Thailand forum

Those are all good choices. If you go to Kanchanaburi, you could keep going on to Sangkhlaburi. Very nice area that's worth the extra little bit of effort to get there.

Sukhothai is also a good area that's easy on the wallet. Lots to see and do, and plenty of good sleeping options. It's also midway between Bangkok and Chiangmai.

You could also take the night train up to Nong Khai, stay there for a couple of nights, then go along the Mekong to Sangkhom for a couple of days and then make your way over and up to Chiangmai. Beautiful part of the country.

Thanks Tilapia, I was thinking about Sangkhlaburi as well and may very well do that. I was afraid it would eat up too much time travelling but I have enough days I could comfortably fit it in.

I had been looking at Sukothai but think I am going to pass on that since I already have a fair bit of temple/ruins planned in Bangkok and especially later in Cambodia. Hoping to find something else in Thailand that I won't see much of in my later travels(as discussed below).

Nong Khai is already one of my ideas for my second leg through Thailand. After I am finished volunteering I am going to spend a couple weeks or so travelling through Laos from Huay Xai to Vientiane. Then I am going to spend a few days travelling through the Isaan region down into Cambodia. Once through Cambodia will travel up the coast of Vietnam and finish my trip in Hanoi.


Any other ideas are appreciated. Please feel free to PM me hidden gems if you don't want them public ; ).

Both Khao Sok and Kanchanaburi are excellent choices.

However the former is probably better in terms of access - just jump on one of the many Phuket buses at Ranong, bail out approx 2 hours later at Takua Pa and hop on the next passing Surathani bus - about one hour up the road is the bungalow area of Khao Sok just outside the main National Park area.

With around 6 days I'd try to take in a 2 day lake trip as well as staying in the near-National Park bungalow area. However if you can't afford an overnighter on the lake or even a daytrip there one option may be to squeeze in a few days on Phayam's near neighbour, little Ko Chang.

I'm not too sure how price competitive the trips are out of the bungalow area, but I vaguely remember that my last visit saw prices on the ground a a fair bit less expensive than those I saw online. My experience is that there are a number of operators and that each will cover 3 or 4 different bungalow places - plus trip booking joints in the area. I've simply asked my bungalow their price for a particular trip - if I think it reasonable I go for it.

Thing is, when you are in the bungalow area, the easily followed paths within the National Park are sufficient to keep you occupied for 2 days without a guide (you get a map when you pay your entrance fee into the Park).

I reckon little Ko Chang is a fair bit different to Ko Phayam - much less touristy and more laid back, something like the classic backpacker islands of the past. Mind you, if you go to the far northern end of Ao Khao Kwai (Buffalo Bay) on Phayam, you can get the same kind of atmosphere.
Phyam isn't touristy/touristy like much of Phi Phi and Samui by the way.