Thorn Tree search

It’s quick and easy to browse our forums. Type whatever you want to know in the box below and we’ll do the rest. To refine your search, click the filter icon on the right.

Got the help and advice you need? Why not head over to our bookings page where you can search and book flights, accommodation, insurance, car rental and more.

 
Show filters
 
Hide filters
Refine term
Add a plus (+) before any word that must be included. Add a minus (-) before any word you want to exclude.
Use quotation marks (“”) to search for an exact phrase. More search tips.
By user
By type
Within forum
Posted on
Has at least
Our system tries to give results which are most relevant in terms of text content and general subject basis, and it does this by allocating a score to each post, and then displaying them in descending order of relevance.
1090 results for Ko Samui
11
goodmang
goodmang
Country forumsThailandThailandTwo week itinerary (without temples?)#12

Great thanks - i'll double check if I can fly from Chiang Mai to Krabi if not i might need to swap the route round.
I've made a tweak to the plan as i've heard Ko Samui isn't as nice as others.

Sunday 16 April - fly to Bangkok
Monday 17 April - arrive Bangkok early morning
Tuesday 18 April - explore Bangkok
Wednesday 19 April - fly to Chiang Mai
Thursday 20 April - explore
Friday 21 April - explore
Saturday 21 April - explore and leave for Krabi (fly)
Sunday 22 April - explore Krabi
Monday 23 April - explore Krabi (maybe Klong Thom Hot Springs)
Tuesday 24 April - travel to another island - Koh Tao
Wednesday 25 April - explore Koh Tao - travel to Yao Noi
Thursday - explore Yao Noi
Friday - fly back to Bangkok from Krabi
Saturday - spend day in Bangkok and fly back to London

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
1
Mp63
Mp63
Country forumsSouth-East Asia Mainland3 1/2 months in SEA: Itinerary based on weather - please help :)#2

If Krabi and the Andaman coast islands are a priority, go there first. If you don't mind which Thai islands you visit, then Samui and the east coast islands should be OK in July. If you prefer to do Vietnam before Laos and Cambodia, throw in a flight from Thailand to Hanoi after Krabi, and do the rest of Thailand in July, before Sumatra. There are lots of different options you could do, but all will involve some rain.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
nathalie2
nathalie2
Country forumsThailandThailandThailand or Thailand+Cambodia?#4

This is like in your first post (Bali versus Thailand versus other places in Asia): no right or wrong. Go for what you are most interested in. You know best what you like and what you are looking for.

I like both Koh Chang and Koh Samui a lot and both are great for a couple of days on the beach. The beaches on Koh Samui are wider and generally said better than on Koh Chang though.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
6
Kohngai
Kohngai
Country forumsThailandThailandThailand this December, for Christmas and New Year 2017/18 - advice on best route#7
In response to #5

If someone wanted, they could go to Koh Phangan and Koh Samui and avoid the sleaze. Its not that hard if they had half a brain.

Xmas is flood season anyway.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
shellz
shellz
Country forumsThailandThailandWhich island with a 5 year old? #1

Hi! I'v been to Ko Tao a couple of times, but not in the last 5 years. I'v heard it's become a party island and built up.
Has it REALLY become that built up? (So sad) I'll be traveling with my 5 year old this time around and don't want to stay on a party island. Are there any islands left that are still reasonable and not ultra built up? We don't want to go to Phuket, Phi Phi or Ko Samui. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!!

View last reply
Report
24
Sawit
Sawit
Country forumsThailandThailandFlying into Bangkok mid June to early July for two weeks...where to go? #25

Two days Bangkok first, grand palace and major temples around there, plus Chinatown/Yaowarat markets, express boat on the river, by night train ticket.
Then head to Ayutthaya in the morning, cycle around to see temples. Dinner along the river, stay overnight, more cycling and temples in the morning. Afternoon back to Bangkok by train, then connect with overnight train to Suratthani. 8 days for Samui and Panghan. One more day Bangkok at the end of trip, Golden Mount, Saen Saeb boat to Siam Square, MBK, Siam Paragon, Central World and then Pratunam market, busy area, clothes mainly, do shopping that day.

There's no trekking, rafting, elephants in there but with just two weeks at hand, plus rainy season being rainy at times, and two islands planned, I would skip that part.

I like Kanchanaburi, the rivers, waterfalls and jungle there, but it takes up quite some time to get there and out again, if you do plan 3 days for it at least. Plus if it rains outdoor activities there are more affected.
Note that Kanchanaburi is just the city/gateway for the region, Sai Yok is further up the line, might want overnight there.

Same goes for Khao Sok National Park, and Cheow Lan Lake, great outdoors, raft houses on the lake, but if it rains...
At least Khao Sok can be easily integrated as it's not that far from Suratthani, so you could remain flexible and decide later on.

Reason to put islands towards the end of trip is because of beach fever - why not stay another day, beach life is just great...and there goes whatever you planned afterwards.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
spicetraveler
spicetraveler
Country forumsSouth-East Asia Islands & PeninsulaTraveling Overland: Penang, Malaysia to Ko Samui, Thailand#1

i'm planning a 10-week trip to se asia and i'm looking to learn from anyone who has successfully completed the overland border crossing from the island of penang (georgetown/butterworth) and north up through padang basar on the thai border up into surat thani and on to ko samui...but all in one day (or possibly 1.5 days).

from what i can tell, there are trains available that go the whole route (~10-12 hours), though not many (2x day from butterworth to padang basar). however, i can't seem to find exact departure times and the subsequent times needed to make connections after crossing over into thailand. the LP guide is a little thin on this information, but rome2rio hasn't been too bad, though i'm skeptical of being so heavily reliant upon it as i'm sure these times/schedules and the frequency of trains does indeed change season to season and year over year.

if there's anyone who has had some experience completing this journey, i'd be interested in the following:

  • is it even possible to travel overland from penang, malaysia to ko samui, thailand in one full day?
  • if so, is it even worth it to try this route or should i stop overnight on the thai/malay border before continuing on?
  • based on my research so far, flight connections are just as long, arduous and expensive, so i'm trying to avoid those at all costs.
  • if i can make it to surat thani train station by the late afternoon/early evening...are there still bus connections and/or ferries running to ko samui later in the evening?
  • i'm a u.s. citizen, so hopefully the overland border crossing isn't too arduous as visas are available upon arrival in thailand. any issues with overcharging, hustling, etc?

thanks in advance, cheers!

View last reply
Report
1
friendly_checkingirl
friendly_checkingirl
Country forumsThailandThailandBest Places to Stay in Southern Thailand for Island-Hopping and Flying out of Phuket#2

You're on the wrong side of the Thai peninsula in July, the Gulf side would be better Samui/Phangan/Tao. Monsoon season can be horrendous with dangerous seas, even the big ferries stop running. Island-hopping might well be very optimistic. With only 3 nights I'd stick to Phuket and do day trips if any become available.

Every group has its own dynamics, if you can't see the idiot then it's probably you.
Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think :-D
Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
katka-gs.656397
katka-gs.656397
Country forumsThailandThailandBeach destination with a 1 year old - budget option#1

Hi, looking for a place to go with my husband and a 1 year old daughter in Thailand for a week in February. Have done some research but I'm overwhelmed by the information. Looking for somewhere not too difficult to get to with 1 flight from Bangkok and max. 1-2 hours of journey (not Koh Samui - flights very expensive), with a nice quiet-ish beach but things to do/see around and dining options. And, very importantly, price friendly. Searching on internet, I am finding recommendations hotels/resorts/bungalows for 100-300 USD/night where I'm really looking at around USD 60/night. Would like the place to be on the beach or near, to have a swimming pool and preferably an air-con. Have been to Thailand some 10 years ago and had all this for about USD 30, is it really impossible nowadays for double the budget? Thanks for recommending.

View last reply
Report
alanbmz
alanbmz
Country forumsSouth-East Asia Mainlandtravel itinerary#1

Please give me advices, and what do you think about that?? What do you change?? Thanks a lot

Hong Kong, China
    d 1: Hong Kong
    d 2: Hong Kong
    d 3: Hong Kong
    d 4: Hong Kong
    d 5: Hong Kong + Airplane to Hanoi
Vietnam , Hanoi
d 6: Hanoi
d 7: Hanoi
d 8: Halong Bay Se pa (one day only)
d 9: Hanoi + Airplane to Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
    d 10: Siem Reap
    d 11: Siem Reap
    d 12: Siem Reap
    d 13: Siem Reap + (How is the best way to go to Bangok? Taxi? Bus? Train? not airplane...
Thailand    
d 14: Bangok
    d 15: Bangok
    d 16: Bangok + (Sleeper, train)
    d 17: Chiang Mai
    d 18: Chiang Rai (go and come back to chiang mai in one day)
    d 19: Chiang Mai + Airplane to Krabi
    d 20: Ferry to Koh Phi Phi
    d 21: Koh Phi Phi
    d 22: Koh Phi Phi + Ferry to Koh Samui
d 23: Koh Samui
d 24: Koh Samui
d 25: Koh Samui + Airplane to Bangok
d 26: Bangok
d 27: Bangok + Airplane (GOING home...)

View last reply
Report