Two weeks is the sweet spot for a first Thailand trip. It's long enough to do the country justice, short enough that you don't burn out. This itinerary covers the three pillars — a major city, a cultural heartland, and a beach week — without putting you on a plane every other day. Total estimated cost for a mid-range traveler: ฿38,000-55,000 per person excluding international flights.
The route at a glance
Days 1-4: Bangkok · Days 5-8: Chiang Mai · Days 9-13: Krabi/Railay · Day 14: Bangkok return + flight home
Days 1-4: Bangkok
Day 1 — Arrival and the riverside
Morning/afternoon: Arrive at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK). Get a SIM card at the airport, take the Airport Rail Link or a metered taxi to your hotel. Stay near BTS Asok or Phrom Phong for first-time-friendly logistics. Where to stay in Bangkok.
Evening: Recover from jet lag with a sunset Chao Phraya river ferry from Sathorn Pier. Dinner at Yaowarat (Chinatown) — start with crab omelette at Raan Jay Fai or boat noodles at Nai Ek Roll Noodle.
Estimated cost: ฿2,500-4,000 (hotel + dinner + transport)
Day 2 — Temple loop and rooftop
8:00 am: Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew. Arrive at opening to dodge heat and crowds. Dress code is enforced — covered shoulders and knees mandatory.
11:00 am: Walk to Wat Pho (reclining Buddha + Thai massage school).
1:00 pm: Cross-river ferry to Wat Arun (10 baht).
2:30 pm: Lunch at a riverside spot. Massage at Wat Pho massage school (฿420/hour).
Evening: Sky Bar at Lebua, Vertigo, or Above Eleven for sunset cocktails. Dinner in Sukhumvit.
Estimated cost: ฿2,200-3,500
Day 3 — Markets and modern Bangkok
Morning: If it's a weekend, Chatuchak Weekend Market (15,000+ stalls, BTS Mo Chit). If weekday, Or Tor Kor market for produce + ICONSIAM mall.
Afternoon: Jim Thompson House museum, then a walk through Siam shopping district (Siam Paragon, MBK).
Evening: Thonglor / Ekkamai for dinner. Try Soul Food Mahanakorn or Le Du. Drinks at Tep Bar or Rabbit Hole.
Estimated cost: ฿2,000-3,200
Day 4 — Day trip or leisurely Bangkok
Option A: Ayutthaya day trip by train (1.5 hr each way, ฿15-300) or with a tour. Old Siamese capital with magnificent ruins.
Option B: Stay in Bangkok — Lumphini Park morning, Chao Phraya khlong (canal) tour through Thonburi, dinner in Chinatown for a second go.
Estimated cost: ฿1,800-3,000
Bangkok totals
- Hotel (mid-range): ฿1,800-3,200/night × 4 = ฿7,200-12,800
- Food + transport + activities: ~฿1,500-2,500/day × 4 = ฿6,000-10,000
- 4-day total: ฿13,000-23,000
Days 5-8: Chiang Mai
Travel: Bangkok → Chiang Mai
Three options:
- Flight (recommended): 1h 15min, ฿900-2,200. AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Vietjet. Don Mueang (DMK) is usually cheapest.
- Overnight train: 13-15 hr, ฿900-1,500 for 2nd-class sleeper. A legitimate Thai travel rite. Book 30+ days ahead at 12Go.Asia.
- VIP overnight bus: 10-11 hr, ฿450-700. Cheapest decent option but less comfortable than the train.
Day 5 — Old City temples
Morning: Arrive Chiang Mai. Stay inside the Old City moat (walking distance to most things). Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao, Wat Lok Molee — these are walkable in a half-day.
Afternoon: Lunch at SP Chicken (BBQ chicken legend) or Khao Soi Khun Yai. Massage at Lila Thai Massage (run by ex-female prison inmates — legit institution).
Evening: Sunday Walking Street (if Sunday) or Saturday Walking Street. Otherwise the Night Bazaar.
Estimated cost: ฿1,400-2,200
Day 6 — Doi Suthep + Nimman
Morning: Songthaew up to Doi Suthep temple (฿50-80 per person each way, departs from outside Maya Mall or Old City). Early morning for sunrise + cooler temps.
Afternoon: Nimman neighborhood for cafés (Ristr8to, Akha Ama), boutiques, and lunch.
Evening: Northern Thai dinner at Huen Phen or Tong Tem Toh. Reggae bar Roots Rock or speakeasy at Akha Bar.
Estimated cost: ฿1,400-2,000
Day 7 — Elephants OR cooking class
Option A — Elephant sanctuary: Elephant Nature Park or Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (full day, ฿1,800-2,500). Important: choose ethical sanctuaries that don't allow riding or shows. Elephant Nature Park is the gold standard.
Option B — Cooking class: Full-day Thai cooking class (฿900-1,500) including market visit. Thai Farm Cooking School and Sammy's Organic Thai Cooking are highly rated.
Evening: Dinner anywhere; rest up.
Estimated cost: ฿2,200-3,500 (with main activity)
Day 8 — Doi Inthanon or chill day
Option A — Doi Inthanon National Park: Thailand's highest peak. Day tour ฿1,400-1,800. Twin pagodas, waterfalls, hill-tribe villages.
Option B — Pai side trip: If you have an extra 2 days, Pai is the bohemian mountain town 3 hours north. Skip if your itinerary is tight.
Evening: Pack for the beach. Fly south tomorrow.
Chiang Mai totals
- Hotel (mid-range): ฿900-1,600/night × 4 = ฿3,600-6,400
- Activities (elephants/cooking class): ~฿2,000-3,000
- Food + transport: ~฿900-1,500/day × 4 = ฿3,600-6,000
- Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Krabi flights: ฿2,000-4,500
- 4-day total: ฿11,000-19,500
Days 9-13: Andaman Beach Week
You have a choice here. Phuket for variety and convenience. Krabi/Railay for dramatic scenery and quieter beaches. Koh Phi Phi if you want a party island. We recommend Krabi base + Phi Phi day trip for the best balance. Phuket vs Krabi comparison.
Day 9 — Travel + Ao Nang
Morning: Fly Chiang Mai → Krabi (CNX → KBV, 2 hr direct or via Bangkok). Taxi from KBV to Ao Nang (~฿600, 30 min).
Afternoon: Settle in. Walk Ao Nang beach. Sunset drinks on the strip.
Estimated cost: ฿2,500-4,000
Day 10 — Hong Islands or 4 Islands tour
Long-tail boat tour of Hong, Lao Lading, and surrounding islands (~฿1,200-1,800). Pristine snorkeling, lagoons, dramatic cliffs.
Evening: Dinner at Ao Nang Cuisine or Carnivore Steak & Grill (yes, they have steak).
Day 11 — Railay
Long-tail boat from Ao Nang to Railay (฿100-150 each way, 15 min). Spend the day on Phra Nang beach, watch climbers on the karst, swim in the lagoon, eat at one of the long-tail boat-vendor restaurants. Last boats back around 6pm.
Optional: Stay overnight on Railay for one night for the full magic.
Day 12 — Phi Phi day trip
Speedboat tour to Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh (Maya Bay reopened with permit limits), and Bamboo Island (~฿1,400-2,000 per person). Crowded but the scenery is genuinely unbelievable. Bring reef-safe sunscreen.
Day 13 — Beach day + Krabi Town
Slow morning on Ao Nang beach. Massage. Optional Krabi Town visit (Tiger Cave Temple — 1,237 steps to a stupa with 360° views). Final beach sunset.
Andaman totals
- Hotel (mid-range): ฿1,600-3,200/night × 5 = ฿8,000-16,000
- Boat tours (3): ~฿3,800-5,500
- Food + transport: ~฿1,200-2,000/day × 5 = ฿6,000-10,000
- 5-day total: ฿17,800-31,500
Day 14: Return and Departure
Fly Krabi → Bangkok in the morning, then international flight home from BKK or DMK. Some travelers add a final Bangkok night for a leisurely closing dinner — worth it if you have the time.
Total Trip Cost
| Stage | Days | Cost (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | 4 | ฿13,000-23,000 |
| Chiang Mai | 4 | ฿11,000-19,500 |
| Andaman beach | 5 | ฿17,800-31,500 |
| Final transit day | 1 | ฿2,000-4,000 |
| 14-day total (mid-range) | 14 | ฿44,000-78,000 |
| ≈ USD equivalent | $1,300-2,300 |
Add ~$900-1,500 per person for international flights from the US/Europe. Run your specific numbers.
Variations
Beach lovers (skip culture, stay south)
Bangkok 2 days → fly south → Phuket 4 days → ferry to Krabi 4 days → ferry to Phi Phi 2 days → Bangkok 1 day.
Culture/north focus
Bangkok 4 days → Chiang Mai 5 days → Pai 3 days → fly back to Bangkok 1 day. Skip the beach this trip.
Honeymoon
Bangkok 3 days (luxury riverside) → Chiang Mai 3 days (boutique resort) → Koh Lanta or Koh Yao Noi 7 days (private villa).
Budget version
Same route, hostels and street food only — drops total to ฿20,000-30,000 (~$600-900) per person. Thailand on $30/day.
The Three Things That Actually Matter
1. Don't overschedule. Leave one buffer day per stop. You'll need it.
2. Book Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Krabi flights in advance. They go up 30-50% inside two weeks.
3. Travel insurance. Especially if you might rent a motorbike. Make sure motorbike accidents are covered.