Hello everyone who can help me!!

I am a 31 year old woman from Denmark and I am planning a trip to volunter at the Tiger Temple at Kanchanaburi. I have never been to Thailand, and I have never travelled alone outside Europe so I am a bit concerned about managing such a long trip myself. I am trying to figure out how to get to the Southern Bus Terminal, where busses to Kanchanaburi leaves from. I have read that the busride to Kanchanaburi takes 3 hours and from there I have to take another bus to the Tiger Temple for around 40 min, for then to have to walk 1.5km to the Temple.Is it safe to travel by myself, and is it safe to take a taxi from Kanchanaburi to the temple?? Is it best if I arrive during the day in Bangkok, to stay overnight in a hotel by the airport and start the rest of the trip the next day? I hope I can get a lot of help, as its a bit of a worry for me how I will manage this trip.

looking forward for all replyes.

kind regards

Karina ( kat )

Ooo.....I jealous! We were at the Tiger Temple in January and had such a wonderful time.

We used a guide who goes there frequently - perhaps you could get a ride with her?

Her name is Tong and her email is

[email protected]

She seems to know a lot of the people at the Temple........I'd start with her.

Have a great time!

My kingdom for an edit function

"I'm jealous".......!!

Dear Elizabeth,

thank you so much for your reply and the email for the guide. I will certainly email her!!

Did you just visit the Temple or did you work there also? It would be nice to get in touch with someone who has been on the grounds.

kind reagards

Karina

It is safe to travel alone in Thailand. You can get a taxi from the airport to the bus terminal. If you are arriving late at night, you may want to spend a night in Bangkok, though not necessarily near the airport. Will you have any time to see Bangkok? You might want to plan a few days at the beginning and the end to explore Bangkok.

Tong is a highly recommended guide, but I don't know that you want a guide to get you to Kanchanaburi - that's a rather expensive way to go. You could also get a taxi (or one of the car services) directly from the airport to the Tiger temple.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no "Elizabeth III". Hence, the offer of your Kingdom for an edit function is hereby rejected as premature. I suspect this may be the summer of your discontent.

Dear Katie,

thanks for replying. I am very lucky to have found Fodors!
What would a taxiride from the airport to the temple cost aprox.? Will it not be more expensive than hirring Tong?
Are the taxis safe to take when you are travelling solo as a woman?
I havent planned any days in Bangkok other than probably the days that I will stay when I arrive and leave depending on the flightschedules. Maybe I will plan some more when the time get closer.

thanks a lot!

kind regards

Karina

sorry!! Kathie

must be very tired...its a bit late in Denmark!!

Snuffle Kat (great name!) - we visited the Temple with Tong - here is a link to our blog with pictures

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/2...kok/index.html

Kathie - I was actually thinking Tong might just help with a lift - she likes having people there she knows - gets you to the front of the line faster! (or the baby tigers first before they get grumpy) - I think it's worth asking her.

Gpanda - as I survey my kingdom I fear you are right.

Unfortunately, my "kingdom" can be surveyed with a magnifying glass. But I doth bestride it like a colossus.

Hi Elizabeth!

thank you for the blog. I went in and read about half of it. Its very good and with a lot of humor and the photos are fantastic. And all the photos of the food!! I am so hungry now!! I will read the rest of it tomorrow. Its seems like Tong is great, maybe it would be a good idea for me to use her services if I decide to stay an extra couple of days in Bangkok before I head home. I am getting so excitted now that a lot of my worries are evaporating with all this help!
Snuffle is the name of my domesticated "tiger" and kat are the initials to my name.

Have a nice day or night.

cheers

Karina

Kat, it is safe to take a taxi, but you'd be best off to use one of the car services. It would be less expensive than hiring Tong, but Elizabeth may be right that she might allow you to ride along if she were going that way with some customers. Given that she seems to be booked all the time, it would depend on her schedule.

JamesA, who lives in Thailand recently gave a price quote for a car to Kanchanaburi. I'll see if I can find it for you.

I located the message I was looking for, but it was Michael (not James) who gave this info on taxis from the airport to Kanchanaburi:

"You can convince a taxi to take you just about anywhere, for a price. The question is, why would you want to spend all that time in a car that's generally barely roadworthy? There are a lot of limo services that can take you there. Depending on the size and type of car, Oriental Escape charges 2,400 Baht and up for a one-way transfer."

Oriental Escape is one of many companies that offer this service.

Kat-Tong is a great guide. However, it will cost you about 3000 Baht for a very full day with her. This is about $90 US. She is worth every dime, but there vare much cheaper options for getting to the Tiger Temple. I would use Tong if you wanted a wonderful day in and around Bangkok. For mere transportation, I would consider less expensive options.

Dear Kathie and Gpanda,

thank you very much for all the information. I will keep that in mind about Oriental Escape. And Tong for a day in Bangkok. Afterall its the first time in Thailand so I have to try a lot even if it cost a bit more. I am feeling very reasured from all your responses. So I will sleep well tonight.

Have a nice day everyone!!

cheers

Karina

A cheaper way to get there is to take a taxi to the Southern bus terminal which is located on the Thonburi side of the river. Buses leave every 15 minutes starting at 5.30am and take around 2 hrs. Cost for a 1st class bus is 100 baht or $3. Once in Kanchanaburi hire a taxi to take you to the Tiger Temple.

I agree. I wouldn't hire Tong for just transportation there. You don't need a guide...you just need a ride. I'd hire a car service. You'll be jetlagged to death. I wouldn't want to be bothered with taking public transportation upon arrival. I'd also take the car service during the day. So if you arrive into Bangkok late at night, just stay overnight and then get up the next morning and go there. Plus you have to consider the heat in Thailand if you're not used to it. So,you'd probably be miserable trying to get to a bus station and then take the bus. And don't stay in a hotel near the airport. There are plenty of hotels in town that will be easy to get to. Just have the car service pick you up at one of them the next morning and take you on to Kanchanburi. Before leaving Thailand it would be very good if you could give Bangkok at least 4 full days. It's a fabulous city. When are you going on this trip and how long are you staying?

Jeg haaber at det har hjaelpet dig og ha' en meget god rejse. Menneskerne er meget dejlige i Thailand og det er et meget smukkt lande.Jeg er paa ferie der 2 gange om aaret. Undskylde hvis jeg har skrevet darligt. Ordbogen er hjemme og jeg er paa arbejd. Smiles. Happy Travels!

Guenmai,

And how long has it been since you posted in Danish?? (just to be sure you are not giving the board a bad name, I'm going to have my son translate that tomorrow!) Smiles.

Hi Scotters!,

thanks for that input. Depending on what time I will be arriving in Bangkok and wich state I am in I will either take a bus or a taxi. I am much more reasured now after all this information I have received on Fodors.

cheers

Karina

Dear Guenmai,

thank you for the information. Do you just find the car service outside the airport or is it something you have to book in advance?

I dont know when I will come to Bangkok yet, it depends when Tiger Tempel will have a free spot for me. I think that I will stay a month and a couple of days, because I want to have 3 weeks at the Tempel, and then a few days to travel back and forth and then probably a couple of days to walk around Bangkok. But for that I think that I would want a guide. I am too chicken to walk around all by myself I am pretty sure I can handle the heat as I grew up in Greece and the summertemperatures can get around 40 degrees.

So whats the deal with the danish you wrote? Are you danish or do you just speak the language? Its quiet well writen;-)

Thanks again.

cheers

karina