Sukhumwit Road goes from Bangkok all the way down to Pattaya. This road is now known as the Old Sukhumwit Road as there is a new highway starting at Bang Na. The two sections below cover a distance of 8 km. It starts at Sailuat Road and passes the entrances to the Crocodile Farm and Ancient City. These are the two main tourist attractions in Samut Prakan. Also worth visiting on this road is the famous meditation temple at Wat Asokaram and Bang Poo Seaside Resort. At this latter place there is a pier with a restaurant. The road runs parallel with Chonphratan Canal for many miles.

Please note: This map is interactive. Click on hotspots to see pop-up photos.

THINGS TO DO:

This stretch of Sukhumwit Road has the entrance for the family orientated Crocodile Farm (1). This is supposedly the largest in the world with crocodile breeding pens and even crocodile wrestling. Between the 31 km and 32 km marker is the entrance to Wat Asokaram (5), a famous meditation temple in this region. After exploring the wihan, you can wander down the sois between the monks' quarters to the sea. From here, you can turn left and walk along the coastline towards "Bang San 2" (10) where you will find a group of restaurants with a wonderful view of the Gulf of Thailand.

THINGS TO DO:

After the 33 km marker is the entrance to the Ancient City. This open air-museum has replicas (some full-sized) of all the main buildings and monuments in Thailand. It is a massive place and a photographer's paradise. If you haven't got time to travel all around Thailand then come and spend a day here. Just after the 37 km marker on the left is the turn-off to Bang Poo Country Club and it's 18 hole golf course. Almost opposite this turn-off is the entrance to Bang Poo Seaside Resort. This is an excellent place to come to escape the city heat. The views of the Gulf of Thailand and the welcome breeze make an ideal location for a late afternoon visit. There is also a large restaurant at the end of the pier.

GETTING THERE AND AWAY:

The road is serviced by songtaew buses which start in the city center. Look out for the numbers on the side of the pick-up trucks which tell you how far along the road they go. For example, songtaew 36 will get you as far as the Ancient City and a bit further.

All photographs by Nattawud Daoruang and Richard Barrow. Map copyright Paknam.com (2001)