Thailand forum

Hi Sophia,

Welcome to Travelfish!

DON'T PANIC! ;-)

How about some more information on your interests -- it would make it easier to make a recommendation... Seven weeks is a good amount of time to spend in Thailand, so you'll be able to do loads.

Think - for example: ancient ruins, beaches, big cities, jungle, trekking, boat trips, elephants rides, diving, watersports, sitting around campfires getting drunk, hanging out with Thais...add some more. Then rank them in order of what you're most interested in and post them back here -- that should help people make you some useful suggestions!

ok, that makes it a bit easier!

If you're goign in June, you want to stick to the east coast islands (Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Samui and Ko Tao as the weather will be rather wet on the west coast. Perhaps take a look at the new story we've just added to the site What is the best island in Thailand. Assuming you want to chill out and relax -- either Ko Pha Ngan or Ko Tao (esp. if you dive) would be fine choices.

For elephants and trekking I'd suggest Pai, and as for ruins, well the ancient capital of Ayutthaya is just an hour north of Bangkok.

So an easy trip could be sumthin like:
Bangkok -Ayuttahya-Chiang Mai -Pai-Chaing Mai-Bangkok-Island of your choice... with seven weeks you could fit loads more in though -- just be sure to check the weather!

As for reservations -- unless you really have youre heart set on somewhere specific, I'd probably not bother -- particularly if you're looking at budget accommodation -- many of the best places don't take reservations.

Have fun!

thanks so much guys!!
one final question - is a budget of approx 155,000 baht enough for 7 weeks, bearing in ming we want to stay in pretty nice places....having a financial crisis!
thankyou!

Haad Yao East (Koh Pha Ngan) is a beautiful beach. The first night me and my boyfriend stayed there we were all alone. You can only go there by boat. My English is terrible, sorry!

I agree with quant, Haad yao (north west BTW) Koh Pangan is amazing for relaxing. If you can get infomation on Haad yao bungalows right on the beach there you'd do well to check 'em out. At night they have BBQ fish like baracuda and red/white snapper etc.... sat on the beach with a bonfire and sometimes fire works and the like. If you dont want tourist beaches don't go to sumui, phuket, pattaya etc... For a true get-away and very quiet beaches try Ban krut/ban sapan. As for your budget - YOUR RICH! :)

Bye and good luck in thailand.

Oh, I also think that a trip to cambodia's Angkor wat is well worth it. Just DON'T get the bus from KOH SAN ROAD (AVOID!)

Hi Sophia,
The closest train station to Samui is near the mainland town of Surat Thani at a blip of a town called Phun Phin (14km from Surat Thani). It's easy to get public transport from there into Surat Thani. Catching the train is probably the most popular way of getting down to the south from Bangkok - it is easy, affordable and pretty comfortable, and there are both day and night train options.

No big train section on the site -- something else to write I guess! (sigh)

Hy sophia. I've been last year, well in 7 weeks you can do so much things. I think that on first you have to arrive to Bangkok, relax 4 days and visit all historics sites, Chinatown, have some massage, going to the night market and if you can you mas to go to the week-end market (with the sky train is so easy). If you want you can go in any travel agency or tourist info or directly in your hotel to have a map of the city and with a guide (like Holeyplanet) you can move without any pb. From Bangkok you can go wwith 1 day travel to visit Ayuthaya (gone by bus and coming back by boat) is not so expensive.
From Bangkok you can go to the north (by train or bus) to Chiang Mai where you can visit many temples, have some monk chat, you must try some SPA treatements (the best are not really cheap, but they're amazing) and in the night going to the night market, try some fresch fish restaurant, and close to the wall of the city, near the old door thare's a very good pub on the top of a building is very...chill out. From here you can planning trekking, 4x4 adventure, rafting, going to Mae Hong Song, Chiang Rai and other places in the north. From the north you can decide if going directly to the island or going down through the west border, where there are many National Parks. You could stop in Sukhotai (The first capital of Siam), is very relaxing site, you can rent a bicle and spend a day in the old city visiting and have a siesta in there. If you go to the island you can chose:

Phi Phi, Similian, Phuket, Krabi.
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
Koh Chang.

Last year I've been in Koh Tao, because of the weather and because I love to dive. during summer in Koh Tao is the best site to dive and to snorkel. I prefer Koh Tao than Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, si not so full, no seamoto and is the best site to swim with fish all over you. In August I will go to Laos and than coming back to Koh Tao.

If you want other info or photo e-mail me dmattiello72@lycos.es

By

Diego