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[jamesp01]

I'm going out to Thailand in a few weeks, where I'm going to be alone for a couple of weeks before a friend travels out to meet me. I'm a 26 year old male who has been to Thailand several times. Basically I'm after any suggestions for things to do for the first 2 weeks whilst I'll be alone. I have no problem meeting new people and enjoy my own company, as well as a good party. I've been to Koh Pha Ngan, Samui, Phi Phi, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and Chiang Mai before, and am tempted to just go to one of the islands and chill out. Do you have any ideas of anywhere new to go? I was looking into Koh Chang as this isn't too far from Bangkok (when I return to meet my friend), but I've read reviews and it looks very over-developed, dirty and expensive in comparison to some of the others.

[LadyTonholiday]

Chang is over developed you are right. It is a Thai resort as opposed to your overdeveloped Phuket style or Phi Phi resort hence it hets some reviews of being dirty etc. So nice people but perhaps not the best of scenes. Koh Lanta is miles away on the asouth west coast but if you are looking for quiet chilled and slightly backpacker getaway then this is one of the few places left. Great scuba diving etc. If you are looking for a base for a number of places then I suggest Krabi Province and Aonang, you got boats to all the major islands if you wanna hop about, flights from Bangkok are cheap and above all you can cut yourself off to a certain extent by taking a 15 min boat ride from Ao nang beach to Railay Beach. It is locked in by sea on one side and archepeligos the other. Offers uber expensive and uber cheap huts depending on which part of the beach you choose. Last boats from the beach to Aonang are at 17.45 in the evening so it gets nice and chilled after that.
Hope this helps.

[wakingdream]

I would second the notion of the Krabi area. You can stay on Lanta and chill or hop a boat or two and check out the rest of the area which is really accessible.

Ao Nang, Ao Phra Nang and Railay (which is only a 10 minute boat ride from Ao Nang) are really fun and there's some really good climbing as well as a fun scene going on.

You can fly or opt to take a cheap overnight train ride from BKK to Trang and hop a bus the rest of the way. A couple of weeks gives you plenty of time to travel back and forth and have a great time in between!

Too bad b/c Chang used to be nice and relaxing. And clean.

Have a great time!

[Paul]

Hi. I was at Koh Chang just under a year ago and although it clearly has more on it than it once had, I thought it was still quite nice and not too overdeveloped like some other places. I wouldn't rule it out. I definitely would like to get back there. I didn't find it at all dirty. (I hope it hasn't changed so much in 1 year!! Maybe it has???).

I think comparing it to the list of other places you have been to, you'd find it a bit quieter and less over done than many of them.

2 weeks however is a long time and so you could go just about anyway.

Koh Kood seems to be the next in line after Koh Chang towards Cambodia to be developed and things are happening there - so you could check that out.

Otherwise - Well i could write a book in answer to your question, so I hope other people keep the suggestions coming in.

[Paul]

Perhaps you could give us more info on what you liked about Thailand last time, or what you want to do or see, or how much money you want to spend or something to narrow things down.

[wakingdream]

I wouldn't rule it out. I definitely would like to get back there. I didn't find it at all dirty. (I hope it hasn't changed so much in 1 year!! Maybe it has???).

Oh that's so good to know. My first trip over I spent 3 months there and I loved it. I loved the people and, well, everything about it. I had a nice little bungalow at the end of white sand beach and it was a little slice of heaven for me. And Lonely Goose, who's mate died and he started hanging out with the ducks. And my dogs. Sorry, reminiscing......

If what Paul says is true, I wouldn't rule out Koh Chang.

Lanta is a nice choice too tho and if you want to explore you will have more to see and do in the Krabi area, or just peace and quiet if that's what you're looking for. It makes for a wonderful mix of both. Sure it's a little farther, but a day's travel is not much and totally worth it. There is all kinds of accommodation there as well from rather cheap to very expensive.

OR, Koh Jum and Koh Kradan.

Koh Jum is a really nice island still using oil lamps and candles as they have no electricity and it seems that's just the way they like it. It's a really chilled place, and quiet too. Some people would never go, others would welcome the idea. You can hop a boat from Krabi to there.

Koh Kradan is gorgeous and quiet. It's part of Hat Chao Mai National Park. It's definitely worth a look. You can also get there easily from Krabi.

[Paul]

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...18620/tpod.html

Have a look at that. Sounds like a nice place to go.

[wakingdream]

Good suggestion Paul, I've heard of Koh LaoYa from Thai friends actually. It does seem very nice.