Temples Galore

A couple of years ago I was helping a relative create a Thailand itinerary.  It was going to be his first time there and I was going to show him around.  I had picked out some cities we'd experience over the 4-6 weeks.  I wanted to be sure he got to see many temples.  We were going to start in Bangkok, then take a train north.

This was the plan:

2 days in Sukhothai

*Bicycle the old city (includes 9 wats)
*Walk or bicycle the historic city of Si Satchanalai (6 wats)
*Morning market
*Saturday Night Market

Fifteen temples!

3 days in Lampang

*Wat Doi Prachan Mae Tha
*Wat Chaloem
*Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang
*Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao
*Wat Sri Chum
*Wat Phrathat Doi Phra Chan 
*Wat Phrabat Pu *Phadaeng
*Chae Son National Park & mineral springs
*Kat Kong Ta Walking Street
*Cultural Route Walking Street

Seven temples!

6 days in Chiang Mai

*one day (half-day temple tour) four temples
*one day (elephant nature park) - may stay overnight at the nature park.  We will feed, bathe and play with the elephants.
*one day (Monk Hiking Trail to jungle temple Wat Pha Lat, then on to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep)
*one day (Doi Ithanon National Park)
*one day (half-day temple tour) four more temples
*one day (wandering around the Old City)
*Royal Park

*Light Up Cafe

*Chiang Dao viewpoint

*evenings: massages, night markets, eating Lanna style food

Ten temples!

3 days in Chiang Rai

*White Temple
*Blue Temple
*Black House Museum
*Singha Park
*Waterfall
*Wat Huay Pla Kang
*Night bazaar

Three more temples!

35 temples in all.  These, combined with 11 in Bangkok, 6 on Koh Phangan and 3 in Kanchanaburi give you 55 for the trip.  In the end, lucky if you see 40 of the 55.  Very fortunate if you get to see all.