Family Itinerary Feedback: Chiang Mai - Krabi/Railay - Bangkok

hi fellow travelers,

I'm "finalizing" a trip with my adventurous family (wife + 3 kids aged 16, 14, and 8) for this Easter break in Thailand (we'll be there from 04/19 to 05/01).

I'm going through the site and wanted to thank you all for the tips and insights you share on the forum. They're really valuable. But boy, it's tough to sketch out an itinerary

Of course, my backpacking route might be debatable, but I'm trying to target this path to get a first taste of the country's different "facets" and keep everyone in the family happy 😛

For this first trip, we're sticking to the classics and planning to explore a different side of the Land of Smiles in the future:

- arrival in BKK at 4 PM on 04/19 ==> leaving the same day at 7 PM for Chiang Mai (I "hesitated" with the 5:30 PM flight but was worried we wouldn't have enough time to switch from British AW to Thai Airways + airport fees + baggage + customs, etc. )

- from 04/20 to 04/23 ==> Chiang Mai with the main highlights (we've picked: Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat, elephant sanctuary, Doi Inthanon, the old city, Wat Chedi, Wat Phra Singh).

==> For the elephant sanctuary: any recommendations? Morning or afternoon visit?

==> It might seem ambitious, but we're considering a day trip to Chiang Rai—though it's not a must. Yes, we know it means ~6 hours of travel in one day.

- direct flight on the morning of 04/24 to Krabi ==> Railay - Phang Nga ==> this part isn't finalized yet (we won't stay in Krabi).

For those who've been there, which part of the south would be best weather-wise during this period?

We'd stay in the south until 04/28 and take a 8 PM flight to BKK.

- BKK on 04/29, 04/30, and part of 05/01 before our flight to London at 11 PM.

We'll hit the must-see/classic spots there.

If you have time to share some insights, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks a million to everyone!

Hédi.

Hi Hédi,

arrival in BKK at 4 PM on 04/19 ==> departure at 7 PM the same day for Chiang Mai (I "hesitated" with the 5:30 PM flight but I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough time to transfer from British AW to Thai Airways + APT, + baggage + customs, etc. 🤪)

The 5:30 PM flight (which I can’t find anywhere) would’ve been just barely possible if the British flight arrived on time, so you made the right call with the 7:15 PM one. What surprises me is that no airline offers flights between 5:50 PM (Bangkok Airways) and 7 PM (Hahn Air/Thai Vietjet), so there’s no choice. After the corridors and arrival formalities, you’ll have 2 hours and 45 minutes to wait.

for the elephant sanctuary

Which one? I’ve never been to this kind of place in Chiang Mai, but a visit to the flyer counter at your accommodation will show you there are *many* elephant camps or sanctuaries in the Chiang Mai area. Several have the word "sanctuary" in their name, so be careful to choose wisely. The mention "no riding" (no basket on the elephant’s back) has become a selling point in many ads—it shouldn’t be your *only* criterion. While you’re at the flyer counter, check if there are any for activities you might enjoy but haven’t thought of yet.

Chang Mai (...) the old city

which, in addition to being interesting to visit, is also, in my opinion, the best area to stay.

it might seem ambitious, but we’re considering a day trip to Chiang Rai—but it’s not a must. 😮 Yes, we know it’ll mean ~6h of transport in the day.

7 hours. A bus driver who does the trip in 3 hours would be ignoring safety rules. Most of Chiang Rai’s highlights are 20 to 90 minutes outside the city. Your 4 full days in Chiang Mai could already be packed.

Lanna Architecture Center, at the corner of Ratchadamnoen Rd and Prapokklao Rd in Chiang Mai’s old city. The interior is worth a quick (and free) visit.

Thanks, Thierry.

For the flight: it’s the Bangkok Airways one at 5:50 PM.

For Chiang Rai: if we go, we’ll opt for either the bus or a private driver, with one non-negotiable condition: safety!

For the elephant sanctuary, we’ve seen this one mentioned a lot on the forum and elsewhere: Book Now - Elephant Nature Park. But we’re torn between the morning and afternoon visits—if any travelers could share their thoughts ;) Obviously, we won’t set foot in any pseudo-place/circus where the animals are treated like workhorses or clowns.

Thanks for the Lanna Architecture Center tip and the photos.

For the islands, I’ll plan the 4.5 days around Railay, Phi Phi, and Phang Nga—any recommendations?

Great call on Elephant Nature Park—it’s the best choice by far. The founder is world-renowned for her lifelong dedication to rescuing and caring for elephants.

Skip Chiang Rai given your limited time, and have your hotel arrange an outing for you—either to Queen Sirikit Park with its canopy walkway or Doi Inthanon National Park with its 10 stunning waterfalls, each more beautiful than the last.

Elephant Nature Park is the best possible choice; its founder is world-renowned for her life dedicated to the rescue and care of elephants.

While the founder being world-renowned might be a point in its favor, when I visit their website, something bothers me about the half-day programs: first, out of the 6-hour door-to-door excursion, only 2.5 hours are actually spent with the elephants, and second, the description of this short time is very lacking. Could you or anyone else share more about the concrete details of those 2.5 hours? If it's already described in a travel journal, could you also let me know the post number, please?

For all these elephant activities, you spend a lot for a limited and quite short time, that's true. It's even worse for those who want to see mountain gorillas in Central Africa. Gorilla treks cost between 900 € and 1500 €, a few hours hiking in the mountains, and just 1, max 2 hours observing them.

With elephants, you often have to buy them, transport them by truck from the other side of the country, and acquire a huge plot of land. And then, what do these beasts eat? If you had that much of an appetite, we’d all have had to chip in to feed you for a long time! 😛

For all these elephant activities, you spend a lot for a limited and quite short time, it's true. It's even worse for those who want to see mountain gorillas in Central Africa. Gorilla treks cost from 900 to 1500 €, a few hours hiking in the mountains, and one, max 2 x 1 hour observing them.

On one hand, you have domesticated animals kept permanently in the same place (enclosed?) and on the other, rare wild animals in a territory spanning thousands of square kilometers—it doesn’t seem comparable to me.

Elephants often have to be bought, transported by truck from the other end of the country, and you need to acquire a huge plot of land. And then, what do these beasts eat?

Yes, but that’s the same for all elephant camps, ethical or not.

Since the Elephant Nature Park website is vague in its descriptions and the argument "the owner is world-renowned" doesn’t seem sufficient to me, I’m waiting for your concrete feedback (or links to your travel journals + message numbers) that shows it stands out compared to other ethical camps in the Chiang Mai area.

For Chiang Rai: we’d go either by bus or with a private driver if we were heading there

Visiting Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai generally requires a minimum of 7 nights to be reasonable. Instead of spending thousands of baht on a rushed, almost ridiculous day trip to Chiang Rai, save that money for activities you haven’t even thought of yet (or why not a full day with elephants...) in Chiang Mai, which alone could easily keep you busy for 10-12 days without feeling like you’re dragging. Chiang Rai and its surroundings also deserve a proper stay, but in your case, you might want to save it for "a future trip to experience a different side of Siam:". Or—brace yourself for some harsh words—skip the beach and spend your entire trip in the north and Bangkok. You wouldn’t be the first to do it.

I also think it's pointless to go to Chiang Mai for just a day. You'll be traveling during the most exhausting time: it's currently 40 to 42 degrees during the day in the region, with a blanket of pollution. Make sure to book accommodation with a pool, preferably in the old city where there's plenty to see without walking too much.

As for your beach stay, the Gulf of Thailand is recommended this season, so not on the Krabi side. I hope you find some info if you stay on the Andaman Sea... a hotel with a pool to retreat to if the sea is rough?

I've been to Thailand often, but only once in May during our first trip. We took a seaside getaway from Bangkok—there were beautiful beaches, but that was 30 years ago 😉.

Have a great holiday! I hope the monsoon will bring temperatures down before you arrive.

Hi there

No need to dramatize, but you should definitely consider two things: first, the air quality in the north is really poor right now due to a mix of agricultural burning and the heat, and second, the soaring temperatures we're experiencing at the moment make getting around pretty tough. It feels like over 40°C (104°F) almost everywhere, and it's already over 30°C (86°F) in the morning...

Hi there,

Without wanting to dramatize, you should take into account the air quality, which is very poor in the north due to the combination of crop burning and the heat

They’re only spending 5 short days in the north—it’s not like they’re planning to stay long. @Hédi, unless your group includes elderly people and/or those with sensitive lungs, you’ll be fine for just 5 or even 10 days up there. Just avoid activities that require physical effort, like the bike climb up Mount Suthep that some agencies offer.

The south will be spared from the burning but not from the stench of durian—strong enough to make them wish they’d stayed in the north after all... 😉😎[;]

For Chiang Rai: if we go, we’ll either take the bus or a private driver

Visiting Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai generally requires a minimum of 7 nights to be reasonable. .... Or, brace yourself for some strong language, skip the beach and spend your whole trip in the north and Bangkok—you wouldn’t be the first to do it.

Haha... I think we’ll play it safe and just do CM.

I also think it's pointless to go to Chiang Rai for just a day. You'll be traveling during the most exhausting time: it's currently 40 to 42 degrees during the day... As for your beach stay, the Gulf of Thailand is recommended this season, so not the Krabi side. I hope you find some info if you stick with the Andaman Sea....

Thanks for these tips about Chiang Rai.

We had read/seen that travelers prefer the Andaman Sea over the Gulf of Thailand. I'll take a closer look at what's best for late April.

It's true that the period is very (very) hot...

Hello

Without wanting to dramatize, you really need to consider two things: first, the air quality, which is very poor in the north due to a combination of agricultural burning and the heat, and second, the extremely high temperatures we're experiencing right now, which make getting around difficult. It feels like over 40°C almost everywhere, and it's already over 30°C in the morning...

Thanks, Philippe...

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a choice for the timing... and we’re only staying for a full 4 days. Even though we’re big hiking fans, we’ll take it easy on the walks. 😕

I saw an article about a ban on "burning" this year: Chiang Mai Imposes Five-Month Ban on Open Burning as PM 2.5 Levels Exceed Standards

Do you know if it’s being enforced?

Hello,

Burn-offs are banned every year but aren’t respected. On top of that, northern Thailand is affected by burn-offs from Laos and Myanmar, which use the same methods... It’s still something to take seriously...

" You’re currently in the middle of the most critical period. In April 2026, the burning season hits northern Thailand hard. The situation is particularly tough this year, with record pollution levels. Here are the key points to keep in mind for this month:

The air contains fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations over 30 times higher than WHO recommendations.

Health: Risk of irritation (eyes, throat), headaches, and serious respiratory issues. Protection: Wearing an N95 mask (regular surgical masks are ineffective against PM2.5) is essential when outdoors. Activities: Avoid intense physical exertion outside.

"

Maybe I’m exaggerating a little, especially since I’ve never experienced this phenomenon in the north myself, but I’m relying on friends who live on the outskirts of Chiang Mai and leave the region for two months to head to the land of durian (😏). If the rain arrives before your trip, the air quality will improve—I hope it does for you!

Personally, I love eating durians :) In moderation though, since they're really expensive and fatty..

On the islands, the water will be nice and warm, and there are gorgeous landscapes around Krabi. Have a great trip!

Tomorrow’s the big day! On your way back, swing by and tell us how you liked Chiang Mai in "particle mode"... Have a great trip.

Yes, on the way back, open sesame! 😉

Tomorrow’s the big day! When you’re back, swing by and tell us how you liked Chiang Mai in "particle mode"… Safe travels!

The suitcase is finally packed 🤪

Yes, I’d love to share my trip with you all 😉

Thanks

Yes, on the way back, open sesame! 😉

haha... I promise, I’ll share the Thai treasures 🙂