63 yr old mother with arthritis coming to see Thailand for 3 wks.

[The Master Cool]

So my 63 yr old mother is coming to visit next May for 3 weeks. She's always been an adventurer and independent traveler, only 3 yrs ago she went off backpacking in India by herself for a month. And in her life time has traveled the world, particularly N. Africa.

Now though she's had arthritis in her hip creeping up on her for the past few years, and has also put on a good bit of weight. Up to around 65kg I think. So she's older, and her mobility is not what it was. She also retired last year, and with pension complications, is suddenly on about 1/3 of what she was (and should be).

I've been here for 5 years and lived in the North, central, Isan, and Bangkok, so know my way around a fair bit. But would certainly appreciate any ideas on places or tours to go on.

The itinerary will probably be something like a few days in Koh Chang, maybe a week in the North, stopping off on the way back in Sukhothai, maybe up to Khao Yai for a weekend, and probably a week in Bangkok where I'll be doing some work and she'll be happy to relax around our pool and do some day trips - I'm thinking small package tours to Ayuthaya, floating market, Kanachanburi.

So any advice or ideas, particularly for trips and things around Chiang Mai, it's been 3 years since I moved from there, but I think she'll be into some courses they have up there - cooking, meditation etc.

I'll try to come up with a list of all the places we want to go, and plan to see, and hopefully some people can help with ideas.

Thanks all.

TMC.

[HollyGoodhead]

Quite a lot to do in Chiang Mai

City temple tour
Handicrafts (silk, wood carving, umbrellas, gems, lacquerware, celadon (ceramics) etc)
Doi Suthep (can get a cable car up to the temple)
River cruise
Cooking & meditation like you said
Massage
Monkey/Elephant/Snake shows
Tiger Kingdom
Wat Kum Kam (horse-drawn cart around temple ruins)
1 Day visit to Chiang Rai (stop at hot spring, white temple, golden triangle, Myanmar border, long-neck village)
Night Safari (don't have to do a lot of walking unless you want to look at the caged animals- you get in a car and they drive around 3 areas (i think it's 3) using a torch to show you the animals)
CM Zoo could be too much walking
Huay Tung Tao Reservoir they have huts around the reservoir where you can eat and relax
Flight of the Gibbon/Jungle Flight, not sure how much walking is on this one, never done it, but seems mostly to be 'in the air' on cables
Saturday and Sunday evening markets (prefer these 2 over the Night Bazaar market)
Warorot market during the day
1 day trekking (includes elephant ride & bamboo rafting & visit to hilltribe village)
Elephant Nature Park (few hours outside of CM) supposedly the most elephant friendly place to go.
Kampaeng Hot Springs (you can take a 'bath' or swim in the spring water)
Chiang Dao cave (have to be fairly flexible)
Have some clothing made by a tailor

personally I don't like elephant rides & animal shows but I know it doesn't bother a lot of people.

That's just off the top of my head (bf is a tour organiser)

[Bangyai]

Took my mother here and she loved it. Floating market and boat trip

https://teakdoor.com/bangkok-forum/62...boat-trip.html (Lam Phaya floating market and boat trip)

[Loy Toy]

Up until a few years ago my mum and favourite Aunty visited me annually and they always enjoyed themselves immensely.

Now they are both in thier mid-80's it is a bit difficult for them which is a shame as I really enjoyed them seeing things they has never experienced and that is the guideline you should follow with regards to her entertainment planning..........Things she has never seen before and within reason and respectability.

All the best to your mum and not only will the warm weather help her with her arthritis I am sure she will have a great time.

[The Master Cool]

Thanks all.

We'll probably do a few day trips from Chiang Mai, we enjoy being travelers more than tourists (in fact we don't like being tourists at all) so seeing set up hilltribe villagers and shows etc isn't our scene. So will have to pick out a few tours that seem relatively authentic, than set up for tourists fresh off a tourist coach.

[Bower]

She's not much older than me, just let her loose, she will be fine !

[Thetyim]

May is the hottest month.
Will she be able to handle the heat ?
Maybe you should just look for the coolest places in Thailand

[joannevel69]

Ahalf-day baht bus trip around Chiang Mai to the main temple and the gardens above it. Plus a trip further afield to Chiang Rai.

[usual suspect]

If you DO take her to Chaing Rai, be sure to visit the 'White Temple' (Wat Rong Khun)..about 7-10 kms before C.Rai on your left..just off the main road.

[ramkarn]

make sure to give her a ride on the elephant

[billy the kid]

walking around anywhere in thailand can be difficult for folk with arthritic probs.
pavements usually all busted up and on top o that a fokin motorcycles whizzing past that will have you almost crappin in ure pants.
still hope she enjoys the land of smiles , vampires and dragons.

[can123]

May is the hottest month.
Will she be able to handle the heat ?
Maybe you should just look for the coolest places in Thailand

I don't think she would like the Eden Bar.

[ebeth]

In the North I would go up the route 108 North and turn up to Doi Mae Salong, stay there for the night go on to Chiang Rai and back the main road from there. Or do the loop...Mae Malai- Pai, sleep here or in one of the resorts- Mae Hong Son- Mae Sariang- Hot sleep there- Doi Inthanon and back to town.
You can look up the various "things to see" for both loops. Not to long day trips and lots to see either way.

[Happy Dave]

She's not much older than me, just let her loose, she will be fine !

Well i am 75 living in LOS and only seem to get arthiritus when i leave the country, could be the Samui climate that helps.

[Happy Dave]

make sure to give her a ride on the elephant

Serves you right if you get arthiritus one day and get stuck on an elephant !

[splitpin100]

Just a tip, but i suffered badly from RA , i was under a specialist taking horrible chemical medication.

Somebody put me on to rose-hip "Litozen" i can only say it changed my life, and others i told it to

I think its aimed more at Rheumatic Arthritis than Osteoarthritis