Itineraries CLASSIC ROUTES

JUST A QUICKIE –  Two Weeks/Bangkok to Bangkok

Even if you’re only doing a Thailand ‘pop-in’, you can still pack in a full itinerary thanks to the affordability of domestic flights.Start off in Bangkok and then fly to the tropical beach resorts of Ko Samui or Phuket . Although both are international superstars, there are plenty of quiet corners, and beaches with personalities to suit every sand hunter. If you find yourself on a spot that fits like a wet bathing suit, shop around the island before plotting your escape route to the next destination. Once you’ve tired of sand and sun, fly up to Chiang Mai for a Thai cooking class and temple-spotting. Then explore the surrounding countryside filled with high-altitude road trips and hill-tribe trekking. Pay homage to Thailand’s highest peak at Doi Inthanon National Park .Return to Bangkok with a tan, a Thai recipe book and lots of travel tales for the water cooler.

Fly from Bangkok to Ko Samui or Phuket. Return to Bangkok and fly, train or bus to Chiang Mai. Rent a car for trips around Chiang Mai.

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING – One Month/Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima

If you’ve got a month to wander through all of Thailand, spend a few days in Bangkok, then take a slow ride north stopping in the ancient capital of Ayuthaya and the monkey town of Lopburi. Visit more historic ruins in Sukhothai and then continue to Chiang Mai , the cultural capital of the north. Be a high-altitude hippie in Pai and join a do-good trekking tour in Chiang Rai . For more intensive northern immersion, see the Altitude Adjustment trip.By now the beach is calling so transit back through Bangkok to the classic island stops: Ko Samui for the party scene, Ko Pha-Ngan for beach bumming and Ko Tao for deep-sea diving. Hop over to the Andaman Coast to see those famous postcard views of limestone mountains jutting out of the sea. Phuket is convenient but Ko Phi-Phi is the prettiest of them all; both require stacks of baht to stay somewhere with an ocean view. Backpackers and rock climbers opt for Krabi. On the way back north detour to the rainforests of Khao Sok National Park. Transit again through Bangkok to dip your toes into the agricultural northeast. Crawl through the jungle of Khao Yai National Park. Then head to Nakhon Ratchasima , a transit point for trips to the Angkor ruins at Phimai and the pottery village of Dan Kwian.

TOP PICKS (One of the best ways to get ready for a Thailand tour)

One of the best ways to get ready for a Thailand tour is to start dreaming about this faraway land. Here are a few highlights:

BEST ECOTOURISM SPOTS

*Chiang Rai – the centre for hill-tribe trekking with a social justice hook; some trekking companies employ hill-tribe guides or foster community development programs.

*Northeastern Thailand – loads of village homestays are sprouting up all over this rural landscape to put you in touch with the people and rice paddies.

*Chiang Mai – a pretty northern town that is evolving into a cycling mecca for in-town touring and off-roading.

BEST SCENIC JOURNEYS

*Overnight ferry from Chumphon to

Ko Tao – it’s just a simple fishing

Events Calendar Part#2

JULY

ASALHA BUCHA -Jul

The full moon of the eighth lunar month commemorates Buddha’s first sermon during Asalha Bucha (Ah•săhn•hà Boo•chah). During Khao Phansaa, worshippers make offerings of candles other necessities to the temples and attend ordinations.

KHAO PHANSAA– Jul

The day after Asalha Bucha marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent (the first day of the waning moon in the eighth lunar month), the traditional time for men to enter the monkhood and the start of the rainy season when monks typically retreat inside the monastery for a period of study and meditation. In Ubon Ratchathani, candle wax offerings have grown into elaborately carved sculptures that are shown off during the Candle Parade.

AUGUST

HM THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY – 12 Aug

The Queen’s Birthday (12 August) is a public holiday and national mother’s day. In Bangkok, the day is marked with cultural displays at Sanam Luang as well as festive lights lining the royal avenue of Th Ratchadamnoen Klang.

Events Calendar Part#1

Religious holidays make up the bulk of Thailand’s
festival line-up but that doesn’t mean that these
are solely prayer and incense affairs. Many religious
holidays are based on the lunar calendar, causing
the exact dates to vary. For specific dates, visit the
website of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
at http://www.tourismthailand.org. Dozens of smaller festivals
offer snapshots of provincial culture; see the respective
destination chapters for more information.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY
CHINESE NEW YEAR Jan-Feb
Called đrùt jeen, Thais with Chinese ancestry celebrate
their ancestral lunar new year with a week
of house-cleaning and fireworks. Phuket,
Bangkok and Nakhon Sawan all host citywide
festivities, but in general Chinese New Year
is more of a family event.

MAKHA BUCHA Feb-Mar
One of three holy days marking important moments
of Buddha’s life, Makha Bucha (Mah•ká
Boo•chah), on the full moon of the third lunar
month, commemorates Buddha preaching to
1250 enlightened monks who came to hear him
‘without prior summons’. A public holiday, it’s
mainly a day for temple visits. Organisations and
schools will often make merit as a group at a
local temple.

Getting Started Travel Thailand Guide

Most people find travel in Thailand to be relatively easy and economical.
Of course, a little preparation will go a long way towards making your trip
hassle-free and fun.

WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit most of Thailand is between November and February,
because it rains the least and it is not too hot. This period is also Thailand’s
main season for festivals, like Loi Krathong and Songkran.
If you plan to focus on the northern provinces, the hot season (March to
May) and early rainy season (June to July) are not bad either, as temperatures
are moderate at higher elevations. Northeastern and central Thailand, on the
other hand, are best avoided from March to May, when temperatures may climb
over 40°C. Because temperatures are more even year-round in the south (because
it’s closer to the equator), the beaches and islands of southern Thailand
are a good choice for respite when the rest of Thailand is miserably hot.
Thailand’s peak tourist season runs from November to late March, with
secondary peaks in July and August. If you want to avoid crowds and take
advantage of discounted room rates, consider travelling during the least
crowded months (typically April to June, September and October).