Help me know what I should do in Thailand

[keiratwiceknightly]

We've got a big holiday to Thailand coming up. All flights and hotels already booked but want to make the most of our time while we are there - what's unmissable (or definitely not worth bothering with!). We have a few days in Bangkok, couple of days in Chiangmai, two nights in Phuket and a week on Koh Samui. Me, H, and 2 dds aged 16 and 14; pretty active types. Thanks.

Chiang Mai - loads of fabulous wats and I also did a cookery course there which was pretty good - there are loads to choose from.
Bangkok - I like the Jim Thompson house, grand palace and wat pho are must dos. Two pretty good day trips from Bangkok are to Kanchanaburi - (bridge over the river kwai) and Ayutthaya. They are not that far distance wise from Bangkok, but traffic can be horrendous.

On Koh Samui - football golf.
Also trip to Kho Tao to go diving or snorkelling

Would definitely recommend Kanchanaburi - been twice now, last time in January. We had a private guide and it is well worth the money - drive there (yes traffic is terrible) get the train, visit the museum and cemetery, walk across one of the bridges, have lunch and then fight your way back to Bangkok. I want to go back but not stay in Bangkok - twice is enough for me. There is a hotel near the river and would stay there for a couple of nights next time.

In Chiang Mai please don't visit any elephant 'sanctuaries' where they let you ride the elephants. If you want an amazing and ethical day out with elephants then visit elephant nature park where you'll be able to interact with them and feed them, but not ride them.

This is all great thanks. We had already thought about a cooking class - could you recommend yours please, ShanghaiDiva? And absolutely no riding on elephants - ENP already on the list.

Came on to say Elephant Nature Park but I'm not needed! You'll have an amazing time.

Ko Samui - would recommend Ko Tao snorkelling trips.

I also like Jim Thompson house and a quick walk up Kho San Road is a must for me but not everyone's cup of tea.

I'm not keen on Phuket to be honest - only been once and I'm sure there are some nice places - but Samui is fab. If you can be in fisherman's village (Bo phut) on market night it's well worth it and there's some lovely restaurants on the main strip. Get a family foot massage in one of the salons overlooking the sea post dinner. Bliss!

Football golf is fun but socks and trainers are a must, the ants are fierce!

Diving is good and the guys at the diving school in bo phut are great and very safety conscious.

One thing to be aware of is the descent/ascent into Samui airport (which is one of the loveliest in the work imo) is often rough. If you're expecting it, it's fine but every time I do it someone on the plane freaks out.

www.chiangmai.bangkok.com/activities/chiang-mai-thai-cookery-school.htm
this is the one I did. We made about five dishes in stages - cook, eat, cook
we also did a little bit of presentation work - making tomatoes into roses type thing. I was spectacularly awful at this, but ds (about 13/14 at the time) was brilliant! I think there were about 8 of us in the group

There's motorcycle tour through the jungle in Chiang Mai
Best day of my life

Called something like
"Try something new"

I'll try find it

somethingdifferenttours.com

Apart from the usual suspects in Bangkok I loved Khlong Lat Mayom floating market, a bike tour with Grasshopper and Muay Thai at Rajadamnern stadium. I also did a brilliant street food tour of Yaowarat with A Chefs Tour (and another with them in Chiang Mai).

I did one of the ENP saddle off treks with elephants in Chiang Mai, the Sunshine for Elephants. Benny's cooking class was fantastic too.

Phuket I can recommend John Greys sea canoe tour and absolutely adored the '4 waters' tour with jungle trekking, kayaking, then relaxing in a spa.

Chatuchak market in Bangkok is fabulous. Everything you could want under one week ( but avoid the section titled "creatures",
Visit or stay at Lebua at State tower. It was the film featured The Hangover sequel. An amazing experience, with cool rooftop bar.
Wat Po ( get foot massages here) and the Grand palace. Cabbages and Condoms for dinner...
Koh Tao for diving. And Koh Samui/ Koh Pang nang for beautiful beaches

The night markets in Bophut and Chaweng on Ko Samui were good and we also liked the waterfalls (I think there were 2 - Na Mueang?). Chaweng beach is lovely, we really enjoyed lunch at The Library hotel and looked at the lovely red swimming pool! There was a great burger restaurant called Stacked just down the road and I really liked the shopping mall there as well.

I have to say we didn't find it particularly 'seedy' but we were offered drugs a few times by beach sellers and we avoided any 'full moon' type parties. We loved the beautiful scenery and the slightly chaotic streets enjoy!