TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE NORTH

Covering a total area of some 169,644 square kilometres, the Northern Region of Thailand is mainly mountainous with dense jungles. It is also the sources of several important rivers including the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan, which converge into the mighty Chao Phraya at Nakhon Sawan. Because of its fertile soil, farming flourishes. The North has been the location of many ancient civilizations and today remains fairly populous.

The region borders on two countries, both by mountains and rivers. The northern frontier runs from Tak Province upward to Mae Hong Son, some districts of Chiang Mai and on to Chiang Rai. To the ease, the border touches mainly on Laos demarcated mostly by mountain ranges from Phetchabun upward through Uttaradit, Nan, Phayao and Chiang Rai. Only the sectors passing through Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong districts are marked by the Maekhong River along a stretch of 90 kilometres.

	TRANSPORTATION By Car - Phahonyothin is the main highway from Bangkok connecting the central region with the North all the way to Chiang Rai, which is the uppermost province in the North. Branching out from Phahonyothin are secondary highways leading to all northern provinces and many other districts. Passenger buses and coaches are available at the Mo Chit Bus Terminal on Kamhaeng Phet Road serving all provinces and major districts. Call for information at 936-2852-66. Provincial bus services run between the provincial seat and various districts. There are also inter-provincial services. In major cities such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phitsanulok are car rental services to go to tourist attractions. For more traditional mode of transport, try pedaltricycles which are available in all provinces. It is suggested that fares be negotiated beforehand. By Train - There are daily train services starting from Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok which run through Bang Pa-in, Ayutthatya, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Den Chai, Lampang, Khun Tan, Lamphun and terminate in Chiang Mai. Call 223-7010, 223-7020 for more information. By Boat - Most of the boating routes in the North are designed for sightseeing purposes. Some major routings include cruising the Ping River by large tour boats from the Bhumiphol Dam in Tak to Doi Tao in Chiang Mai. Or Traveling by boats or rafts from Tha Ton in Chiang Mai along the Kok River to Chiang Rai. Then there is boating the Mekong River by long-tailed boats in Chiang Rai from Chaing Saen district of the Golden Triangle to Chiang Khong. By Air - Thai Airways International operates frequent flights from Bangkok to northern destinations - Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Nan, Mae Hong Son and Mae Sot. There are also inter-provincial services between Chiang Mai and other destinations such as Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sot, Nan, Phitsanulok and Phuket, as well as between Nan and Phitsanulok. For more information, call Thai Airways at 1566 or 628-2000. In additions, Bangkok Airways (Tel : 229-3456) operates flights between Bangkok-Sukhothai and Sukhothai-Chiang Mai. Angel Airlines (953-1111, 953-2260) flies Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Udon Thani.

NORTHERN REGION PROVINCES
Chiang Mai	Chiang Rai	Kamphaeng Phet
Lampang	Lamphun	Mae Hong Son
Nakhon Sawan	Nan	Phayao
Phetchabun	Phichit	Phitsanulok
Phrae	Sukhothai	Tak
Uthai Thani	Uttaradit