Explore Bangkok & Central Plains Land in Bangkok, then add Ayutthaya ruins, a Kanchanaburi waterfall day, or a Hua Hin weekend. Amphawa is the Friday canal, not a first-morning stop. 
Temples in Bangkok, beaches on two coasts, and mountains around Chiang Mai
Start in Bangkok, then Phuket and Krabi from November to April or Samui from January to September.
See the guideBook your stay
Trip.com Compare rooms and rates for your dates.Regions of Thailand
Bangkok & Central Plains
Land in Bangkok, then add Ayutthaya ruins, a Kanchanaburi waterfall day, or a Hua Hin weekend. Amphawa is the Friday canal, not a first-morning stop.
Northern Highlands
Chiang Mai first. Add Chiang Rai for the White Temple, Pai for the mountain road, or Sukhothai if you want a second ruin park.
Andaman Coast
Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Lanta, Khao Lak, and Khao Sok share one sea. Use November to April. Do not add the Gulf on the same first week.
Gulf of Thailand Islands
Samui, Phangan, Tao, and Ang Thong sit on the Lower Gulf. Easier January to September. Fly USM or boat from Surat Thani or Chumphon.
Eastern Seaboard & Isan
Pattaya is the east gulf city. Koh Chang and Koh Kood need a Trat boat. Khao Yai is the park weekend. Ubon is the Isan plate, not a beach.
Explore Bangkok & Central Plains Land in Bangkok, then add Ayutthaya ruins, a Kanchanaburi waterfall day, or a Hua Hin weekend. Amphawa is the Friday canal, not a first-morning stop. 
Explore Northern Highlands Chiang Mai first. Add Chiang Rai for the White Temple, Pai for the mountain road, or Sukhothai if you want a second ruin park. 
Explore Andaman Coast Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Lanta, Khao Lak, and Khao Sok share one sea. Use November to April. Do not add the Gulf on the same first week. 
Explore Gulf of Thailand Islands Samui, Phangan, Tao, and Ang Thong sit on the Lower Gulf. Easier January to September. Fly USM or boat from Surat Thani or Chumphon. 
Explore Eastern Seaboard & Isan Pattaya is the east gulf city. Koh Chang and Koh Kood need a Trat boat. Khao Yai is the park weekend. Ubon is the Isan plate, not a beach. Top destinations in Thailand
1 Bangkok BTS hotel strips, river wats, two airports. 
2 Chiang Mai Moat temples, khao soi at lunch, one mountain day. 
3 Phuket West-coast sand. November to April. 
4 Koh Samui USM plus one Gulf island. January to September. 
5 Krabi Railay longtails and Ao Nang desks. 
6 Khao Sok Cheow Lan raft night. Different door from 401. Plan your trip
Popular trips and routes
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Two-Country Trip Planning
Combine Thailand & Vietnam: Nonstop Flights & 2-Country Routes
Bangkok and Chiang Mai sit under two hours nonstop from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Pair your Thailand itinerary with our sister guide Vietnam TravelGuide.
Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City & Phu Quoc
Pair 4 days in Bangkok with District 1 rooftop bars, Thao Dien dining, and a short hop to Phu Quoc Island on the same Gulf of Thailand weather window.
Search flights Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh CityBangkok to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay & Ninh Binh
Combine Bangkok or Phuket with 36 streets in Hanoi Old Quarter, an overnight limestone-karst cruise on Ha Long Bay, and rowboat caves in Ninh Binh.
Search flights Bangkok to HanoiBangkok to Da Nang, Hoi An & Hue
Fly nonstop from Bangkok to Central Vietnam for My Khe Beach resorts in Da Nang, lantern-lit tailor lanes in Hoi An Ancient Town, and the imperial citadel in Hue.
Chiang Mai to Hanoi, Sapa & Hoi An
Link Lanna temples and mountain coffee in Chiang Mai with Northern Vietnam rice terraces in Sapa and the UNESCO merchant houses of Hoi An.
Search flights Chiang Mai to HanoiStories
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Bangkok's Royal Barge Procession sails on 6 November: where to watch it free 52 royal barges sail the Chao Phraya to Wat Arun on Friday 6 November 2026. Free riverbank viewing, the best banks, and the boat closures from noon. -
Bangkok's 45 THB rail cap is for Thai riders. Visitors get a 40 THB day cap The planned 17 to 45 THB Bangkok rail cap from 1 January 2027 is for Thai nationals only. Visitors can still use the 40 THB Red and Purple Line day cap. -
Loy Krathong 2026 is 24 November, and Chiang Mai runs Yi Peng 23 to 25 Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November. Chiang Mai's Yi Peng runs 23 to 25 November, with sky lanterns only on two permitted nights. -
The Similan Islands are open again, from now until 15 May 2027 Mu Ko Similan National Park reopened on 15 October 2026 for the 2026 to 2027 season. Here is when to go, how trips work, and the reef rules. -
TDAC before you fly: the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card checklist Every foreign visitor needs a free TDAC, filed within 3 days before arrival on the official immigration site. What to have ready and what to avoid.