12 days in Thailand: first-timer itinerary
Three Bangkok nights, four Chiang Mai nights, then one coast. Pick Phuket from November to April or Samui from January to September; the two seas do not share one dry season.
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and one monsoon coast make the three-base first trip. Sleep three nights in Bangkok on a BTS line (tap 17 to 62 THB), then fly Bangkok to Chiang Mai in about 70 to 75 minutes. Sleep four nights in the Old City or Mae Rim.
Pick Phuket from November to April (about 80 minutes from Bangkok; Chiang Mai to Phuket is a separate hop) or Samui from January to September. Keep both seas off the same first fortnight. Walk the old-city river temples before you fly north. Season notes sit on when to go. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) form sits on visas and TDAC. For a kids version see 2 weeks with kids.
Day by day
1 Bangkok tickets
Palace 500 THB, Wat Pho 300 THB, Wat Arun 200 THB plus 5 THB ferry.
2 Market night
Chatuchak or Or Tor Kor, then Yaowarat.
3 City buffer
Jim Thompson or a canal hour. Pack for CNX.
4 Fly Chiang Mai
About 70 to 75 minutes. Sleep Old City or Nimman.
5 Doi Suthep 07:00
30 THB plus songthaew 60 to 100 THB.
6 Sanctuary half-day
Named ethical sanctuary, no riding.
7 Mae Rim or walking street
Mae Rim rice terraces or Saturday Wua Lai / Sunday moat.
8 Fly one coast
CNX to HKT or USM. No boat on landing day.
9 Beach reset
West-coast Phuket or a Samui north bay.
10 One boat or rest
Phang Nga / Ang Thong 300 THB, or a second swim day.
11 Second beach day
Stay on the same sea. Do not hop coasts.
12 Exit the beach airport
HKT or USM car. Same-day long-haul is tight.
City, north hub, then one sea
If you want Chiang Rai instead of a beach, swap the last four nights for the 5-day Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai temple loop (White Temple 200 THB since 1 January 2026).
| Block | Sleep | Move |
|---|---|---|
| Nights 1 to 3 | Bangkok BTS hotel | Palace morning |
| Nights 4 to 7 | Chiang Mai | 70 to 75 minutes; Doi Suthep 07:00 |
| Nights 8 to 11 | Phuket or Samui | One sea; one boat day |
Keep going
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Search flights Chiang Mai to HanoiCommon questions
- Andaman and Gulf on the same 12 days?
- No. Pick one coast with the month. November to April is Andaman. January to September is Gulf.
- Do you need Chiang Rai on this spine?
- Only if you drop the beach. White Temple is 200 THB for foreigners since 1 January 2026.
- Where do I check entry rules?
- File TDAC within 3 days of arrival, then read Thai Immigration and the visas and TDAC page.