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Home » Reader question » Reader question: Tour through Thailand, Chiang Mai or not?
Reader question: Tour through Thailand, Chiang Mai or not?
Dear readers,
I want to go to Thailand with my family, 4 people, at the end of July 2016 for about 21 days. We want to spend the first 5 nights in Bangkok and make a 3-hour bike ride there, visit the floating market, temples and royal palace and some other sights. Then we want to take the train to Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.
Because we want to spend the last 7 days of the trip on Koh Samui, we don't know if it is wise to spend a few days in Chiang Mai after Sukothai.
Please advise on accommodation and alternatives for the trip.
Yours faithfully,
Rob
Chang Mai is too much. It is better to add Kanchanaburi to your tour for example – Educational, AND fun (the bridge over the river Kwai).
If you have time to spare, a visit to Kao Sok national Park is more obvious. Not too far from your route, and very impressive.
Thailand is a BIG country. Don't try to do europe in 5 days!
Sukothai has a small airport, fly from there to Samui and visit CM another time and go to the beach for a few more days.
Nice guesthouse in Sukothai is Lotus, teak, well cared for.
You can fly directly from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui. And from Koh samui straight to Bangkok and home. That's the simplest solution.
I just got back from my 3 weeks vacation in Thailand and also skipped Chiang Mai due to lack of time. That ended up being a good decision because we could see so much more and enjoy the other places. We also stayed in Bangkok for 5 nights, Kanchanaburi for 3 days and then via Surat Thani to Koh Samui (3 nights) and via Krabi (2 nights) to Koh Phi Phi (2 nights). Great to do, but afterwards we would have preferred to spend 7 days in Koh Samui or 7 days in Koh Phi Phi (whatever you are planning).
So skip Chiang Mai this time, and if necessary go back to see Northern Thailand.
Ayutthaya is not that far from Bangkok, so it can be done with a day trip from Bangkok. Skip Sukothai and visit Chiangmai a little longer, there is so much to see here that two days is too short. Fly directly from Chiangmai to Samui with Bangkokair, or with a combination ticket (fly, bus, boat) from Nokair or Airasisa Thailand.
Since you are going to Ayuttaya I would skip Sukhothai.
It is beautiful, but in Ayuttaya you have already seen the same thing.
I would then go to Chiang Mai instead of Sukhothai.
Chiang Mai is really great, a few days is definitely a must.
Chiang Mai is highly recommended.
If possible, even if it's just for a few days, get to know that city.
I would leave Chiang Mai for the next trip and when in Koh Samui spend a few nights in Koh Phangan, 30 minutes by ferry.
Another option is from Koh Samui for a few days to Koh Tao, 1h30 by ferry and enjoy.
With Bangkok air back to Bangkok from Koh Samui.
I think Chiang Mai is the nicest city in Thailand. You can fly there for a few tenners. I would include Kanchanaburi in the itinerary (very interesting and doable from Bangkok) and skip Ayutthaya and Sukothai. There are also many temples and other sights in Chiang Mai. From there you can, for example, go to the Elephant Nature Park (never sit on an elephant, they have a weak back!).
I would immediately travel to Chiangmai and not visit Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.
Chiangmai brings much more possibilities.
I regularly arrange trips myself for about 15 days and that includes Bangkok – Kanchaniburi – Chiangmai and Mae Hong Son. with a few days at the coast as the end point.
When you travel for 21 days, this is certainly possible with a stay on Koh Samui.
and as already mentioned, you have direct flight from Chiangmai to Koh Samui.
Have fun on your journey. Whatever the choice.
Patrick.
Why start with 5 days in Bangkok? I would do a few days at the start of the holiday, and also end with a few days in Bangkok. Especially for last minute shopping.
Have no experience with Ayutthaya and Sukhothai so cannot say why or not to visit them. But Chiang Mai is definitely worth a visit. You could go to Kanchanaburi from BKK, see a lot there in one day, and then take the night train to CM in the evening.
From CM you can fly directly to Koh Samui.
My answer is very simple .
Thailand is about the same size as France.
So it is impossible to see or discover everything in a short period of time.
Find a part of the country and devote your time and attention to it .
Chiangmai, Chiangrai and the north of Thailand are definitely more than worth a visit.
But do that some other time.
We have no sun - drenched beaches here , no Pattaya and no full moon parties .
But a spectacular Loy Kratong festival, Songkran festifal, flower festifal etc etc.
Here it is more backpackers country , jungles , mountains and valleys .
So see you in Thailand another time .
Jan Beute.
2 days in Bangkok is more than enough. I wouldn't want to spend an hour longer there. Then 2 days Kanchanaburi with the railway, cemeteries, Hellfire Pass, Erawan Falls. Then Ayuthaya and so on till Sukhothai. And the next day visit historical site Sukhothai and on to Chiangmai. Chiang Mai is a must! There about 4 – 5 days with possibly a day in Chiangrai (white temple) and then a direct flight to Koh Samui. The journey from Bangkok by minivan, about 2000 baht per day + gas separately. Just did this for a friend visiting.
2 days in Bangkok are of no use to you at all. I have been coming to Thailand for years. usually about 3 or 4 months a year and I always stay in Bangkok for 3 or 4 weeks. after all these years I still haven't seen everything in that place. I will probably never be able to see everything…. That city is too big for that.
Would even like to live there ... but I promised my girlfriend that after my retirement I would live in her native region, the Isaan, where I also feel at home.
On topic: make time for Chiang Mai…well worth a (long) visit.
We had the same idea, with a visit to Chiang Mai, Kanchanuburi after Bangkok, staying about 3 nights in Koh Samui, but we also thought to go to Khao Sok National Park for a few days. Get the impression that this is all going to be a lot.
Good day,
I just read your post on the Thailand blog.
Nice, something very nice to look forward to.
You are making a very good start by preparing yourself for a journey of which I can only say one thing: an unforgettable experience and a journey, especially in a different culture, never the way you have it in your mind, this makes it fun, adventurous and surprising.
Thailand steals the heart of the most experienced traveller, I can truly count myself lucky that my father was stationed in Bangkok for KLM from 1949 to 1956. My mother was so impressed from the first moment she stepped off the plane and that I myself have enjoyed coming to this country for over 32 years.
Enjoy your preparation, taste the ultimate taste sensation of Thai cuisine, see the peaceful lifestyle of the Thai monks, smile and amaze yourself and your family.
Better yet don't go to Sukhothai in Chiang mai there is 7 times more to see!!!!
You haven't seen Bangkok in 2 weeks, The Hague or Brussels are a village against … For only the
you've been needing shopping centers for a week. Have a nice trip in Paradys.
Do things that are age appropriate for the kids. Obviously I don't know how old the company is. I recently heard a travel report from 2 boys between the ages of 10 and 13. They had all been to old statues. Daddy had told them a few things, but they had lost it a bit. It was very hot. They liked the stray dogs with the puppies the most in those places. Furthermore, swimming, sailing with a lot of noise, Lizards, Mac Donalds and Tuktuk racing were popular. I would do Chiang Mai because you guys compensate it with a week at a slow pace. But maybe leave some antiquities where they are.
I have been to various cities in Thailand including Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Chiang Mai, there is quite a lot to see in 21 days, and I would definitely plan a few days in Chiang Mai for a first trip (and shorten a number of other destinations (slightly) or skip (I would skip Ayutthaya). In Chiang Mai there is so much to see and do, for example you can do a lot of things in one organized day trip (to be specified at your hotel) just a little bit outside Chiang Mai, such as, a make an elephant tour, see an elephant show, rafting, sail on a raft, visit a waterfall, visit a butterfly farm, visit a "Karen" tribe (mountain people) In addition, Chiang Mai itself is also a very beautiful city, everything is also much smaller than Bangkok . If you go by night train you save a hotel stay and time, make sure you have an air-conditioned compartment. I think it is still not possible to book the train in the Netherlands, you would have to do this immediately after arrival in Thailand have to do, but there is a risk that the train (or the air conditioning compartment) is already full. Otherwise you just take a plane, it's not too expensive either. Good luck with your planning and have fun!