Dimitri_01

Hello,

We go for the first time to thailand this year. Going from 12 october till 11 november.
Also because we have to go to a wedding in fang ( Not far from chiang rai )

We were thinking about the things we can do and thats why i want to post my schedule...

No idea if everything is possible.

Brussel – Bangkok
Bangkok ( 6pm )
Bangkok – Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi – Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya
Fang
Fang – Wedding
Fang
Mae Hong Son Loop ( With scooter )
Mae Hong Son Loop
Mae Hong Son Loop
Mae Hong Son Loop
Mae Hong Son Loop
Mae Hong Son Loop
Chiang Mai
Bangkok – Siem Reap
Angkor
Angkor
Siem Reap – Ko Chang
Ko Chang
Ko Chang
Ko Chang
Ko Chang
Ko Chang – Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok - Brussel ( 8pm our flight back )
Brussel

We would like to do de mae hong son loop with is scooter. maybe 125 cc scooter. Is this possible? Not to dangerous?

Normally we are going to ko chang because it's the easiest way to go coming from siem reap but i really don't know, it's so difficult to choose.

First we were thinking about going to koh lipe or the similan islands... Possible?

Thanks
Dimitri

rhkkmk

look at the air pass from bangkok air for some of your flights.. much cheaper.

i do not think you will fly from SR to KC without a stop in bkk.

the time in kantchburi seems very long??

Kathie

Less time in Kanchanaburi, more time at Angkor. You need three full days just to see the major temples.

The Mae Hong Son loop is a winding raod. Motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of death in visitors to SE Asia. Would you consider driving a car instead?

rhkkmk

in thailand i consider the a/c of a car essential.... its not like tooling around europe..

Hanuman

Don't advise a scooter for the MHS loop and at the very least should be a bigger motorbike around 250cc upward. Can be done safely if you are competent on a motorbike and do make sure that you have the proper international license for motorbike and the necessary insurance.

From Chiang Mai to Pai there are lots of very acute curves with not much view but from Pai to MHS there are some very nice viewpoints and the roads are less curvy but higher in elevation.

How will you get from Ayutthaya to Fang?

Dimitri_01

The first day just for going to kanchanaburi, but for the same thing we arive there in the evening. I heard that the Chatuchak Weekend Market in bangkok is very nice. Maybe we can go there first.
And then 2 days for kanchanaburi. Was thinking to visit the bridge, some othere things in the same area. Maybe the next day going to erawan falls... Would like to go to hellfire pass. Maybe stay the last night in the River Kwai Jungle Rafts
. It looks so cool. Do i have to skip one day there?

From ayutthaya we would like to take the nighttrain to chiang mai and then the bus to fang.

About the Mae Hong Son loop, what do you guys advice then?
Wel I've never ridden in a country where you have to drive left I don't know if it's difficult. But maybe i have to give it a try, i don't know. Or is it better to go with the bus, and then just rent a scooter for example in pai and in mae hon son?

Hmm maybe we want to much, i don't know...

So i have to skip a day so i have one extra for angkor. Problem is where

Then the big problem is where to go for relaxing. If you look on the internet every picture you, it's all the same
SO it's so difficult to choose. On the one hand we would like to go to the south but on the other hand maybe it's more obvious to go to ko chang beacause it's less far from cambodja.

Is ko chang nice? What about the resorts there? Do you have proposals?

In bangkok we are thinking about to stay in in the Navalai River Resort. For the location and also compared to other hotels in the area it's a little less expensive i think...

Thank you for the information.

crellston

MHS LOOP

I have driven the MHS loop twice, the last time in in December 2001 - here is a link to my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...n-thailand.cfm

It is a spectacular drive and Hanuman describes it well in terms of the drive. I too would suggest a min 250 cc bike as a 125 would simply not have enough power. I would not dream of attepting it if you are not experienced on a bike (I have ridden for years at home and would think twice!). The bends hills and views make for great riding but the driving standards in the region were pretty appalling we had numerous near misses, usually with trucks or pick ups hurtling around blind bends at speed on the wrong side of the road! Bad enough if you are in a car but on a bike you would stand no chance. If you do decide to try it, then take you own helmet and gloves at the very least, A car is less exciting but more practical.

Budget reanta car have a good itinerary/map:

http://www.budget.co.th/travel_worldclass.aspx

KOH CHANG

KC is a nice place to stay particularly if coming from PP or SR. It is easy to buy combined bus/ferry tickets from you cambodian hotel but do check the timings to ensure you arrive at the border in daylight when it is open and expect some sort of scam when crossing the border (pretty sure there are no flights available). Some resonable scuba and snorkelling and the interior of the island is comparatively unspoiled. Lots of decent boutique type hotels and guest houses but some are packed pretty close together. Amari Emerald Cove is a good chain type hotel with a nice pool right on the beach.

Do check the weather for KC in Oct as I think it is on the cusp of the monsoon seasons.

Otherwise you are spending too much time in Kanchanburi which only really needs a day or two although, as you mention there are other places to visit nearby like Erawan National. It also seem to be a little off track from teh other places you are visiting. An alternative could be to head to Chiang Rai which has some great scenery and is close to some interesting places by the Burmese border and the Mekong. I would also consider spending an extra day or two in Chiang Mai - lots to see and some great restaurants.

Dimitri_01

Thank you for your information...

Is it possible instead of going to ko chang, going back to bangkok and then go to for example the similan islands or something... ( On the same day? )

I don't know about the weather in that area...

Or will I lose too much time with traveling and then have too little time on the beach...

rhkkmk

all of the travel and transfers eat into your time... i would try to limit them

koh chang is one of the least developed sea areas and because of this is quite nice... it is more rustic than say samui or krabi.. it makes a good relaxing place... check out the amari there...

khunwilko

I personally find Koh Chang a great disappointment.

Check out this - bit out of date but the place has got anything but better.

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...adise-lost.cfm

JamesA

October Koh Chang can be very rainy, but then it drops of in November but no one knows when the season will change so it is a risk for the weather, and of course being on an island can make it a hassle if sea trips are delayed.

http://www.tmd.go.th/en/province_sta...onNumber=48501

But, at end of October early into November is not 'great' for weather so not easy to give an alternative.

Similan islands are closed until 1st Noevmber so you may just manage that, but that is for serious snorkeling and scuba trips and liveaboards. You can take trips to islands from Khao Lak which is just north of Phuket.

Dimitri_01

Ah ok, i didn't know weather is still not great then...

Hmm don't know what we gonne do then, of course we don't have a lot of time to go somewhere else, i was just looking to the similan islands but i think we will lose to much time...

But it has to be in this period, have to go to wedding end october... so begin november go to the beach...

Dimitri_01

where is the best change on good weather then for begin november?

JamesA

It's not great, but, compared with others not too bad. Thing is October towards the end is when seasons change,so you can never be real sure. It is always a difficult time to predict as it can vary a lot.
If there is a time when it is difficult to say how weather will be, then that is end of October.
I think if you are aware that you can get rain and then work with that as a mindset and hope for the best.
You will probably be ok, but for example just monitor the weather around that time.
Koh Samui area is out at that time for weather, Phuket / Krabi coming out of heavy rain time.
In the end Koh Chang not so bad.
Ideal scenario would be if you could leave that time flexible until around the time you get back from Angkor, then check local press, it is not a busy time anywhere so flights and accommodation easy to arrange.
Even before leaving from Chiang Mai you will have a good idea from the way the weather in the beach and island areas is trending.

Dimitri_01

ok, i will do like you say, just wait and when we are leaving chiang mai, looking to the wheatercast...

Thank you for the information james

khunwilko

THe dry season sets i in Northern Thailand first - the good weather should in theory start in Oct up there. THe change on KC is dramatic - going from the wettest island to almost no rain.....but the exact time is difficult to predict.
West of KC on the Eastern Seaboard is much drier - even in the Wet season.