One Month in Thailand
Embark on an EPIC month-long journey through Thailand, a land of diverse landscapes and rich culture. This optimized itinerary will guide you through the best of Thailand's cities, islands, and natural wonders, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable adventure. For more in-depth information about Thailand, check out our blog post, "Everything You Need to Know About Thailand."
Days 1-4: Exploring Bangkok
How to Get There: Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport, hop on the Airport Rail Link to the city center. Taxis and ride-sharing apps are also convenient options to get into the heart of the city. Your arrival time will dictate what you are able to do on the first day. If arriving in the morning, we recommend you get a running start even if you’re jet lagged. This will help you get accustomed to the time change.
Where to stay: Sukhumvit - Sukhumvit Road is a vibrant area with great access to the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway systems. It offers a variety of accommodation options, including budget-friendly hotels and guesthouses. We stayed at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel for FREE by using points from this credit card. We also recommend Lub D Bangkok Siam if you’re on a budget and don’t mind staying in a hostel.
What to Do: Start your adventure at the Grand Palace, exploring its opulent architecture and the sacred Wat Phra Kaew. At night, if you’re feeling adventerous, take a stroll through the loud streets of Khao San Road and sample street food and cheap beer. What to Do: If you’re visiting on a weekend start your day exploring the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Take a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River to visit Wat Arun. Immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Chinatown, best visited at night for the full experience. Duck into one of Bangkok’s famous malls to cool off in the AC and grab some lunch on a budget at the food court. Explore the Jodd Fairs night market and indulge in some street food. Another option is to do a day tour- this tour to the railway market and floating market was a highlight of our trip! Visit the Unicorn Cafe for a quirky and sweet experience. Stop into one of Bangkoks many rooftop bars for a couple cocktails and enjoy stunning views of the city!
Must-Try Food: Dive into local dishes like Som Tum (green papaya salad) and Khao Pad (fried rice). Pa Tong Go are famous Thai donuts and are often served with sweetened condensed milk or pandan coconut custard and are a must try!
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Days 5-8: Chiang Mai's Cultural Oasis
How to Get There: Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, a short and convenient flight. Alternatively, you could take a 10 hour train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or a 12 hour bus. We’ve taken the train before and thoroughly enjoyed the views!
Where to Stay: The Old City - Staying within the Old City walls provides easy access to temples and markets. You'll find budget-friendly guesthouses and hostels here. We have stayed in this building twice (at multiple apartments), and had many friends stay here as well, and can confirm it’s one of the best places to stay if you’re on a midrange budget. We also had the MOST incredible host, May, at this airbnb, we paid her to be our tour guide and she took us to have one of the best meals of our lives (Khao Soi).
What to Do: Chiang Mai is literally FILLED with temples but the most notable are Wat Phra Singh and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Chiang Mai is filled with charming Cafes, like Akha Ama. Stop in to cool off and indulge in a delicious coffee. Be sure to explore the endless night markets and stop into our FAVORITE place in Chiang Mai, The North GateJazz Co-op. Be sure to get there right when they open to get the best seat because, as the night goes on, the crowd spills into the street. Visit a waterfall and an ETHICAL elephant sanctuary on this tour. **DO NOT under any circumstance ride an elephant in Thailand**
Must-Try Food: One of the best things we’ve ever eaten in our lives is Khao Soi (curry noodle soup). You can find it everywhere in Chiang Mai. You will also find tons of street food at the night markets.
Days 9-10: Pai's Rustic Escape
Where to Stay: Pai Town. We really enjoyed out stay at The Countryside Resort which was just outside of town so it was nice and quiet. If you want to have a more secluded and peaceful stay, check out the Art Farm Studio. This cafe also has a few rooms for rent and they are very unique and clean!
How to Get There: Rent a motorbike and enjoy the endless hairpin turns on your way up to Pai. We opted to take the minibus which was SUPER affordable but not for the faint of heart as they drive pretty fast and pack them full with tourists. If you get carsick we would recommend you hire a private driver/taxi to get up to Pai. You can usually book this through your hotel or book here.
What to Do: Rent a motorbike and get lost in the beautiful Thai Scenery. Explore Pai Canyon at sunset- be sure to get there early to secure a good spot. relax in hot springs, and soak in the town's laid-back ambiance. Visit the night market for dinner and THIS PLACE for cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere. Go tipsy tubing. Visit the Art Farm Studio for a coffee or tea, bring a book and relax at this serene cafe.
Must-Try Food: Savor Northern Thai dishes and fresh fruit shakes. The night market in Pai is filled with delicious Thai street food as well as western favorites. There was a young woman serving up the most delicious falafel so be sure to try it when you’re there! Mango sticky rice, samosas and grilled corn were also worth mentioning.
Days 11-13: Phuket's Beach Bliss
Where to Stay: Recommended Areas: Kata Beach offers a relaxed environment with a stunning beach and night market. We thoroughly enjoyed this hotel, it offers luxury at a midrange price. Patong beach is often recommended however this was our LEAST favorite area in all of Thailand. We only recommend it if you want to see the crazy nightlife, party all night and streets packed with tourists. If you want a break from the beach area, stay in Phuket Town at the Memory at On On and let the colorful streets charm your heart.
How to Get There: Take a flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket.
What to Do: Relax on the stunning beaches of Karon and Kata. Take in the sceneic views at Laem Sai Cup Cafe and enjoy a Thai Tea and locally made treat. Take a taxi to Chalong Bay for a rum tasting. If nightlife is your thing, visit Patong. Indulge in a cockatil at sunset at Nikitas before heading to the Rawai Seafood Market. If you’re in Phuket on a Sunday, be sure to visit the Phuket Town Sunday Night Market. It’s the largest one in Thailand and it gets pretty busy but it’s 100% worth it! Though we never attended a Muay Thai event, it has come highly recommended to us. You can book your skip the line ticket here.
Must-Try Food: Savor fresh seafood dishes in Rawai. At the night markets, enjoy Khanom Buang AKA Thai crepes, and Mango Sticky rice. Enjoy a fresh coconut or fruit juice on the beach!
Days 14-15: Island Paradise at Phi Phi
How to Get There: Take a ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi Island. You can usually book this through your hotel with transportation included or you can book ahead here.
Where to Stay: Phi Phi Do. We stayed at the Phi Phi Villa Resort and LOVED the location as it is cloe enough to the pier but far enough away from the fire shows for an easy nights rest. There are a ton of decent hotels on the island but make sure to check google maps to see the location. If you’re right next to a bar then it might be hard to sleep at night as this is known as a party island.
What to Do: Explore Phi Phi Leh, relax on Maya Bay, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, and enjoy beachfront dining. Meet with Susan Wan to plan your island hopping tour, her office is near the pier and she is incredibly friendly and helpful. You can also book this one through GetYourGuide. This tour is an all day tour and takes you to multiple locations including the famous Maya Bay. This tour is a MUST DO on this island, in fact, it’s the reason most people travel to Phi Phi Island.
Must-Try Food: Taste local Thai seafood dishes, pad thai and tropical cocktails.
Days 16-18: Koh Phangan's Tropical Hideaway
How to Get There: Take a ferry from Phi Phi to Koh Phangan. You can book this upon arrival at Phi Phi Island or book here.
Where to Stay: Haad Rin or Thong Sala - Choose between the lively Haad Rin or the laid-back Thong Sala for accommodations. We recommend Thong Sala- We stayed Tiki Beach and continued to extend our stay because we loved the property and the staff and didn’t want to leave the Island.
What to Do: Relax on pristine beaches like Secret Beach, explore waterfalls, and experience the vibrant Full Moon Party (if timed right). NOTE- we did attend the full moon party but left quickly because I was assulted. We’re not saying this will happen to you, but it spoiled our experience. If you like to drink and party and large crowds don’t bother you, then check it out. We aren’t super experienced at riding motorbikes but we did here in Koh Phangan as there wasn’t much traffic and the roads are well kept. We enjoyed just riding around, getting lost and enjoying the scenery.
Must-Try Food: Savor Thai seafood BBQ and tropical fruit shakes. Our favorite food market is Phangan Food Court and honestly we ate here almost every day for 10 days because there was such a variety of affordable and healthy food.
Days 19-21: Koh Tao- Snorkeling and diving paradise.
How to Get There: Take a ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao. You can book this here.
Where to Stay: Sairee Beach - Find a range of accommodations and easy access to the island's attractions. As we haven’t actually stayed in Koh Tao, we can’t recommend a specific hotel. But we do recommend you book through Agoda as it’s the top booking website in Asia. Our good friend @alika recommends this resort for your stay in Koh Tao.
What to Do: Koh Tao is FAMOUS for diving and a great place to get your dive permit. If you’re interested in diving you might want to skip Phi Phi Island and have more time in Koh Tao. Enjoy the views and have lunch at Taatoh Seaview Resort or Coral View Beach Bar. Hike up to John Suwan Viewpoint.
Must-Try Food: Enjoy fresh seafood and delectable Thai curries.
Days 22-24: Nature Retreat at Khao Sok National Park
How to Get There: Travel from Koh Tao to Khao Sok by ferry and bus. You can usually book this through your hotel in Khao Sok or you can book with 12GoAsia.
Where to Stay: Khao Sok Village. We stayed at Riverside Cottages and they literally planned our entire stay. We booked a package with them that included a jungle bungalow room, 1 night in Khao Sok in a floating bungalow (including meals), a night time jungle trek, an outdoor massage and a river kayak tour. It was literally incredible and we cannot recommend it enough. Make sure to book the overnight floating bungalow with tour guide package. A day trip to Khao Sok does not do it justice.
What to Do: Embark on jungle treks, canoe through limestone caves, Spot wild elehpants at sunrise, enjoy a kayak down the river and explore Cheow Lan Lake. Our time at Khao Sok was so special- We wrote an entire blog post about it here. This is a MUST DO when visiting Thailand! 100% recommend contacting Riverside Cottages and ask about their package offers.
Must-Try Food: Savor Thai dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients.
Days 25-28: Coastal Beauty in Krabi
How to Get There: Travel from Khao Sok to Krabi by bus or taxi. You can find the proper transportation with 12GoAsia.
Where to Stay: Ao Nang - Discover a variety of accommodations and easy access to Krabi's attractions. Since we didn’t actually stay in Krabi, we aren’t going to recommend a specific hotel. However, we do recommend booking through Agoda as they are the top booking site for Asia. Our good friend @Alika recommends Ban Sainai Resort.
What to Do: Explore Railay Beach, visit the Tiger Cave Temple, enjoy island-hopping tours to Hong Island, and indulge in beachfront dining. Relax at Krabi Hot Springs. Explore Khlang Cave and Than Bok Khorani. Explore Wat Kaew, a stunning white temple. Take a longtail boat to Railay Beach and visit the Princes Cave, hike to Railay Beach Viewpoint.
Must-Try Food: Taste spicy Southern Thai cuisine and seafood delicacies. Get lunch at Little Palm Homemade and visit the Krabi Night Market and Ao Nang Night Market.
Days 29-30: Return to Bangkok and Departure
How to Get There: Fly back to Bangkok from Krabi and spend your final night in the city.
What to Do: Reflect on your incredible journey, do last-minute shopping, and savor your favorite Thai dishes.
Must-Try Food: Enjoy a final taste of Thai street food before your departure.
As your month-long adventure through Thailand comes to a close, you've explored the country's dynamic cities, tranquil towns, tropical islands, and pristine jungles. This journey has offered you a rich tapestry of experiences, from bustling markets to serene natural wonders.
This optimized itinerary has provided you with an incredible taste of Thailand's diversity, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable adventure. Keep these memories close, and let them inspire future adventures, whether in Thailand or beyond.
Safe travels, and may your future explorations be filled with endless discoveries and cherished moments!
