TH · Chanthaburi · 12.61°N 102.10°E

chanthaburi

Weekend gem market, a riverside old town and orchards full of durian.

Best time
November to February is dry and pleasant. Durian, mangosteen and rambutan season runs from about April to June, which is when most Malaysians will want to go.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Bangkok (about 2 hours), then about 4 hours by car or bus to Chanthaburi.
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TH · Chanthaburichanthaburi12.61°N 102.10°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Weekend gem market, a riverside old town and orchards full of durian.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingChanthaburiTH, Chanthaburi
KLchanthaburi
≈ 1,054 km from KL, as the crow flies
Blick von der Spitze des Krathing Waterfall über den Nationalpark

Photo: Martin Püschel · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A riverside town in eastern Thailand, about 4 hours from Bangkok, known for gems and fruit. The old Chanthaboon waterfront has wooden houses facing the river, and nearby stands the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the largest church in Thailand. Come in durian season and the whole province smells of it.

Makan

  1. Sen chan phat puChanthaburi's own rice noodles stir-fried with crab.Map ↗
  2. DurianEat it fresh in season. Monthong is the big name, but ask about the local varieties too.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Chanthaboon WaterfrontA long street of old wooden houses along the river, now with cafés and small museums.Map ↗
  2. Cathedral of the Immaculate ConceptionA grand Gothic-style cathedral by the river, the biggest church in Thailand.Map ↗
  3. The gem marketTraders sort and haggle over sapphires and rubies in the streets of the old town, mostly at weekends.Map ↗
  4. Fruit orchardsIn season, some orchards let you visit and eat fruit straight off the trees.Map ↗
  5. Namtok Phlio National ParkA waterfall with a pool full of big fish, a short drive out of town.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Only buy gems if you know what you're looking at, or from shops that give proper certificates.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.