Thailand Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 Days

The best Thailand itinerary is Bangkok, then Chiang Mai for temples and mountains, then one coast picked by season. Choose Phuket or Krabi from December to March and Ko Samui from June to September. Fly between regions, because the overland trips eat whole days.

The plans below are for travellers who would rather pay for a flight than spend a day on a van. Every date, schedule and fare changes, so check before you go. This page does not rest on first-hand visits.

Pick your coast by month

Thailand’s two coasts have opposite wet seasons, and this decides the whole trip. Monthly rainfall in millimetres, from the Thai Meteorological Department’s 1991 to 2020 normals:

What that means:

• December to March: Phuket or Krabi. February is the driest month on both coasts.
• April to September: Ko Samui. In July it gets half of Phuket’s rain.
• October and November: the hardest window. Both coasts are wet in October. Ko Samui peaks in November, so pick Phuket then and expect showers.
• Chiang Mai: November and December are the best months. Rain is low and the burning season has not begun.

Haze is the catch in the north. IQAir puts Chiang Mai’s burning season at roughly January to April, with the peak in March. Skip Chiang Mai in March if anyone in your group has breathing problems, and check air quality before you book.

The Similan Islands off the Andaman coast are only open part of the year. For this season a travel operator citing the Department of National Parks gives 15 October 2026 to 15 May 2027.

7 days: Bangkok and one region

Do not try to fit in everything. In a week, a third stop costs you a day you can feel.

Best for first-timers: Bangkok plus Krabi in winter, or Bangkok plus Ko Samui in summer. Railay Beach near Krabi can only be reached by boat, which is much of its appeal. Use our Bangkok itinerary for the first three days.

10 days: Bangkok, north and one coast

This is the plan to pick if you only come once.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai is scheduled at about 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 35 minutes. Check if a nonstop runs from Chiang Mai to your coast on your date. We could not confirm one, so plan on connecting through Bangkok.

14 days: add a second coast or slow down

Two weeks lets you stop rushing, or add a second beach.

Going coast to coast works best in February, when both are at their driest. Bangkok Airways flies Krabi to Samui nonstop in about 50 minutes and Phuket to Samui in about 55 minutes, according to Wego. Flights from Krabi are few, roughly two a day, so book these first. The overland alternative takes 5 to 7 hours from Krabi or 7 to 9 from Phuket.

Want more history? Add Sukhothai, whose historical park TAT recommends for bike rides. It adds travel, so check transport for your dates. Three weeks gives you room for this without cutting anything.

Getting between places

• Bangkok to Ko Samui: Bangkok Airways flies nonstop from Suvarnabhumi in about 1 hour 5 minutes. Going overland by bus and ferry takes 10 to 12 hours. Unless you’re on a tight budget, fly.
• Two Bangkok airports: Flights may use Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang. Check the ticket, because the two are about 50 km apart. See Bangkok airport to city.
• Book in order: Reserve any flight between islands first, because Krabi to Samui has few departures. Then book the rest, then hotels.
• Last night: If your flight home leaves early, stay near the terminal. See hotels near Bangkok airport.

Timing around festivals

Loi Krathong falls on the full moon of 24 November 2026. Chiang Mai’s CAD KhomLoi sky lantern festival runs 24 to 25 November 2026 at CAD Cultural Center Lanna in Mae On, and Sukhothai’s festival runs 15 to 24 November at the Historical Park. If your dates land here, build the trip around it and book early. See when to visit Bangkok for month-by-month detail.

Before you fly

Non-Thai arrivals must file the free TDAC arrival card within 3 days before landing, and check entry rules in our Thailand visa guide. For Bangkok stays, start with where to stay in Bangkok.

Questions people ask

How many days do you need in Thailand?

Ten days is the sweet spot: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one beach base. Seven days works for Bangkok plus one other region. Fourteen days lets you add a second beach or slow the pace.

What is the best 10-day Thailand itinerary?

Three nights in Bangkok, three in Chiang Mai and three or four on a coast. Fly between each. Choose Krabi or Phuket from December to March, and Ko Samui from June to September.

What is the best 2-week Thailand itinerary?

Three nights in Bangkok, four in Chiang Mai, then seven nights by the sea. Split the beach week between two bases if you like. From January to April, check air quality before you go north.

Which is better in November, Phuket or Ko Samui?

Phuket. Official normals show 178 mm of rain in Phuket in November and 445 mm on Ko Samui, the wettest month on that island. Ko Samui stays wet through December and dries out in February.

Can you do Thailand in 7 days?

Yes, if you pick Bangkok plus one region. Three nights in Bangkok and four by the sea is the easiest. Adding the north as well means three flights in a week.