The north
We started in Bangkok, then took in the temples and night markets of Chiang Mai and the winding road up to Pai, where the sunset over the hills is the evening's main event.
The islands
From Chiang Mai we flew south to Phuket and took the boat out to Koh Phi Phi for its lagoons and limestone islands. Then we crossed to the Gulf side for Koh Samui, the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan on 31 March, and four nights on Koh Tao, the longest stop of the trip.
Looking back
We did both coasts in one go, which works in March. For most people we would now pick one coast to suit the month, because the Andaman side around Phuket and Phi Phi is at its best from November to April, while the Gulf islands stay drier into the summer.
