Best 14 days in Thailand
This is the 14-day spine: three nights Bangkok, three Chiang Mai, then one south coast. Do not add a second sea.
The spine is city, north, then one island group. Fly the long legs: Bangkok to Chiang Mai is about 70 minutes. Drop Chiang Rai and a second sea before you drop rest days.
Day by day
1 Bangkok arrival
Land BKK or DMK. Airport car or ARL to Sukhumvit. Walk a soi, sleep.
2 Old City temples
Grand Palace at opening, Wat Pho, Wat Arun ferry. Dinner back on Sukhumvit.
3 River or Chinatown
Riverside walk and a Charoenkrung evening. Nightlife is optional and on its own pages.
4 Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Morning flight to CNX, or the previous night on SRT 9/10. Sleep in the Old City.
5 Old City circuit
Dawn wats, cooking class or Doi Suthep. Sunday market if the calendar lines up.
6 Nimman and a half-day
Cafes west of the moat, or a Chiang Rai day if you accept a long van.
7 Fly south
CNX to HKT or USM. If you must connect in Bangkok, stay at one airport and allow at least 1 hour 15 minutes on one ticket.
8 Beach day
Do not boat on arrival day. Swim and reset the clock.
9 Island hop or Railay
Andaman: Phi Phi or Railay. Gulf: Phangan day boat or a second Samui coast.
10 Quiet bay
Move hotels if the first beach is wrong. This is the day people usually should have started on.
11 Optional Khao Sok
Andaman itinerary only. One night on the lake, then back to the airport coast.
12 Buffer
Weather buffer. Ferry leftovers go here.
13 Back to Bangkok
Fly to BKK. One night in Siam or riverside if you have a morning long-haul.
14 Out
ARL or a booked car. Do not plan a palace morning before a noon flight.
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Common questions
- What do you actually see in 14 days?
- Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and one south coast. That is the spine. Khao Sok or Phangan is a swap, not an add.
- What should you drop?
- Do not stack Phuket and Samui. Do not add Pai and Chiang Rai on the same north block.