What are the best places in Thailand for holiday?

I and a friend want to go to Thailand in December for about 2 weeks. I want to know where are the best places to go to to make the best and most out of this trip. We have elephant rides through the forest in mind and also to visit the tiger sanctuary. So it should be an adventurous trip. Oh yes we also want to dive or at least snorkel.

I have got brochures and books but it's all so overwhelming.

For anyone who has been there on holiday, share your experiences and any tips you might have.

Thanks.

I went for about 6 weeks. I went to MANY of the temples in Bangkok-most impressive was the Grand Palace. Shopping at JJ Market is a must, the cheapest and best bargains you'll ever see. Take a side trip from Bangkok to the floating markets and see the rose garden cultural theme park. Bangkok has some nice clubs and malls to see if you get the chance.

Ayuthaya is the ancient capita, filled with old ruins and a great backpacker town to stay in for a few nights. Tours are great there. From there, an hour train ride to Lop Buri, the city of monkeys. Be careful if anyone offers to let you feed them.

Kanchanaburi for the tiger temple, bridge over river kwai, death railway, and erawan national park. Took only two days to do all that as well.

Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangnan for great beach life and the world famous, or infamous, full moon parties. Also world renown snorkeling locations.

Phuket for some seedy partying and Fantasea a great theme park and cultural show. Take a day trip to either James Bond Island or more impressive, Koh Phi Phi, the island where the movie the Beach was filmed on.

Chiang Mai for some trekking and temple tours. Also they have monkey and elephant shows and more tiger temples.

Elephant trekking can be done ANYWHERE. Best locations are in Ayuthaya because you ride through ancient ruins or in Chiang Mai because you ride through the jungle.

Just got back from Thailand on Tuesday. I went to Chiang Mai visited the tiger Sanctuary , get in the cage with 3 month old Tigers , went on elephant safari in Jungle for the day and finished off with White water riding. This place has a wonderfull night market and in the mountains has a wonderful temple and nearby a Royal palace which are both must visits. I then spent 2 days in Bangkok doing bargain shopping , which is a must and while I was there caught the local ferry up River which took me past all the sights in a 3 hour round trip for only 40 Baht.

I then went to Pattaya to join up with my friends and did water skiing , diving , para-gliding during the day and hit the Bars and clubs at night.

I had a wonderfull time in The Land of Smiles my only regret is that I had to come back !

Hi Jenna, go to a good book shop, you can buy a book there called the Lonely Planet, they write travel books about every country in the world, from budget to upmarket. i use them all the time when travelling, the tell you every thing you need to know and want to do.

They also have a web page on line

Also you could go to the library and borrow one of their books on the subject and read up on Thailand, i have been to Bancock and loved it

i went out to the floating market and to a culture village where you see a show and ride on Elephants

you can not fit it all in one trip but i would get off the well worn tourist track and head up to the north east of thailand issan is a fantastic place to travel and so inexpensive take a look at the website below and pick up some insight into udon thani province issan about 1 hour from the border with laos

Love Thailand, you will have a ball! Bangkok is Fabulous. Suan Lum night Bazaar is great. Fantastic shopping, food, Thai bands on the big stage singing covers. (Hearing the Thai Pussycat Dolls is an experience!!) Its on the Metro get off at Lumpini. Have a look at www.bangkok.com (very good website.)

As with previous answers Tiger temple is a great experience and the bridge over the River Kwai is amazing!

My favourite beach is Railay Beach. Amazing.

Have fun!!

koh tao is supposed to be very good for diving and snorkelling (although ko phan nan is also great for snorkelling!), and if you go to chiang mai there are loads of places to book elephant rides and/or jungle treks.

good luck!!

Recommend:-

Chiang Mai (Treks, Wildlife, Doi Sudepth temple) + laid back relaxed place.

Krabi (Beach Holiday) - Nice, quieter alternative to Phuket which was overdeveloped - make sure you make a trip to Koh Phi Phi Island.

Chiangmai

You should go see the oldest house still standing or see the Big Buddha.

Here is the best place i found

Have a great time

www.homestayisaan.com

From what you say I think you dont just want to lie on beaches!!

Lived and worked in Th for over 2 years so have some good ideas;

you mentioned the tiger temple at Kanchanaburi - yes def go it is an amazing experience to sit and stroke tigers!! Also remember the River Kwai bridge is close by too.

For elephant treks, be careful; many elephant camps are very touristy, but if you are in the North (around Chiang Mai) there are camps which only show the elephants doing what they would have done as working elephants and then you can trek up to a hill tribe village. There are places that also do 3 day treks but can be brutal on the backside lol.

Chiang Mai is amazing; lots of wats and close to plenty of hill tribes to visit too.

For islands, avoid Samui; now overdeveloped and very touristy...but Koh Phan Ngang is next door, still has plenty of very quite bits (try macs bay bungalows - idyllic) and there are the moon parties; full, black and half, if that's your thing.

Koh chang has been mentioned, but Phi Phi is a must too, though can be very busy with day trippers!!

I loved Koh Lanta and Koh Tao, both very laid back.

Ayutthaya and Sukothai are former capitals and have marvellous ruins. Ayutthaya can be done by boat from Bangkok which in itself is a great trip. A good way of doing Sukothai is by bus from Chiang Mai on way back to south. We did this the first time, catching local buses from Chiang mai rather than tourist bus; cheap, clean and very friendly!!!

And of course, bangkok itself, busy, hectic, humid, polluted, but still one of the world's most captivating cities. Ideally i would say keep your Bangkok visit to end of trip; great time to get all those presents and do some last minute sightseeing. (and remember, Kanchanaburi can be done as day trip from Bangkok)

Enjoy the land of smiles!!!!

BTW - these are all based on actual experiences and some of the places I have been back to a few times!!! Avoid ALL supposed tiger sanctuaries apart from Kanchanaburi Temple - a lot of them dont treat the tigers well...

GO to koh Chang, Trad province.

There are a few champs that let you ride elephant with charge per hour.

you can also jioin snorkling group, just ask at the hotel/resort counter. Avoid WhiteSand Beach as it is very crowded and many hotel/resort located along the muddy beach that you cannot make a big fun swimming. I would recommend a resort in the north of the Koh name : Aiyapura Resort and Spa.

On the way back you can drop by Sea World in Chantaburi and enjoy "Swimming with Dolphin" program. If you really want to swim with dolphin you have to book in advance to secure the ticket. Last time i went there without advance booking, I then missed this great jurney.

You can also go there to have a dolphin show which is very very cute, advance booking not required.

You better stay overnight in Chantaburi or Pataya. Another place that I really recommend is NongNuch Garden - not far from Pataya. This is a very beautiful, well arranged privat park. You can walk around, the elephant show is a must see. Cute elephants will keep you smile all the times. Immagine how cute when they are dancing, playing hoolahoop, playing basketball, painting etc. Before coming back to Bangkok, visit Koa Keaw Open Zoo where you can have a look tiger sanctuary.

Is this too long for you? Hopefully not.

Have a great time in Thailand.