charlieherbs

Hi all!

Myself and a friend (both female) are visiting Thailand for the first time from 15th November for 6 weeks and I'm wondering if anyone has advice? For example which places are most worth visiting and for how long / the cheapest and most efficient forms of transport / any must-see 'attractions' or hidden gems. Our rough plan (not that we really have one) is to arrive in Bangkok, spend a few days there and then fly on to Chiang Mai where we'll also spend a few days before getting the bus to Chiang Rai. That's all we have so far until 23rd December when we'll be arriving in Koh Phangan and staying for 10 days over Christmas and new year. That will take us to the end of our trip where we'll then go on to Australia for a few months. How does that sound in terms of a rough itinerary, and can anyone recommend a more detailed plan for us? I'll be eternally grateful for any advice received

Thanks!
Charlie x

Hanuman

Don't know your age but if you are fit and active then I like to suggest more travel around Northern Thailand. So far you have 4 weeks to spend in Bangkok and Chiang Mai and IMO around 1 week in Bangkok will be enough. Then you can make your way up North and spend a few days in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. To add on to that you can spend another week doing the "loop" driving or using buses to travel to quaint little towns around the North including Pai, Mae Hong Son etc. Try searching for trip reports here on Fodors. Example:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...ia-odyssey.cfm *the Northern Thailand part start on May 3 of the report.

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

Another unique town up North not covered in the reports is Nan. Beautiful little town but might be a bit hard to get to.

So if with the above suggestion you will need around 3 weeks IMO to do it all and that leave 1 week left before you head to Koh Phangan. With the free week you could visit Luang Prabang in Laos or even Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Lots of information here on Fodors so try and use the search function and read some of the trip reports.

simpsonc510

The suggestion to leave for Laos or Cambodia is probably a good one. You will get a 30-day visa on arrival in Bangkok (are you from USA?) and in order to get more time you can leave the country and then come back in (by air) to extend your stay. Otherwise, you will overstay your visa, and will have to pay, if you have not made prior arrangements for a longer stay in the country! Something to think about!

Kathie

Carol has raised the visa issue, and you do need to attend to that. You get 30 days visa-free entry when you arrive by air. You can travel overland out of the country, but when you return overland you get just 15 days. If you fly back to Thailand, you get another 30 days. So you will need to count your days carefully so you don't overstay. An overland trip to Luang Prabang would be a lovely addition to your trip.

If you don't want to leave Thailand, you can get a Thai visa in advance from the embassy in the US for a stay of up to 60 days. But if, during your time in Thailand you decide to leave the country, that voids that visa and when you return you get either 15 days more (overland) or 30 days (by air).

It sounds like you don't have a guidebook yet. Do get one. You will need it for your planning and you'll want to have it along with you.

There are way too many things to see and do for us to give you a good list for 6 weeks, but a guidebook will give you just the info you need to do your planning.