Cool Thai Retirement Or Longstay Destinations

[jaideeguy]

After spending 10+ LONG HOT SUMMERS in Chiang Mai, I find that either it's getting hotter and/or my tolerance for the heat is getting worse.....maybe a combination of both. Anyway, it has me thinking of high elevation alternatives to beat the heat.......can't go much further north.

I have a nice home near CM and could keep it, but escape during the summer months....March to June to my cool mountain retreat. Ideally, no more than 3 hrs hours drive from CM.

The problem with LOS is that most of the populated areas are in the lowlands and infrastructure and comforts are lacking in the high elevation areas. Another thing lacking is land titles and ownership [by Thai wife], but maybe a long tern lease could be arranged to build a simple bungalow??

My basic needs would be......

1] minimum 1,000mtrs elevation

2] internet at decent speeds

3] decent roads

4] possibility of ownership or long term lease

I've been following and contributing to a thread on the 'southeast Asia' subforum about retirement alternatives to Thailand and altho interesting for armchair travelers and those not encumbered with Thai wife and family.....the alternatives mentioned are either lowland in Asia or Central/south America. Wife wouldn't be happy there, so that's why I'm posting on the Thai travel subforum, thinking it may be the most appropriate place to bounce ideas and places around.

In my 10 yrs up north I've searched for that perfect cool place and a couple of areas seem like they could be viable options.....

Doi Angkhan @ 1,300mtrs elevation has perfect weather and meets my criteria, but land ownership needs investigation.

and a close friend, married to a hilltribe girl owns some coffee land at about the same elevation on a high mountain about 75kilometers from CM and I proposed a long term lease to him. beautiful area and totally off the tourist path....for better and worse, but totally undeveloped and have to look into satelite internet options.

Anyone else out there chasing this same dream?? or know of any high elevation sites with my above criteria?? and wanna share??

[Gary A]

Unfortunately most land at high elevation areas belongs to the government thus is untitled. Such land is for sale but it is NOT legal to buy or sell it.

[jaideeguy]

I realize that land titles in national parks and public lands are iffy, but as previously stated, I would settle for a long term lease. Maybe at this point, I should just request info on high altitude settlements. I am familiar with most of the northern Dois....any high elevation places in central Thai??

[craigt3365]

What about Khao Yai National Park? I have driven through there a few times, but never really spent any time. Many golf courses there and LOTS of Thai Hi-So's love it there. I do remember a concert there in January...either last year or the year before...where I heard it got quite cold. Does anybody know anything about this?

Phukradung was recommended by wifey. I remember taking a bus from Udon to Chiang Mai several years ago. It was really beautiful country side. Wifey says it does rain a lot there. She says the hiking is great. Just another thought....

[jaideeguy]

Drove thru both Phukradung and Khao Yai and was on the way to somewhere else and didn't get a chance to linger. Wikepedia says highest point in Khao Yai is 1,000mtrs, and altho beautiful place, it gets lots of BKK trafic.....so prices will be over the top. Phukradung's highest mountain is 1,300mt and a little further away from BKK.

Any 1st hand reports??? Expats in either area??

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

This is a topic that I'm most interested in, too. It's strange, however, to check the Wunderground Thailand temperature roundup from 11 pm Sunday to 12 am Monday roughly. The most southern areas seem to be the coolest, such as Hat Yai, Songkla, Narathiwat and some beach towns, by about three to five degrees C compared with central and northern areas. To confirm the point about Chiang Rai, it's one of the cooler towns, at 27C at 9 pm (latest temp report).

What you see will depend on what time you read this post, of course, but here is the URL:

Thailand temperture roundup

[jaideeguy]

Yeah, the southern seaside provences are a little cooler and they do have an ocean breeze to bring down the 'real feel' factor.......but I'm talking a CIVILIZED AND COMFORTABLE temp of 26c [high] which doesn't happen until you are over 1,000mtrs elevation. That only occurs in the north of Thailand and that's what I'm looking for.......

[craigt3365]

This is a topic that I'm most interested in, too. It's strange, however, to check the Wunderground Thailand temperature roundup from 11 pm Sunday to 12 am Monday roughly. The most southern areas seem to be the coolest, such as Hat Yai, Songkla, Narathiwat and some beach towns, by about three to five degrees C compared with central and northern areas. To confirm the point about Chiang Rai, it's one of the cooler towns, at 27C at 9 pm (latest temp report).

What you see will depend on what time you read this post, of course, but here is the URL:

Thailand temperture roundup

An interesting time is 3PM local time. In Sattahip, near my home, it is 33. Pattaya is 36 (where I was today and it is HOT!). Chiang Mai is 39 and Chiang Rai is 38. Wow...that is hot. Much hotter than I suspected. I spent an hour or so in a friends apartment on the beach. Perfect weather. As long as you were out of the sun!

Koh Lanta/Samui/other islands are showing up at 32. Phuket is 33.

Mukdahan is showing 42.6!!! Most of the Northern part of Issan is at 40.

Our low this morning was 28 (sattahip). Chiang Rai was 21 or 22 . Mukdahan was around 29/30.

[jaideeguy]

You're right Craig in that the afternoon temps are the highest and when I get the most lethargic/stupid/irritable. Too bad that website doesn't tell temps up at Doi Angkhang @ 1,300mtrs.......verry comfortable is what I experienced and my minimum starting point on my search still remains at 1,000mtrs for MY comfort level.

I do have another thread going on the Chiang Mai forum and have gotten some promising contacts by PM and will pursue them. meanwhile I have a 'starting point' on negotiations of a small parcel of land owned by a friend's mother in law @1,300mtrs. It is mostly undeveloped coffee farm land, but is willing to accept a lease for a small parcel.

It makes me think of joining with other like minded falangs to bring in basic infrastructure [water, elect and sattelite internet] and share costs of development.

PM me if interested......

[craigt3365]

You're right Craig in that the afternoon temps are the highest and when I get the most lethargic/stupid/irritable. Too bad that website doesn't tell temps up at Doi Angkhang @ 1,300mtrs.......verry comfortable is what I experienced and my minimum starting point on my search still remains at 1,000mtrs for MY comfort level.

I do have another thread going on the Chiang Mai forum and have gotten some promising contacts by PM and will pursue them. meanwhile I have a 'starting point' on negotiations of a small parcel of land owned by a friend's mother in law @1,300mtrs. It is mostly undeveloped coffee farm land, but is willing to accept a lease for a small parcel.

It makes me think of joining with other like minded falangs to bring in basic infrastructure [water, elect and sattelite internet] and share costs of development.

PM me if interested......

Sounds great! But I am up to my A** in finishing our house here in Baan Amphur. Man...what a lot of work. I have never built a house before...and with this one, we are doing more of a total renovation. It's driving my wife and me crazy.

So for now, I am set...but would love to hear how things work out for you. I am not married to this house or this location. I tend to move every 3-5 years.