Thailand Honeyhoon..Bangkok and Ko Sumui...1 more stop?
 

Im planning our honeymoon to Thailand this September. We only have 13 days. We had originally wanted to do BKK, then to chiang Ma and then end our trip in Ko Sumui but it doesnt seem logical to take a whole day to travel from chiang ma to ko sumui when we have such a short time in Thailand. Is there one more spot thats not so far of a flight that we could visit? I really really want to make sure we go somewhere that has an elephant rescue camp that we can visit. Is Chiang Ma the only place that has them?

any recomendations would be helpful

If you want a reputable Elephant camp, you have two options, both near Chiang Mai: The Thai Elephant Conservation Center at Lampang or the Elephant Nature Park. There is a branch of the TECC near Chiang Rai, but the getting from Chaing Rai to Koh Samui will take even longer due to the infrequent flights from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. There are elephants camps elsewhere, but if you care about elephants, you wouldn't go there.

Bangkok and Koh Samui is plenty for 13 days.

have you considered hua hin instead of samui?

Or Phuket. I believe you can fly there non-stop from Chiang Mai on Thai.

Weather will be worse in Phuket than in Koh Samui in Sept.

Bangkok airways operates a non-stop from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui departing at noon and arriving at 13:45.