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So after reading up an earlier Japan thread regarding the unbearable weather in July (thanks helpful HfP’ers), we’ve decided to cancel it and stick to Thailand only. This now gives us 2 weeks in Thailand, which actually isn’t too bad a thing as we’re able to add Chiang Mai and Krabi to the itinerary.
The itinerary is: Bangkok for 3 nights, Chiang Mai for 3 nights, Krabi 3 nights, Phi phi 2 nights and Phuket 3 nights. What is the best way to travel (ferry or speed boat) between Krabi to phi phi and phi phi to Phuket? Do these need to be booked in advance or can you pick up tickets on the day?
Any other Thailand recommendations would be welcome too!
12go.Asia is a reliable booking agent which pulls together most of the options from different operators with online ticketing, used them many times.
I prefer the slower regular ferries, speedboats can be a very uncomfortable journey. Most operators offer options including pickups from and drop offs at your accommodation. Travel light with rucksacks or trolley bags rather than conventional suitcases for an easier journeyI can’t help with ferries or boats as do not use them in Asia, but as your traveling to Chiang Mai, I would recommend the Elephant nature park.
You walk with them, feed them, make food for them, and bathe them in the river.
https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer
I have been there twice, it’s Run by a Thai woman called Lek and she has done a wonderful job with the sanctuary, and elephant rescue from logging companies.
Lek was honored as one of six Women Heroes of Global Conservation in 2010 by the then Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
On another note, you will find Chiang Mai quite polluted, due to the forest burning that goes on, as well as the chaotic traffic volume in the main city.
Thanks @HampshireHog will take a look at that site.
@Gordon thanks for the recommendation for the elephant sanctuary. Aah I hadn’t realised the burning season continues into July! Will take a look at this part of the itinerary again as the internal flights haven’t been booked yet.https://5starmarinephuket.com/
superb people to book private day boat trip to James Bond island etc etc.
Ahhh damn we are going to be chiang mai from 11-15 march
Never knew about this burning season
Hopefully it doesn’t ruin the tripI get that everyone is different but moving between five locations in fourteen nights feels a bit excessive to me. Are you going to be able to get much time in between all that packing/ unpacking / flying?
Even a domestic flight is going to eat up at least five Hours end to endAhhh damn we are going to be chiang mai from 11-15 march
Never knew about this burning season
Hopefully it doesn’t ruin the tripThe Smokey season runs from January to March! It would be difficult to know if this would ruin that part of your trip? On your dates, as you say 11th to 15th, If you feel uncertain about this, are you not able to cancel your flights and accommodation, and look at other locations, Or is that not an option.
I get that everyone is different but moving between five locations in fourteen nights feels a bit excessive to me. Are you going to be able to get much time in between all that packing/ unpacking / flying?
Even a domestic flight is going to eat up at least five Hours end to endTotally agree! I would restructure as 4 or 5 nights Bangkok, 4 or 5 nights Chiang Mai, 5 nights Krabi or Phuket in that order so you can take overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai so you’d be pulling up inyo thscenic mountain part on morning daylight hours. You also avoid losing a day to travels. However a daytime VIP bus would also be a lot of fun if you preferred to sleep in a hotel. Fly from Chiang Mai to Phuket or Krabi. Choose Phuket if you want package tour Thailand, Krabi if you want to easily escape the tourists and discover Thailand for real. Better yet, skip both and fly to Hat Yai and explore Songkhla and Phatthalung.
12go.Asia is a reliable booking agent which pulls together most of the options from different operators with online ticketing, used them many times.
I prefer the slower regular ferries, speedboats can be a very uncomfortable journey. Most operators offer options including pickups from and drop offs at your accommodation. Travel light with rucksacks or trolley bags rather than conventional suitcases for an easier journeySecond this, never a problem with them and they make life a lot easier, even the simp,e stuff like collecting train tickets from them. Note that booking sleeper trains is best done asap as the best options now sell out fast. Buses including VIP buses are easy, never failed to get sonething same day. The cheaper you pay the more uncomfortable you will be but the more fun the trip will be 🙂
As a side note, if you did decide on the train option, you could stop at the bridge on the river Kwai, that featured in the film of the same name, for photo opportunities, but it does get very busy with tourists, but due to your tight timelines, this would probably not be an option.
Have you looked at visiting chiang Rai It’s not far from chiang mai, and you can use it as a base for a good day with a driver.
Lots of suggestions, but think I would definitely tinker with the itinerary. Concentrate on a couple things one time, and then go back another time and do the other bit you have missed off. Whether you do bangkok for 4/5 nights this time then you don’t have to do it next time, or you choose to do Bangkok both times for 2 or 3 nights is your choice.
I say this because most Itineraries with Bangkok is a city and then a beach. The problem is you have more than one or two beach options, Krabi region, Phuket, Koch Samui Hua hin etc etc.
Good luck planning.
Thank you all for the useful info. None of the domestic flights/ buses/ trains/ ferries have been booked yet so all your advice is great. Deciding what to drop will be tricky as we’d like to visit them all, but I hear you. Packing and unpacking every 3 or 4 days will be exhausting.
@BJ is the overnight sleeper train actually comfortable? I’ve read they tend to be very ‘rattly’ and the loos aren’t great. We have 3 teenage girls who have somewhat got used to the luxuries that the bank of mum and dad have provided thus far.
@StanTheMan the girls would love to do a tour of James Bond island so this is handy recommendation.@hma11, the part you have not grasped is that you can simplify this itinerary without dropping anything. This is because essentially Phuket = Krabi = Phuket in a way of thinking. Base yourself at one and more or less cover them all.
Party details was useful. With 3 teens I think they are likely to prefer Phuket as it is busier with more going on. For same reason I recommend Patong but this will likely provoke some negative comments. From Phuket you can easily tour mainland for karst voadtal scenery and James Bond island. Other places too including Phi Phi. With a party of 5 I would do privatevtour with large car or minivan as cost should work and it’ll give you full control of itinerary. With 3 teens I would do 5 in Bangkok and 4 in Chiang Mai. If they like shopping there is no place on Earth compares to Bangkok. The newer Chinese-built sleeper trains are excellent but I don’t know if they are currently scheduled on the time I suggested. In any case party of 5 doesn’t fit well so I think a daytime VIP bus departing early morning would work better. Think a UK European double decker touring coach but with as few as 24 recliner business class cradle seats instead of 76 coach seats and you’ll get the picture. Take off the 5 hours Aston said you’ll waste on a domestic flight anyway and the journey’s not so long but you’ll get to see more of the country.
Although my overnight train experience was in Vietnam and not Thailand,
Around 8 years ago, me and my son took the overnight train from Hanoi to Hue, around a 12 hours trip, we opted for the sleeper cabin, booked well in advance, there were 4 beds in the cabin in total, one above the other on each side, non lockable door.
Our cabin was full, me and my son on one side and couple of Vietnamese gentleman on the other, After a few stops a passenger boarded and entered our cabin, and turfed the guy on the top bunk out! As this was his bed and the guy that got on with us was trying his luck unbeknown to us.
The journey was ok, plenty of sights to see, unless you can sleep on a log, you won’t get any sleep, the trains tend to slow down for signals, or come into a station to stop, and when that happens the carriage buffers clang together wakening up the dead!
I agree, it is an experience, and I am glad I tried it, but I would not do it again in a hurry.
@BJ – good to know that there are new train options now in Thailand,I didn’t find the shopping too inspiring, but I don’t go for the shopping,
I would 100% agree with a private tour/van with a party of your size, especially with three daughters in tow.
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