No probs to find a bedspace in a hostel around Kao San Road area, there are so many around.
However there are favorites and it could pay off making a reservation for those as those popular places are often full.
Hostelworld is a better place to find out about those.

There are plenty of inexpensive guestshouses around, too, and without doubt you will be told that those is a better, more traditional form of tourist accommodation.
I recommend to stay away from them, too many old travelers there who tell you what you should do, and how much better it was in their time, it's boring and annoying.
My opinion only of course, others see it differently.

One way ticket can be a problem when boarding the plane or applying for a visa. You might get into troubles there. Look around the forum a bit, this topic is all over the place.

If you've got this much time, it makes sense to travel one way overland between Thailand and Myanmar/Burma. Probably the most sensible thing is fly from Bangkok to Mandalay in Myanmar. Then after moving south through the normal Myanmar places, use the Myawaddy to Mae Sot border crossing back into Thailand. Then overland to Chiang Mai, and the 2 day boat trip on the Mekong river from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang in Laos.

There is impressive scenery from the highway along the way even if just going by bus. If staying as Mae Sot , Green Guesthouse near police station is good cheap place to stay.

This would make a base calculation for one day as follows:

Accommodation: 3 to 5 Euro
Food: 3 to 10 Euro
Transport: 3 to 6 Euro
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Yes, 5+5+5 Euro covers the basic of the basics for you.

Koh Phangan and Koh Tao (and Samui) are better during that time of the year weather wise, less affected by the South West monsoon, so might be better for the beach part.

Sukhothai might be a good stop in the north, see temples by bicycle, has hostels, then up to Chiang Mai. Pai is another favourite stop in the North.

Combine that with the islands in the South and Bangkok and you're busy for a month.

Could stop in Prachuap Kiri Khan, should be possible to find something around 250-300 baht there, low key seaside town, bicycle to local beaches, can break up the journey to the South.

Use 2nd class and 3rd class seats in trains, very cheap, and fine for those trips (if you do long distance Bkk-Chiang Mai non-stop better take overnight sleeper, cost more, but more comfy for the longer ride, plus safe overnight accommodation).

Might have to buy a bottle of Sang Som or Mekong and mix with coke instead of drinking beer.

I read the link. I still don't understand the map. Is it the one in red? Is it a new road that is not on google maps?

How long would it take to go from Chiang Mai to the border? It looks pretty far.

Thanks.

No because it is not even the whole country that is in the rain season, we mainly travel to Thailand in June/July and it is fine, east coast has fine weather, Chiang Mai and areas the odd heavy downpour, the same with Bangkok. I haven't been to the west coast in that period but that is where the wet weather is.

again personal perception is misleading - the East Coast from Chantaburi onwards is VERY wet in the wet season and Koh Chang is just about the wettest island in Thailand , with much higher rainfall than even Phuket on the west.

Anything to be wary of?

• Full moon festivals
• Pattaya
• Chiang Mai

These topline tourist destinations do not fit your wish to find places that are non-touristy and hidden gems.

Me and my GF are doing a similar trip in a fortnight. Travelling by train through VN. Both have travelled extensively in Thailand already and id already done HCMC last year.

HCMC - 3 full days
Hoi an - 1 night then bus over hai van pass
Hue - 2 nights
Hanoi - 3 nights
Chiang Mai - 4 nights
Koh Tao - 6 nights
Hua hin - 2 nights
Bangkok - 4 nights

Hey David

Tx alot for the answer. Chiang Mai sounds like a very good option. They are retired so they will visit when the weather is at its best...they don't like rain all that much:). Any area in Chiang Mai you can recommend. The budget per night is probably something around 200 USD. I guess that should give you a pretty nice house in Chiang Mai. Any particular day trips you can recommend?

Mads