Recommendations for Thailand Trip

[Jonnyola87]

Hello all.

My wife and I are taking a 2 week trip to Thailand next February-March. We want to do a week on a liveaboard followed by a week on land. Anyone have any recommendations for liveaboards and/or land travel? The Junk and the Phinisi seem to be solid bets. We don't need anything fancy, but are looking for at least semi-comfy accommodations. Moving from there to exploring the country a bit, which seems like it could be tricky to navigate. If anyone has any insight, it would be much appreciated!

 

[Mr. Sunday]

I just came back from a month in Thailand and spent a week on the Smiling Seahorse. I'm very happy with the experience and would recommend.

Dive Burma and Thailand

The Smiling Seahorse diving in Ranong: Liveaboard to Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand.

www.thesmilingseahorse.com

 

[BnNSpirit]

I did mine with MV Pawara in Jan 23, happy with the experience and I liked the fact that Nitrox is inclusive in the package (No additional charge).

Most of the dive sites has max depth of 20 - 30m so the nitrox comes handy.

 

[Jonnyola87]

Nice! We ended up (after a lot of research) putting a deposit down with the MV Andaman. They seem like they run a pretty nice charter, so I'm excited.

 

[bavdg]

We are actually spending a week in March on The Junk followed by some time in Bangkok. Will be our first time in Thailand and first liveaboard.
Hope you have an amazing adventure! I am most excited about the Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock.
Have you decided what areas to explore on land after your liveaboard?

 

[Jonnyola87]

We are actually spending a week in March on The Junk followed by some time in Bangkok. Will be our first time in Thailand and first liveaboard.
Hope you have an amazing adventure! I am most excited about the Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock.
Have you decided what areas to explore on land after your liveaboard?

We’ll be there in March as well!
We are doing the MV Andaman for a week, then heading up North to Chiang Mai to explore the national parks.

 

[Centrals]

Word of warning;

Burning Season In Chiang Mai - All You Need To Know

Planning to visit northern Thailand this January? You might want to reconsider that trip. The period of January to March is infamously known as the smoky season. Also known as the Burning Season, this is a time when the air quality in northern Thailand, especially Chiang Mai hits an all-time low...

www.holidify.com

April is the hottest month in the Kingdom.

Thailand Weather in April 2024: Temperatures, Places to Visit, Songkran Festival

April is the height of summer in Thailand with temperatures across the country soaring above 30ºC (86ºF). Take a look at the weather conditions and the six best places to visit in Thailand in April.

www.asiahighlights.com

Understanding Phuket’s ‘haze season’

PHUKET: A meteorologist with 17 years experience with the Belgian air force has come forward with his understanding of the “natural phenomenon” of haze that has plagued Phuket since last week, and

www.thephuketnews.com

Even Phuket has this problem

Thailand New Year:

Songkran (Thailand) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Mr. Sunday]

I'll be there in March as usual. I do avoid the north at this time of year for the haze issues Central mentioned.
It's pretty bad. @Jonnyola87

 

[Centrals]

Tarutao National Park

Tarutao National Park founded in 1974 and the first marine park in Thailand. The most famous island in this park is Koh Lipe. Worth a visit!

www.thailandmagazine.com

Good diving in Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe.

 

[noserider]

Boots and his team run a great liveabord boat, one of the best ones running

Big Blue Diving Khao Lak

Diving Thailand's best dive sites. Similan Liveaboard & Day Trips to The Similan Islands, Koh Bon and the amazing Richelieu Rock!

www.bigbluedivingkhaolak.com

I did their liveaboard last year which was great in every aspect and added on Koh Phi Phi and Koh Racha for another 10 days with my other half that doesn't dive

This year we are going back with non diving friends for a big birthday celebration, but despite trying could not make the schedule work for a big blue liveboard and then meet friends, so doing a couple of days in Bankok, a couple in Railay, 8 nights on Koh Lanta with them all, where I will squeeze in 4 days diving and then having a couple of nights staying on Racha where I will get 3 more dives in