Traveling in Summer

Story by SaisuneeSinghathat

Thailand is located in the southeast region of Asia. The weather is categorized in the tropical climate zone, with temperatures relatively high all year. The summer normally starts in the middle of February and ends in mid-May. The weather during this season is hot throughout the country. Schools and colleges ceases class at this time of year, so many families take this chance to travel together.

Thailand is blessed with a number of attractions, making it a popular tourist destination be it for nature or culture and traditions. There are various festivals held throughout the year which you may enjoy in a day or even a one week trip. Here is just a selection of highlights from each region that you might like to enjoy:

The Central and Eastern Regions – These two regions dominate vast areas of major river basins such as Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, Tha Chin, and Bang Pakong River. These plains are rich agricultural land and most suitable for farming; the whole country relies on the products from these regions. The famous tourist attractions are historical sites, palaces, temples, museums, mostly in Bangkok and Ayutthaya, and beautiful beaches on the eastern part.

The South – southern Thailand is located on the Malay Peninsula with the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east. The coasts on the eastern side are dominated by river plains with long and shallow beaches while the Andaman side has steeper coasts. Some parts of the coast on the west side are mountainous, creating high cliffs fronting the sea. There are a huge number of tourist destinations in the south of Thailand, mostly beaches. They are among the best in the world.

The North – the northern part of Thailand has been inhabited for a long time. The area consequently is enriched with exotic culture and traditions. The geography of the region is characterized by multiple mountain ranges with several river valleys cutting through. As a result, most of the tourism attractions in the region are natural destinations and historical sites. The weather is fair and suitable for travel throughout the year. There are a variety of festivals arranged all year round.

Isan or the Northeast – Isan is an outstanding region in Thailand both physically and culturally. The region stands on the Khorat Plateau. The plateau consists of two plains: the southern Khorat plain is drained by the Mun and Chi rivers, while the northern Sakon Nakhon plain is drained by the Loei and Songkhram rivers. A huge number of people have migrated from the east side of the Mekong River to the west side, which is the Isan region, and brought their exotic traditions. The lower part of the northeastern Thai region is a plateau with a line of extinct volcanoes. Most of the tourist attractions are historical sites and natural destinations. The weather is temperate in the cool season and hot in summer.

Due to the wide variety of tourist spots in Thailand, there are many traveling choices for you throughout the year. If you feel like relaxing by the beach but have a limited time, go straight to the eastern region. The examples of famous destinations are Bang Saen beach, Institute of Marine Science, Ko Si Chang, Ko Loi Siracha, Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the world famous Pattaya City, Ko Lan, Ko Samet, Mae Phim beach, etc. You can take a trip to these destinations and enjoy them within a day or so if you live in Bangkok and need some refreshing trips in the hot summer of Thailand.
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org
http://www.tatnews.org/tat_release/detail.asp?id=5415