2 week Bangkok, Chiang mai, Phuket April 2007

Very overdue, but here is our brief itinerary from our trip in April 2007...I think it might be helpful for those of you trying to make a do-it-yourself itinerary.

Our flights were booked thru Thai Airways and we booked our three internal flights using the Discover Thai deal that Thai Airways offered.

Day 1- Flew into Bangkok. We stayed at the Lamphu House on Khao San Road (the Backpacker%26#39;s area) for $16/night.

Day 2 - We had pre-booked a private tour guide/driver to take us to the Wat Pho and Grand Palace, and then to Ayutthaya where we saw the Buddha tree, etc鈥?It was a long day鈥攁nd it was recommended by the guide that we break this trip into 2 days鈥攂ut given our short time in Bangkok鈥攚e decided to go do both in one day anyway. We actually were actually back in Bangkok by 6pm鈥攁nd then went to the giant mall in Bangkok.

Day 3- We booked a tour thru Welcome Travel in front of the D+D inn on Khao San Road which included many stops. First a small store where we saw how coconut palm sugar is made, then we went to the floating market which was followed by a stop at a teak

wood store where we saw how carvings are done....we then drove to the Bridge over the River Kwai and then went to the Tiger Temple. At the Tiger Temple I got to walk a tiger with the monk for ~1 minute since it was closing time. I had read many posts and had

feelings both for and against going to the Tiger Temple- but decided to see for myself. They did have a big area where it looked like new construction was being done ';for a new home for our tigers';鈥攁nd the

tigers did seem affectionate toward the monk 鈥?but obviously I did not spend enough time there to make any official judgments for or against the place.

Day 4- Flew to Chiang Mai in the morning. It was April so extremely HOT- up to 102-104 degrees. Not many tourists were there and taxi drivers and store owners appeared a little desperate for customers. We stayed at the Suriwongse which was ok 鈥?included breakfast. We booked it on Asiarooms.com. We spent the morning at Let%26#39;s Relax spa near the hotel by the McDonalds which was wonderful. Went to Whole Earth Restaurant and ordered Indian food (that%26#39;s what I was craving at the time) 鈥攚hich was not good in my opinion鈥攂ut I heard it does make good Thai food. We then got picked up by ';A Lot of Thai'; for our cooking class. She took us to a local market鈥攖hen we got to make our delicious meals!

Day 5- We had booked in advance for a tour with Active Thailand- we could have done this cheaper鈥攂ut found them to be a good company and we liked that it was personalized private tour in a nice jeep. It

included Chiang Dao Elephant camp, visits to the Paloung hilltribe, an elephant ride, and a visit to the Chiang Dao cave.

Day 6- When we had arrived at the Suriwongse hotel- we bought a tour at one of the desks in the hotel for a tour to the Doi Sutep temple. It was a nice temple and a monk blessed us and gave us threaded bracelets. Unfortunately the view of the city from the mountain was a bit obscured by some smoke/smog due to all the farm clearing burning that was going on at that time. That afternoon, we walked around the Sunday

market.

Day 7- Flew to Phuket early in the morning. We checked into the Le Meridien Phuket Beach and hung out at the hotel/pool and went to Patong. We booked tours with a lovely lady at Phuket Celeste Travel

for Day 8 and Day 9.

Day 8- We took a speedboat tour using a company called NRT or something similar- (flyer was blue and said ';phi phi after tsunami';) which included visits to Viking cave, Maya beach, Monkey beach and Phi

Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley. We got to see some Tsunami wreckage on Phi Phi island which was sad. It was my favorite trip of the whole trip as the snorkeling was just wonderful.

Day 9 - Took a tour with ';Tong Tae Sea Canoe.'; Saw the Pung Chang Cave (limestone cave where you walk thru limestone cave midway thru a mountain), then got shuttled to the Phang-Nga pier and took a long

tail boat to the muslim fishing village where we spent ~30 minutes before going to James Bond Island.

Day 10 - Relaxed at the hotel all day.

Day 11- Back to the USA.

2 week Bangkok, Chiang mai, Phuket April 2007

Very good trip report. Did you feel like you had enough time in Chiang Mai to make the trip worth it? We are planning a 17 day trip next year that will definitely include Bangkok, Siem Reap and the Andaman Coast - we would love to add a couple of days in Chiang Mai, but it seems like a lot of time travelling. Our itinerary would be very similar to yours with a visit to Siem Reap between CM and Phuket.

2 week Bangkok, Chiang mai, Phuket April 2007

My favorite parts of our trip were Bangkok and Phuket (especially Phuket). I think more time in Chiang Mai would have been nice so we could have gone to the Elephant Nature Park and done activities in Doi Inthanon National Park. Your trip sounds wonderful though!!