Thailand Trip – March 2015 – Companions needed

Hi I am planning a trip to Thailand in March 2015, and would like to find a few other people to go with me to share costs. My main priority is to see Spoon-billed Sandpiper. I have tentative itinerary for the rest of the trip (visiting some of the main birding sites in central, northern, and southern Thailand). But I would be happy to modify it to suit anyone else who wants to travel with me. Tentative itinerary:  Sat 28th February: flight into Bangkok from Australia, arrive evening.March 1-2: Pak ThaleMarch 3-5: Kaeng Krachan NPMarch 6: Flight from Bangkok to Chiang MaiMarch 6-14: Doi Inthanon NP and Doi Lang/Doi Ang Khang/Doi Chiang Dao/Thaton (haven’t decided which to visit yet)March 15: flight from Chiang Mai to BangkokMarch 15-18: Khao Yai NPMarch 19: flight from Bangkok to KrabiMarch 19-21: Krabi and Similian IslandsMarch 22-24: Khao Nor ChuchiMarch 25-27: Krung Ching Waterfall*March 28: flight from Krabi to Bangkok, evening flight from Bangkok to Australia *or possibly a hike up Khao Luang mountain instead to look for newly split (by Clements and Birdlife International) Thai endemic Turquoise-throated Barbet. Expected costs (in AU$):Internal flights: 120-180National Park entrance fees: 200Boat Trips: 200Food: 300-400Car Hire: 1000-1500Fuel: 200-400?Accommodation/camping equipment hire: 700 (or 350 if 2 people splitting cost of a room). In total, per person:Just me:  2720 – 35802 people: 1770 – 22803 people: 1685 – 20804 people: 1470 – 1805 I want to get cheap food/accommodation if possible so maybe food and accommodation will be less than the guesstimate above.  However, I wouldn’t mind getting more comfortable accommodation if that’s what someone travelling with me wants. I am going to use the information on www.thaibirding.com, souththailandbirding.com, and www.norththailandbirding.com to plan the trip in more detail later on. Also: I haven’t birded (or travelled) outside of Australia before, and if anyone has any good advice (or can point me to websites with good advice) it would be much appreciated. Cheers,Michael Kearns,Newcastle, NSW, Australia