Expert Opinion Please
 

I would very much appreciate opinion on the following itinerary that a private tour operator is offering. I realize that we could do this on our own but have already ruled this out. We will have time in Bangkok ahead of this tour which we will be handling ourselves as we have been there before.

Jan. 1 Fly to Chiang Mai (Tour Chiang Mai City, Doi Suthep, Home Industries, etc.)
Jan. 3 Fly to Mae Hong Son (Tour City, various Wats, Pai River Boat Trip, Padong Tribe Visit, etc.)
Jan. 5 Drive to Pai (Fish Caves, Tham Lod, etc.)
Jan. 6 Drive to Tha Ton (Chiang Dao Elephant Camp)
Jan. 7 Combined Boat Ride / drive to Chiang Rai (visit various hill tribe villages, Golden Triangle, Opium Museum, city of Chiang Saen,etc.)
Jan. 9 Fly to Siem Reap (Angkok Wat, Beng Mealea, rural Cambodia, Banteay Srei, Lady Temple, Banteay Kdea, Ta Prohm, Siem Reap markets, Tonle Sap Lake, etc.)
Jan. 13 Boat to Phmon Penh (Tuol Sleng Prison Museum, Killing Fields, City Tour, Russuan Market, visit with organizations helping local children, etc.)
Jan 15. Back to Canada

We don't mind busy. Our goal is to see as much of both the history, geography and life of these regions.

I'd appreciate the comments of people who know these regions to tell me about the route, the duration of stay, and what, if any, significant things to see and do are missing that we might want to fit into the etc. My tour guide has assured me that we have flexibility to "adjust" our days and we also have evening time.

Thank you,
DJ

I think it sounds busier than we would do, but possible.

Flying to Siem Rep from Chiang Rai will involve connecting in Bangkok and you will spend most of the day doing this. I don't have any brilliant ideas though on how to make the transfer any more time efficiently, though.

The boat from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh I would avoid. I have never, ever heard anyone say they were glad they took it. www.talesofasia.com, which is an excellent source of information, says it is horrible. travelfish.org does too. There is a bus that is cheaper and often faster. Or you could take a private car for about the same cost if you are 2 people. Or you could fly. Anything but the boat I've heard.

If you can fly to Chiang Mai a day earlier to be there on a Sunday to see the Sunday Walking Street it would be fantastic I think. That was our favorite part of Chiang Mai in December 2005. It is much better than the regular night market. Much.

This is a busy schedule. It looks to me like you'll spend much of your northern Thailand time getting from place to place. Is that what you want? If it were me, I'd rather spend time in one or two places rather than 5.

Kim is quite right, it will take you all day from CR to Siem Reap. There is a Lao Air flight from CM to SR, so if you re-ordered your itinerary (and are going from CM to SR on the right day of the week) you could significantly shorten your transit time. I'd also recommend flying from SR to PP, as it will again cut some of your travel time.

Note that in two weeks, you are visiting 7 places. For me (and obviously, I like to stay in a place long enought to get to know it a bit) I'd choose a maximum of 3 places. I find that Asia (much more than Europe, for instance) lends itself to slow travel. Even if you want to be busy, I'd cut at least a couple of places form your list and slow down and enjoy the places you do visit.

I was afraid there was too much packed in, especially in the travel time. I really don't want to drop Chiang Mai, Siem Reap or Phnom Pehn. I wonder about dropping the drive from Mae Hong Son via Pai to CM and simply flying round trip from CM to MHS... or should I drop it MHS/Pai completely?

Also what are your thoughts about chiang Rai/Golden Triangle?

KimJapan,

I will be in Chiang Mai on a sunday. What is the Sunday walking street?

The main street inside the city walls (and a bit outside) is closed to traffic and a huge, festive market is set up. Setting up goes on all day and by dusk it's in full swing with all kinds of things for sale, from souvenirs to dishwashing buckets to jeans to Barbies...everything. There are food areas, foot massage stations set up in one intersection, street performers and the random mini parade every now and then.

This market scene is for everyone. The night market is mainly for tourists. I didn't care for the night market...pushy sellers, poor quality goods, high price. I loved the Sunday Walking Street.

If it were me (and again, it's not) I would drop the whole MHS and Pai section completely. It's not they they aren't lovely areas, but more that you don't have enough time to explore what makes them special. WHile I loved the Golden Triangle area, you could save it for another time and restrict this trip to the must-sees for you: CM, SR and PP. While you are in CM, you can hire a driver to take you on long day trips if you'd like, which will give you a feel for the countryside. Three stops will give you enough time to experience these places. I find that the most memorable parts of a trip are often the unplanned events ... usually ones you can only take advantage of by slowing down. That will also make your transfer from northern Thailand to SR easier. You can plan your flight according to Lao Air's flight schedule between CM and SR.

Have a wonderful trip!

Oops! KimJapan questioned my assertion that there are flights between CM and SR. The flights I was thinking of are between CM and Luang Prabang, Laos. So to get to Siem Reap, you will have to fly through Bangkok and onward to Siem Reap on Bangkok Air.

I'm sorry to have caused confusion.

Katie,

I am actually thinking about doing the CM to LP trip. Lao Air has a promo...2 people 3 days, 2 nights RT for $400. I've contacted th airline to see if the itinerary can be slightly changed and continue on to Siem Reap, OR if I can reverse that itinerary...do Siem Reap, then L, then CM.

We'll see, but it does sound interesting..even if I hadn't budgeted a visit to Laos....

zengoes, only add it in if you have the time. You need an absolute minimum of three full days in Siem Reap to see the major temples. And I wouldn't visit Luang Prabang for less than three full days either. I spent a week in both places, and could go back to both in a minute.