Cycling in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand

Kamphaeng Phet is a small town in northwestern Thailand. This little city is home to remarkable relics dating from the Sukhothai era. Located within a hundred miles of Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet was a prestigious and flourishing city in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

Less impressive than those of Sukhothai, the ancient temple ruins are still worth discovering. The majority of them is scattered in a large shady park. The shade is welcome on hot, sunny days. We rented bikes to explore the place: our guesthouse offered bicycles with  cushioned back seats for our younger children. Our 8-year old used a folding adult bicycle which saddle was lowered.

Cycling is the ideal way to discover the site: ride along the deserted wide alleys, follow paths along the ruins, stop wherever and whenever you like.

Which site is better to visit with children? There are three major sites dating from the Sukhothai era, all recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Sukhothai, Sri Satchanalai, Kamphaeng Phet. Sri Satchanalai is the most difficult site to access and visit, unless you drive your own vehicle. Sukhothai is the largest and most popular place. Yet, it wasn't crowded when we visited in February. It's extremely pleasant to explore on a bicycle. Renting a bicycle is cheap and easy, children's bikes and bikes with baby seats are available everywhere. The site in Kamphaeng Phet is mid-sized, pleasant and ignored by many tourists.

Where to sleep? Three J Guesthouse offers a family room (up to 5 people) with bathroom and A/C for 800 THB per night.

Rent a bike: At Three J Guesthouse, 50 THB/day. Also available at the park's entrances, 30 THB/hour (city bikes with backseats for children).

Visit Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park: One site is located about 2 kilometers out of town in the north-western direction. From the city center, it is easy to reach by bicycle and well signposted. The other site is right in town. Entrance fee to either site: 100 THB/person, children free. Combined ticket: 150 THB/person

What else? There's a local swimming pool, great for kids, in Kamphaeng Phet. Entrance fee is 40 THB/person, adult or child. Note that the children's pool is not adjacent to the adult's pool, it's located  in the center of a park next to the Ping river.  There's also a nice, free playground in the park close to the pool.

Cycling around Chau Doc with children

A good thing about the Murray Guesthouse in Chau Doc is that the hotel, next to offering a family room (triple, 43 USD a night, breakfast included - children under 9 stay for free), puts bikes at your disposal, including one in children size.

Hopefully your child is a girl, because an 8-year old boy might not be enthusiastic about riding a pink, 'Hello Kitty" bike. It was perfect for our daughter. One child behind his dad on one adult bike, our youngest girl in the carrier on my back, and off we went, the 5 of us, to travel the 7-km distance to the nearby sacred Sam moutain.

Lise on her "Hello Kitty" bike

A few hundred meters further, we have to stop already: one tire is flat. Thanks to friendly and efficient  Vietnamese repair service, we're ready to start again a quarter later, with a brand-new tire. Tire and service cost us no more than 80000 VND.

Repair service was flawless

The route to Sam mountain is somewhat dull, flat and straight. The road is currently a worksite, large and empty, sometimes smooth, sometimes bumpy, always dusty under the heat. Arrived at the bottom of the hill, we park our bicycle in one of the many private garages, where people will watch over your  bicycles for 10000VND each. You'll easily find motorbike drivers ready to take you to the top of the hill; we opted for a hike up the hill. The ascension is certainly not the most easy one, on a very steep road with little shade, bur eventually, even our 3-year old manage to reach the top. It was well worth it; the views from the top are stunning.

View from the top of Sam mountain

After a well-deserved rest, lying in hammocks and enjoying the views, we set off again for the much easier descend. Halfway down, we stop for another break at Victoria Nui Sam Lodge. It's not that we're addicted to luxury, but the hotel's wonderful lookout on the valley seems the perfect place for a drink and a snack. Quite over our budget, but the view makes it worth.

The restaurant of the Victoria Nui Sam Lodge

Back down, we fetch our bikes to drive around the mountain and visit few of the many pagodas that surround the hill. When we head back to our hotel, it is already late in the afternoon. The children are tired but happy.

Detail of the Tay An pagoda