Thailand forum

Hey all,

I've asked a few questions about my trip to Cambodia/Thailand this November, and I can tell some of you are getting annoyed with me, but this is my best resource (and my first solo trip) so ask away I shall I'll try to make it succinct.

I have 25 days for Thailand, including travel. My initial plan was this order:

Bangkok - 5 days
Lop Buri - 1 day
Sukhothai /Si Satchanalai - 2 days
Chiang Mai - 6 days
MHS Loop - 7 days
Krabi - 4 days (this is where I'm flying out from)

I should say that I'm trying to get a good amount of variety, but that the ancient ruins of Thailand are NOT a major focus. I would love to see them, but they're not the reason I'm going. Same for Lop Buri. I actually had planned on going to the monkey festival, got rabies shots and everything...but realized recently that a solid visit of Chiang Mai and a more relaxed MHS loop trip mattered more.

I can shorten my stay a bit in Bangkok, as I know I won't come close to seeing it all. However, I do NOT want to rush the ride through the MHS loop, especially if I have to rush to get down to Krabi for my flight out.

Given that, here are my questions:


1) If flying from Siem Reap, might it be easier for me to fly straight to Chiang Mai, then do the MHS loop, then have plenty of time to decide priorities from there before ending up in Krabi?


2) How 'worth it' are Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai? Considering that I'll have spent a week throughout the Angkor temple sites, especially. I don't want to miss out on something special, but also don't want to do something just because I feel I'm supposed to.

3) Lop Buri...has anyone been to the monkey festival? And if I want to get closer up photos of monkeys, is there anywhere else in my travels where I would have the same types of opportunities? It could always be a stop on my way to/from Bangkok, wouldn't need to be a full day.


Thanks a bunch!