How to Choose Your Thailand Route
These plans go into more detail than the short versions in our main Thailand guide. Pick the length that fits your time, and keep the pace realistic. Bangkok is the usual starting point, and moving between regions takes longer than it looks on a map. Domestic flights are quick and often cheap when booked early. For example, Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes about 1 hour 15 minutes by air, while the overnight sleeper train takes roughly 12 to 15 hours.
5-Day Itinerary: Bangkok and Ayutthaya
- Day 1: Arrive and settle in. Take an easy evening walk and eat street food in Yaowarat (Chinatown).
- Day 2: Visit the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the morning, then take a river boat to Wat Arun at sunset.
- Day 3: Explore markets and neighborhoods, such as Chatuchak on a weekend, and enjoy a Thai cooking class or a massage in the afternoon.
- Day 4: Day trip to Ayutthaya by train or van to see the ruined temples. Return to Bangkok in the evening.
- Day 5: Free morning, then head to the airport with a good time buffer.
7-Day Itinerary: Bangkok and Chiang Mai
- Days 1 to 3: Bangkok: temples, the river, food markets and a day for shopping or museums.
- Day 4: Fly to Chiang Mai. Walk the old town and visit a night market.
- Day 5: Doi Suthep temple in the morning, then a cooking class or a visit to an ethical elephant sanctuary.
- Day 6: Choose between a day trip to Chiang Rai’s White Temple or a slower day of cafes and temples in Chiang Mai.
- Day 7: Fly back to Bangkok for your international flight, keeping several hours in hand.
10-Day Itinerary: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the Beach
- Days 1 to 3: Bangkok.
- Days 4 to 6: Chiang Mai, including a day trip, with one slow day to rest.
- Day 7: Fly to Krabi or Phuket.
- Days 8 to 10: Beaches and boat trips. In Krabi, base yourself at Ao Nang or Railay. In Phuket, choose Kata, Karon or the old town depending on your budget and style. Fly home from the same airport, or return to Bangkok the day before.
14-Day Itinerary: Culture, Nature and Two Beaches
- Days 1 to 3: Bangkok.
- Day 4: Ayutthaya day trip, or an overnight stop in Kanchanaburi.
- Days 5 to 8: Chiang Mai, with a day trip to Chiang Rai or time in Pai.
- Days 9 to 11: Andaman coast: Krabi and a boat day to nearby islands. Add Khao Sok National Park on the way if you like nature.
- Days 12 to 14: Fly to Koh Samui for a second beach stay, then return to Bangkok to fly home.
Do not combine both coasts in the rainy season unless you are flexible. The two coasts have different weather patterns, and you may meet rain on one of them.
Tips for Linking Your Route
- Use open-jaw flights: fly into Bangkok and home from Phuket, Krabi or Chiang Mai, and avoid going back the same way. Compare prices on our flights guide.
- Book domestic flights early: low-cost airlines are often cheap but have strict baggage limits.
- Leave buffer days: ferries can be cancelled in rough weather, so avoid a tight connection to an international flight.
- Check the season: use our best time to visit guide to choose the right coast.
- Stay near transit: in Bangkok, a hotel near a BTS or MRT station saves hours. See where to stay.
Before You Go
Check the visa rules and the arrival card, and decide the places that matter most to you. For the full overview, read our Thailand travel guide.