Winding Roads & Never Ending Tales

Thailand is a land of contrasts, which on one hand soaks in the traditionaBuddhistst culture and on the other hand is knee deep in Fun and frolic. Where at places you can not even enter if you are not dressed properly there are places where you don't even need your clothes. Its a land of extremes, where everything is possible if only you are willing to go. We wanted to explore both the worlds and hence the plan below. Instead of spending the last 5 days in Krabi and Phuket you can instead go to Koh Samui region and explore the area.

Not to be missed is getting in touch with Northern Thailand and you will thank me later for sure. Overall a very simple to follow itineary with all activities that you can cover with your family with kids. Dropped some famous landmarks just because it could not be done with Kids. So please go through and let me know you queries in comments below.

Arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport, pick a taxi and lie down in your hotel pool, evening take a stroll through night market or do a beer hopping in downtown.

Get up, get dressed and head for the palace. Don't forget sunscreen and umbrella or Hat, it's scorching heat here

1. Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha- get up early as the place closes by 12 pm.
2. Madam Tussad 
3. Tales of the sea - Must see if you are with Kids, opt for pre-booking at Klooks.com for some really huge discounts.
   
4. Flight from Bangkok to Chiangmai/You can also take an overnight train to Chiang Mai but you will have to book in advance. The journey through Hills is really memorable and worth a shot.

This is one of the best stops of the trip, very nice weather coupled with equally cool vibes of the place. Stay near Night market area for enjoying a leisure stroll after hours.

Walk toward the old city and visit the amazing collection of stupas and temples, all beautifully carved and maintained. 

1. Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan
2. Wat Chedi Luang
3. Wat Pan Ping
4. Wat Chiang Man
5. Wat Pan On
6. Wat Umong Maha Thera Chan
7. Night market

At night do not forget to try in amazing restaurants in the area, many stories are born in the cafes here.

Pre-book a cab to head early towards Chiang Rai the sister city of Mai to devour some amazing privately maintained Temples. This place is a rhapsody of colours with some amazing architecture. 

1. Mae Kachan Hot Spring and Geyser
2. White temple - Wat Rong Khun
3. Blue Temple - Wat Rong Sueur Ten
4. Black temple - Baandam Museum
5. Wat Saeng Kaeo Phothiyan

How can the trip end if you haven't seen the islands up close and beautiful? Take a private longtail boat and enjoy the beauty in unspoilt form. Snorkel and if you know dive amongst the worlds best sites. Get lost in the colourful world of sea life.

1. Ko Chueak- Amazing place to snorkel and witness God at its best creation
2. Ko Ngai - White sand all along with blue water to give the contrast and yes you are in Heaven
3. Ko waen 
4. Markot(Emerald) Cave - Want to feel like Pirates of Carribean, head to this pace wherein you swim under a mountain pitch dark to open on the other side of a cave where the loots were kept in those wonderful pirates days.

Enough of privacy lets head back to the mainland for a bit of fun and nightlife in Krabi, Ao Nang Beach.

Beach Hopping is incomplete as you head towards Phi Phi island the place that inspired "Avatar" Floating mountains and Leonarda Caprio's "beach". A speedboat takes you to an unforgettable journey and yes food is also provided. If you want to go more secluded take the Hong Island Trip instead. Try starting early to have these beaches less disturbed by hordes of tourist which unfortunately didn't happen in our case as one of the group woke up late

1. Bamboo island
2. Viking Cave
3. Monkey Beach
4. Pileh Bay
5. Lohsamah Bay
6. Maya Bay

So well got tired moving with the group and want a piece of heaven on your terms to go to Pier and get yourself a boat to drop either at Railay beach or Phra Nang beach. Both of them are just a cliff away from each other but not connected via land and so making each of them less crowded yet close to the main town for all comforts. 

If you take an early morning flight head straight to the Siam Ancient City which is a wonderful place to see and visit all of Thailand you might have missed albeit on a miniature level. You can take your car or drive a bicycle provided free of charge as part of the ticket cost to explore this place.

Else head for the downtown market to shop till you drop. 

With heavy heart bid farewell to this place and head back to home to reminisce about what you witnessed.