Bangkok has been the capital of the kingdom of Thailand since 1782. The city, like Pattaya, has special administrative status and is governed by a governor. According to a census in 2010, the city has a population of 8,250 million inhabitants. The urban area covers an area of 1,565.2 km², with the entire Bangkok metropolitan area covering 7,761.5 km². The city is located on the Chao Phraya River and north of the Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok is on average only five meters above sea level. The Chao Phraya has a width of about 400 meters.

The oldest part of the city is in the Phra Nakhon district, around the Grand Palace, Sanam Luang, Wat Ratchabophit and Sao Ching Cha. In Bangkok, there are 400 sparkling Buddhist temples of incredible beauty and fascinating architecture. There are wonderful palaces and Buddha statues of inestimable value. Bangkok is Thailand's most vibrant metropolis: it impresses with its very special charm with a fascinating mix of traditional culture and modernity. Countless glamorous shopping malls and traditional markets dominate the cityscape and are a must for all shopping enthusiasts.

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Only about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok, the ancient royal city of Ayutthaya still symbolizes the most significant epoch of Thai history: splendid ruins of palaces, fascinating temples and fortifications throughout the province testify to the faded glory of the once-Ayutthaya period. The city of Ayutthaya is the capital of the Thai province of the same name and is located in the central region of Thailand. Ayutthaya has the administrative status of a major city whose population was 53,290 in 2012. The founding period is due to the Khmer in 1351. Ayutthaya was capital from 1351 to 1767. For more than 400 years, a total of 33 kings from five different dynasties ruled and steadily expanded the city. Throughout its history, the city was able to survive several siege rounds through the Burmese until it was conquered on April 7, 1767, looted and almost completely destroyed. Ayutthaya did not recover from this catastrophe 15 years later King Rama I (Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok) founded the new capital Bangkok (or its historical center Rattanakosin) about 80 kilometers downstream. He copied the structure and important buildings of the old capital (including the Great Palace) and even used stones from ancient Ayutthaya.

The ruins of the ruined and abandoned Old City are now protected as Ayutthaya Historical Park, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are the city's main attraction.

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Sukhothai is the capital of the Thai province of Sukhothai, located in the northern Chao Phraya Basin, at the junction of today's central to northern region of Thailand. Sukhothai is located approximately 440 kilometers north of the capital Bangkok in the catchment area of the Mae Nam Yom River and in the middle of a hilly area, which is used for rice cultivation. The city consists of two relatively separate districts: Old and New Sukhothai. The city (new) Sukhothai itself is approximately 10 kilometers away from the historic park. Old Sukhothai was founded in 1238 from an ancient Khmer settlement, and was later, for 120 years (from the 13th to early 15th century) capital of the eponymous first independent kingdom of Sukhothai. According to legend, Sukhothai was founded around 500 AD, and one of its leaders was King Chao Aluna Khmara, also known as Phra Ruang. The city of Sukhothai experienced its heyday from 1279 to 1298 under King Ramkhanghaeng. The Sukhothai period came to an end in the mid-14th century, as power relations shifted further south and Ayutthaya. The city center of New Sukhothai was completely destroyed by a major fire in 1968, so all the buildings in the area date back to recent times.

Sukhothai's fascinating ruins, Hindu shrines, ornamental ponds, ramparts and moats are now accessible to interested visitors as the Sukhothai Historical Park, and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and are the city's most important landmark. Inside and outside the old city walls are nearly 200 temple ruins, the oldest ruins date back to the 13th century.

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The city of Chiang Rai (and province of the same name) is located in the northernmost region of Thailand in a beautiful, mountainous landscape. The region is known to us among other things by the living there mountain peoples (inter alia, "Langhals" women, Karen and Hmong tribes) and the adjacent Golden Triangle, the border region to Laos and Myanmar.
The landscape is characterized by lush green rice fields and cloudy, mystical-looking mountain ranges.
The city of Chiang Rai is picturesquely situated on the river Kok and offers its visitors numerous, partly centuries-old sights. In and around the city area there are numerous temples. The most famous temple is undoubtedly the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun).
If you like extended trekking tours in picturesque landscapes mixed with culture and traditions, Chiang Rai will love it!
For us, the visit of the city with its temples, colorful markets and the trip to the Golden Triangle was an absolute travel highlight!

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