Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [199]
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THEME PARKS
Just outside Bangkok are theme parks for kids and inner kids, delivering everything from dancing elephants to stunt shows. It’s worth noting that animals at these parks will often not be treated with the same care they might be in more developed countries. Tour operators service all of these places, but getting your hotel to write the name in Thai and taking a taxi is just as easy and usually cheaper. For further transport options, see the websites listed below.
Ancient Siam (Muang Boran, nee Ancient City; 0 2709 1644; www.ancientcity.com; 296/1 Th Sukhumvit, Samut Prakan; child/adult 150/350B; 8am-5pm) Billed as the world’s largest open-air museum, Ancient Siam covers more than 80 hectares of peaceful countryside scattered with 109 scaled-down facsimiles of many of the kingdom’s most famous monuments. Visions of Las Vegas and its corny replicas of world treasures might spring to mind, but Ancient Siam does have some architectural integrity and is a preservation site for classical buildings and art forms. It’s a great place for long, undistracted bicycle rides (rental from the admission office is 50B), as it’s usually quiet and never crowded.
Dream World ( 0 2533 1152; www.dreamworld-th.com; Km 7 Rangsit-Nakorn Nayok, Thanya Buri; combination ticket 1000B; 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-7pm weekends & public holidays) No-excuses fun park with roller coasters, paddle boats, stunt shows, go-carts and an artificial snow world.
Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo ( 0 2295 2938; www.elephantshow.com; Km 30 Th Phetkasem, Nakhorn Pathom; child below 130cm/adult 300/500B; 8.30am-5.30pm) Samphran is a 9-hectare zoo with elephant round-ups, crocodile shows and an orchid nursery.
Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo ( 0 2703 4891; Samut Prakan; child/adult 300/200B; 7am-6pm) More than 30,000 crocs spend their time wallowing in mud, with elephants, monkeys, hippos, snakes and, ahem, camels keeping them company (at a distance). The farm is a monument to trained-animal shows, including croc wrestling and elephant performances. The reptiles get their dinner between 4pm and 5.30pm. It’s very popular with tour groups, but won’t appeal to animal liberationists.
Siam Park City (Suan Siam; 0 2919 7200; www.siamparkcity.com; 99 Th Serithai, Khannayao; water park child under 130cm/adult 100/200B, unlimited day pass 900B, kids rides only 100B; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat & Sun) A water park that has grown into a full-blown amusement park with plenty of small and large-scale rides, artificial waves, giant water slides and a flow pool. There is also a small zoo and playground. Probably more fun than Dream World.
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SLEEPING
Golf courses and upmarket resorts ring the perimeter of the national park. Pak Chong is the primary base-camp town, and comes complete with a Tuscan quarter (or eighth, perhaps), but Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi are beginning to develop some more low-key options. Most accommodation destinations can arrange jungle tours and transport to the park.
Park Lodging ( 0 2562 0760; www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve) The Department of National Parks provides a range of clean, simple lodgings scattered through the park, starting at 800B for two people. Camping is 150B per person with tents and bedding included. It’s best to book online, where you can also get more detail on locations and facilities, though bookings are also possible at the information centre.
Jungle House ( 0 4429 7183; www.junglehousehotel.com; 21/5 Th Thanarat, Km 19.5, Pak Chong; d 600-1400B; ) An old favourite and great budget or lower midrange option, with lots of extras to keep kids entertained. Loft rooms encourage monkeylike agility.
Palm Garden Lodge ( 0 9989 4470; www.palmgalo.com; Ban Kon Khuang, Moo 10, Dong Keleek, Prachinburi; d 400-600B, ste 1200B; ) Woodsy gardens and rustic bungalows keep you in touch with nature. The lodge is 7km south of the park’s southern entrance, near Ban Kon Khuang on Highway 33. It arranges park tours and rents motorbikes and vans for 250B/1800B