Hey all,
Hoping to head to Thailand for 3 weeks in April/May from Adelaide.
Was looking at flights to Bangkok originally but am thinking flying into and out of Phuket may be better as I don't want to spend any time in big cities really.
I haven't done much research but would like to go to Chiang Mai and Pai as well as see a few islands. Other than that I am open to suggestions.
I will be backpacking.
Thanks :)
Thanks!
A couple things I did when I went to Chang Mai was elephant reserve and flight of the gibbon (if you're adventurous).
There's also a "city" centre with nice restaurants. IIRC there was one painted white owned by a queenslander that had good food, this was 5ish years ago.
https://www.elephantnaturepark.org is a great place an hour or two outside of Chang Mai that look after elephants rescued from trekking and logging camps. They have an office in downtown Chang Mai that arranges trips.
Depending when in April you might be in the country during Songkran, which is an experience.
Thanks! Looking at arriving on the 13th/14th April :D
Just in time for songkran hope you have some water pistals packed. I'll be flying in to Bangkok on the 11th. Just a note this is a very very busy time in Thailand, if you book domestic flights book them now.
are you single or going with a family or mrs?
this will really determine your visit
Going with the ball and chain
I suggest fly into the islands - (Phuket) travel to bangkok - explore inland and fly out of Chiang Mai - other way around.
Save you heaps of time.
Yes, always good to travel in and out of different cities, otherwise you will end up looping back to where you started (generally for the sake of flight).
In my experience it ends up being more expensive booking one-way flights though but I will look into it. Thanks!
i find this to be for economy and not for low cost carrier.
also ports of arrival and departure.
Adelaide might be harder than say Syd and Mel.
depends on the price of the flight from ADL-Thailand. Might be cheaper to go return to Phuket and get a one way Air Asia from Chiang Mai to Phuket, rather than try to go ADL->HKT, CNX->ADL (as example, depends on where OP ultimately decides to go.)
If backpacking it is a legal requirement to buy and wear elephant pants within 24 hrs of your arrival.
Bkk to Chiang Mai by sleeper train
In Pai, you will not experience Thailand…closer to Nimbin experience.
Please don't walk around bare chested in Pai.
Check your travel insurance for riding motor bike. Many come to grief in Thailand. And wear a helmet - safer, and avoids a fine.
Road trip to Pai is truly scary. Driving wrong side of road around blind corners and you will come face to facē with another car who is also doing similar. They have a very dangerous tecnique of straightening the bends on a narrow road, all blind corners. Take travel sick tablets. Don't motorbike the trip. Scooters for rent Pai 150thb per day.
Fyi minivan is 200thb each way to\from CM. Plus then need to get to hotel. Door to door - Uber from CM is 1750thb. and Arya travel private car Pai to CM 2200. There is no Uber from Pai. If you are young and bullet proof you will enjoy the discomfort and extra danger of the minivan - jambed in like sardines, backpacks on roof, high centre of gravity. Squealing tyres around bends. Drivers who are very sleepy as work same trip something like 6 am - 8pm.
Fan room will not be sufficient at that time. If young u may like cheap guest houses 250thb fan room 450 aircond. for social interaction. I was Happy with 'Pai in Town Hotel' approx $30 peak season.
Braless women and dirty bearded men with dreadlocks and a lot of tatoos and you will blend in. And stupid Thai fishing pants!
Do not wai Thai people. They will think u stupid as it is a much more complex thing. They only wai foreigners as part of tourist experience, otherwise it is not normal to wai foreigners. A slight bow/nod of the head and "thankyou" is much better.
My fav. places other than Bangkok. Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, and quieter nice places Chiang Rai, Ao Nang (Krabi), Chiang Khan (Loei) Very quiet. I don't like Pattaya or Phuket. Country towns are not well set up for tourists. They are very spread out, and transport around town is not simple.
Nfi about the islands.
Pai was interesting for a couple of nights but I was limited as don't ride motor scooters. Wont go back.
PM me with questions.
Dirty, bearded backpacker checking in haha!
Thanks for the detailed response! I am going to do some research and PM you in the near future!
And can learn bamboo tatooing and practice on each other. And get a bigger earlobe stretching rings fitted.
Wow what a life.
Get out to the islands. Koh Samui, Koh phagnan and keep going out from there. The further you go, the more you will get out of the touristy areas. Samui is expensive to fly into but you can fly, bus, ferry cheaply from Bangkok.
Full moon parties are fun, as long as you are not dumb.
I love Thailand
Don't really have time to write suggestions… but make sure you get your shots. Malaria is an issue in the north (Chang Mai).