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Conclusion........The starting point for this tour was known months ago when I took the decision to come to Thailand for the Songkran celebrations. However, would arriving during the hottest month of the year, compromise any tour plans? It seemed so in first couple of days when the glaring sun provided little respite even in the shade. No touring was going to happen while sat inside a hotel room. Interestingly though, during a thunderstorm, it did cool down a bit. When the tour did get going the weather was mixed and there was sufficient cloud to get some respite but visiting some of the temple sites in early afternoon was difficult to say the least. As the tour wore on the afternoon thunderstorms increased and on one occasion in Tak a whole morning was lost due to a long period of rain by which time the temperature had dropped comfortably into the 20’s.
Deciding at an early stage to head west and north from Chiang Khan, we immediately met with provinces with long and interesting histories. The 10 days we spent in the three provinces of Phitsanulok, Lampang and Lamphun were incredibly productive and added enormously to my knowledge of Thailand’s ancient kingdoms although at the expense of the more natural wonders on this tour. In addressing this imbalance, Tak province would have provided a wealth of natural attractions to end the tour but it wasn’t to be with only one national park visited.
In terms of the material collected, I will spend 2-3 days for every day on tour sifting through the photographs and brochures then coding the results into this website so a meaningful record of my travels can be achieved. In terms of health and general issues there was thankfully nothing of concern. The costs came well within budget, the north of Thailand being a lot cheaper than the south. I tasted an incredible variety of local foods consumed in some stunning locations and the people have always been warm and friendly to me. All I can say is that despite a few reservations and restrictions, I feel I made the most of it with, as usual, the amazing support from Katoon who never fails to pull a rabbit out of a hat. It was an epic tour and I have to give it 8/10.
Deciding at an early stage to head west and north from Chiang Khan, we immediately met with provinces with long and interesting histories. The 10 days we spent in the three provinces of Phitsanulok, Lampang and Lamphun were incredibly productive and added enormously to my knowledge of Thailand’s ancient kingdoms although at the expense of the more natural wonders on this tour. In addressing this imbalance, Tak province would have provided a wealth of natural attractions to end the tour but it wasn’t to be with only one national park visited.
In terms of the material collected, I will spend 2-3 days for every day on tour sifting through the photographs and brochures then coding the results into this website so a meaningful record of my travels can be achieved. In terms of health and general issues there was thankfully nothing of concern. The costs came well within budget, the north of Thailand being a lot cheaper than the south. I tasted an incredible variety of local foods consumed in some stunning locations and the people have always been warm and friendly to me. All I can say is that despite a few reservations and restrictions, I feel I made the most of it with, as usual, the amazing support from Katoon who never fails to pull a rabbit out of a hat. It was an epic tour and I have to give it 8/10.