Things to Do in Sukhothai

There are a number of things to do and see in Sukhothai apart from the ruins whether you are after some more temples, trekking in the mountains or browsing local markets.

Wat Tham Phra Mae Ya

One of the temples outside the historical park that we really do recommend is Wat Tham Phra Mae Ya. This translates as “The Temple of the Sacred Medicine Woman’s Cave” and the temple greets you with a big standing Buddha, a seated Buddha and the golden chedi with lush green forests in the background. It is a stunning location and is generally a quiet place with hardly any tourists stopping by when we were there. The cave itself contains various images of a local deity, Phra Mae Ya.

This temple is one of only several active meditation monasteries and is located around 12km south of the historical park.

Ramkhamhaeng National Park

Once you have had enough of the ruins and need something new to look at, head to the stunning Ramkamhaeng National Park. This park is found close to Wat Tham Phra Mae Ya and actually visible from Sukhothai historical park. Though it is not far from the Western zone, you won’t be able to combine the visit to the ruins with trekking in the park – at least if you are going to get up to the top. The park is part of the Khao Luang mountain range and stretches all the way to the old part of the city.

There are ample opportunities for walking and trekking here with the highest viewpoints found at 1200 metres above sea level but the trail to the highest point is about 4 km long. Along the way you will pass bat infested caves, bamboo groves and giant trees before taking in the stunning scenery around you. Be prepared for rather a steep climb – when wet, the trail gets extremely slippery and hard to negotiate. Also, note that it is a popular weekend destination with Thai students and you are likely to see traffic enroute up and down, so try to come on a weekday.

At the park headquarters you can stay at one of the bungalows for around THB1200 at the head of the trail and there is also a restaurant, visitor centre and waterfall nearby. You can camp both at the bottom of the mountain and at the top, too, which can provide a unique experience with an excellent viewpoint for sunrise and sunsets. The campsite is THB30 for your own tent or THB250 to rent one.

Bicycle tours in Sukhothai

A fun and interesting activity to join in Sukhothai would be one of the many bicycle tours on offer. You can always do this on your own or just ride around the historical park but if you decide to take the tour you will be rewarded with great mountain bikes, lots of local insights, information and things about the place you would never have know about.

A half-day trip costs around THB600 and a full day is more like THB1000 and most follow the pattern of checking out farmlands, historical sites and offbeat cultural sites like a pottery workshop and whiskey distillery. There are many travel agencies that will provide this tour with some even promoting multi-day trips to **Sawankhalok and Si Satchanalai for around THB5000.

Cooking classes in Sukhothai

Another worthwhile opportunity is to take a cookery class with quite a few cooking schools popping up all over the place. You can tailor your class to what you want to cook and can vary in length with prices starting from THB500.

You will get a choice of cooking your favourite Thai starters and main courses and usually there are many selections to pick from.

Markets in Sukhothai

The new part of the city has traditional day and night markets that offer clothes, food, electronics and much more. There is a night market that goes on most nights but the best one to get to is the Saturday one as it is the biggest. It is located close to the bridge along Nikon Kasem Road. It is a great place to try all local specialties, from pad thai sukhothai to chicken skewers, but note that the market gets quiet after 8pm with many stalls shutting down, so come early.

The day market starts around 7am and do try and get there for this time as this is when it is at its peak and the night market starts from 5pm.

Si Satchanalai & Kamphaeng Phet

Other things to note include checking out more ruins at Si Satchanalai Historical Park, which is 55kms away and has fewer tourists, and visiting the neighbouring province of Kamphaeng Phet which is for many a welcome breath of fresh air away from tourists trail.

Also, do try and take some time out to go to Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary, which is a great organisation that dedicates its time to saving and caring rescued and retired elephants.