Travelling to Chang Mai where to stop on route?
Replies: 5 - Last Post: Jun 9, 2012 11:14 PM Last Post By: thaibeachlovers
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Travelling to Chang Mai where to stop on route?
Hello! Currently in Thailand until the 5th of July. We had planned to head on from Koh Samui to Koh Phi Phi but have decided not to because of the awful weather. Instead we are going to spend more time travelling up to Chang Mai. Our plan is to get to Surat Thani then head north but we were wondering what places are good to stop at? We like visiting temples, trekking, biking, shopping especially a good market!We know of Sukothai and renting bikes there, visiting Pai from Chang mai for a couple of days rafting, in Chang Mai visiting the elephant nature park and generally exploring (recommendations welcome!) then we are slowboating to Laos to visit Luang Prabang, onwards to Vientiane (suggestions of what to do there would be very helpful) and finally a train back to Bangkok because thats where we fly home.
Is there other good places we should stop at on the way up to Chang Mai or are close by it like Pai?
Also some suggestions of what to do in Laos would be very helpful?
2
I would add Phitsanalok and Lampung (sp?) to tbl's list.CM is full of temples, completely different (and older) from the BKK style. I found the zoo to be good on the way to/from Doi Satep
If you stop at Van Veng visit the caves. My suggestion is to upstream along the Mekong as the boats will be far less crowded.
Paul
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^^ Unless you have a lot of spare time, I wouldn't bother with Lamphun. It's got some nice temples, but nothing you won't see elsewhere.4
I loved Pai so much!! You have to go.There is a waterfall you can check out, plus Pai canyon for sunset is nice.
Rent a motorbike and just cruise around!
I was there for a reggae festival. Very cool.
The drive up is..... wow. Lets just say 700+ turns, many of them hairpin. Don't drive yourself, get a driver haha.
Very fun, but I did need to get the driver to pull over once because I felt sick.
