern side of Pattaya Bay. The serene atmosphere here is attractive to those longing for a complete rest and privacy. • Buddha Hill is one of the highest points in Pattaya. At the summit is the biggest Buddha statue in Pattaya, and nearby is a beautiful Chinese-style sacred area dedicated to Confucius and Lao-zi. The next hill, just across the Phra Tam Nak Road, has the best Pattaya Bay coastline viewpoint and is also worth a visit, especially for sunset. • Chaloemphrakiat Park. A park at the foot of Khao Pattaya. With an area of 6 acres, the park was dedicated to commemorate His Majesty the King's sixtieth birthday on December 5, 1988. The gardens of the park boast a wide variety of flowering plants and offer a scenic view of Pattaya. • Anek Kuson Sala is an art gallery with high-class Chinese architecture and fine arts constructed in 1987 to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Birthday. Inside is an exhibition displaying precious antiques such as the large white jade Bodhisattva Kwan Yin's image, terra-cotta soldiers and horses from the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, an emperor’s golden throne, ancient paintings and pottery. • Silverlake Winery Pattaya. Silverlake becomes popular owing to spectacular natural views. Visitors, they can relax with colorful of flowers, what’s more the activity that attract visitors are riding an ATV, horse-drawn carriage, Elephant, bicycle and look around the yard by a round trip by bus. "