LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Grand Circuit
ONE MONTH/BANGKOK TO BANGKOK
If you've got a month to 'do' Thailand, spend a few days in Bangkok (or leave it till last) then take a slow ride north with one- or two-night stopovers in Lopburi and Sukhothai to take in the historic temple architecture. From Sukhothai continue to Chiang Mai, cultural capital of the north, for several days of old city walks, khao sawy (northern Thai-style curry noodles) and rock-climbing at nearby Tham Meuang On. While in the north, consider a side trip into the slower-paced hinterlands; we recommend either Mae Hong Son Province or Tak Province.
From Chiang Mai backtrack to the former royal capital of Ayuthaya, where you can mosey through yet another historical park and find convenient travel connections to Isan (northeastern Thailand).
Begin your Isan peregrination with a visit to Phimai, a charming, smaller town with of one of the most impressive Khmer-style, Angkor-period temple complexes in Thailand. From nearby Khorat, launch further northeast to Khon Kaen to view its superior national museum collection, nosh on the best Isan food in the region and listen to live maw lam (Isan folk-pop). From Khon Kaen you can either head north to Nong Khai and begin a road circuit along the Mekong River to Ubon Ratchathani or, if you've had enough of Isan, make a beeline for the Gulf coast of southeastern Thailand.
Using Bangkok as a transit point, with roughly a week left in your itinerary, slide down the Thai-Malay Peninsula to finish off your trip kicking back on one or two of Thailand's famous islands. Choose the Andaman Sea side only if you're visiting from November to May (when there's no southwest monsoon) - Khao Lak, Phuket or Krabi - or the Gulf side - perhaps Ko Samui or Ko Pha-Ngan - the rest of the year (stick to the west coasts of the islands during the northeast monsoon, November to February).
Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, stopping in Lopburi and Sukhothai. Bus from Chiang Mai to Ayuthaya, then another bus on to Phimai. From Phimai to Khon Kaen, then Trat and back to Bangkok via bus. Take the train to Surat Thani, jumping-off point for the Ko Samui archipelago, or fly direct to Ko Samui or Phuket.
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