A good Thailand itinerary for a first trip keeps to a few places. In 7 days, pair Bangkok with one region, a beach or Chiang Mai. In 10 days, add both: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one coast, chosen by the month. Below are day-by-day plans, travel times and prices between stops, checked on 14 November 2026.
Tours and activities to book along your Thailand itinerary
One outing per stop, from Bangkok to the islands, with live prices and availability.
Bangkok: Floating Market and Train Market Experience
A trip from Bangkok to a floating market and to the train market.
- Duration: 8.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.9(13,137 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $23per person
Bangkok: The Newest Luxury 5-Star Bangkok Chao Phraya Cruise
A cruise on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, on a newer luxury boat.
- Duration: 2 to 3.5 hours
- Free cancellation
4.8(5,289 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $46per person
Chiang Mai: Cooking Class, Market & Thai Herb Garden Tour
Cooking class in Chiang Mai with a market visit and a Thai herb garden tour.
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.9(6,589 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $29per person
Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting
Elephant sanctuary visit from Chiang Mai, with a waterfall and bamboo rafting.
- Duration: 1 day
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.9(12,278 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $56per person
Krabi: Premium 4-Island Day Trip by Longtail Boat with Lunch
Longtail boat day to four islands off Krabi, with lunch included.
- Duration: 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.6(6,477 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $33per person
Koh Samui: Mu Ko Ang Thong Park Cruise with Kayaking Option
Big boat cruise from Koh Samui to Mu Ko Ang Thong park, with a kayaking option.
- Duration: 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.4(5,352 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $38per person
See more activities in Bangkok
How to plan a first Thailand itinerary: three rules
Thailand stretches more than 1,600 km from north to south. The places to visit in Thailand on a first trip sit in three far-apart areas: Bangkok, Chiang Mai in the north, and the beaches of the south. Every move between them costs half a day.
See two or three places, not six
Count one stop for a week and three for ten days. Two nights is the minimum anywhere, because the day you arrive and the day you leave are mostly spent in transit. The extra places you drop will still be there on a second trip.
Pick the coast by the month
The two coasts have opposite seasons. The Andaman Sea, with Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta, is at its best from November to April. The Gulf, with Koh Samui, is drier from January to August and wettest in November. In March and April, smoke from farm and forest fires hangs over Chiang Mai.
Fly between regions, take the train once
Domestic flights between the regions take one to two hours. Budget airlines leave from Don Mueang, the older of Bangkok's two airports, so check which one your ticket uses. The night train to Chiang Mai is slower but saves a night of hotel, and many travellers count it as part of the trip.
Thailand itinerary for 7 days: two ways to spend a week
With a week, choose between the sea and the north. Both plans start with two days of things to do in Bangkok, since almost every long-haul flight lands there.
Option 1: Bangkok and a beach
| Day | Where | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangkok | Grand Palace at opening, Wat Pho, the ferry to Wat Arun |
| 2 | Bangkok | A floating market in the morning, Chinatown in the evening |
| 3 | Fly to Krabi, about 1 h 25 | Shuttle to Ao Nang for 150 THB, beach in the afternoon |
| 4 | Krabi | 4 Islands boat trip |
| 5 | Krabi | Railay by longtail, about 100 THB from Ao Nang |
| 6 | Krabi | Hong Islands, mangrove kayaking or a free beach day |
| 7 | Fly back to Bangkok | Your flight home |
From November to April this works with Krabi or Phuket. From January to August, swap them for Koh Samui. The beach days on Railay Beach need no booking, and the longtail leaves once about eight passengers are on board.
Option 2: Bangkok and Chiang Mai
| Day | Where | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangkok | Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun |
| 2 | Bangkok | Chinatown, then night train 9 at 6:40 pm |
| 3 | Chiang Mai, arrival about 7:15 am | Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang in the old city |
| 4 | Chiang Mai | Elephant sanctuary, Doi Suthep at sunset |
| 5 | Chiang Mai | Cooking class or Doi Inthanon |
| 6 | Fly to Bangkok, about 1 h 10 to 1 h 20 | A boat on the Chao Phraya, a rooftop at night |
| 7 | Bangkok | Ayutthaya by train if your flight leaves late |
Plan the north for a weekend if you can, for the Saturday and Sunday walking streets. Most temples among the things to do in Chiang Mai are free or under 100 THB, and Ayutthaya, one of the classic day trips from Bangkok, is under two hours by train.
Thailand 10 day itinerary: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the coast
Ten days is the classic first trip. It covers the capital, the temples of the north and a few days of sea, with two domestic flights and one night train. Chiang Mai has direct flights to Krabi, Phuket and Koh Samui, so you do not need to go back through Bangkok.
| Day | Where | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangkok | Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, the ferry to Wat Arun |
| 2 | Bangkok, night train at 6:40 pm | A market in the morning, Chinatown, Krung Thep Aphiwat station |
| 3 | Chiang Mai | Old city temples, the Sunday Walking Street if it falls on a Sunday |
| 4 | Chiang Mai | Elephant sanctuary without riding, Doi Suthep at the end of the day |
| 5 | Chiang Mai | Cooking class, or Doi Inthanon with its waterfalls |
| 6 | Direct flight to the coast | Krabi in about 2 h, or Phuket or Koh Samui |
| 7 | The coast | Boat day: 4 Islands, Phi Phi or Ang Thong |
| 8 | The coast | Railay, Old Phuket Town or the Big Buddha on Samui |
| 9 | The coast | A free day on the beach |
| 10 | Fly to Bangkok | Leave a few hours between the two flights |
Prefer to fly to Chiang Mai? Take a morning flight on day 3 and keep the evening of day 2 for a river cruise. Visiting in March or April, during the smoke season? Replace Chiang Mai with Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi, which are both reached by train from Bangkok.
On the coast, pick a single base. Krabi suits cliffs and short boat trips, Phuket has more beaches and nightlife, and Koh Lanta or Koh Samui are calmer picks among the best islands in Thailand. With two or three weeks you can add the far north or a second island group.
Andaman or Gulf: the island part of your Thailand itinerary by month
Some travellers skip the north and spend the whole trip by the sea. Fly straight to an island airport and move between islands on the same coast. Crossing from one coast to the other takes a full day by bus and boat.
| Months | Go to | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| November to April | Andaman Sea: Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta | Ang Thong park on the Gulf side is closed from about 1 November to mid-December |
| January to August | Gulf: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao | From May the Andaman Sea gets rough, and Maya Bay closes in August and September |
| September and October | Gulf, or Bangkok and the north | The wettest months on the Andaman coast, boat trips can be cancelled |
Andaman islands only: Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta
| Days | Base | Getting there and what to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Phuket | Flight to Phuket, Old Town, a boat to Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay |
| 4 to 6 | Ao Nang, Krabi | Fast boat from Rassada pier, about 1 h 15, then 4 Islands and Railay |
| 7 to 9 | Koh Lanta | Minivan or boat, then beaches and the Old Town on stilts |
| 10 | Krabi airport | Minivan of 2 to 3 hours, flight to Bangkok |
For a 7-day version, drop Koh Lanta. Kata and Karon are calmer Phuket beaches than Patong for a short stay.
Gulf islands only: Koh Samui and its neighbours
Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Samui in about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes and lists a 20 kg checked bag on its flights. Spend four nights on Samui, with the Friday market at Fisherman's Village and a boat to Ang Thong when the park is open. Then take a ferry to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao for the rest of the trip.
Return to Samui for the flight back, or take the boat and bus to Surat Thani airport, which adds 3 to 4 hours and about 15 to 45 USD.
Thailand itinerary with kids: 10 slower days
With children, plan fewer moves and longer stays. This version keeps Bangkok and two beach bases with calm, shallow water, and replaces the night train with short flights.
| Days | Base | Ideas for children |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Bangkok | River boats, the Grand Palace, free under 120 cm, Jim Thompson House, free under 10 |
| 4 to 6 | Ao Nang, Krabi | Short longtail rides to Railay, a 4 Islands day if they like boats |
| 7 to 9 | Koh Lanta | Klong Dao and Long Beach, shallow water for young children |
| 10 | Krabi airport | Minivan with a short car ferry, flight to Bangkok |
Koh Lanta has a hospital on Lanta Noi, and Kata and Karon on Phuket are other family beaches. Elephant sanctuaries set their own age limits: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary takes visitors from age 13 on its walkway programme. Ask before you book.
Getting between stops in Thailand: travel times and 2026 prices
These are the legs used in the plans above, with travel times and 2026 prices. Fares are one way, per person, and change with the date. Budget airline prices exclude checked bags.
| Leg | How | Time | Reported price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok to Chiang Mai | Flight | About 1 h 10 to 1 h 20 | 700 to 1,500 THB |
| Bangkok to Chiang Mai | Night train 9 or 13, 2nd class berth | About 12.5 h | 770 to 1,040 THB |
| Bangkok to Krabi or Phuket | Flight, mostly from Don Mueang | About 1 h 25 | From about 35 USD |
| Bangkok to Koh Samui | Flight | About 1 h 15 | From about 140 USD |
| Chiang Mai to Krabi | Direct flight, Thai AirAsia | About 2 h | About 95 to 160 USD |
| Chiang Mai to Koh Samui | Direct flight, Bangkok Airways | About 1 h 45 | Check on the day |
| Phuket to Ao Nang | Fast boat | About 1 h 15 | 30 to 45 USD |
| Krabi airport to Koh Lanta | Minivan and car ferry | 2 to 3 h | 350 to 540 THB |
| Krabi to Koh Samui | Bus and boat, Lomprayah | 5 to 8 h | About 1,100 THB |
Flight times come from airline and schedule sites, and fares from booking sites in 2026. Grab works in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Samui, so set up an eSIM for Thailand before you land to book rides from the airport.
How much a 7 or 10 day Thailand trip costs
Per person, without the international flight or domestic flights, at about 34 THB to the US dollar in November 2026. The daily figures cover a room, food, local transport and some paid activities.
| Style | Per day | 7 days | 10 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | 1,000 to 1,800 THB | 7,000 to 12,600 THB, about 205 to 370 USD | 10,000 to 18,000 THB, about 295 to 530 USD |
| Mid-range | 2,500 to 4,000 THB | 17,500 to 28,000 THB, about 515 to 825 USD | 25,000 to 40,000 THB, about 740 to 1,180 USD |
| Comfort | 6,000 to 10,000 THB | 42,000 to 70,000 THB, about 1,240 to 2,065 USD | 60,000 to 100,000 THB, about 1,770 to 2,950 USD |
Add two or three domestic legs from the table above, and the park fees on boat trips, often 200 to 400 THB a person on top of the tour price. There is no tourist entry fee in 2026.
What to book before your Thailand trip
Most of the bookings for Thailand holidays can be made as you go, apart from a few things that fill up in high season, from November to February.
Book the night train to Chiang Mai two to four weeks ahead in high season, as the lower berths go first. Flights to Koh Samui come next: Bangkok Airways runs most of them, and fares start around 140 USD. Bus and boat tickets between the two coasts are best bought 48 to 72 hours ahead.
Rooms go fast on festival dates: Christmas and New Year, Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in Chiang Mai on 24 November 2026, and Songkran from 13 to 15 April.
Since 15 September 2026, most nationalities get 30 days without a visa, so a 7 or 10 day trip needs none. A longer stay needs a Thailand tourist visa, and everyone fills in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within the three days before you land.