Two weeks in Thailand is the sweet spot — enough time to see the highlights without rushing, but focused enough that you don’t burn out. After multiple trips spanning 15+ years, I’ve refined three distinct routes that cover different travel styles.
All prices are real numbers from our trips, listed in both THB and USD. Exchange rate used: $1 = ฿35.
Route 1: The Classic Explorer
Best for: First-timers who want Bangkok, temples, and beaches. Budget: ฿42,000–70,000 ($1,200–2,000) per person, excluding flights.
Days 1–3: Bangkok
- Day 1: Arrive Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Take Airport Rail Link to city center (฿45/$1.30). Check into hotel in Silom or Sukhumvit. Evening walk along Khao San Road or dinner at Thip Samai for the best pad thai in the city (฿60–90/$1.70–2.60).
- Day 2: Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (฿500/$14). Lunch at Tha Tien for boat noodles. Afternoon at Wat Pho (฿300/$8.60) — get the traditional Thai massage inside the temple grounds (฿420/hr/$12). Evening at Asiatique night market.
- Day 3: Morning at Chatuchak Weekend Market (if Saturday/Sunday) or Jim Thompson House (฿200/$5.70). Afternoon Chao Phraya river cruise. Street food dinner in Chinatown (Yaowarat) — budget ฿200–400/$5.70–11.40 for a feast.
Bangkok hotels: Budget ฿800–1,500/night ($23–43). Mid-range ฿2,000–4,000/night ($57–114). Luxury ฿5,000+/night ($143+).
Days 4–6: Chiang Mai
- Day 4: Fly Bangkok → Chiang Mai (฿1,500–3,000/$43–86 on AirAsia or Nok Air, 1hr 10min). Check into Old City guesthouse. Afternoon walking tour of the old city temples — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chiang Man (free–฿40 each). Evening at the Sunday Walking Street market.
- Day 5: Morning visit to Doi Suthep temple (฿30/$0.86 + songthaew ฿60/$1.70 each way). Afternoon cooking class (฿1,000–1,500/$29–43 — we recommend Cookly-listed schools). Evening at the Night Bazaar.
- Day 6: Full-day ethical elephant experience at Elephant Nature Park (฿2,500/$71) or Doi Inthanon National Park day trip (฿500/$14 park fee + transport).
Chiang Mai hotels: Budget ฿500–1,000/night ($14–29). Mid-range ฿1,500–3,000/night ($43–86).
Days 7–8: Travel Day + Krabi
- Day 7: Fly Chiang Mai → Krabi (฿2,000–4,000/$57–114, 2hr with connection or direct). Check into Ao Nang. Afternoon at Ao Nang Beach. Sunset drinks at a beach bar.
- Day 8: Four Islands tour by longtail boat (฿1,500–2,000/$43–57) — Poda Island, Chicken Island, Tup Island, Phra Nang Beach. Pack reef-safe sunscreen.
Days 9–10: Koh Phi Phi
- Day 9: Ferry Krabi → Koh Phi Phi (฿450/$13, 1.5hr). Explore the viewpoint hike (free, 30 min up). Snorkeling at Ao Lo Dalam.
- Day 10: Speedboat tour to Maya Bay (฿1,500/$43 — now operating with limited entry). Afternoon at Long Beach.
Days 11–13: Phuket
- Day 11: Ferry Koh Phi Phi → Phuket (฿500/$14, 2hr). Check into Kata or Karon Beach. Afternoon beach time.
- Day 12: Old Phuket Town walking tour (free). Lunch at local shophouses. Afternoon at Big Buddha (฿30/$0.86 donation). Evening seafood dinner at Rawai seafood market — pick your fish, pay by weight (฿300–600/$8.60–17 per person).
- Day 13: Phang Nga Bay day trip including James Bond Island (฿2,000–3,500/$57–100). Or beach day + spa (Thai massage ฿350–500/hr/$10–14).
Phuket hotels: Budget ฿800–1,500/night ($23–43). Mid-range ฿2,500–5,000/night ($71–143). Luxury ฿6,000+/night ($171+).
Day 14: Fly Home
Fly Phuket → Bangkok (฿1,200–2,500/$34–71) for international connection, or fly direct from Phuket international.
Route 2: The Northern Culture Route
Best for: Temple lovers, foodies, and travelers who want depth over breadth. Budget: ฿35,000–55,000 ($1,000–1,571) per person.
Days 1–3: Bangkok (Same as Route 1)
Days 4–7: Chiang Mai (Extended)
- Day 4: Fly to Chiang Mai. Old City temple circuit.
- Day 5: Doi Suthep + cooking class.
- Day 6: Muay Thai class at one of the local gyms (฿500–800/$14–23 for a session). Afternoon at Baan Tawai handicraft village. Evening Lanna dinner at Huen Phen (฿150–300/$4.30–8.60 per dish).
- Day 7: Day trip to Doi Inthanon — Thailand’s highest peak. Waterfalls, twin pagodas, Hmong villages. Full-day tour ฿1,500–2,500/$43–71.
Days 8–9: Chiang Rai
- Day 8: Green Bus VIP from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai (฿200/$5.70, 3hr — these buses are comfortable). Visit the White Temple / Wat Rong Khun (฿100/$2.86). Afternoon at Blue Temple / Wat Rong Suea Ten (free). Check into riverside guesthouse.
- Day 9: Morning at Baan Dam (Black House) museum (฿80/$2.30). Day trip to Golden Triangle viewpoint where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Hall of Opium museum (฿200/$5.70).
Days 10–11: Pai
- Day 10: Minibus Chiang Rai → Chiang Mai → Pai (฿350/$10, total 7hr with transfer — the 762 curves to Pai are legendary). Check into a bamboo bungalow. Sunset at Pai Canyon.
- Day 11: Morning at Pai hot springs (฿300/$8.60). Visit the big white Buddha and Chinese village. Afternoon tubing on the Pai River (฿100/$2.86 for the tube rental). Evening at Pai Walking Street — some of the best night market food in Thailand.
Pai hotels: Budget ฿400–800/night ($11–23). Charming bungalows ฿1,000–2,000/night ($29–57).
Days 12–13: Sukhothai
- Day 12: Fly or bus back to Bangkok, then fly to Sukhothai (or direct bus ฿500–800/$14–23). Visit Sukhothai Historical Park — Thailand’s first capital. Rent a bicycle (฿30/$0.86) and explore the ruins at golden hour. UNESCO World Heritage Site entry ฿100/$2.86 per zone.
- Day 13: Si Satchanalai Historical Park (฿100/$2.86). Quieter, less touristy, equally beautiful. Return to Bangkok in the evening.
Day 14: Bangkok & Departure
Morning at Chatuchak or a final temple visit. Depart.
Route 3: The Island Hopper
Best for: Beach lovers, divers, and those chasing turquoise water. Budget: ฿45,000–75,000 ($1,286–2,143) per person. Best season: November–April (Andaman) or February–June (Gulf).
Days 1–2: Bangkok (Abbreviated)
Two days covering Grand Palace, street food, and Chinatown.
Days 3–5: Koh Samui
- Day 3: Fly Bangkok → Koh Samui (฿3,000–6,000/$86–171 — Bangkok Airways monopoly makes this pricier). Check into Chaweng or Lamai Beach.
- Day 4: Ang Thong National Marine Park day trip by speedboat (฿2,000–3,000/$57–86). Kayaking, snorkeling, viewpoint hike.
- Day 5: Morning at Fisherman’s Village in Bophut. Afternoon at Secret Buddha Garden hike (฿80/$2.30 + 4x4 taxi ฿600/$17). Evening at Lamai Night Market.
Days 6–7: Koh Phangan
- Day 6: Ferry Koh Samui → Koh Phangan (฿300/$8.60, 30min). Check into Haad Salad or Bottle Beach. Snorkeling and relaxation.
- Day 7: If timing aligns — Full Moon Party on Haad Rin. Otherwise, rent a scooter (฿250/day/$7.14) and explore the island’s quieter north and east coasts.
Days 8–9: Koh Tao
- Day 8: Ferry Koh Phangan → Koh Tao (฿600/$17, 1.5hr). Check into Sairee Beach. Afternoon snorkeling at Japanese Gardens.
- Day 9: Open Water dive course (฿9,800/$280 for 3-day PADI — cheapest in the world) or fun dives if certified (฿1,000/$29 per dive). Sunset from John Suwan viewpoint.
Days 10–11: Koh Lanta
- Day 10: Ferry Koh Tao → Koh Lanta (full day with connections, ฿1,200–1,800/$34–51). Check into Long Beach. This is the laid-back antidote to the party islands.
- Day 11: Old Town Koh Lanta (charming stilt houses over the sea). Kayaking in the mangroves. Mu Ko Lanta National Park (฿200/$5.70). Sunset at the lighthouse.
Days 12–13: Railay Beach
- Day 12: Ferry/speedboat to Krabi, then longtail to Railay (฿150/$4.30 from Ao Nang). Railay is only accessible by boat — no roads. Check into a beachfront bungalow. Rock climbing intro class (฿1,500/$43) at the famous limestone karsts.
- Day 13: Kayak to Phra Nang Cave Beach. Hike to the Railay Viewpoint Lagoon. Final sunset dinner on the sand.
Day 14: Krabi → Bangkok → Home
Longtail to Ao Nang, taxi to Krabi Airport, fly home via Bangkok.
Budget Comparison
| Category | Route 1 (Classic) | Route 2 (Culture) | Route 3 (Islands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights (domestic) | ฿6,000–10,000 | ฿5,000–8,000 | ฿6,000–12,000 |
| Hotels (14 nights) | ฿21,000–42,000 | ฿14,000–28,000 | ฿21,000–42,000 |
| Food (14 days) | ฿7,000–14,000 | ฿7,000–10,500 | ฿7,000–14,000 |
| Activities | ฿8,000–14,000 | ฿6,000–10,000 | ฿12,000–18,000 |
| Transport (local) | ฿3,500–5,000 | ฿3,000–5,000 | ฿4,000–6,000 |
| Total | ฿45,500–85,000 | ฿35,000–61,500 | ฿50,000–92,000 |
| USD Equivalent | $1,300–2,429 | $1,000–1,757 | $1,429–2,629 |
Scott’s Pro Tips
- Domestic flights are shockingly cheap if booked 2–4 weeks ahead. AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air regularly run ฿990/$28 sales for Bangkok–Chiang Mai.
- The overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (฿800–1,300/$23–37 for a sleeper berth) is a classic experience and saves a night’s hotel cost.
- Ferry combo tickets between Gulf islands (Samui, Phangan, Tao) are cheaper booked as a package through Lomprayah or Seatran.
- Always negotiate longtail boat prices before getting in. Agree on the total, not per person. Standard Ao Nang → Railay is ฿150/$4.30 per person.
- Download Grab (Southeast Asia’s Uber). It works in all Thai cities and prevents the tuk-tuk tourist markup.