Thailand in 2 Weeks: Temples, Jungles & Islands

Stops on this route

Day by Day

1. 1

   Bangkok

   • Day 1

     Arrive in Bangkok — Temples & Khao San Road

     Fly into Suvarnabhumi Airport and take the Airport Rail Link express (45 minutes, ~30 THB) to Phaya Thai or Makkasan, then connect to your guesthouse in Banglamphu near Khao San Road. Check in and head straight to Wat Pho to see the 46-metre gilded Reclining Buddha before the 6 PM closing time (200 THB entry). End the evening on Khao San Road itself — pad thai from street stalls costs 60–80 THB, and the mango sticky rice at the corner vendors is unmissable.

   • Day 2

     Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew & Chao Phraya Boats

     Arrive at the Grand Palace complex before 8:30 AM to beat the tour groups — the combined entry (500 THB) covers Wat Phra Kaew's Emerald Buddha and the palace grounds. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered); free sarong loans are available at the gate. Hop on the Chao Phraya Express Boat (15–30 THB) to explore the riverside district, stopping at Wat Arun's tiered spire across the river, then head to Chinatown (Yaowarat Road) for some of Bangkok's best street food: crab omelettes, roast duck noodles, and mango shakes.

   • Day 3

     Chatuchak Market, Jim Thompson House & Rooftop Sunset

     Saturday or Sunday? Hit Chatuchak Weekend Market (BTS Mo Chit) — 15,000 stalls selling everything from handmade jewellery to vintage Levi's; arrive by 10 AM before the heat peaks. Weekdays: visit the Jim Thompson House museum in Silom, a beautifully preserved Thai silk merchant's home on a canal (200 THB). In the evening, splurge on one rooftop cocktail at a Sky Bar like Lebua State Tower or Vertigo — a single drink runs 500–700 THB but the 360-degree sunset view is extraordinary.

2. 2

   Ayutthaya

   • Day 4

     Day Trip to Ayutthaya — Ancient Kingdom by Bicycle

     Transit

     Take the early train from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station to Ayutthaya (1.5 hours, 20 THB) — trains run from 7 AM. Rent a bicycle near the station (50–80 THB/day) and cycle the 12-square-kilometre island of ruins at your own pace: the iconic Buddha head entwined in fig tree roots at Wat Mahathat, the corn-cob prangs at Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and the riverside Wat Chaiwatthanaram at golden hour. Return by train or minivan; the last train back to Bangkok runs around 8 PM.

3. 3

   Chiang Mai

   • Day 5

     Fly to Chiang Mai — Old City & Night Bazaar

     Transit

     Take an early flight from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Chiang Mai — AirAsia and Nok Air operate multiple daily departures and fares are often under 800 THB booked in advance. Check into a guesthouse inside or near the moat-ringed Old City (Mueang Kao). Spend the afternoon wandering Wat Chedi Luang and the atmospheric Tha Phae Gate area. In the evening, stroll through the Night Bazaar on Chang Khlan Road for silk scarves, celadon ceramics, and a bowl of khao soi — Chiang Mai's signature coconut curry noodle soup (80–120 THB at Khao Soi Lamduan Faham).

   • Day 6

     Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Half-Day

     Book a morning session at an ethical elephant sanctuary such as Elephant Nature Park or Elephant Jungle Sanctuary — both operate on a no-riding policy and fund rescued elephant welfare (around 2,500–3,000 THB including transport). You'll feed, bathe, and walk alongside rescued elephants in forested terrain north of the city; morning sessions run 8 AM to 1 PM. Return by noon and cool off at a café on Nimman Road — Chiang Mai's hip neighbourhood packed with indie coffee shops and plant-based restaurants — before joining a traditional Thai massage on the Old City's Ratchadamnoen Road (200–350 THB/hour).

   • Day 7

     Thai Cooking Class & Sunday Walking Street

     Sign up for a half-day cooking class — Asia Scenic, Zabb-E-Lee, or Thai Farm Cooking School all include a market visit where you'll select ingredients at Warorot Market. You'll cook five dishes: tom yum goong (spicy prawn soup), pad thai, green curry, mango sticky rice, and spring rolls, then eat your creations for lunch (around 1,000 THB all-in). Sunday? Don't miss the legendary Sunday Walking Street on Wualai Road from 5 PM: 1 km of artisan crafts, silk lampshades, and grilled corn stalls that shut down the road until midnight.

   • Day 8

     Doi Suthep Sunrise & Doi Inthanon Optional Trek

     Hire a red songthaew shared taxi to Doi Suthep temple (50 THB per person, departure near Tha Phae Gate) for the 7 AM sunrise — the gilded chedi glows in the morning light and the valley views over Chiang Mai are haze-free at dawn. Entry is 30 THB. Alternatively, book a full-day tour to Doi Inthanon National Park — Thailand's highest peak at 2,565 m — which includes twin royal chedis, cloud forest trails, and Karen hill-tribe village visits (around 1,200 THB with transport). Return for a farewell dinner of northern-style sai ua sausage and gaeng hang lay pork curry at the Talat Pratu Chiang Mai night market.

4. 4

   Krabi & Railay

   • Day 9

     Fly to Krabi — Longtail Boat to Railay Beach

     Transit

     Catch a morning flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi Airport (1.5 hours, operated by AirAsia and Thai Lion Air — book well ahead for fares under 1,000 THB). From Ao Nang pier, hire a longtail boat to Railay Beach West (100–150 THB per person, 15 minutes) — Railay is only accessible by boat as it's surrounded on three sides by towering limestone karsts. Check into a beach bungalow and spend the afternoon swimming in the milky turquoise water at Railay East or the quieter Phra Nang Cave Beach, where offerings left at the Princess Cave shrine by local fishermen create a surreal roadside altar.

   • Day 10

     Rock Climbing & Four Islands Snorkel Tour

     Railay Beach is one of Southeast Asia's top rock-climbing destinations — King Climbers and Tex Rock Climbing run beginner courses (1,500–2,000 THB half-day) on the sheer limestone faces directly above the beach. Alternatively, join a four-islands speedboat tour departing from Railay pier at 9 AM that visits Tup Island (connected at low tide by a sandbar), Chicken Island, and two snorkel sites around Koh Mor — typically 700–900 THB including snorkel gear. Back on Railay by 3 PM, watch the sun set behind the karst towers from the cliff viewpoint trail (30-minute scramble, rope-assisted sections).

   • Day 11

     Phra Nang Cave Beach & Kayaking the Mangroves

     Phra Nang Cave Beach — a 15-minute walk east of Railay along a jungle path — consistently ranks among the world's most beautiful beaches: powdery white sand, translucent water, and dramatic karst towers straight from a movie set. Rent a sea kayak from the Railay Beach operators (150–200 THB/hour) and paddle into the mangrove lagoons and hidden hongs (enclosed sea caves accessible only at certain tides). For dinner, splurge at Railay Garden View Restaurant for fresh grilled barracuda and cold Singha beer while watching the stars appear between the cliff silhouettes.

5. 5

   Koh Phi Phi

   • Day 12

     Speedboat to Koh Phi Phi — Viewpoint & Village

     Transit

     Take the 10 AM ferry from Ao Nang or Krabi Town to Koh Phi Phi Don (1.5–2 hours, 350–450 THB). Check into a guesthouse in the village — most accommodation is clustered around the narrow isthmus between the two bays. Climb the Koh Phi Phi viewpoint in the afternoon (200 THB entry) for the iconic panorama of both bays and the spine of jungle between them — it's a steep 30-minute hike best done before 5 PM. The village's pedestrian lanes fill up at night with fire show performers, fresh seafood BBQ restaurants, and bar tables spilling onto the sand.

   • Day 13

     Maya Bay Speedboat & Snorkelling Koh Phi Phi Leh

     Join an early morning snorkel tour to Koh Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay — the beach made famous by The Beach (2000) with Leonardo DiCaprio, now managed under strict access rules (entry fee 400 THB, 30-minute time slots, groups capped). The speedboat typically departs at 8–8:30 AM to reach Maya Bay before the crowd peak; snorkel stops en route include Viking Cave and the coral gardens at Hin Phae. Afternoon: hire a long-tail for a private sunset cruise around the island's sea caves (600–800 THB for 2 hours) and catch the golden light on the cliffs of Lo Samah Bay.

6. 6

   Bangkok

   • Day 14

     Ferry to Krabi & Fly Home via Bangkok

     Transit

     Take the morning ferry back to Krabi (10 AM departure, 1.5 hours) then a shared minivan to Krabi Airport for an afternoon flight to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. Depending on your international departure time, you may have a few hours in Bangkok — the airport's rooftop food hall in Concourse G is surprisingly good for a final bowl of Tom Yum Goong or pad see ew before heading to your gate. Most international flights depart Bangkok late evening, making this a smooth final-day transition.

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Further reading

• Asia on Wikipedia
• Asia travel guide on Wikivoyage