0-day itinerary
3-Week Thailand Itinerary
Three weeks is enough for the north and both coasts, in one direction, without a day lost to doubling back.
- Budget
- ฿1,900–7,500/day
- Best for
- first-timers, couples
- Logistics
- Moderate
- Updated
- 8 Oct 2026
Is 3 Weeks in Thailand Enough?
Three weeks is the length where Thailand stops being a choice between the north and the beach. This plan runs in one direction. Bangkok for two days, the overnight train to Chiang Mai, three nights there and two in Pai, then a direct flight to Krabi and a week down the Andaman coast through Railay, Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi. On Day 15 a one-ticket boat and coach crosses the peninsula to Koh Tao, and the last week hops the Gulf islands to Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, where you fly home. That's twenty nights in ten beds, one train, two flights and five boat hops, and no stop shorter than two nights except the last. It fits inside Thailand's 30-day visa-free stay. The route works best from mid-January to mid-February, when both coasts are dry and the north is still clear, and below the plan there's a swap for every other season.
Arriving in Bangkok
Where to stay, starting with Bangkok
This itinerary sleeps in 9 places. Pick the stop, then the area, and search with your dates for that leg. Filter for free cancellation so you can hold rooms along the route and decide later.
See Bangkok hotelsOpens Booking.com with your dates · also on Expedia · Trip.com
Key Facts
Bangkok 2 → sleeper → Chiang Mai 3 → Pai 2 → Ao Nang 2 → Koh Lanta 2 → Koh Phi Phi 2 → Koh Tao 3 → Koh Phangan 2 → Koh Samui 1
The train north at 18:40, a direct flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi (1h55), speedboats down the Andaman coast, one long day across the peninsula, and short Gulf hops to Samui's airport.
Best from mid-January to mid-February
The Andaman coast is dry from November to April and the Gulf from January to September. Chiang Mai's smoky burning season runs from mid-February to April, so the window that suits all three is about a month long. The seasons section has the swaps.
About ฿40,000–60,000 as a backpacker, ฿90,000–157,000 mid-range
That's ฿1,900–7,500 a day per person, the same daily rates as the two-week plan, before international flights. The Gulf islands and Phi Phi run above the mainland.
It fits the 30-day visa-free stay
Citizens of the visa-exempt countries get 30 days on arrival since 15 September 2026. Stretch this into a month and you'll need an extension or a visa.
Book the train, the two flights and the Koh Tao crossing early
Lower berths on the 18:40 sleeper and the Chiang Mai–Krabi direct sell first. The Phi Phi to Koh Tao ticket is one seat a day on Lomprayah. The other boats need a day's notice.
Your 3 Weeks at a Glance
| Days | Where you sleep | Getting there | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Bangkok, 2 nights | Airport Rail Link or taxi | Chinatown, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun |
| 3 | The sleeper train | 18:40 from Krung Thep Aphiwat | Chatuchak or Jim Thompson House first |
| 4–6 | Chiang Mai, 3 nights | Off the train at 07:15 | Old City temples, Doi Suthep, elephants, a cooking class |
| 7–8 | Pai, 2 nights | Minivan, 3.5–4 hours | Pai Canyon, hot springs, waterfalls, the bamboo bridge |
| 9–10 | Ao Nang, 2 nights | Van back, then fly Chiang Mai → Krabi | Railay and the Hong Islands |
| 11–12 | Koh Lanta, 2 nights | Bundhaya speedboat, 10:10 | Long Beach, the Old Town, the national park lighthouse |
| 13–14 | Koh Phi Phi, 2 nights | Bundhaya speedboat, 30 minutes | The viewpoint at sunset, Maya Bay at 07:30 |
| 15–17 | Koh Tao, 3 nights | Lomprayah boat and coach, 10:00 → 17:45 | Koh Nang Yuan, John-Suwan Viewpoint, a dive day |
| 18–19 | Koh Phangan, 2 nights | Catamaran to Thong Sala, about an hour | Thong Nai Pan and Bottle Beach |
| 20–21 | Koh Samui, 1 night | Boat to Bangrak | Wat Plai Laem, Fisherman's Village, then the flight home |
Days 1–5, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 14 are the same days as the 2-week itinerary, which has their full timings. Boat times are the high-season timetables; from May to mid-October the Andaman speedboats run less often.
The 21-Day Plan
Here's every day. Where a day is the same as the 2-week itinerary's, it's summarized with a link to the full timings, and the days that are new to this route are written out stop by stop.
- 1Arrive in Bangkok, Then Chinatown After Dark
- 2The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and a Rooftop Sunset
- 3Chatuchak or Jim Thompson, Then the 18:40 Sleeper North
- 4Off the Train in Chiang Mai for the Old City Temples
- 5Doi Suthep at Dawn and an Afternoon With Elephants
- 6A Cooking Class, Wat Umong and a Slow Chiang Mai Evening
- 7The 762 Curves to Pai for a Canyon Sunset and the Walking Street
- 8Waterfalls, the Bamboo Bridge and the White Buddha
- 9Pai Morning, the Van Back and the Direct Flight to Krabi
- 10Railay and Phra Nang Cave Beach, Then the Hong Islands
- 11Speedboat to Koh Lanta and an Afternoon on Long Beach
- 12Lanta Old Town, the National Park Lighthouse and a Kantiang Sunset
- 13Speedboat to Koh Phi Phi and the Viewpoint at Sunset
- 14Maya Bay at 07:30, Pileh Lagoon and Monkey Beach
- 15Across the Peninsula to Koh Tao
- 16Koh Nang Yuan and the John-Suwan Viewpoint
- 17A Dive Day, or Snorkeling at Shark Bay
- 18Catamaran to Koh Phangan and the Northeast Bays
- 19Bottle Beach by Longtail
- 20Boat to Samui, Wat Plai Laem and Fisherman's Village
- 21Fly Home From Samui
Day 1
Arrive in Bangkok, Then Chinatown After Dark
Get to a hotel near the MRT, buy a SIM in arrivals and eat on Yaowarat Road. Sukhumvit (Asok) or Silom puts the Old City and the railway station on one line.
- Land at Suvarnabhumi and get into the city
- Check in near the MRT — Sukhumvit (Asok) or Silom
- Yaowarat Road — Chinatown street food
- Optional nightcap on a rooftop
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 1
Day 2
The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and a Rooftop Sunset
The three great buildings of the Old City before the heat, an air-conditioned afternoon, and the city from above at sunset.
- The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
- Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha
- Lunch at Tha Tien, then the ฿5 ferry
- Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn
- Afternoon break — the pool or Museum Siam
- Sunset from 300 meters — Mahanakhon SkyWalk or a rooftop bar
- Dinner in Silom or Sukhumvit
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 2
Day 3
Chatuchak or Jim Thompson, Then the 18:40 Sleeper North
The weekend market or the silk king's house, then the train from Krung Thep Aphiwat with a berth and a curtain, and the mountains at breakfast.
- Chatuchak Weekend Market — or Jim Thompson House on a weekday
- Collect bags, shop for the train, ride the MRT to Krung Thep Aphiwat
- Special express #9 to Chiang Mai — the sleeper
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 3
Day 4
Off the Train in Chiang Mai for the Old City Temples
Coffee by Tha Phae Gate while the hotel holds your bags, the two great temples inside the moat, a massage, and a market after dark.
- Arrive Chiang Mai station; bags to the hotel, breakfast by Tha Phae Gate
- Wat Chedi Luang and a monk chat
- Wat Phra Singh
- Khao soi at Huen Phen, then check-in and a nap
- A massage at Fah Lanna or the Women's Massage Center
- Sunday Walking Street — or the Night Bazaar on other nights
- The North Gate Jazz Co-Op
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 4
Day 5
Doi Suthep at Dawn and an Afternoon With Elephants
The mountain temple from 06:00, before the coaches, and an ethical elephant program after lunch.
- Red songthaew up the mountain
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail
- Afternoon at an ethical elephant sanctuary
- Northern Thai dinner in Nimman
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 5
Day 6
A Cooking Class, Wat Umong and a Slow Chiang Mai Evening
The day the two-week plan doesn't have. A morning cooking class that starts at the market, a forest temple at the foot of Doi Suthep, and an evening with nowhere to be. Book tomorrow's Pai van today.
- 1
Half-day Thai cooking class with a market visit
Cost: ฿1,000–1,500 incl. pickup, market tour and lunchAllow: 4.5 hours
Zabb E Lee and Asia Scenic both run morning classes that start at the market, where you learn what galangal, holy basil and Thai eggplant look like, then cook five or six dishes at your own station, including a curry paste from scratch. Lunch is what you made.
Next: A short Grab ride west to Wat Umong, at the foot of the mountain.
- 2
Wat Umong
Allow: 1–1.5 hours
A forest temple at the foot of Doi Suthep, with brick tunnels under the chedi lit by small Buddha images, mossy paths, a field of broken statues and a lake with fish and turtles. The tunnels take five minutes; the grounds are why you stay.
Next: Back to the Old City for a massage and dinner, and book the 09:30 Pai van at the Arcade counter or through your hotel.
Day 7
The 762 Curves to Pai for a Canyon Sunset and the Walking Street
The minivan over the mountains, the hot springs and the WWII bridge in the afternoon, Pai Canyon at sunset and the walking street after dark.
- Minivan Chiang Mai → Pai
- Lunch, check in, and rent a scooter
- Tha Pai Memorial Bridge and the hot springs
- Sunset at Pai Canyon
- Pai Walking Street and the night market
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 6
Day 8
Waterfalls, the Bamboo Bridge and the White Buddha
The second Pai night is the one the two-week plan can't fit, a full day in the valley by scooter. Waterfall in the morning, rice paddies at midday, a temple in the late light.
- 1
Morpaeng Waterfall
Allow: 2 hours
A tiered cascade outside Pai with natural pools at the foot of each drop, deep enough to swim when the flow is good and shaded by forest. Come at the 08:30 opening and you'll have the pools mostly to yourself. The path is uneven and slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip.
Next: Scooter on to Kho Ku So.
- 2
Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge
Cost: ฿30Allow: 1.5 hours
About 815 meters of bamboo walkway across working rice paddies, built so monks and farmers could cross the fields in the wet season, with a forest monastery at the far end.
Next: Lunch back in town, then a slow afternoon.
- 3
The White Buddha
Cost: FreeAllow: 1 hour
A large white Buddha with a dragon bridge in the Thung Yao area outside town, calm and rarely busy. It's a different temple from Pai's bigger Big Buddha across the river, so check the map pin.
Next: Dinner on the walking street, and book tomorrow's 11:00 van back to Chiang Mai.
Day 9
Pai Morning, the Van Back and the Direct Flight to Krabi
The Yun Lai viewpoint over the morning mist, the van back over the curves, and a 1h55 flight to Krabi. Sunset on Ao Nang's beach.
- Yun Lai Viewpoint and the Santichon village
- Fly Chiang Mai → Krabi direct
- Check in at Ao Nang, dinner at the Landmark night market
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 7
Day 10
Railay and Phra Nang Cave Beach, Then the Hong Islands
The road-free peninsula in the morning and a speedboat to the ring of karst islands in the afternoon.
- Longtail from Ao Nang to Railay West
- Phra Nang Cave Beach
- Railay Viewpoint — or a beginner climb
- Half-day speedboat to the Hong Islands
- Dinner at Kodam Kitchen
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 8
Day 11
Speedboat to Koh Lanta and an Afternoon on Long Beach
South by boat, not by van, and a first afternoon on the island's best all-round beach.
- 1
Bundhaya speedboat from Nopparat Thara pier to Koh Lanta
Cost: About ฿1,215Allow: 1.5–2 hours
Bundhaya's speedboat leaves Nopparat Thara pier at 10:10 (Railay East at 10:30) and reaches Saladan on Lanta around 11:40–12:00, all year. From November the Ao Nang Princess ferry leaves at 10:30 for about ฿670, a slower and steadier ride.
Next: Hotel pickups meet the boats at Saladan; Long Beach is about 15 minutes south.
- 2
Long Beach
Cost: FreeAllow: Afternoon
About four kilometers of wide sand with casuarina shade on the west coast, the island's most reliable swimming because it shelves more steeply than Klong Dao and stays swimmable at low tide. Bungalows and low-rise resorts sit behind it, the right base for two nights.
Next: A tuk-tuk or scooter a little further south to Klong Khong for sunset.
- 3
Sunset on Klong Khong
Allow: 2–3 hours
A quieter beach lined with bars and restaurants on the sand, facing the sunset. The tide goes far out in the late afternoon here, so swim at Long Beach and come to Klong Khong for the evening.
Day 12
Lanta Old Town, the National Park Lighthouse and a Kantiang Sunset
The island's slow loop by scooter, the century-old stilt town on the east coast, the lighthouse at the southern tip, and back up the west side.
- Lanta Old Town
- Mu Ko Lanta National Park and the lighthouse
- Kantiang Bay afternoon — swim, snorkel trip, or a cooking class
- Sunset and a last island dinner
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 12
Day 13
Speedboat to Koh Phi Phi and the Viewpoint at Sunset
Half an hour north to the island with no cars, a lazy afternoon on Long Beach and the climb to the viewpoint for sunset.
- 1
Bundhaya speedboat from Saladan to Tonsai pier
Cost: ฿700; ฿20 pier fee at Tonsai in cashAllow: 30–40 minutes
From late October Bundhaya sails at 10:00, 13:00 and 15:30. From May to mid-October it's one boat a day, so book it the day before.
Next: Porters take bags to the far beaches for ฿100–200. Walk to Tonsai village for lunch.
- 2
Long Beach
Cost: Free; longtail ฿150 each wayAllow: 2.5 hours
The best swimming beach near the village, with blacktip reef sharks in the shallows off the far end some mornings. A longtail from Tonsai is the easy way there.
Next: Back to the village by 16:30 for the climb.
- 3
Phi Phi Viewpoints 1 and 2 at sunset
Cost: ฿50Allow: 1.5 hours
A long run of steep steps from Tonsai to the view of the twin bays and the sandbar between them. Viewpoint 1 is the halfway house; give it another 10–15 minutes up to Viewpoint 2. Book tomorrow's 07:00 longtail to Maya Bay on the way back down.
Day 14
Maya Bay at 07:30, Pileh Lagoon and Monkey Beach
The early longtail that beats the day boats into Maya Bay, the lagoon after it, and a free afternoon for a dive or a beach.
- Longtail from Tonsai around Phi Phi Leh
- Maya Bay
- Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave and Loh Samah
- Monkey Beach, then back to Tonsai by noon
- A first dive — or Loh Dalum and a massage
Timings, prices and the map for this day in 2-Week Thailand Itinerary, Day 10
Day 15
Across the Peninsula to Koh Tao
The one long travel day of the trip, from the Andaman Sea to the Gulf of Thailand on a single ticket. Pack a book and expect a late check-in.
- 1
Lomprayah's boat, coach and catamaran from Tonsai to Koh Tao
Cost: ฿1,850Allow: About 8 hours
Lomprayah's timetable sells Phi Phi to Koh Tao as one ticket, leaving Tonsai at 10:00 and landing at Mae Haad at 17:45, by boat to the mainland, coach across the peninsula and catamaran to the island. 12Go sells it and a similar 10:00 combination from another agent. Travelers' reviews of these tickets mention late arrivals when a connection runs behind, so don't plan anything for the evening, and tell your hotel you may arrive after dark.
Next: Songthaews and taxis wait at Mae Haad pier for the ride north to Sairee.
- 2
Dinner on Sairee Beach
Allow: 2 hours
The island's longest beach, lined with dive schools, guesthouses and bars. Ask at a dive shop tonight about tomorrow's or the day after's boats.
Day 16
Koh Nang Yuan and the John-Suwan Viewpoint
The three-island sandbar in the morning, before the day-trip boats, and Koh Tao's best viewpoint in the late afternoon.
- 1
Koh Nang Yuan
Cost: ฿250 island entry fee, plus the boatAllow: 4 hours
Three small islands joined by a sandbar, a short boat ride from Koh Tao's piers. The climb to the viewpoint is steep, rocky and over quickly, and then you snorkel off the sandbar. The island is private and bans plastic bottles, so bring a refillable one.
Next: Back to Koh Tao for lunch and a quiet afternoon; the viewpoint is best late in the day.
- 2
John-Suwan Viewpoint
Allow: 1.5 hours
A shaded but steep trail through jungle and around boulders on the island's southern tip, with a view of the bays on both sides at the top. Wear proper shoes, not flip-flops, and go late rather than at midday.
Day 17
A Dive Day, or Snorkeling at Shark Bay
Koh Tao is the cheapest place in the world to dive, and this is the day for it.
- 1
Two fun dives, or a Discover Scuba day
Cost: Fun dives about ฿1,000–1,800 eachAllow: Morning
Certified divers join the morning boats to sites like Sail Rock, South West Pinnacle and White Rock. If you want the Open Water certificate, it takes 3.5 to 4 days and costs ฿10,000–12,000 here, often with a bed included, so start it on Day 16 and add a night, or move a Phangan night here.
Next: Not a diver? Take a taxi to the south coast for Shark Bay instead.
- 2
Shark Bay
Allow: 2 hours
Snorkelers come for the turtles grazing on the corals just offshore. The shore is coral rubble and rock, so wear water shoes, and come when the sun's out, because cloud turns the water murky.
Day 18
Catamaran to Koh Phangan and the Northeast Bays
An hour's crossing south and a ride over the hills to the quiet side of Koh Phangan.
- 1
Lomprayah catamaran from Mae Haad to Thong Sala
Cost: ฿600Allow: About 1 hour
Lomprayah's catamarans leave Koh Tao at 09:15 and 09:30, and Boonsiri's at 09:15, all ฿600, landing at Thong Sala on Phangan's southwest coast. Check in at your operator's desk 30 minutes before for a boarding sticker.
Next: A taxi or songthaew over the hills to Thong Nai Pan; agree the fare before you get in.
- 2
Thong Nai Pan
Cost: FreeAllow: Afternoon
Two horseshoe bays on the northeast corner, hemmed in by jungle hills. Thong Nai Pan Yai has the village and the family resorts, Thong Nai Pan Noi the more polished hotels. The swimming is calm most of the year, and nobody comes here for the Full Moon Party.
Day 19
Bottle Beach by Longtail
The beach with no road, and an afternoon back on your own bay.
- 1
Bottle Beach
Cost: Longtail ฿100–150 each wayAllow: 5 hours
A wide crescent of soft sand on the north coast, reached by a 15-minute longtail from Chaloklum or a 60–90 minute jungle trail. There are a few bungalow restaurants and nothing else, and the water is calm enough for a long swim. Come back on the longtail before it gets late.
Day 20
Boat to Samui, Wat Plai Laem and Fisherman's Village
The last hop lands ten minutes from the airport, so the final night is close to tomorrow's flight.
- 1
Boat from Thong Sala to Bangrak on Koh Samui
Cost: ฿200–500Allow: 20–50 minutes
Lomprayah's catamarans (10:45, 12:30, 16:00), the Lomlahkkhirin speedboats, Seatran and Boonsiri all land at Bangrak, 10 minutes from Samui's airport and 15 from Chaweng. Sleep in Bophut or Bangrak tonight.
- 2
Wat Plai Laem
Allow: 30–45 minutes
A small, colorful temple built around a lake, with an 18-armed statue of Guanyin standing out of the water, murals inside the halls and catfish and turtles in the lake. The Big Buddha is nearby if you have time for both.
- 3
Fisherman's Village
Allow: 2–3 hours
Bophut's beachfront street, mostly closed to traffic in the evening, with seafood stalls, shops and restaurants on the sand. A last dinner with your feet in the sand.
Day 21
Fly Home From Samui
A short hop to Bangkok for the long-haul flight, with margin built in.
- 1
Samui Airport
Cost: From about ฿2,800 one way to BangkokAllow: About 1h10 to Suvarnabhumi
Bangkok Airways flies Samui to Suvarnabhumi around 30 times a day and to Don Mueang three times. Book it on the same ticket as your international flight if you can, or leave at least three hours in Bangkok, and take a morning flight from Samui rather than the last one. The open-air terminal is a pleasant place to wait.
When to Go, and the Swap for Every Season
No three-week route through Thailand is perfect in every month, because the two coasts have opposite rainy seasons and the north has a smoke season. This one is built for mid-January to mid-February. Outside that window, keep the shape and swap one part.
Mid-February to April, swap the north for Khao Sok
Both coasts are dry, but crop burning fills Chiang Mai and Pai with smoke, worst in March. Cut the north to the Bangkok days, fly to Krabi, and give the five northern nights to Khao Sok's rainforest and lake, between the two coasts, and an extra night on each island. The backpacking route has the Khao Sok details.
November and December, stay on the Andaman coast
The Gulf islands are in their rainy season, with November Samui's wettest month. Keep Days 1–14 and replace the Gulf week with the deep south. From Lanta, the island-hopping speedboats run through Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Kradan to Koh Lipe from 15 October, and you leave Lipe by speedboat to Pak Bara and fly home from Hat Yai. The island-hopping guide has every boat.
May to October, swap the Andaman week for the Gulf
The Andaman coast takes the southwest monsoon, with rough seas and Maya Bay closed in August and September, while the Gulf islands have some of their best weather. Keep Days 1–8, then fly from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui instead of Krabi. Bangkok Airways flies it nonstop in about 1 hour 45. Spend the island fortnight going north, Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and finish with Lomprayah's ticket from Koh Tao back to Bangkok, which leaves at 10:15 and reaches Khao San at 20:30, or Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang at 23:00, for ฿1,750.
What 3 Weeks in Thailand Costs
| Style | Per day | 21 days per person | What it buys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | ฿1,900–2,850 | About ฿40,000–60,000 | Hostels and guesthouses, street food, the second-class sleeper, budget flights and every boat |
| Mid-range | ฿4,300–7,500 | About ฿90,000–157,000 | 3–4★ hotels with pools, restaurant meals, a dive day, the cooking class and the elephants |
Daily rates are the 2-week itinerary's own per-person budgets, scaled to 21 days, before international flights and insurance. The Gulf islands and Phi Phi run 25–40% above the mainland, and the two weeks around Christmas and New Year cost the most.
Before You Book
Book the sleeper berth as soon as it opens
Tickets open 90 days ahead, and lower berths on the 18:40 to Chiang Mai sell out weeks ahead from November to February.
Book the Chiang Mai–Krabi direct early
AirAsia, VietJet and Thai Lion fly it nonstop in 1h55 for about ฿2,200–3,000 booked ahead, and the fare doubles in the last week. Avoid connections through Bangkok.
Pack for ten check-ins
One carry-on-size bag survives the train rack, the speedboats and Phi Phi's porter lanes. Every stop has ฿40–60/kg next-day laundry, so pack for a week.
Never put a boat on the day of a long-haul flight
That's why the plan sleeps on Samui before the flight home. If your international flight leaves Bangkok early, fly up from Samui the evening before.
Plan the rest of the trip
Before you go
Three things to sort this week
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about 3-week thailand itinerary.
Yes, for a first trip it's the most complete length that still feels unhurried. It covers Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pai, and both the Andaman and Gulf coasts with two or three nights at most stops. A month adds Khao Sok, Koh Lipe or a slower pace, but needs a visa extension past 30 days.
Bangkok (2 nights), the sleeper train, Chiang Mai (3), Pai (2), then a direct flight to Krabi for Ao Nang and Railay (2), Koh Lanta (2) and Koh Phi Phi (2), a one-ticket crossing to Koh Tao (3), Koh Phangan (2) and a last night on Koh Samui before flying home. It runs in one direction and crosses the peninsula once.
With three weeks, both kinds of place. This route takes Chiang Mai for the north and swaps Phuket for Krabi, Lanta and Phi Phi, which share the same sea and limestone with less traffic. If you'd rather end in Phuket, the 2-week itinerary finishes there.
About ฿40,000–60,000 per person as a backpacker and ฿90,000–157,000 mid-range, before international flights, at ฿1,900–7,500 a day. Islands cost more than the mainland, and Christmas and New Year are the most expensive weeks.
September and October, when the Andaman coast is at its wettest and the Gulf's rainy season is starting. March and April are the hottest months and the smokiest in the north, so a route with Chiang Mai is better from November to mid-February.
Not if your passport is on the visa-exempt list. Those citizens get 30 days on arrival since 15 September 2026, which covers 21 days with room to spare. Check the visa guide for your nationality.
You can, but you'd give up one of the coasts. Use the 2-week Thailand plan, which ends in Phuket with a long-haul airport, and add a week in Vietnam on a separate flight.
Where to stay in Bangkok
Compare prices across major booking sites — filter for free-cancellation rooms if you want to reserve now and decide later.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Expedia
Bundle & save
Compare rates on Trip.com
Strong across Asia
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
You Might Also Like
3 Days in Bangkok
Old City temples, Chinatown after dark, the weekend market and a rooftop — timed so you never double back.
5 Days in Phuket
Two boat days, one culture day, two beach days — based in Kata so nothing is more than an hour away.
7 Days in Thailand
Capital, mountains, islands — six nights, two short flights, and no day lost to transit.
10 Days in Thailand Itinerary
Capital, sleeper train, mountains, then the Andaman coast by ferry — nine nights, one direction, no backtracking.
Best Time to Visit Thailand
November to February for most trips, and the right coast for the rest of the year
Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
More about MacReady to build your itinerary?
Use our free itinerary builder to save places, organize days, and share your trip.
Open Itinerary Builder