Bangkok-Cambodia-Myanmar-Chiang Mai-Bangkok
 

Hello Fodorites,

My wife and I have started planning our next SEA trip. On the wish list is 3 days Bangkok, 2 days Phnom Phen, 2 days Angor Wat, 4-5 days Myanmar (but I haven't researched it enough to know where I want to go), 2-3 days Chiang Mai, 4-5 days Bangkok.

Do you think that that is too much travel in too short a time?

Should I cut out any part of the proposed trip.

My wife and I are going to the Boston GTG in October so I will be picking your brains for ideas. (Please Bob & Andy, no derogatory remarks about each other in regards to each others lack in that department)!!!

Rob

That seems like a lot but maybe you can do it with some tweaking. We spent 8 days in Bangkok last February. It was our 2nd visit and we still didn't do everything we wanted to do. We will spend 4 more days there next February 2007. We will also be in Myanmar for 10 days. Although we are still in the planning stages, I am pretty sure that 4-5 days is not enough time to see all that the country has to offer. We will be visiting Yangon, Bagan and Inle Lake over a period of 10 days. Some itineraries also include Mandalay in that amount of time but we feel that would be moving too fast.

I have not been to Phnom Phen so someone else can chime in on that. I think you need 3 days to do the Angkor Wat area properly. We spent 3 days there in February and it was just the right amount of time - we didn't overdo it on the temples and had time to visit a Cambodian school and the floating Vietnamese village.

2-3 days for Chiang Mai is about right.

Jeane and I look forward to meeting you and your spouse at the Boston GTG. I seem to recall that you live in Toronto - is that correct?

Yes, I do think it is too much moving around for such a short time. In addition to being too many stops, you are trying to visit three different countries with three different cultures - I fear you won't manage to absorb much of it at all. Also, you will lose most of a day on each transfer from one place to another (a full day from Cambodia to Burma if that connection can be made) In that short a time, I'd suggest you cut one country (I'd recommend cutting Burma).

Also, you are only planning two days at the temples of Angkor. Consensus is that it takes a full three days to see all the major temples, more if you are really interested in the temples and would like to visit some of the monir temples (where you may be the only visitors) or more remote temples. Add in extra time if you want to visit a school.

By my count, you are going to be in SEA for 20 days. I think you're a little too ambitious in attempting to see all of the places on your list. It may be that Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar are too much for 3 weeks. That's your decision, if you stick with all three, I would cut out Chiang Mai and add a day at Angor Wat and at least two more days in Myanmar. Myanmar has 4 usual locations and even with 7 days, you cannot do justice to them all. generally, it takes 10-12 days to cover them.

Having said that, I would choose between Cambodia and Myanmar and leave the other to next time. This will allow for a more relaxed and thorough visit.

Thanks for the prompt replies.

Yes Craig I live in Toronto.

See you in October.

PS. If you guys are really good, I might let you buy me a drink!!!!

Definitely too much. I would eliminate either Myanmar or Cambodia. Which one depends on your interests -- i.e. people, markets, culture vs temples.

To continue from my previous posting. If you eliminate Cambodia, I would add all 4 days to Burma. I you eliminate Burma, I would add one day to Cambodia and the rest of the time to Chiang Mai and northern thailand.

I agree that 4-5 days in Myanmar is really not enough time and maybe replaced with with 3 days in Luang Prabang in Laos. In the high season Lao airlines have a flight from SR to LP on Mon/Thur. Also if you go to LP you can fly directly from there to CM.

2 days is about right for PP but you should add an extra day or two in SR.

If you deceide not to go to LP then add a few days in Cambodia to visit a smaller non touristy town such as Kampot/Kep or Battambang to get more of a feel of the country.

How are you copping our heat wave in Ontario.

Scotters

I am on a liquid diet!!!

you need at least one additional day in SR....3 is good and 4 is better....if you plan to leave SR at 7PM on your last day then you have the advantage of a full day there and can be off to bkk or PP for a full next day...

myself i need more time in bkk..

myanmar is fine in 4-5 days but i would plan to only spend time around yangon....that is what we did....going up country takes more time really....there is plenty to do around yangon for that number of days....i have a great driver for you...tons of fun...

i would cut out CM...i hate the place...ok here comes the barage of criticism...

if you can wait until october, you will get tons of info in boston and maybe even a broken arm and that is not from drinking too much...

It's OK Bob--I have two arms.

I am by no means an expert traveller in SEA, however I have just returned from spending 1 week in BKK and 2 weeks in Cambodia.

For me, 4-5 days in BKK was perfect. I had time for all I wanted to see and do. If in the market for custom menswear, I highly recommend Rajawonngse Clothier, or better known simply as "Jesse's". I had 6 custom made shirts, 2 pants and a suit all done within 4 days...all for $600. Jesse has great credentials...has made suits for both Pres Bush's!

One day we took a Tuk to the Grand Palace after which we walked to the river and caught a long boat for a tour of the canals all the way down to the harbour...where we caught the sky train back to the hotel.

Speaking of hotels...we stayed at the Dusit Thani. This was a great 3-4 star hotel, ideally located with the sky train and Patpong Market at your front door. The market is cool if you are into shopping for cheap silk items and knock-offs.

When leaving BKK don't forget to have 500 Baht for your exit fee...they do not accept US$ or credit cards.

Cambodia: Phnom Penh(for me)was boring. Siem Reap was worthy of at least 4 days to explore Angkor Wat by day and the Pub area by night. .35 cent Angkor beer!

Another must see in Siem Reap is the floating village. Take the long boat river tour...great eye opener for a look at a totally unique village and way of life.

Hotel was the Sochka Angkor...great location and incredible service. The staff is 5 star...hotel is a firm 4 star. Price was not bad...US$70 / night.

Leaving Siem Reap airport is pleasant however you must pay a US$6 departure fee...only payable in US$...no local currency.

My second week in Cambodia was spent in Sihanoukville. Hotel was the Sochka Beach resort. By Cambodian standards, a 5 star hotel. Service wasn't as goos as in Siem Reap, but hotel and beach are great.

Sihanoukville itself is nothing special...lots of small restaurants / bars / whorehouses. There are no taxi's or tuk tuks...only moto's (you double up on a scooter. Yes, the hotel has a "taxi" for US$7 per trip.
Again

The airport in Sihanoukville is still not opened...so it is a 250 km drive from Phnom Penh. The roads are good, no worries.

Khemer food is great...but I would stay away from the black chicken soup...you don't want to know!