Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [337]
BUS
Sukhothai’s bus station is located almost 1km northwest of the centre of town on Rte 101. Within Sukhothai province, there are frequent buses to Sawankhalok (ordinary/2nd class air-con/1st class 21/29/38B, 45 minutes, every hour from 6am to 6pm) and Si Satchanalai (ordinary/2nd class air-con/1st class 37/52/67B, one hour, every hour from 6am to 6pm). The 9am bus to Chiang Rai is a good choice if you’re bound for Sawankhalok.
To other points in northern Thailand, there are buses to Phitsanulok (ordinary/2nd class air-con/1st class 32/42/58B, one hour, every half-hour from 7am to 5pm), Tak (ordinary/2nd class air-con/1st class 43/60/77B, 1½ hours, every 40 minutes from 7am to 5pm) and Kamphaeng Phet (ordinary/2nd class air-con/1st class 44/62/79B, 1½ hours, every 40 minutes from 7am to 5pm), Phrae (2nd class air-con 132B, three hours, four times daily), Nan (2nd class air-con 210B, four hours) and Lampang (2nd class air-con/1st class 185/238B, four hours).
There are frequent buses to Chiang Mai (2nd class air-con/1st class 249/320B, 5½ hours, 7am to 2am), which travel via Tak, and less frequent to Chiang Rai (2nd class air-con 284B, nine hours, four times daily). There are also eight 12-seat minivans to Mae Sot (136B, three hours, eight departures from 8.15am to 4.15pm).
There are a couple of buses every evening bound for Khon Kaen (2nd class air-con/1st class 267/344B, seven hours).
Sukhothai is also easily connected to Bangkok (2nd class air-con/1st class/VIP 291/374/435B, six to seven hours, every half-hour from 8am to 11pm).
Getting Around
A ride by shm·lór around New Sukhothai should cost no more than 40B. Srng·ta·ou run frequently from 6.30am to 6pm between New Sukhothai and Sukhothai Historical Park (20B, 30 minutes), leaving from Th Jarot Withithong near Poo Restaurant ( Click here). The sign is on the north side of the street, but srng·ta·ou actually leave from the south side.
The best way to get around the historical park is by bicycle, which can be rented at shops outside the park entrance for 30B per day. Don’t rent the first beater bikes you see at the bus stop in the old city as the better bikes tend to be found at shops around the corner, closer to the park entrance. The park operates a tram service through the old city for 20B per person, although departures are infrequent.
Transport from the bus terminal into the centre of New Sukhothai costs 60B in a chartered vehicle, or 10B per person in a shared srng·ta·ou. Motorbike taxis charge 40B. If going directly to Old Sukhothai, srng·ta·ou charge 100B and motorcycle taxis 120B.
Motorbikes can be rented at Poo Restaurant ( Click here) and many guesthouses in New Sukhothai.
AROUND SUKHOTHAI
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Si Satchanalai-Chaliang Historical Park
If you have the time, don’t skip this portion of the Sukhothai World Heritage Site. Bring your imagination and sense of adventure and you’re sure to love this more rustic collection of truly impressive ruins.
Set among the hills, the 13th- to 15th-century ruins of the old cities of Si Satchanalai and Chaliang, about 50km north of Sukhothai, are in the same basic style as those in the Sukhothai Historical Park, but the setting is more peaceful and almost seems untouched. The park (admission 220B or free if you have the 350B inclusive ticket from Sukhothai, usable for 30 days, plus per bike/motorbike/car 10/30/50B; 8.30am-5pm) covers roughly 720 hectares and is surrounded by a 12m-wide moat. Chaliang, 1km southeast, is an older city site (dating to the 11th century), though its two temples date to the 14th century. Those listed below represent only the more distinctive of the numerous Si Satchanalai ruins.
An information centre (8.30am-5pm) at the park distributes free park maps and has a small exhibit