Thailand in July/August - recommendations?

[House4DS]

We're thinking of going this summer, but I'm getting in a muddle with an itinerary.

Bangkok, Chaing Mai, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya are on the list at the moment.
Koh chang? Koh Tao? for beach time?

Elephant sanctuary recommendations? There was a poster on Mumsnet who worked in conservation and knew a lot about ethical places - are you still here?

Favourite trips? Both paid-for and no cost ideas.

We'll be on a budget, low cost accomodation (although the odd pool would be nice), public transport. We have 3 weeks.

This is monsoon season. I would visit a different time of year if possible.

We are going this summer for two weeks. We’re flying into Bangkok, staying there two nights, then going to Koh Phangan for four nights, then Koh Samui for three nights, then up to Chiang Mai for three nights, finishing with an elephant sanctuary for one night before flying back to Bangkok and then home. We went at the same time of year about 18 years ago and had a fantastic time, although it did shower occasionally it wasn’t a problem, and it’s one of the reasons we’re going to Samui/Phangan as it’s the drier side.

in terms of things we’re planning on doing while we’re there, we’re doing a tuk tuk food tour in Bangkok (plus herring up with friends), we’ll do a full day cookery school in Chiang Mai, and not too sure what else yet!

Thanks @PizzaPastaWine @2catsand2kids

We're limited to school holidays hence the July/August timings.

Tuk tuk food tour sounds a great idea.
I've bookmarked a couple of cooking courses too.

We're going this summer. Spending time in Koh Samui because we've read it is the drier area in July/ August. Also doing Bangkok and Elephant Hills. Taking our two DC (14&12).

Friend was in Thailand last August (including Bangkok and Koh Samui) and it rained all but one day of their 2 week stay. Some light showers but also proper monsoon rain.

Remember that if you visit temples you need to be in skirts or long trousers with covered shoulders (no shorts, mini skirts, crop tops, vest tops etc).

@SleepingisanArt was it disruptive to their trip? A late after downpour isn't a problem, non stop day in day out would be tedious.

I’d do an overnight train to Chiang Mai and do a trek into the hills, it’s beautiful round that area of the country and the cookery courses are great there too.

This elephant sanctuary is amazing, we stayed there overnight but I assume you can do a day trip.

https://www.elephantnaturepark.org/enp/visit-volunteer

I have been to Thailand in July: Bangkok and Phuket (separate trips) and only had a couple of days with rain, but I think we were quite lucky. You can do Kanchanaburi and Ayuttaya as day trips from Bangkok, although allow for heavy traffic. I would look for accommodation near a sky train station as it makes getting around much faster.

We went last August, Bangkok, Koh Tao and Chiang Mai. We had a couple of short, heavy downpours during our time but nothing that spoilt our time there.
We had a half day at the Elephant Nature Park as linked above, we went in the afternoon so got to see all the elephants walking home, which was an incredible experience.

DH and I did 3 weeks in Thailand in February.
We did all the planning and bookings ourselves.
This was our itinerary
Bangkok 5 nights with day trips to Ayutthaya (fantastic)
Erawan waterfalls and Kanchanaburi - Bridge on river Kwai (waterfalls were amazing, bridge was rubbish and it was a long trip)
Then we got the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai (great) for 4 nights. Visit the elephant nature park a pp mentioned which is also really good and did a cooking class
Then flew down to Surat Thani and ferry over to Koh Sami for 3 nights (there are direct flights but very £££)
Then 2 nights in Khao Sok to visit the lake and national park
And finally 4 nights on the island of Koh Lanta.
Flew back from Krabi-BKK-LHR.
It was the best holiday we've ever done.
Used the Grab app for taxis and 12go website for travel between sites.

I think you massively underestimate what a monsoon season is

It's not just a few downpours.

You're better off visiting over Christmas or Easter if you're limited to school holidays

We went to Thailand last summer, it rained the first two days we were there and then the rest was dry and beautiful.
Stayed in the south as the North is rainy season. We did the islands...Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangnan

@InAMillion I'm definitely not underestimating the monsoon season (I've experienced the Indian monsoon), just researching before deciding - it's absolutely the weather that will be the deciding factor. Remove that and we'll be there like a shot!

Other holidays don't work. Partly as we're in the middle of years of GCSEs and a levels, and partly because I'm a teacher - a 2 week holiday and straight in to work without planning is almost impossible. And we can travel for longer in the summer!

Thanks for more ideas and personal experiences!

Have you considered Borneo instead? Dry in July and August.

@ShanghaiDiva we're lucky enough to have been to Borneo already. Loved it!

If you’re planning on travelling around whilst you’re there it’s definitely worth playing around with the order in which you go to different places. Initially we were planning on doing Bangkok, then Chiang Mai then Koh Samui/Phangan (and back to Bangkok to fly home), but I realised it was significantly cheaper (by several hundred pounds) for the internal flights to do Bangkok then Samui/Phangan then Chiang Mai.

We went to Thailand last July for 4 weeks and the weather was totally fine. Not blazing sunshine everyday but no impact on our trip whatsoever. We loved Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Koh Samui was lovely but felt very touristy. The north was very much the highlight for us all.

We've been once at Easter when the islands were evacuated due to storms and flooding and twice in the summer and saw barely any rain 🤷
Khao Sok is amazing but very rustic. Lots of exploring. We did an overnight trip to the lake and stayed in the bamboo lodges, night safari, caving etc. Also went tubing while in the jungle.
Chaing Mai also worth the trip on the overnight train. Elephants, mountain trekking, waterfalls. Getting really drunk on sangsom buckets in a place called Pai.
Koh Chang is a lot quieter and developed than the other islands as we diverted there due to the flooding. Cheap and cheerful and really chilled. A lot of the places were just turn up but no doubt that has changed now.

I'm not a fan of Kao Tao, expensive and busy. There are some parts of Koh Phangan which are nice and chilled. Can't remember the beach name but we stayed at the Panviman for our honeymoon and the area was very secluded and chilled.

We went late August for two weeks. We had a few of days of very very heavy rain - one day we called a taxi n just returned to hotel, another day we called taxi and went to an indoor shopping centre, and another time we went to a coffee shop and watched the rain lol. The worse of it was when we were on a small boat trip so so far away from land and honestly never been so scared, the guide covered us all up in a corner but the boat was rocking so fast and we were fully totally soaked, it was an experience lol but I had DD with me and was super worried!

Have you been to Indonesia, besides Borneo? We had a great time in Komodo and Bali and I'd go back in a shot. Personally I'd swerve Thailand. Monsoon season can be brutal and unpredictable.

We've booked Thailand for next years Easter break, hoping to get better weather going in April, as some videos I've seen of the weather during monsoon season look wild! We've booked to stay on Bangtao beach. Never been to Thailand, so following this thread for inspiration on what to do once we're there. Travelling with two nature obsessed primary aged kids