Laos forum

javienlared

I'm with SomTam...

Too far, too fast.

15 days... BKK to Northern Thailand ONLY (and return).

It sounds like you have become attracted to the destinations, rather than what the destinations themselves have to offer.

I spent 6 days in Chiang Mai recently and there were still many many things I wanted to do/see.

Chiang Mai is like a small Bangkok. And, Bangkok is a great place to shop. So, if shopping isn't high on the agenda, a couple of days there is probably enough.

In and around Chiang Mai, I'd suggest you read:

1/. http://www.travelfish.org/feature/19 (for a motorbike riding possibility),

2/. http://www.travelfish.org/feature/66 (for a hiking possibility - if you go, stay at Nest: the food is brilliant),

3/. http://www.travelfish.org/feature/108 (check only the 1st two items), and

4/. http://www.travelfish.org/feature/138 (for trekking).

I'd also suggest you rethink Ayathuya. Go, instead to Sukhothai:

http://www.travelfish.org/map_detail/thailand/northern_thailand/sukhothai/sukhothai/52

- - - -

I'm making these suggestions on the basis that you want to EXPERIENCE something on your trip other than the inside of a bus or boat or train or a waiting room. As your itinerary is currently structured, you'll spend nearly all your time in travel, getting ready for travel, winding down after travel, and very very very little time actually experiencing anything about the places you visit.

Cheers

javienlared

Chiang Mai - Huay Xai - 1 day
Huay Xai - LP - 2 days
LP - VV - 1 day
VV - Vientiane - 1 day
Vientiane - BKK - 1 day

This is 6 days of just travelling. Nothing else, just 6 days of travelling.

Also...

BKK - Ayuttaya - 1 day
BKK/Ayuttaya - CM - 1 day

This makes 8 days committed to just travelling.

So given that you ONLY have 15 days, what did you want to see/do for the other 7 days?

Or, do you really like being in a bus / boat / train / plane?

Cheers

javienlared

I still think 8 days travelling is too much.

I'd spend more time IN/AROUND Chiang Mai suggested by SomTam and me (above).

I repeat my view that you rethink Ayathuya. Go, instead to Sukhothai.

As you're going to Chiang Khong from Chiang Mai - elsewhere I've suggested to take the VIP direct bus, it leaves CM about 10am and gets to Chiang Khong at about 3pm. But if you do, make sure the travel agent you buy from pouts on the sale docket "deliver passenger to Immigration border departure point" otherwise be dumped somewhere and you'll need to take a tuk-tuk and probably be ripped off. Go across and stay in Huay Xai (it's a bit cheaper). I stayed at Friendship GH, but there are also other OK one's there.

I'm assuming you're flying back to Spain from Bangkok. If so, I'd suggest flying Luang Prabang back to Bangkok (Bangkok Airlines) so that you save time and be ready to join your international flight without hassles of traffic (by coming back by bus or whatever). If you are leaving from Vientiane, I'd fly Luang Prabang - Vientiane.

While VV is Ok, and the trip scenic, 2 days on the road for VV isn't worth it unless you've the time to relax (which you haven't with your current itinerary).

Cheers

javienlared

I've said elsewhere on Travelfish, there's nothing especially wrong with Ayathuya, but Sukhotai is much better.

For me, Ayathuya is THE[/i centre of Thai culture for Thai people, and it represents the royal lineage. But, the ruins are spread out, there's traffic buzzing around and at times heaps of tourists. Sukhotai, on the other hand, has an ambience of quiet regality. It is a destination in its own right, and when you are there you actually FEEl as though it could all come alive.

Yes, sadly, the best way to get to Sukhotai is by road (ie bus).

Cheers