First time SE Asia
 

Would appreciate some help with realistic trip plan for SE Asia. Will be meeting family including twin 11 year old grandchildren for 1-2 weeks of our one month trip.

Arrive Bangkok 11:30pm.

Stay another 3 nights Bangkok.

4 nights Siem Reap

4 nights Chaing Mai

5 nights Luang Prabang

5 nights Vangvieng

2 nights Vientiane

4 nights somewhere on a beach in the South to wrap up the trip

1 night near Bangkok airport for early departure the next day

Is this reasonable or should we eliminate beach time and spend more time elsewhere?

Thinking Luang Prabang and Vangvieng would be good places to spend with the kids. Cycling, kayaking, etc.

Thanks for any suggestioms. Have traveled quite a bit in Europe but this our first time in Asia. By the way, budget will allow some air travel between areas.

i would cut CM and LP by one day and add to a beach area: khao lak, hua hin as examples

a good pool each day for the kids..

I'd cut Vang Vieng back to 2 nights max. Chaing Mai is probably a better spot for the kids - visit one of the well-run elephant camps, either the Thai Elephant Conservation Center near Lampang or the Elephant Nature Park.

I would say that 5 nights in Luang Prabang is a bit much - 3 or 4 full days is fine. To do Vang Vieng justice, 2 full days are required. Chiang Mai is ok, but a pinch on Luang Prabang. I would cut a day there as well. Spend the rest of time on the beach in Thailand.

What time of the year will you be coming? Very important detail and the people here can give you the proper help.

Thank you all for your replies. You all seem to have the same suggestion of cutting some time inland and spend more time at the beach.

We will be flying to Bangkok Oct.23 anf flying home Nov. 22 with 28 days on the ground. I realize nowthat this is a different type of travel than we are used to. Normally one week is the minimum we would stay in one place.

My dilemma is that our grandkids will be on their 2nd leg of an 8 month trip having already been travelling in Japan and Vietnam. They anticipate getting their diving certificate in Vietnam so will be at a beach destination before they meet us.. I had hoped to have an itinerary where we could meet and stay at least 5 days for a bit of a travelling timeout with grandparents but a location with enough interest and activities so that we could be together but go apart for separate,activities e.g. Grandpa and Grandson take a bike while Mom and Dad read and Grandma and Granddaughter take a hike, visit a village, etc.


The plan now is for them to arrive in Laos sometime between the 3 to 9 of Nov. We decided we can spend up to 2 weeks travelling together before splitting up.

My husband and I are not really beach people but thought spending a few days on the beach would be a nice way to end the trip if we could find a spot that has escaped the curse of progress. We don't care about nightlife or all the amenities we have at home and not really looking dor a big resort experience. Any ideas fhat match those criteria?

Hope this gives you a bit more background as I still think we need your help! Thank you.

Late October and November should be fine. The temperature might still be hot but the humidity in the North of Thailand and Laos should be lower than average.

Here are some activities for you and your grandkids that I can think of right now.

Chiang Mai: http://www.treetopasia.com/en/thaila...day/chiang-mai
Chiang Mai: http://www.segwaygibbon.com

Would not recommend kayaking in LP. Saw a few groups out & it looked rough and the water dirty. The boats were sit on tops which means you are in the water. I would not want to get a mouthful of Mekong water. Biking looked fun. 4 nights were good for us there.