Thailand has earned its reputation as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for many good reasons. From its stunning beaches, picturesque countryside, and historic temples, among other attractions, there is an abundance of unique and amazing things to see and do on your visit.
Known as “the land of smiles”, you will encounter some of the friendliest and most welcoming people you will ever meet as you make your way around Thailand, and we truly can’t speak highly enough of our time there. If you are planning your trip and in need of some ideas to incorporate into your itinerary, then this article will provide you with more than a few ideas to make the most of your trip of a lifetime!
2 Week Thailand Itinerary Overview
Days 1-2: Bangkok
We’ve often heard people say you should skip Bangkok and make your way to other destinations, but we had an amazing time here. As Thailand’s most populous city, there is a huge amount to see and do in this historic and energetic city, and it would be a shame to miss out on. For the sake of this 2-week Thailand itinerary, we’re only including two days’ worth of excursions and sightseeing here, leaving time to experience the rest of the country too.
Best Place to Stay in Bangkok
ARUN Riverside Bangkok is in one of the best locations for exploring Bangkok’s Old Town. Wat Pho and the Grand Palace are just a few minutes away, and you can take the ferry across the river to Wat Arun. The hotel also has a rooftop restaurant and bar overlooking Wat Arun and the Chao Phraya River.
Hotel perks: Free breakfast, a rooftop restaurant and bar, and an amazing location near some of Bangkok’s most famous sights.
Take A Tour of Bangkok’s Iconic Temples and the Grand Palace
An absolute must-do when visiting Bangkok is to take a tour of the cities most famous temples as well as the Grand Palace. Bangkok is home to hundreds of temples, but the most popular are Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). These are also perfect for your first visit to Bangkok because they are all very close to one another and are very walkable (aside from Wat Arun which requires a ferry across the river.)
The day begins at the gorgeous Grand Palace, where you are free to wander the grounds and some of the buildings. The Palace also features the famous Emerald Buddha. Next, you’ll see the massive reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, a temple with a very serene atmosphere and plenty of interesting detail throughout.
You will then take a scenic boat ride across the river to Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, and is one of the most beautiful temples in the city. The colorful porcelain used to decorate the temple looks amazing, and you’ll be treated to some great views of the river and cityscape here.
Shop at Asiatique
Bangkok is famous for its lively night markets, where you can purchase souvenirs and taste many types of delicious food. Asiatique is a modern, open-air mall located right next to the river, that blends shopping, dining, and entertainment all in one place. You’ll have your pick of 1500 shops and food stalls, as well as 40 restaurants, and there are some amusements, including a 60-meter Ferris Wheel, a haunted house, and a brand-new Jurassic World immersive experience.
Depending on when you visit, you can catch shows here, such as the Calypso Show, and you can attend Muay Thai performances as well. We particularly enjoyed wandering the night market, and shopping for souvenirs as well as trying some local snacks. The vibe is really fun and relaxed at Asiatique, and is guaranteed to be a memorable evening out.
Enjoy a Night Out on Khao San Road
The exuberant nightlife in Bangkok is something you will definitely want to experience during your stay, and a visit to Khao San Road will have you covered. This famous spot in the old town is lined with bars, stores, and hostels, and boasts an energetic party atmosphere that spills out from the bars to the street.
As you make your way down Khao San Road, you will encounter impressive street performers and vendors selling a variety of savory snacks. The bars are vibrantly lit up with neon lights and offer some good deals on drinks that come in the iconic ‘bucket’.
Khao San Road has become a popular destination for backpackers over the decades, which has laid the foundation for it becoming a hotspot of fun bars, making for a really great night out.
Take a Muay Thai Class
If you have any interest in martial arts, or simply want a good workout, taking a Muay Thai class is well worth spending part of your day. Muay Thai is the proud national sport of Thailand, and you will find no shortage of gyms in Bangkok where you can sign up for a class.
Our lesson consisted of only 3 people, so it almost felt like a private lesson. The instructor was really easy-going, making the process good fun as he took us through our paces and taught us new techniques. While there are many introductory classes to choose from, we had an amazing experience with ………… and highly recommend checking it out yourself.
Visit a Floating Market
Floating Markets are traditional trading hubs where vendors sell goods from boats on a river and date back hundreds of years and there are a few in and around Bangkok to choose from. While we do agree with many of the sentiments about the floating markets being a bit of a trap with inflated prices for tourists, it’s still worth visiting for the experience if you ask us.
Simply stroll around up the canal or rover and enjoy the atmosphere if you prefer, but you can buy souvenirs as well as fruit, ice cream, and Thai food, to name a few. Be vigilant with prices and make sure to verify how much you’re paying before handing anything over. Ignore any vendors quoting extortionate prices but be prepared to pay a bit more than you have been used to so far.
Other issues include taxi prices to and from the floating markets being jacked up for tourists, and the long-tail boat rides being unnecessarily long. You can avoid this hassle by booking with a good tour company, who will provide transportation, admission fee, and the boat ride. Your guide will know how to navigate the market and keep the day organized, so we would definitely recommend booking with a verified company online.
The cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is by taking the overnight train. Tickets can be as low as $8 USD for the class 3 train, but we recommend booking a 2nd class sleeper train ticket so you can get a good nights rest.
If you prefer to fly, there are several daily direct flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai which only take a little over an hour.
Days 3-7: Chiang Mai
After an exciting 2 days in Bangkok, we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and opted for a relaxing escape to the hills of Thailand in Chiang Mai. We fell in love with the natural beauty throughout the countryside and were immersed in a side of Thai culture that we hadn’t experienced yet. Chiang Mai is where we stayed at an elephant sanctuary, did a meditation retreat, and climbed a waterfall, to name a few. There are so many unique and unmissable things to see across the province of Chiang Mai, which puts it towards the top of our list of places to visit during your time in Thailand.
Where To Stay in Chiang Mai
Stay at an Elephant Sanctuary Hotel
By far, one of our favorite things we did during our time in Thailand was staying overnight at an elephant sanctuary. Here, we had ample opportunity to interact directly with elephants and do things like feed them breakfast in the morning. We watched in astonishment as they roamed the grounds (accompanied by carers). We stayed at two different elephant hotels nestled in the lush hills of Chiang Mai and had amazing experiences at both.
Chai Lai Orchid:
Our stay at Chai Lai Orchid was great from start to finish. We stayed in a beautiful bamboo bungalow next to the river, and in the morning, the elephants were brought right outside our room, where we got to feed them a breakfast of bananas and sugar cane.
Feeding the elephants their morning bananas and sugar cane!
It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and an amazing way to start the day.
We had our own breakfast delivered to us soon after, which we ate it on our porch while enjoying the natural surroundings. All of the meals that we had during our stay were fresh and deliciously flavorful.
Chiang Mai Elephant Friends:
Our next stop was another elephant sanctuary at the nearby Chiang Mai Elephant and Friends, and this was a particularly memorable couple of days.
We stayed in a luxurious villa with no bugs bothering us, which was a welcome change. The villas here offer more privacy than the bungalows at Chai Lai Orchid and, being situated on a hill, there’s a more scenic view from your porch.
Although not included in your stay, you can add on excursions such as a private walk with the elephants or bathing the elephants in the river. We even got to play soccer with a baby elephant!
We highly recommend booking a stay here, or at the very least, check out one of their day tour experiences to meet the elephants.
Take A Farm to Table Cooking Class
As lovers of Thai food, we felt compelled to take a cooking class and bring some tips and recipes home with us. We visited the Mama Noi cookery school, and it was a great way to spend half a day.
The lesson began at the local market, where we learned about and collected some ingredients we would need later. With transportation included, we were brought back to the school and made our way into their impressive private garden. Here, our instructor taught us about some more herbs and spices that we would be using.
It was then time to prepare and cook our food, which was a soup, pad thai, and mango sticky rice for dessert. The class moved at a nice pace, and our instructor was very engaging and enthusiastic. After cooking, we sat together and tucked into our food, which was genuinely one of the best meals we had during our time in Thailand! The fact that we cooked it ourselves made it taste that little bit better and was extremely rewarding.
Visit Local Temples
Chiang Mai is a hub of beautiful temples (known as “wats”), and 4 of them, located in the old city, are within walking distance of one another. The temple grounds you will visit are steeped in history and culture, with impressive architecture and ornately decorated pagodas.
Each has its own unique attractions and offers a quiet and peaceful escape from the city on top of all else. We highly recommend visiting these temples in the following order; Wat Lok Moli, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Phan Tao.
Beginning at Wat Lok Moli, it is free to enter and features a prayer hall, bell tower, and a gorgeous garden to wander. A 10-minute walk will bring you to Wat Phra Sing, where it’s free to enter the temple grounds, where you will see the iconic Golden Chedi, but you may have to pay a small fee for access to certain buildings.
Another 10-minute walk leads to Wat Chedi Luang, a 600-year-old temple with fascinating history, with admission costing 40 Baht ($1). Many structures lie in ruins today, so although it may not be the prettiest temple on this list, its fascinating history makes up for it. To finish, you’ll walk 2-minutes to Wat Phan Tao, a terrifically crafted teak temple, which is another that is free to enter.
It’s a good idea to start your tour in the morning, that way you avoid having to walk around in the midday heat. If you are a keen photographer, arriving early makes it easier to avoid crowds of people obstructing your view. Each temple offers so much to see, and the convenience and low cost means it would be a shame not to allocate time to see them on your trip.
Keep in mind that these are very spiritual places, and to always be respectful of any rules and practices.
Stay at North Star Valley Bubble Hotel
One of our most memorable nights away in the peaceful North Start Valley where we stayed in a translucent “bubble” tent overlooking the countryside hills of Chiang Mai.
Our bubble room with the most incredible views and the swing overlooking the Chiang Mai countryside
Our bubble room was situated on its own private decking which included a secluded outdoor bathroom. Our favorite feature of the accommodation was the large bath tub which was perched on the edge of the decking overlooking the surrounding scenery.
We were also very pleasantly surprised with our dinner which was served in a beautifully decorated dining area covered in fresh flowers. It was easily one of the most romantic dinners we had during our stay in Thailand.
Our romantic dinner and breathtaking breakfast setup
Booking our stay was a little unusual as they don’t have a website and everything was booked by messaging on their Facebook page. We were nervous this could be a scam at first, but it ended up being one of our favorite places we staying during our two weeks in Thailand.
Hike the “Sticky Waterfall“
The Bua Thong waterfall, commonly known as the “sticky waterfall”, offers the unique chance to hike up a waterfall with tremendous views along the way. The waterfall is in early-phase, so it’s not super steep, but what earns it its nickname is the rock called tufa, which is very grippy and feels as though your shoes are sticking to it when you set foot on it.
Climbing our way up Chiang Mai’s famous Sticky Waterfall
The cream-colored rock, contrasting with the green plants and trees on either side, is a cool sight, and as you make your way further up, the views of the countryside get even better. The constant access to refreshing water during the hike was a nice extra in the hot weather, we were regularly pouring it over our heads to cool down.
Given that the Sticky Waterfall is located in a National Park, it is free to enter. You will make your way down a set of stairs to reach the base of the waterfall to start the hike
Watch a Local Muay Thai Match
Muay Thai is a fantastic spectator sport, filled with thrilling action that you can’t take your eyes off, so getting tickets to watch a bout is a must.
We attended an event at one of the largest boxing stadiums in Chiang Mai, next to the Kalare Night Bazaar. Our recommendation is to go in a bit early to check out the market and grab some food and a drink before heading in and securing good seats.
The atmosphere continued to build as more people trickled through, and by the time the first bell rang out, the place was electric. We watched almost a dozen fights throughout the evening, along with a ritual that Thai fighters perform before competing. The fighters included both locals and internationals, showcasing their skills in tightly contested matches.
Keep in mind that the fights can be fairly intense and violent at times, so it may not be suitable for young children.
Go On a Life Changing Meditation Retreat
If you have more than a few days in Chiang Mai, we highly recommend participating in the Pa Pae meditation retreat. As we didn’t have much prior experience with meditation, we were wondering how intense the retreat would be, but we were quickly put at ease once we arrived and saw how comfortable a setting it was, and that many visitors were in the same boat as us.
The monk-led workshops taught us various meditation techniques, as well as some common Buddhist practices and values to supplement daily life. The days are heavily structured with meals, meditation sessions, and bedtime scheduled out.
Breakfast and lunch are freshly prepared on-site, and some may choose to converse with others at the table during meals or eat in silence and use the time to reflect. However, because the monks don’t eat after 1 pm, there is no food included for dinner, but there is a small family-owned restaurant across the road that you can go to.
You will attend meditation workshops morning, noon, and night, with each session lasting a couple of hours, and taking place in various settings. Whether you are meditating in the pavilion, next to the bonfire, or by the stream, the focus of finding inner peace is ever-present, and we guarantee that spending a few days here will stand to benefit you.
Days 8-11: Koh Tao
The island of Koh Tao is a tropical paradise located in the Gulf of Thailand, where you can balance your days with excursions, scenic viewpoints, and lounging on the beach. With an abundance of bars, restaurants, and outdoor activities, it was easy to fill up our itinerary during our stay here, especially near Mae Head Beach and Sai Ri Beach.
Scuba Dive
Koh Tao means “Turtle Island” due to the high number of sea turtles that reside off the shore, and the plentiful marine life also includes schools of exotic fish, vibrant coral, and whale sharks.
With its calm conditions, crystalline water, and relatively low cost, Koh Tao is one of the world’s most popular places in the world to get scuba certified.
If you are an experienced scuba diver, there are many dive spots to choose from, including Sail Rock, Southwest Pinnacle, and White Rock.
Snorkel
If you want to snorkel, you can simply rent a mask and flippers at a local dive shop or kiosk near the beach. We got a taxi from our hotel to Tanote Bay Beach (“Ao Tanot”), a pretty large, white sand beach where we rented our gear and enjoyed an amazing afternoon snorkeling.
Within just a few meters from shore, you will encounter plenty of fish and coral gardens to explore. Ao Leuk, Shark Bay, and Sai Nuan Beach are all great options to snorkel at as well.
Visit Nang Yuan Island
To experience one of the most iconic views Koh Tao has to offer, make your way over to Koh Nang Yuan island which takes about 5-10 minutes by boat.
Koh Nang Yuan is made up of three small islands which are all connected by a sandbar and features crystal clear waters and amazing snorkeling.
Once you arrive on the island, make your way across the sandbar towards the largest island following the trail marked “viewpoint.” After a short 10-15 minute uphill hike which is mainly steps, which will bring you to the famous viewpoint giving you a Birds Eye view of the island.
Good to Know: Koh Nang Yuang has a very strict no plastic water bottles policy, so if you bring one, you’ll have to dispose of it.
We visited Koh Nang Yuan as the first stop on our snorkel boat tour, but if you want to visit on your own, the boat ride from Sairee Beach to the island will likely cost around 300-600 THB and there will be a fee of 250 THB once you arrive.
Go To A Jungle Party:
Not only is Koh Tao renowned for its stunning beaches and sea life, but it’s also famous for its lively nightlife.While there are plenty of bars and restaurants by the beach, if you’re looking for a higher energy and more unique atmosphere with incredible DJ’s, a jungle party is a must-do.
Escobar Koh Tao is the most popular spot on the island to experience a jungle party, which features large open-air spaces where you can dance in the fresh air and under the stars until the morning. There are 5 stages here, as well as a rodeo bull and fire shows, so no shortage of entertainment and you’ll be glad you gave it a go!
Go on a Boat Tour
One of our favorite days during our Thailand itinerary was spent on a boat tour where we snorkeled at four incredible snorkel spots and used the 15 foot water slide on the boat.
Our first stop on this boat tour was to scenic Koh Nang Yuan island known for its famous viewpoint and stunning beaches. Next, we made our way to four different snorkel locations where we swan with plenty of colorful fish, sea turtles, and even got a glimpse of baby sharks!
In between each snorkel spot, we relaxed on the loungers aboard the boat and enjoyed the vibes of the music playing and sunshine beating down.
This boat tour included plenty of fresh fruit and a delicious lunch, and drinks could be purchased separately. We also made good use out of the boat’s water slide and jumped off the platforms.
Days 12-14: Krabi
Last but certainly not least, we went south to visit the province of Krabi, with its beautiful beaches, stunning limestone karst cliffs, and more.
We stayed on the iconic Railay beach in a dainty bungalow. We heard quite some mixed reviews about staying on Railay Beach because it can be a tourist hotspot but, we loved waking up every morning and being able to walk one minute to the ocean.
If you’re looking for cheaper accommodations or an area with a livelier nightlife, Ao Nang is also a popular spot to stay on Krabi and is lined with budget-friendly hostels and hotels.
Take a Boat Tour
Unfortunately, we booked this boat tour on our last full day in Krabi, and it was cancelled due to poor weather, so we recommend booking on your first day in Krabi. We heard, firsthand, some amazing reviews of the 4-island tour that gives you stunning views of the coast and surrounding islands as you ride in a longtail boat
You will have the choice of a sunrise or sunset tour, where you’ll admire and explore Chicken, Tub, Mor, and Poda Island. Each has its own individual charm, with different activities on offer at each, from bathing and relaxing, to snorkeling with tropical fish.
You will spend roughly 45-60 minutes at each stop, which, from what we gathered, was the perfect amount of time without feeling rushed. Snacks, water, snorkel equipment, and National Park fees are all included.
Relax at Railay Beach
Railay Beach is one of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches with its towering limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, and colorful longtail boats perched along the shoreline.
Segregated from the mainland by the massive cliffs, Railay Beach is only accessible via boat. There are a couple of places you can depart from (Ao Nang in our case) with the scenic ride being only 15-20 minutes, and will definitely get you that little bit more excited for your upcoming stay
As mentioned before, we stayed at hotel right on Railay Beach, so we were able to enjoy quiet mornings and gorgeous sunsets in the ocean. The middle of the day can feel a bit busier as the day trippers stop by, however, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a nice and secluded spot to relax, sunbathe, and have a refreshing swim.
Railay Beach gives off small town vibes, with everything within walking distance of one another and not a single road or car in sight. Despite being so isolated, we had all the amenities we needed nearby, from a convenience store to a laundromat.
Tiger Cave Temple
We spent most of our time in Krabi relaxing on the beach, but if you’re looking for something more active to do, make the hike up to Tiger Cave Temple. Also known as Wat Tham Suea, this is a Buddhist Temple complex where you can enjoy gorgeous scenery and a network of caves to explore.
Legends say a tiger once occupied the cave, and tiger paw prints are visible on the cave walls. This is a bit of a workout with a staircase of 1,260 steps to climb, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views from the top of the mountain.
It’s highly recommended that you do this hike in the morning or the evening, as the midday heat can be brutal. Free water bottles are available at the bottom of the stairs, but they’re quite small, so bring extra. You may encounter monkeys on your way up, but it’s advised that you ignore them to avoid any provocation.
The temple itself is elegantly decorated and has a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The view of the famous gold Buddha statue is quite an amazing spectacle and is the highlight for many visitors. You can also take a guided tour if you would like to delve further into the history of the temple and the caves.