99% of tourists on my handle when they finish their trip in Chiang Mai or Mae Hong Son, based on my personal experience. They’ll continue on to southern Thailand, where they’ll stay on golden beaches and exotic islands in Phuket, Krabi, or Samui, as well as small islands, depending on the season.

You can either take a connecting flight or fly directly from Chiang Mai to your destination. The majority of airlines offer daily flights with transfers from the airport and check-in service to the islands.

Direct flight

Air Asia

They also have direct flights from Chiang Mai to Krabi, Phuket, and other destinations, as of two years ago.

I’ll update the flight schedule later; for the time being, they’ve merged with Lion Air, Vietjet, and Thai Smile. Each airline will make a single stop at Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi.

Bangkok Air

Please refer to the Route Map for Bangkok Airways’ full service options. (Note: Bangkok Airways is based at Suvarnabhumi Airport, so you may have to transit there if your flight is fully booked.)

Transit

Nok Air

Nok Air will fly to the most popular destinations, with check-through service to the islands included. Please see travel info here: Where We Fly.

Check out more

• Lion Air
• Thai Smile
• Viet Jet Air

Please take a look at a few of them to get a sense of the weather and when the best time is to travel to the south.

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Use our services to travel.

Traveling by car allows you to see beautiful scenery while stopping for food, sightseeing, and overnight stays. Some provinces have places that tourists have never visited before.

Many years ago, I traveled with a Swedish tourist as a family of two adults and two children with a lot of luggage. He hired me to drive them down to Khao Lak, which is in the south. We planned to stay for 2 nights and stop at the interesting places along the way.

What is the reason?

He must take the sleeping train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and then connect with the southern train to Surat Thani (su-rat-ta-nee), according to their schedule. After that, take a minivan to A.Takuathung* (ta-kua-tung) in Phang – Nga (pang-nga) Province, where they will be picked up by the hotel transfer service.

* A. = Amphur in Thai means district.

They had already taken the train from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai. So they don’t want to take the train anymore and change the travel plans.

I had a minivan that I drove them around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son for 7 days. We were very familiar. He agreed to pay an extra fee for me to return to Chiang Mai by myself. Let’s get started.

First night at Nakhon Sawan.

The total distance is approximately 1,500 kilometers, so we divide the distance into some 500 kilometers each. Today we have lunch by the river in Tak Province, and we visit Kamphaeng Phet (kam-pang-pet) Historical Park in the afternoon.

We plan to stay the first night near Paradise Park in Nakhon Sawan (na-kon-sa-wan). Nakhon Sawan is home to the largest freshwater fish breeding in Thailand. There are many different species of fish. Of course, there are also many restaurants on the boat-raft along the Chao Phraya River. We enjoyed our dinner here.

Second night in Hua Hin

I’m taking the Suphan Buri (su-pan-bu-ree) route today. We did not pass through Bangkok. The general view is of rice fields, so the kids took advantage of the opportunity to play a variety of games.

We visit Sam Chuk Market 100 years ago, an ancient market, with wooden houses, traditional communities, and antique food.

We planned to stay in Hua Hin and have a good dinner there, but they didn’t like it because of the weekend crowds. So I drove another 1 hour to Prachuap Khiri Khan, where we stayed at a seaside hotel.

Cool, not many people. We walked to the local restaurant along the footpath. Fresh and delicious seafood at a cheap price. After meals, we also walk on the beach before going to bed.

The final day at the beach

I’m enjoying a long journey like this. This morning we didn’t want to leave Prachuap Khiri Khan (pa-chuap-ki-ree-kan) Province. The weather is pleasant, with a clear sky and calm seas.

Today we will be heading south to Chumphon (chum-pon) Province. Although we did not enter the city, there is a restaurant on the highway where Thai people frequently stop. It’s a southern food style that kids probably won’t be able to eat. It is too spicy.

So I stopped for lunch at Suan Nai Dam, which is an agro-tourism plant, fruit, dessert, food and beverage. One of the highlights is the incredible Thai toilet. It’s a famous bathroom that is a paradise and you’ll want to stay longer.

Then, when I reach Lang Suan District, I turn right and follow Route 4006 to the Andaman coast, where it connects with Route 4 to the south of Ranong (ra-nang) Province.

I drive along the Andaman coast for another 2 hours until I reach the hotel in Khao Lak District.

It’s time to say farewell.

We don’t want to say goodbye. We had a wonderful journey together, starting in Chiang Mai and moving south. The parents seemed to enjoy it a lot, and there were a lot of interesting things to see and photograph.

They will stay here for another 7 nights, and the activities on the beach will help us recover from missing each other.

I’ve suggested restaurants in the area, including Phuket, where they’ll have to stay for two more nights before flying home.

I’ve lived and worked in Phuket since 1985, and several times since then. I have a lot of friends and relatives here. We always come to visit here.

Back to Chiang Mai.

OK, I have to return to Chiang Mai, and they gave me a fare home with a large tip for my return journey. I planned to visit my friend in Phang-Nga for tonight and one more night at Rajburi (rad bu-ree) on the half-way back. I seldom meet both of them.

I have a couple of days to prepare for the next group. It’s fine. See you next trip.