A German-Turkish tourist has been reported missing after losing contact with his family since 23 July, shortly after travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The man has been identified as 32-year-old Ali Karakoyunlu, who is also known as Ali Apostolakis. His family and former girlfriend are appealing for information after attempts to contact him through several messaging platforms and his Thai mobile number brought no response.

A Facebook user, Suppanat Essie, said she had the family's permission to publish his details. She said a missing-person report has been made and Chiang Mai Tourist Police have been asked to help with the search.

Journey from Japan to Chiang Mai

In an update, Suppanat said Ali's sister, Kubra, contacted her through Instagram on 29 July and provided details of his last known movements.

According to Kubra, Ali left Japan at 8.55am on 20 July and arrived in Thailand at 2pm the same day. He then travelled by train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on 21 July.

The family lost contact with him two days later, on 23 July. Relatives and Suppanat have since tried reaching him through Line, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and his Thai number.

They said the phone has sometimes been switched off, while at other times it has rung without being answered.

Police have found no preliminary record of Ali being admitted to a hospital in Chiang Mai. Officers have also been unable to locate accommodation bookings made under his name in the province.

Embassy coordination now needed

Suppanat said she has also contacted the Mirror Foundation, a Thai non-governmental organisation involved in a range of social issues.

She added that Ali's family must now coordinate through the Turkish embassy so that the relevant embassies can formally work together on the case.

Suppanat has urged anyone who may have seen Ali, or knows where he may be, to come forward.

Picture courtesy of Facebook Suppanat Essie

Join the discussion?

3 August 2026

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Here we go again ...

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

They said the phone has sometimes been switched off, while at other times it has rung without being answered.

Maybe Ali found something on the way which made him not answering the phone.

Good luck, Ali

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

phone has sometimes been switched off, while at other times it has rung

No phone GPS locator?

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Officers have also been unable to locate accommodation bookings made under his name in the province

No TDAC upon entry into Thailand: the specific name, full address, district, province, and postal code of first night's accommodation in Thailand? Overnight stay on train to Chiang Mai count as lodging?

UPDATE

Chiang Mai police find missing tourist safe

Picture courtesy of Chiang Mai Provincial Police

Chiang Mai police have located German-Turkish tourist Ali Karakoyunlu, 33, after relatives reported him missing when they could not contact him following his arrival in Thailand.

Officers found him walking on Ratchapakhinai Road in Si Phum, Muang Chiang Mai, and confirmed that he was safe. Ali told police he had deliberately stopped using his mobile phone while taking a break.

Tourist traced after travelling from Bangkok

The search was ordered by Police Major General Yutthana Kaenchun, commander of Chiang Mai Provincial Police, and led by the provincial investigation division under Police Colonel Surachai Thangam.

Chiang Mai Provincial Police worked with the Regional Police 5 Investigation Bureau, Chiang Mai Tourist Police and Chiang Mai Immigration Police to trace the visitor.

After locating a foreign man matching the missing-person description on Ratchapakhinai Road, officers checked his identity and confirmed he was Ali Karakoyunlu.

One-month Chiang Mai stay planned

Ali told officers he had travelled from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train and had been staying at J Guesthouse and Restaurant since 22 July 2569.

He said he intended to spend around one month sightseeing and relaxing in Chiang Mai before continuing to the Philippines.

Police helped him contact his relatives to confirm that he was unharmed and had not lost any belongings. His family were reassured after learning that the loss of contact was due to his decision not to use his phone, rather than an emergency.

Ali and his family thanked the police units involved for their work in tracing him and restoring contact.

3 August 2026

1 minute ago, Srikcir said:

No TDAC upon entry into Thailand: the specific name, full address, district, province, and postal code of first night's accommodation in Thailand? Overnight stay on train to Chiang Mai count as lodging?

How would he have passed through immigration entry with no TDAC?

What an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing.

Couldn't agree more with the comments made on this thread ... "Here we go again" ... "What ans idiot" ... "All this effort and worry for nothing" . In the recent update, this self-indulgent baby adult told the police that he had deliberately stopped using his mobile phone while taking a break.

46 minutes ago, J Branche said:

What an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing.

46 minutes ago, J Branche said:

What an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing.

46 minutes ago, J Branche said:

What an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing.

Maybe he found a nice girl

"Police helped him contact his relatives to confirm that he was unharmed and had not lost any belongings. His family were reassured after learning that the loss of contact was due to his decision not to use his phone, rather than an emergency."

What a waste of law enforcement resources!! I wasn't aware that their job description has been changed to include baby sitting duties. Ali is big boy now reaching the age of 32. Can't he contact his family by his own?

Luckily Thai police is not paid much , so this won't cost Thailand much.

He's not taking phone calls from a "former girlfriend"?

I'm on the edge of my seat floor. 😄

Just wasted resources and time becos of an idiot..

Some people shouldn't be allowed a passport ! 🙄🙈

At least he was found well and happy.

Will J Guesthouse and Restaurant now be investigated for not filing his TM30?

Smells like an illegal STR to me or at the very least tax dodging.

Send in the boys!

Its amazing when a tourist is reported missing the police pull out the stops to locate them 🤑

When it's one of their people no rush 😴

4 hours ago, Srikcir said:

No phone GPS locator?

With no power or internet connections?

4 hours ago, J Branche said:

What an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing..

"All this effort and worry for nothing"

... caused solely by the family. He is a 32-year old grown man, not a child.

Off topic troll post removed @Cameroni

5 hours ago, J Branche said:

What an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing.

5 hours ago, J Branche said:

What an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing.

5 hours ago, J Branche said:

What an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing.

I agree- a simple call from him would have avoided a lot of stress and work and worry

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

UPDATE

Chiang Mai police find missing tourist safe

Picture courtesy of Chiang Mai Provincial Police

Chiang Mai police have located German-Turkish tourist Ali Karakoyunlu, 33, after relatives reported him missing when they could not contact him following his arrival in Thailand.

Officers found him walking on Ratchapakhinai Road in Si Phum, Muang Chiang Mai, and confirmed that he was safe. Ali told police he had deliberately stopped using his mobile phone while taking a break.

Tourist traced after travelling from Bangkok

The search was ordered by Police Major General Yutthana Kaenchun, commander of Chiang Mai Provincial Police, and led by the provincial investigation division under Police Colonel Surachai Thangam.

Chiang Mai Provincial Police worked with the Regional Police 5 Investigation Bureau, Chiang Mai Tourist Police and Chiang Mai Immigration Police to trace the visitor.

After locating a foreign man matching the missing-person description on Ratchapakhinai Road, officers checked his identity and confirmed he was Ali Karakoyunlu.

One-month Chiang Mai stay planned

Ali told officers he had travelled from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train and had been staying at J Guesthouse and Restaurant since 22 July 2569.

He said he intended to spend around one month sightseeing and relaxing in Chiang Mai before continuing to the Philippines.

Police helped him contact his relatives to confirm that he was unharmed and had not lost any belongings. His family were reassured after learning that the loss of contact was due to his decision not to use his phone, rather than an emergency.

Ali and his family thanked the police units involved for their work in tracing him and restoring contact.

3 August 2026

Thanks RTP and all the best to you Ali. Sometimes family seems to be a pain in the axx.🤣

Sorry, but I just think Selfish Bastard. Also what a waste of police time and obviously he has no thought for his ex or his family.

32 years old, travelling around the world more than one month. Just asking the Germans on this forum, how can Ali aford that

5 hours ago, L- Lifeline said:

would have avoided a lot of stress work and worryWhat an idiot. Just message your family that you want to disconnect for a day or two. Where you are staying in case the need to contact the hotel and relax.

All this effort and worry for nothing.

I agree- a simple call from him would have avoided a lot of stress and work and worry

The family not panicking after a grown man had been out of touch for just a few days would have avoided a lot of stress work and worry.

3 hours ago, dantho said:

Sorry, but I just think Selfish Bastard. Also what a waste of police time and obviously he has no thought for his ex or his family.

This 32-year old man was out of touch for only a few days, how can that reasonably be construed as having no thought for his family?

2 hours ago, vangrop said:

32 years old, travelling around the world more than one month. Just asking the Germans on this forum, how can Ali aford that

Why ask that? What is so extravagant about what appears to be a holiday on the cheap staying in hostels and traveling by train. Even if he had been staying in five-star hotels and traveling around by private jet, what business would it have been of anyone else?

Edited August 3Aug 3 by Liverpool Lou

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

This 32-year old man was out of touch for only a few days, how can that reasonably be construed as having no thought for his family?

That may have to do with the reasonable expectations of the family.

Just now, novacova said:

That may have to do with the reasonable expectations of the family.

I haven't got the gist of what you mean...are you suggesting that a grown man being out of touch with his family for just a few days while he's on holiday is not reasonable or that he has an obligation as an adult to keep in touch with his family at least once a week?

Edited August 3Aug 3 by Liverpool Lou

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

Are you suggesting that a grown man being out of touch with his family for just a few days while he's on holiday is not reasonable or that he has an obligation as an adult to keep in touch with his family at least once a week?

No, that was not suggested. If an individual has commonly stayed in contact with the family then it would be unusual to not be in contact while traveling abroad, it would seem unreasonable and out of character and possibly even worrisome for the family if he suddenly went silent.

Edited August 3Aug 3 by novacova