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Nov/Dec Trip - Itinerary to avoid crowds??

Replies: 5 - Last Post: Jul 15, 2012 2:27 AM Last Post By: Captain_Bob

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thebeginning

thebeginning avatar

Jul 14, 2012 4:58 PM
Posts:  99

Nov/Dec Trip - Itinerary to avoid crowds??

I'm going to Siem Reap, Hanoi, Bangkok, and Krabi from Nov 12th through Dec 15th.

CLIFF NOTES:

How are the Siem Reap crowds in November vs. December?
How are the Thai beach crowds in November vs. December?

I know it's peak season and there will be a lot of people, but if there's anything I can do to lessen it a bit that would be great.

OPTIONS:

A) Cambodia first, then Hanoi, then Thailand (Dec 1st through 15th)

B) Thailand first (mid/late November), then Hanoi, then Cambodia

My only requirement is that I don't end the trip with Hanoi (want the last leg of the trip to be relaxing).

Could I just do option A, but then choose a few days to go to more remote beaches?

hanno

hanno avatar

Jul 14, 2012 5:11 PM
Posts:  1,324

1

Both months are high season and you will be unable to escape the crowds. There is a bit of a lull during the 2nd and 3rd week of December, the rest of the time it will be full on.

thebeginning

thebeginning avatar

Jul 14, 2012 5:21 PM
Posts:  99

2

Yeah, kind of what I figured. What's the lull from?

And don't a lot of Thai people get off on holiday/vacation in December, which plays into the Thai beach overloads?

I know it's just the Internet, but I've read on a number of sites that mid November is a good halfway point between the wet season's end and the crowds hitting the beaches in December.

dogeatinghotchips

dogeatinghotchips avatar

Jul 14, 2012 7:15 PM
Posts:  1,052

3

I don't think Thais do have holidays at that time of year, its most likely just tourists. Maybe just go in November. or early December before the Schools in the West break up.

hanno

hanno avatar

Jul 14, 2012 11:23 PM
Posts:  1,324

4

Not sure about Thailand, but in Cambodia and Vietnam November is the busiest month.

Captain_Bob

Captain_Bob avatar

Jul 15, 2012 2:27 AM
Posts:  2,455

5

The King's Birthday December 5th is a major Thai holiday and it usually kicks off the tourist season for many Thai people, but a significant proportion of them head north (to experience "cold season") and many Bangkok residents flock to beaches within a day's drive (KoSamet/Chang/ChaAm,HuaHin). I would head for Krabi first in mid-Nov and go to a slightly quieter place like Ko Lanta which I've done that time of year and it's very chilled not too busy. That is, compared to mid-December when the islands get invaded by Swedish and German families on package holidays.
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