14 DAYS IN
Thailand
From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, here’s how to spend 14 days in Thailand.
14 DAYS IN
Thailand
From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, here’s how to spend 14 days in Thailand.
At World Nomads, travel and adventure are in our DNA
So, we filled this itinerary with unforgettable experiences and solid expertise. We asked Thailand guidebook author Mark Eveleigh to share his picks of the best things to see and do each day and the best way to get from place to place. Our goal is to help you get the most from your adventure through our travel and safety tips and simple, flexible travel insurance.
Enjoy your visit to the “Land of Smiles”!
HIGHLIGHTS
This itinerary will be suitable for any time of year. Starting your trip in Bangkok, the journey loops you around Thailand, finishing back in Bangkok after 14 days.
Everything on this itinerary is easily booked independently. Most hotels/hostels can arrange transportation and recommend operators for the suggested experiences.
HIGHLIGHTS
This itinerary will be suitable for any time of year. Starting your trip in Bangkok, the journey loops you around Thailand, finishing back in Bangkok after 14 days.
Everything on this itinerary is easily booked independently. Most hotels/hostels can arrange transportation and recommend operators for the suggested experiences.
The Grand Palace. Credit: Mark Eveleigh.
Arrive in Bangkok
If your flight arrives early and time allows, visit the Royal Palace and head to the lovely Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). It’s most evocative anyway at sunset!
Take the local ferry back across the river and flag down a taxi for Yaowarat Market and some of Chinatown’s most exciting street-food stalls.
Bangkok
DAY 1
Take a tuk-tuk to Wat Saket temple (less touristy than the more famous options), to get your bearings from the hilltop viewpoint.
From here, take a commuter boat along the narrow Saen Saep Canal to visit Jim Thompson’s House, the traditional timber home of a mysteriously disappeared silk tycoon.
Chinatown at night. Credit: NOMADasaurus.
Bangkok to Koh Chang
DAY 2
Transfer by minibus, or private taxi, to Trat province (roughly 4.5hrs) for the 45min ferry ride to Koh Chang Island.
Despite, or maybe because of, its accessibility to Bangkok, this lush, peaceful island has been relatively overlooked by travelers (who seem to favor ‘remoter’ islands instead).
“Perhaps because of its accessibility from Bangkok, the lush, peaceful island of Koh Chang has been relatively overlooked by travelers.”
The peaceful island of Koh Chang. Credit: Marco Bottigelli, Getty images.
Koh Chang
DAY 3
While Koh Chang retains the feeling of a delightfully sleepy backwater, the inappropriately named ‘Lonely Beach’ is a lively place for a beach break.
Flag down a songtaew (pickup truck taxi) to Khlong Prao for great seafood and a starlit rowing-boat tour down an estuary that sparkles with fairy-like fireflies.
DAY 4
Grab breakfast at the stilted cafes on Bang Bao Pier, and then join a snorkeling trip on one of the many dive boats that operate around the offshore reefs among the tangle of islets to the south.
Boats in Khlong Prao. Credit: Sakchai Vongsasiripat, Getty images.
Koh Chang to Chiang Mai
DAY 5
Leave early to take a minibus back towards Bangkok, but ask to stop at Suvarnabhumi Airport (4hrs 15mins) for an afternoon flight to Chiang Mai (1hr 15mins).
View of Koh Chang from the air. Credit: Jackyenjoyphotography, Getty images.
Chiang Mai suspension bridge. Credit: Fred Froese, Getty images.
Chiang Mai
DAY 6
Take a tuk-tuk up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple, one of the most sacred – and scenic – spots in Northern Thailand and climb the 306 steps to ‘paradise’.
Enjoy a traditional Thai massage back in the town of Chiang Mai.
Spend the evening at Chiang Mai Night Bazaar where you can try Thai street food and authentic Golden Triangle dishes.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple. Credit: Nat Weerawong, Unsplash.
DAY 7
Arrive early at the so-called Gate Market since some vendors set up shop at 4am. This is a great place for breakfast and to get inspiration for a cooking class (there are many available nearby).
In the afternoon, grab a Krating Daeng (the original Red Bull) to get you through a workout at one of Chiang Mai’s famous Thai-boxing gyms.
Monks in Chiang Mai. Credit: Mark Eveleigh.
Hill tribe woman collecting tea leaves. Credit: ShutterWorx, Getty images.
Hmong girl wearing traditional clothing, Chiang Rai. Credit: Matteo Colombo, Getty images.
Rice terrace during sunset. Credit: Issarawat Tattong, Getty images.
Golden Triangle
DAY 8
Doi Pui (a tourist village near Chiang Mai) offers a uniquely accessible insight into the daily life and traditions of the Hmong people.
For a once-in-a-lifetime ‘Hill Tribe’ experience, book an overnight stay in one of the community-run homestays (perhaps in a hamlet of the Lahu or Akha people).
Golden Triangle to Bangkok
DAY 9
Return to Chiang Mai and catch the overnight train to Bangkok (with comfortable sleeper berths). You’ll rumble almost 470mi (750km) through the night.
Arrive in Bangkok in time take a tuk-tuk to Kraisi Road for breakfast while you watch the monks filing along the street collecting alms.
Bangkok train station at night. Credit: Kanapol Vorapoo, Unsplash.
A longtail boat on the canals in Bangkok. Credit: Mark Eveleigh.
Train ride from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. Credit: Mark Eveleigh.
Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
DAY 10
The train ride to Kanchanaburi (2.5hrs) is one of the most scenic in Southeast Asia, and the River Kwai makes a suitably evocative destination.
Drop your bags at your houseboat accommodation (there’s a wide choice) and spend the afternoon visiting the ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ – made famous by the classic movie – and the JEATH War Museum.
Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya
DAY 11
Make a morning pilgrimage to the golden pagoda of Wat Ban Tham or enjoy a lazy morning swimming at your houseboat.
Instead of traveling 5 hours by bus to Ayutthaya, cut the journey in half with a private taxi (surprisingly affordable).
Erawan National Park. Credit: Tom Shakir, Unsplash.
Ayutthaya to Bangkok
DAY 12
Explore Ayutthaya, the Thai capital for 600 years and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Filled with the ruins of ancient temples, it’s now one of the country’s greatest historical treasures.
Catch an afternoon boat down the river to the modern capital.
For something different, head to the little tangle of alleys known as Soi Arab (Arab Street) for unforgettable Middle Eastern food.
Ayutthaya temple district. Credit: AXP Photography, Unsplash.
View of the Royal Palace across the river in Bangkok. Credit: Kiszon Pascal, Getty images.
Bangkok
DAY 13
Famous for its fine pottery, the sleepy rural island of Ko Kret (completely free of cars) is an ideal place to stretch your legs on a rented bicycle.
Alternatively, take a tour on three wheels: cycle trishaws are still widely used in the nearby Nonthaburi quarter. A few dollars will be enough to get a rider to show you the neighborhood sights.
DAY 14
Take a commuter boat down the mighty Chao Phraya River and spend the afternoon exploring Chinatown. Later head for the bright lights of Khao San Road.
If you’re brave enough, try a snack of fried scorpions or the excellent banana pancakes, drizzled with condensed milk.
Beautifully decorated Ko Kret pottery. Credit: John Mukiibi Elijah, Unsplash.
Take me down to Khao San Road. Credit: Artur Debat, Getty images.
Depart from Bangkok
Flying home. Credit: Sacha Verheij, Unsplash.
Tips for travel safety in Thailand
Learn how to stay healthy and avoid crime and scams in Thailand with our travel safety tips.
Be safe when visiting Thailand. Credit: Witthaya Prasongsin, Getty images.
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