coripep

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Thailand in January 2006. Aside from the normal destinations of Bangkok, Chang Mai area and Phuket and Krabi what do people recommend?

National Park advice? Khao Yai National Park?
Or are there other National Park suggestions for hiking and seeing wildlife in Northern Thailand. Would you visit the Northeast vs. the Northwest?

Does anyone have kayaking trip advice for around the south of Thailand. We were considering paddling with a guide around Ko Tarutao, any suggestions or guides they prefer? We don't want to be a big group.

Thanks.
Cori

JamesA

I like the North East, Khao Yai is relatively easy to get to, perhaps start with a base in Nakhon Ratchasima.

If you are heading down south have you considored beach hopping down the coast? We do the area a lot and it gives some great stops on the way, you can bus, train or car with driver place to place south of Bangkok, get in elephants, national park ( Sam Roi Yot ), coastal fishing places and also some nice resorts to stay, do some snorkel, it is a very relaxing part of Thailand.
A route could be: bangkok - Hua hin ( Takiab Bay ) - Dolphin Bay ( Sam Roi Yot National Park ) - Bang Saphan ( snorkeling on Koh Talu and quiet beaches ) - Chumphon ( possible to snorkel there and also take the Jet-Cat 90 minutes to Koh Talu for more snorkeling ), then you can head towards Krabi, Koh Lanta and Turatao.

It is a lovely stretch of coast that although not over-run with tourists does attract a lot of people who return, having a highway plus the rail line means 'hopping' down the coast is very viable, and as I say lots of nice places to stay.

coripep

Thanks JamesA. If you happen to read this post again, will you tell me if you have been to Khao Yai and if so what your experience is like. You mentioned visiting a National Park while beach hopping is it comparable at all?

Cori

JamesA

Khao Yai is inland so somewhat wilder, whereas Sam Roi Yot stretches along the coast with wetlands, birdwatching etc, Khao Yai is a nice area but you have to head north east from BKK and then back thru, Sam Roi Yot is easy to include on a journey heading south.

JamesA

Here's some interesting stuff I got off Yahoo Asia, some of these are Thai but with added English language pages so copy and paste the links to get to English language:

Khao Yai:
http://www.trekthailand.net/north-east4/index.html

http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp...pid=9&lg=2

Sam Roi Yot:
http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp...pid=8&lg=2

This one same area:
http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp...d=117&lg=2

This is another one south from Bangkok,

Kaeng Krachan:

http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp...d=113&lg=2


You could do Khao Yai and if you like nature places and you have time you can still pass thru the others on the way south.



General information on Thai national Parks:

http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/howtotravel.asp?lg=2


For accommodation I think much better to stay in nearby town, throughout Thailand you will find nice clean and comfortable air conditioned hotels with all facilities nearby such places, not a problem at all.

JamesA

If you can manage USD 40-50 the Juldis is a nice place to stay close to Khao Yai

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/isan/juldis/pictures/


The Greenery Resort is more expensive, haven't stayed but looks nice:

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/is...nery/pictures/

glorialf

I went to Khao Yai National Park on my first trip to thailand in 1985 and enjoyed it. I'm sure it's changed a lot.

coripep

Thanks to you two who responded. JamesA you were very helpful. Sam Roi Yot looks very beautiful. I found a guesthouse in a town outside of Khao Yai that looks to offer cozy, clean accomodations. The other two are very nice, but I am not sure we would give up that much staying in a nearby town. Although it is hard to without seeing the area.

Cheers