10/11 nights in Thailand

[Annamariadarling]

We have 10/11 nights in Thailand in late April - and I really need some itinerary inspiration.

We are 2 adults, 1 teen age 17 and a 4 year old.

We'd like to do the following;
Cheow Lan Lake
Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
A local market
Tiger Temple (or a a similar "in the sky" option somewhere)

In between those we're open to suggestions, and we would also like some lazy pool/beach days.

Do you have any suggestions at all? 🙏🏻

I love Nana Beach resort, I'm there next week, but Thailand is huge, where do you think you will be based?
For example Chang Mai, Chang Rai and Pai are the favoured areas in the far north, but 10 hours on the train or a full morning or afternoon taking an internal flight. If you only have 10 days you don't want to waste time travelling. Whereas I'm in the region for 3 months so it doesn't matter.

@PrincessofWells I love Chaing Mai but think it will be too much travelling with the kids in tow this time (I went without kids before)

I've had a think and I'm considering the following;

Fly into Phuket Airport

4 nights in Bang Tao
3 nights in Khao Lak (day trip to Khao Sok rather than an overnight stay)
3/4 nights Ao Nang

Fly to Singapore from Krabi

What do you think?

I'd personally pick 2 places so you can actually relax between the day trips, otherwise you are packing up every 3/4 days!

Have you been to any of these places before? We've stayed in Ao Nang twice- mainly for relaxing and scuba diving. There are some lovely, secluded beach resorts around Railay Beach- but you need a long boat to get back/forth Ao Nang itself. Both times we stayed in Ao Nang and found it under whelming. Maybe we should have gone to a resort, or explored more things to do but it didn't help that the hotel had a million steps and no lift!

A friend recently went to Khao Lak and loved it. Sorry, not much help but a bump to someone who can.

Yes I too was underwhelmed with Ao Nang and not too keen on Railay either.

Thank you both for your thoughts, I have just seen another post on Ao Nang with the same sentiment so crossing it off our list.

Is there anywhere else in Krabi that you would recommend?

I've just come back from Phuket (Bang Tao), Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Bang Tao still lovely beach etc. but it is predominantly Russian tourists (no bother) but it is not cheap (London prices), Chiang Mai still glorious if you get the right place with nice pool etc. Bangkok was fine but horrendously busy unless you are going to use public transport (grabs were beyond hopeless, cheap enough, but a 10 minute plus waiting time then an hour to go a few km). Air Asia was quite good, and moving about wasn't an issue.

Is there anywhere else in Krabi that you would recommend?

I already posted up thread, but other than Ao Nang, we went to Phi Phi island one trip. Admittedly his was pre tsunami (23yrs ago) so a great deal would have changed! We got a ferry from Phuket which took about 1hr. We scuba dived, snorkelled and got a boat to where they filmed 'The Beach'. I think we stayed 2 or 3 nights.

I'd just stay longer at the other 2 places you have planned though, rather than trying to add in a 3rd place.

Ko Lanta? You won't be able to sea swim safely by end April on Phuket fyi.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is great for an ethical way to see Elephants

Elephant Hills is a great option for elephant sanctuary plus over-water camping at Kho Lak. Easy to travel on to Railay which could be good option (eg teen could do some climbing, combined with beach time / R&R?)