Thailand itinerary ideas
Discussion
Hi folks,
It’s finally here… off to Thailand in 2 weeks. We have a full 2 weeks in country before a stopover in Singapore on the way back.
Just looking for inspiration re activities/itineraries between Bangkok and Phuket. At the moment I’ve booked 3 nights in a BKK hotel (might extend by a couple of nights maybe) and then a flight back from Phuket to Bangkok at the end. One night in a nice BKK hotel before flying to Sing.
Partner has never really done ‘adventure’ travel so I’m keeping it light for him, I’ve been all over. Initial plan of train down to the coast might be sacked off!
Will start seeing a few temples in Bangkok and want to end up for a while on a nice island (probably Andaman side for logistics) but keen to think of stuff to do in the middle. Both quite active and like nature/outdoors.
Have sone great island suggestions from a previous thread so thanks!
It’s finally here… off to Thailand in 2 weeks. We have a full 2 weeks in country before a stopover in Singapore on the way back.
Just looking for inspiration re activities/itineraries between Bangkok and Phuket. At the moment I’ve booked 3 nights in a BKK hotel (might extend by a couple of nights maybe) and then a flight back from Phuket to Bangkok at the end. One night in a nice BKK hotel before flying to Sing.
Partner has never really done ‘adventure’ travel so I’m keeping it light for him, I’ve been all over. Initial plan of train down to the coast might be sacked off!
Will start seeing a few temples in Bangkok and want to end up for a while on a nice island (probably Andaman side for logistics) but keen to think of stuff to do in the middle. Both quite active and like nature/outdoors.
Have sone great island suggestions from a previous thread so thanks!
BKK obv the Grand Palace
I also heartily recommend using the water bus service to get somewhere (very easy from KohSan area to MBK) it's a great authentic experience.
Oh, and a trip (via the train) to Kanchanburi is unmissable , particularly for the waterfalls, and swimming in them (just look away from the main pools and you'll find the most beautiful swimming water you've seen in your life)
|https://thumbsnap.com/6jtpM27B[/url]
Avoid the KohSan road at night, it has become a nightmare. You genuinely need ear defenders...
If you want island paradise on the Anderman side with none of the mass tourism and no 7-11s, get yourself over to Koh Jum ( I'm here now). If you want more details on there, check out my recent thread.
If you want something a bit more lively but not ruined, try Koh Lanta, although it's going that way slowly, plus, the Chinese are coming back.....
Phi phi for a couple of nights. Do a 5am private long tail to Maya Bay (the beach). Then get out of phi phi. The Chinese are coming...
I also heartily recommend using the water bus service to get somewhere (very easy from KohSan area to MBK) it's a great authentic experience.
Oh, and a trip (via the train) to Kanchanburi is unmissable , particularly for the waterfalls, and swimming in them (just look away from the main pools and you'll find the most beautiful swimming water you've seen in your life)
|https://thumbsnap.com/6jtpM27B[/url]Avoid the KohSan road at night, it has become a nightmare. You genuinely need ear defenders...
If you want island paradise on the Anderman side with none of the mass tourism and no 7-11s, get yourself over to Koh Jum ( I'm here now). If you want more details on there, check out my recent thread.
If you want something a bit more lively but not ruined, try Koh Lanta, although it's going that way slowly, plus, the Chinese are coming back.....
Phi phi for a couple of nights. Do a 5am private long tail to Maya Bay (the beach). Then get out of phi phi. The Chinese are coming...
Edited by Griffith4ever on Sunday 15th January 01:41
[url]Edited by Griffith4ever on Sunday 15th January 02:28
Internal flights are cheap and plentiful,use them to go North.
Trains are slow but an experience so do a short journey.
I would say don’t have an itinerary,just a rough idea where you want to see and what you want to do.
I think too many people rush Thailand just to tick boxes,it really does have much more to offer than a beach on Phuket.
Trains are slow but an experience so do a short journey.
I would say don’t have an itinerary,just a rough idea where you want to see and what you want to do.
I think too many people rush Thailand just to tick boxes,it really does have much more to offer than a beach on Phuket.
Internal flights are cheap and plentiful,use them to go North.
Trains are slow but an experience so do a short journey.
I would say don’t have an itinerary,just a rough idea where you want to see and what you want to do.
I think too many people rush Thailand just to tick boxes,it really does have much more to offer than a beach on Phuket.
Trains are slow but an experience so do a short journey.
I would say don’t have an itinerary,just a rough idea where you want to see and what you want to do.
I think too many people rush Thailand just to tick boxes,it really does have much more to offer than a beach on Phuket.
carreauchompeur said:
Mark V GTD said:
Just be aware that anything that requires a flight is basically going to take up an entire day - even for a one hour flight.
Why’s that? 
With some special exceptions, and journey from one island / area to another that may only involve short taxis and a flight, always seem to get you where you are going by 7pm.
Resort / bungalow pickup at 10, tuk tuk to pier. 30 mins.
Sit with 40 others all going to various other places at pier.
They got you there 2 hours early as they always want everyone ready regardless of where they are going.
Sit for 2 hours. Enjoying a singah and chatting to fellow travellers.
Your "ten minute ferry to the mainland" ferry arrives.
Arrive at mainland at lunch time. Get 3pm flight (you wanted to be there 2 hours early right?).
Land at 4.15, get bags. Get shoved in a minivan to your hotel.
Minivan drops 12 other people off before you.
Arrive 7pm :-)
There ARE ways to speed things up a bit but they are rarely volunteered and usually cost much much more.
It's the way of Thailand !
We've recently done Koh chang to krabi , that involved a 1.15hr and a 45min flight, with only a one hour connection. Still didn't arrive until 7.
Still it's a very relaxing way to travel.
carreauchompeur said:
Thanks all. Kachanaburi was vaguely on the list so I’ll maybe pencil in a couple of nights.
It's bloody great. You catch a really small train from Bangkok at around 7am. Internet covers it, easy to find and catch. Get you your ticket at the station when you arrive.Wonderful train journey with local people through villages etc. Best part of it in some ways.
Arrive a few hours later. Plenty of time to see the "bridge" and the graveyard. Eat drink sleep.
Next morning you get a local bus up to the waterfalls. Enjoy. Our bus driver bought some food off a stall on the way. I asked him what it was so he handed me one, much to the horror of the other tourists, I ate it :-) was sweet rice cooked inside bamboo. Lovely.
Catch train back next day.
Loads of Riverside places to stay. Even one setup that is on an island in the river and they row you over to it , on a rope. Wake up to watch Thai speedboats zooming up the river taking people up to loas, I think!
Just avoid the hotels near the main bridge area if you don't want super touristy. Best a touch further out and rent a scooter or walk.
Two other things.. internal flights are half the price if you book in advance. Anything a week or two ahead isn't in advance. But that's the price of flexibility! And, baggage - check the cabin allowances, it's often only 7kg. Buying extra online is around £24 for. £15kg hold bag, but, it's a LOT cheaper than paying when you are at the airport.
I booked BKK to Krabi in advance. £15 each. Plus £20 ish extra for luggage. Did the same flight last minute in the other direction and it was £180 total
I booked BKK to Krabi in advance. £15 each. Plus £20 ish extra for luggage. Did the same flight last minute in the other direction and it was £180 total
I think we are both referring to a whole day of holiday activity rather than dusk till dawn. Your noon till 6 wrote off a day of beach / sunbathing. It's dark by 7.
If you're staying in a tourist hotspot like Ao Nang for example, the airport is only 20 mins away, you don't need to be there until 45 mins before departure. 1 hour flight to Bangkok, and you are done. However, all of the really nice places are not 20 mins from the airport and usually include minibuses , ferries, or longtails to get there. Plus, travelling by air from one significant part of Thailand to another often involves flying to BKK first.
Annoyingly they dont fly direct between the small airports. Trat to Krabi? Via BKK, it's a little frustrating.
Of course all of this is irrelevant if you go for two week to Phuket and samui. For anyone else exploring a bit I'd always tell them you are going to lose a "day" ( the sunny bit) when moving about .
I think the salient point to take is that if you are here for a month or more, it doesn't matter, but for a two weeks holiday, island hopping can eat into your holiday time quite significantly.
If you're staying in a tourist hotspot like Ao Nang for example, the airport is only 20 mins away, you don't need to be there until 45 mins before departure. 1 hour flight to Bangkok, and you are done. However, all of the really nice places are not 20 mins from the airport and usually include minibuses , ferries, or longtails to get there. Plus, travelling by air from one significant part of Thailand to another often involves flying to BKK first.
Annoyingly they dont fly direct between the small airports. Trat to Krabi? Via BKK, it's a little frustrating.
Of course all of this is irrelevant if you go for two week to Phuket and samui. For anyone else exploring a bit I'd always tell them you are going to lose a "day" ( the sunny bit) when moving about .
I think the salient point to take is that if you are here for a month or more, it doesn't matter, but for a two weeks holiday, island hopping can eat into your holiday time quite significantly.
Edited by Griffith4ever on Monday 16th January 05:52
A day with the confidence tricksters of Bangkok is always good fun. Hang around any tourist attraction and wait for someone to approach you, they always will.
It will probably be some well spoken chap telling you about some great offer on suits or gems. A tuktuk will appear by magic and whisk you off around town to see some temples where you will bump into other people who will tell you about these great deals on suits or gems.
You will then eventually be dropped off at the suit or gem shop to do some shopping.
Drag it out for as long as you can but never buy anything. They go bat s
t mental. Quite funny to watch.
It will probably be some well spoken chap telling you about some great offer on suits or gems. A tuktuk will appear by magic and whisk you off around town to see some temples where you will bump into other people who will tell you about these great deals on suits or gems.
You will then eventually be dropped off at the suit or gem shop to do some shopping.
Drag it out for as long as you can but never buy anything. They go bat s
t mental. Quite funny to watch. Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff