Phuket - Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Kuala Lumpur?

Question

I'll be flying to Thailand in April. Into the whole shopping, partying, beaching and cultural scene, where should I head? And to save on flights, is a train recommended? How does it work for the abovementioned route? Thanks in advance.

Erm. I forgot to mention that I'm Malaysian and am extremely sick of KL, hence the great month long Thai escape.

Answer 1

To really save on flights, travel by train.

In Bangkok, visit three of most unusual Buddhist temples: Wat Traimit, Wat Po and Wat Benchamabophit. Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha) boasts the world's largest solid-gold Buddha, believed to be cast over nine centuries ago.

Tour to the colorful floating market at Damnoen Saduak and then tour to the Grand Palace, Thailand's finest example of an ancient Siamese court. Stroll the sprawling courtyards and palaces within the complex, including the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple Have a buffet-style dinner and female impersonation show at the Calypso Cabaret in the Asia Hotel.

Depart Bangkok to Ayutthaya, the historic capital of Siam. Here you will view the giant bronze statues at Wat Mongkol Borpitr, and proceed to view Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, known as the "Great Temple of Auspicious Victory," built by King U-Thong in the late 14th century. Stop briefly at Wat Chai Watthanaram, before continuing to Lopburi via the massive stone sanctuary of Prang Sam Yod. Originally a Hindu temple in the early 14th century, the pagoda is famous for its three sandstone spires (prangs) signifying the sacred trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (B):

Visit Wat Maha Dhat Phitsanulok with its grand Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj. Depart for the city of Sukhothai, one of Thailand's earliest and most significant historical settlements, for a visit to Wat Maha Dhat Sukhothai. Afterwards, continue to the historic city of Sri Satchanalai where you will find Wat Phra Si Ratana Maha Dhat. Standing on the site of the ancient Khmer fort "Chalieng," Wat Phra features a massive Principal Buddha Image, ornately constructed in the Sukhothai style. Continue to Lampang this afternoon.

Go to Ko Kah to view the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang. Depart for Phayao, a historic rural town in Northern Thailand, with a short stop at Kwan Phayao, Thailand's largest natural lake. Continue to the ancient fortified city of Chiang Saen, the former capital of the first Thai Lanna Kingdom, situated on the banks of the Mekong River. By boat, visit the famed Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos convene.

Tour by boat to visit some local hilltribe villages and hamlets. Board a long-tailed boat and sail the Kok River to the water shed headquarters at Pa Kaew, where you will visit the Akha tribe. This afternoon, travel to the town of Mae Sai, the northern-most point of Thailand on the border of Myanmar, and visit a jade cutting factory and local market.

Travel northwest along the Mae Sa Valley, with its scenic botanical gardens and ten-tiered waterfalls, to visit the Mae Sa Elephant Training Camp. See the elephants bathing in the running streams or demonstrating their daily feats of skill and strength in a show with music and dance, a soccer match, or an abstract painting demonstration. After visit the Orchid Nursery and Butterfly Farm, home to more than 50 species of mountain orchid, many of which bloom year-round. Balance of the day at leisure.

Visit to Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep, erected in 1384 A.D. Located 3500 feet above sea level, Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep is Northern Thailand's most sacred temple, containing a holy relic of Lord Buddha and a copper-plated chedi topped by a tiered-gold parasol in its interior cloister. Equally impressive is the mythological Naga (Dragon-headed serpent) staircase, consisting of more than 300 steps leading up to the temple grounds. Transfer to Phuket.

Tour with a stop at 3 Bay Viewpoint, the most famous observation point on the island. From this unique vantage point, view the bays of Kata Noi, Kata and Karon, as well as Koh Poo Island. Next, visit an elephant camp for a short ride on the back of a Thai elephant. Following this unique experience, continue to visit a local rubber plantation for a processing demonstration. Afterwards, continue to Wat Chalong, the largest and most beautifully ornamented Buddhist temple in Phuket. The temple is dedicated to 2 monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, who used their knowledge of herbal medicine to aid the injured Chinese tin miner's of the 1876 rebellion. From here, visit Put Jaw Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Phuket. The temple was built more than two centuries ago and is dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. The tour concludes with a visit to a nearby Chinese mansion, Chin Pracha House, made famous by several Hollywood films.

Then Proceed back to Bangkok then to Kuala Lumpur.

Answer 2

If you have a direct flight to Chiang Mai, I would recommend you fly there first, since it's the northernmost province among the 4 places you mentioned. Kuala Lumpur is the southernmost so Chiang Mai to KL is rather illogical.

Or Bangkok to start as the base. Domestic airlines are cheap. Check out Nok Air (www.nokair.com) or Orient Thai (www.fly12go.com). But between Bangkok and Chiangmai, the rail works. But Phuket is an island so the train doesn't go there, so I would recommend flying in instead.
Start Bangkok, then Chiangmai, then Phuket and then to Kuala Lumpur. Bangkok is metropolitan city, cheap shopping, bustling night life. Chiangmai is mountains, jungles, peaceful greenery. Phuket is island paradise, blue seas blue skies, beach parties etc. KL would be more like Bangkok, but Thai city life is different from Malay city life, so it's worth to check it out. Flying to big cities like Bangkok and KL should be cheaper than flying into smaller provinces, so it's a good idea to start and finish off in big cities.

Answer 3

Fly into BBK.Bangkok is noisy and dirty but fun. You must be carefu lof self indulgences which can end your trip if your too drunk or stupid. Ive seen it so many times. It's the big show for parties but be careful. The sex trade is lonely and sad but popular. It gets old quickly. You will enjoy the warmth of Chiangmai, the people, shopping food, flowers, treking, everything. BBK has nothing you won't find in Chiangmai. Train north to Chaingmai, a beautiful little city. Enjoy the train.You leave BBK at 6pm and arrive fully rested and having seen the Thai countryside gently. It won't run headfirst into another train or plunge off a cliff like a bus will. Depending on time you can fly south to Phuket. Stay a few days in a nice cheap beachfront bungaow. Then take a mini bus, which you can easily book in Phuket to East side of Thailand. 4 hour drive. Get on a boat to outer islands like ko Samui or further to outer islands. Depending again on time frame take a train south to Maylasia stopping at beautiful town of Penang. So nice. KL is interesting but Maylasia is kinda uptight compared to Thailand.It's nite and day. Enjot the Thai beaches. They are so nice, cheap with great food and people.Continue south exiting Singapore to ? Either you have money and no time or time and no money. Get Lonely Planets guide book to southeast Asia. It will spark great info and ideas. This trip is wonderful. Enjoy!!One more thing. Pack lite. Don't bring more than you can run for a train with. Otherwise you are a slave to your junk. Everything you need is available there. Everything. GET THE BOOK.Aloha

Answer 4

Ok, Phuket is where you do your beach, partying stuff. Then Bangkok for your shopping and temple culture visit. Next will be Chiangmai for more cultural stuff and enjoy the cool climate there.

I believe MAS will take you to Bkk and Chiangmai, and you may want to check if you can arrive Bkk and depart to KL from Chiangmai. Saves you the trip to connect at Bangkok.

Any query, you can email me at [e-mail].

Answer 5

depending on your time frames, low costs airlines stay clear of nok air, www.airasia.com www.silkeair.com and www.tigerairways.com good. Train are good but so is buses, cos you get a good sleep on the buses and they are better roads from bkk to sukhothai / piticnock not sure of further north than that. But it may be cool to bus / train it and fly south.