Thailand forum

Catty, if you're sure you're going to be getting out of Thailand within 2 weeks or unless you're going to fly from KL to somewhere in Thailand, you might want to get a visa in advance. You'll only get 15 days on arrival if you arrive by land.

You're going to be doing a lot of bus and/or train travel. You may want to catch a flight from Vientiane to Siem Reap to cut down on some time. It might save you a couple of days worth of travel. Laos Airlines has fairly inexpensive flights.

I'm sure you'll get a good dose of nature and culture at a FMP and tubing on the Nam Song.

Thanks everyone!

I'm thinking of taking mostly flying instead of long bus rides to save time. Although maybbe traveling within Thailand, buses would be better? This is my itinerary so far. Thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Southeast Trip
Friday, July 1st South Korea – Kuala Lampur
stop over

July2nd- 18th Kuala Lampur –Southern Thailand
In the Gulf:
Krabi (Railay beach)
Koh Tao -koh tao road and PADI cert.
Full Moon Party July 17th (Koh Pha Ngan)
Andaman:
Phuket
Koh phi phi

July 19th-20th Southern Thailand – Bankok
Shopping ~Khao San Road
~Patpong Night Market
Floating market (Damnoen Saduak or Koh Kret~ better)
The Grand Palace
Temple of Emerald Buddah(Wat Phra Kaeo)
Wat Po and Wat Arun
Ladyboy shows
Thai boxing
Ancient City

July 21st – 25th Bankok – Northern Thailand
Chang mai
-bamboo rafting
-Thai Elephant Conservation Center
(near Lampang at Tung Kwian)~
-Tiger Kingdom (mae rim)
-cooking classes
-flight of the gibbons
-Kayan (Long-neck) people (Mae Hong Son)
Chang wat-
Kamphaeng Phet (huge buddhas)???
Chiang Rai
Hilltribe trekking

July 26th-29th Northern Thailand – Laos
Luangprabang (2days)
-night market, Kuang Si waterfall

Vang Vieng in Vientian province(2days)
-Nam song river (river tubing)

July 30th-4th Laos – Cambodia
(Siem Riep)(4days)
Ankor Wat
-bamboo train
-Psar Chas shopping
-floating village
- Fire a rocket launcher or M-16.

Phom Phnen (1 day)
-killing fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Camp (1day)

I agree with Casey - less is more.

Hey Catty,

Myself and friends going to Thailand for 5 weeks going start of July. Flying into and out of Bangkok. I have been googling places to visit and who has ideas where to go.

Ended up signing up to travelfish because your itinerary seems really good and wanted to say thanks. I know you were looking for advice from others but your ideas have helped me.

Enjoy your travelling and sure we might come across each other
Its my friend birthday on the 17th and will Def be at the Full moon party for her to celebrate.

Thanks again,
Ailish

Another voice to add in that you're planning too much in. Spending your whole trip travelling between places (and then having far less time to actually spend at them) is no fun, trust me.

And of course, the problem with the flights is trying to find ones that will work out for your limited schedule.

Don't underestimate the distances in SEA. To travel between each destination, you need to allow a day - but the time you check out, get to the bus station, wait for the bus, get on the bus, wait on the bus, travel for 5-10 hours, find accom at the other end and get checked in. That's a day gone. Multiply that by each of your travel days and you lose over a week in travelling time. Flying will cut that down to half days, anyhow - but don't forget to allow for checkin times, etc.


Skip either Laos or Cambodia - you'd be crazy to try both as well as Thailand. If you go to Cambodia, either spend an extra day or two in PP, or don't bother going at all. Honestly! And pay attention to the detailed suggestions provided by the above posters.

Well, Catty, it's up to you. But this isn't a vacation plan, it's a wild race across SEA. If that's what you want to do, fine. But you will be spending mega time travelling around, and on all of your destinations you will be checking your watch to get to the next place you want to go to. Bangkok in two days and you're hitting a million spots. WAY too hectic. There is no time here at all to actually get to know any indigenous peoples in any of the countries you are visiting.

Look at your 2 days in Bangkok. All of that in two days will NOT be enjoyable. I have never seen anyone walk into the Grand Palace and out very quickly. 2 hours won't even get you two see half of it without running through. Then Wat Pho AND Wat Arun....unless you are just taking a quick few pics, you just gave us a whole day and an exhausting one at that. You leave no time for the unexpected experiences with locals r other travelers or the thing you will see that stop you and cause wonderment. None of these are small places and all have lots of detail. Ladyboy shows? Really? That cheezy crap? Ok I won't judge but that is a night thing and so is the Thai boxing. When you see the price charged to foreigners compared to the locals and the quality of some of the fights you may be unhappy. Because so many farang want to see it they cobble together any fighters to put on a show of dubious skill. You may want to find out from someone if good fighters are on schedule for the week you are there or it ain't worth up to 1000 baht plus. Cheaper on the islands though. The most famous floating market is basically tourists. Unless you stay all night there and get out there for pics at dawn when the ladies are setting up. By 9 am it is you taking pics of tons of other white folks and the ladies are floating around selling postcards and tourist stuff too. Not entirely but you get the drift. The ladyboy stuff in Bangkok are horrible tourist rip offs. Beware your bill (padded) and pick pockets. This info comes not from once or twice, but from every week that it happens to unsuspecting tourists suckered by ladyboys in Bangkok. Just be aware.

I would not buy airplane tickets in advance and take the chance you don't get a flight out on the day you want. You might very well decide on the day before you are due to leave that you don't want to... Glad you axed Laos. I'd have acxed Cambodia too - but at least you've slowed down a bit... now it's just somewhat hectic. Some people are high energy and just don't like the idea of sitting still, in which case maybe hectic is good for you.