Thailand Itinerary: Three Routes for Two and Three Weeks

Contents of this article7 sections

1. Season first, then route
2. Route 1: Two weeks with Bangkok, the north and Krabi
3. Route 2: Three weeks with Khao Lak and Khao Sok
4. Route 3: Two weeks in Bangkok and the Gulf islands
5. The schedule in three rules
6. Visa and entry
7. Frequently asked questions

The most common question when planning a trip to Thailand is not “Where to?” but “How much can I fit in?”. My answer: less than you think. Thailand is long and narrow, the distances are long, and every change of place costs half a day. Here you will find three routes that build on our destination pages and use realistic travel times.

In short

• The best time for the north and the Andaman Sea is November to February. For the Gulf islands of Samui, Phangan and Tao it is February to September.
• Two weeks are enough for three to four stops. If you plan more, you spend your days on trains and in minivans.
• Visa-free stays have been limited to a maximum of 30 days since 15 September 2026. All three routes fit in easily.
• The night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai saves a hotel night and a flight. From Chiang Mai you fly direct to Phuket or Krabi.

Season first, then route

Thailand has two coasts with different weather. The figures come from the weather data on our destination pages:

• North (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai): November to February is dry, warm during the day and cool at night. March and April are very hot and often smoky.
• Andaman Sea (Phuket, Krabi, Lanta, Khao Lak): December to March is the driest. From May to October it rains a lot.
• Gulf of Thailand (Samui, Phangan, Tao): February to September is moderate. October to December are the wettest months, with November the worst.
• Bangkok: November to February is the most pleasant, March to May is very hot, and September and October are the wettest.

So in December and January, the north combined with the Andaman Sea makes sense; in June or July, Bangkok combined with the Gulf islands. In November and December I would avoid the Gulf. The weather page shows exactly what each month looks like. More on the travel season is in the guide Best time to visit Thailand.

Route 1: Two weeks with Bangkok, the north and Krabi

Suitable for November to February. Four stops, 13 nights.

• 3 nights in Bangkok: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chao Phraya, Chinatown. A day trip to Ayutthaya takes about an hour by express train.
• Night train to Chiang Mai (1 night): departure around 6:40 pm, arrival around 7:15 am. More on this in the guide Getting around Thailand.
• 3 nights in Chiang Mai: old town, Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, Sunday market.
• Direct flight to Krabi: Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways fly nonstop from Chiang Mai to Krabi.
• 3 nights in Krabi and Phi Phi: Railay, the Phi Phi islands, Tiger Cave Temple.
• 3 nights on Koh Lanta: long beaches on the west coast. From Krabi it takes two to three hours by minibus and car ferry.
• Journey home: to Krabi airport and from there home via Bangkok.

That makes three changes of place in 14 days plus the journey home, which is a good pace. If you add two more changes, you trade beach time for packing suitcases.

Route 2: Three weeks with Khao Lak and Khao Sok

Suitable for December to February. 20 nights, with more nature and beach.

• 3 nights in Bangkok with a day trip to Ayutthaya.
• Night train to Chiang Mai, 4 nights.
• Direct flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket: Thai AirAsia, Thai Vietjet and Bangkok Airways fly the route in around two hours.
• 3 nights in Khao Lak: long sandy beaches, trips to the Similan Islands. The marine national park is open from 15 October 2026 to 15 May 2027. From Phuket you need a good hour and a half by car.
• 2 nights in Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake, a night in a floating house, rainforest. One to two hours from Khao Lak.
• 3 nights in Krabi and Phi Phi: many minivans run daily between Khao Sok and Krabi, and depending on the connection you need two to five hours.
• 4 nights on Koh Lanta.
• Flight home from Krabi via Bangkok.

If you would like to combine the north with the White Temple, replace two days in Chiang Mai with Chiang Rai. The bus from Chiang Mai takes about three to four hours. After that you go back to Chiang Mai for the flight.

Route 3: Two weeks in Bangkok and the Gulf islands

Suitable for February to September, 13 nights. Koh Tao has good conditions from late December to September.

• 3 nights in Bangkok.
• Direct flight to Koh Samui in about an hour. A flight to Surat Thani with a bus and ferry is often cheaper.
• 4 nights on Koh Samui: Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Ang Thong National Park, Choeng Mon for families.
• 3 nights on Koh Phangan: catamaran from Samui in 20 to 30 minutes. Quiet bays in the northeast, Than Sadet waterfall.
• 3 nights on Koh Tao: diving and snorkelling, Sairee Beach, Koh Nang Yuan. From Phangan it takes a good hour by catamaran.
• Return: back to Samui for the flight, or by combination ticket with ferry and bus via Chumphon to Bangkok. The island hopping planner shows you timetables and prices.

The schedule in three rules

1. Count your travel days. In my experience a change of place quickly costs half a day. Once a journey takes eight to ten hours overland, or your destination is on an island, flying is worth it.
2. Plan a buffer. If you have to catch a ferry and a flight on the same day, you are taking a risk. Do not book your return flight for the day after the last island; give yourself at least one day to spare.
3. Fewer places, more days. For me three nights per place is the minimum, with exceptions such as Khao Sok at two nights. Any fewer and you spend more time on the move than actually being there.

Visa and entry

For visa-free entry, a maximum stay of 30 days has applied since 15 September 2026. All three routes fit in. You fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card no earlier than three days before arrival. You will find everything about it in the guide Entry requirements for Thailand. The guide Costs in Thailand per day shows what the trip costs.

Frequently asked questions