Planning your Thailand travel itinerary can be difficult- there’s so much to see and do, yet usually very little time.
When we arrived in Thailand for the first time, we’d done very little planning and had no idea where to go once we landed in Bangkok. The trip very much became a case of trial and error, but it was an adventure we’ll never forget.
Thanks to our mistakes, we now have a pretty good idea of what a good Thailand itinerary for backpackers looks like. This covers the capital city, the north, and the islands over a one-month period. You can, of course, shorten your time in each place to fit your own travel schedule.
We actually took two months to explore Thailand as we moved slowly through each destination. To do this, you can either extend your 30-day visa at the embassy or cross the border into another country for a week or so. We took two weeks to explore Vietnam in between. Before you set off, make sure your documents are in check using our handy passport guide.
Here’s our perfect Thailand travel itinerary!
Bangkok is the easiest place in Thailand to fly into, and a great place to start your Thai adventure. Combine the vibrant street life with gorgeous hotels at cheap prices, and you’re off to a good start. We stayed four nights in the capital city, which we could have probably shortened to three. Here’s an idea of how to spend your time:
Seven nights in the north of Thailand is probably a little more than what you’d expect, but you’ll understand when you arrive. Take the night bus from Bangkok to get there – you can fly, but the bus is a much better experience in our opinion. Bus operators say the trip takes between 9 and 10 hours, though plan to arrive a couple of hours earlier – some Thai bus drivers really know how to put their foot down!!
We don’t recommend planning your entire visit to Chiang Mai- we wouldn’t recommend that in any Thailand itinerary for backpackers. Rule three in our backpacking tips is to allow for spontaneity. Use your time to explore and eat great food at your own pace. The city is gorgeous and well worth taking your time. We’d suggest moving hotels a couple of times to spend some time in different parts of the city. Here are a few things you may want to work into your Thailand travel itinerary while you’re in Chiang Mai:
Chiang Rai is the lesser-known city in the north of Thailand, just a 3-4 hour bus journey from Chiang Mai. This is a perfect addition to your Thailand travel itinerary if you have the time. Chiang Rai is known by backpackers for its beautiful temples and artistic, laid-back atmosphere. Here’s an idea of how to spend your time in the city.
As far as we’re concerned, Phuket is a tick-box destination on your Thailand travel itinerary. Though it may not be top of your bucket list, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest ways to make your way through to the islands. Take the night bus from the north into Phucket, or fly if time’s an issue.
Watch the video below for an idea of how to spend 24 hours in Phuket. Monkey Hill and Phuket Walking Street are both worth a visit.
The reason we haven’t included an exact night count for Phi Phi Island is that it’s very much a Marmite destination – you either love it or you hate it. Phi Phi is a very party-heavy place, so if you’re not looking to go clubbing into the early hours every night, it might not be the place for you.
We stayed on Phi Phi for a week or so. While we didn’t like the overall vibe, I loved getting up super early every day to watch the sunrise on the beach as everyone else was just about off to bed.
Koh Lanta is a gorgeous, laid back island. Though you won’t find much on offer in terms of activities, it’s a great place to spend a few days chilling on the beach – especially if you’ve just come from the hustle and bustle of Phi Phi.
Make sure to enjoy the beautiful cafes and restaurants on the beach during your visit. You can also learn to dive in Koh Lanta too, should you wish.
Jump on a bus to head from Koh Lanta to Krabi. Most bus services will take you the full way using the Krabi car ferry, so you won’t need to transfer to go across the waters. We recommend spending a couple of nights in Railay Beach to enjoy day trips, snorkelling, and great food, then going into Krabi Town. We strongly recommend staying at Well Timed Hotel – the staff members were all so lovely and happy to help us arrange any day trips or transport we wanted to take.
During our time in Krabi, we paid for an island-hopping day trip with Barracuda Tours. This set us back around £35, which we probably could have bartered down a little more if we’d wanted. We took the Hong Islands tour – consisting of:
We’d definitely recommended taking the trip – though make sure to pay the little extra to go by speed boat! The time you’ll save getting between each island is well worth it.
The reason our Thailand travel itinerary finishes in Krabi is that you’ll then be able to use the airport to fly to pretty much wherever you’d like to go. We travelled onto Malaysia, but you can also fly into Bangkok to then head back to your home country nice and easily.
