Thailand forum

Thailand gets a lot of tourists, it is true. Some are pleasant, some are vile. Some you can happily make friends with, some you want to avoid. One of the things I like about the country is that it is relatively easy to avoid the type of tourist that you don't care for. That goes for pretty much everywhere - including many of the southern islands. OK, some are pretty full on. I haven't been to Ko Samui, but that may be an example. But many other places, with a little bit of research, you can still find peaceful locations away from the madding crowd. Remember, that for most tourists the thing they want most is to be huddled together with lots of other tourists. Even in Thailand, that still leaves plenty of largely untouristed areas to discover.

Just put a report on LITTLE KO CHANG on the PLACES/SOUTHERNTHAILAND/RANONG page - unlike FORUM posts these don't appear instantly, usually take a day or three.

Im sorry.
My postwas a bit vague, I enjoy the company of other tourists, but its the ones who only go overseas for the cheap drinks/drugs/thrills irritate me.
I guess im looking for more 'hippie' locations, although I wouldent classify myself as a hippie.
If anyone has been to Luang Probang, that is a town in northern Laos that I am completely in love with.
It is by no means 'not-touristy' but the travellers there seem a bit more chilled out.
Im really just looking for some nice islands to relax on, and meet some pleasant people. Enjoy a beautiful foreign place, occupied by a beautiful foreign culture, read, drink,talk, ect.


Im not sure about the start of my trip but I will tell you the itinerary that I am set on so-far.
I will either fly into Bangkok or Phuket, If I fly into Phuket I would like to make my way immediately to Krabi, then onto Surat Thani and Ko Phanang and Ko Tao (iv been told to skip Ko Samuie) then a boat back to the mainland and a train to bangkok.
(If I do fly into bangkok and leave the east islands to the end, the trip will starthere), so I want to head north to Chiang Mai on the train, do the north (Pai, Chiang Rai) then double back towards
Phu Lang Ka (I really wanna check out those bungalows) then further east till im in the north east, and work my way back down south (either to bangkok or tothe eastern islands)


I hope that wasnt too confusing, my question is:
Do you think that I should fly into Phuket, goto krabi, then to surat thani, ko phanang and ko tao then to bangkok
Do you think I should fly directly into bangkok and head north leaving the eastern islands to the end of the trip and not seeing the southern islands (please note that I dont know much about the eastern islands compared to the more seasoned southern ones)
OR, do you think that in 6 weeks that I could visit all these places (start in phuket –bangkok – north – north-east – east islands – bangkok) following the itiniarys above.
I dont want to have set dates for anything so I was worried that the third option would leave me too rushed.
Oh I will be going in mid december and getting back late january.

Thanks again.
Luke