Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Thailand is a country steeped in history and culture, bursting with vibrant markets and spicy food, and dripping with natural beauty. This epic travel destination has something for everyone and is an easy-to-navigate tourist destination. This two-week itinerary for Thailand hits many of the highlights including Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Krabi, and Khao Sok. There are many ways to put together a 2 week Thailand itinerary, we suggest reading several posts/experiences to help you make the best decisions.
In many ways, 2 weeks in Thailand is the perfect length of time for a visit, but you will just be scratching the surface of all Thailand has to offer.
You can also find lots of suggestions throughout about how to lengthen or shorten your trip and suggestions for alternative destinations (such as Chiang Mai).
We spent 2 weeks in Thailand right in early 2020 and this itinerary for Thailand highlights almost exactly what we did while we were there.
As an Affiliate, I may receive compensation when you click on a link and purchase something.
Quick Look at the 2 Week Itinerary for Thailand
2 Week Itinerary for Thailand Overview
- Arrive in Bangkok
- Explore Bangkok and do a day trip to Ayutthaya (3 days)
- Fly to Krabi, rent a car, drive to Khao Sok
- Explore Khao Sok and do an overnight on a floating bungalow (3 days)
- Drive to Krabi explore the beaches, islands, visit an elephant sanctuary and more (5 days)
- Fly back to Bangkok
You can see a series of videos from our trip on the Chasing ADVNTR Youtube Channel.
Suggestions for Additions or Alternatives to this Itinerary for Thailand
Scroll to the very bottom of this post to see more details on how to adjust and change this itinerary. With a little more time (or a willingness to spend more time traveling) you can add on a visit to Chiang Mai. Another easy option is to swap Phuket for Krabi. If you want to make this into a 10-day Thailand itinerary (or even a 7-day Thailand Itinerary) you can decrease your time to visit to Krabi, or leave off Khao Sok.
Looking for a longer Itinerary? Check out this 3 Week Itinerary.
Who is this Itinerary For Thailand For?
This itinerary is truly for everyone with a sense of adventure. We did this exact Thailand itinerary with our 3 kids (ages 8, 11 and 11) but you could do this with younger kids, as a couple or solo. This itinerary IS NOT for you if you want to find a resort for your entire vacation in Thailand.
Things to Know When Planning a Trip to Thailand
Getting to Thailand
Unless you are coming directly by land from one of the neighboring countries, you will most likely be flying to Thailand. While you can fly into some of the smaller airports from nearby destinations, you will likely be flying into Bangkok. For that reason, this itinerary starts and ends in Bangkok. There are frequent deals available to fly into Bangkok. We flew from JFK to Bangkok for $450 per person, so it’s worth keeping your eye out for deals.
Best Time to Visit Thailand
Thailand is truly a year-round destination, although weather conditions do vary across the country. Conditions vary from hot to cool, and dry to rainy. Here are a few tips to help you plan when to visit Thailand.
- In general, if you want to visit the islands, November-April is best (you can get monsoon conditions from May-Sept)
- Thailand’s Gulf Coast – avoid visiting in Oct and Nov due to monsoon conditions
- Bangkok and the North – the best time to visit is Nov-Feb
Also note that if you are looking to travel during the less touristy season and don’t mind the rain, consider visiting outside of the preferred travel times. We traveled to Thailand in Feb and March 2020 (just before the pandemic shut everything down) and had excellent, hot weather the entire time without much rain.
How to Get Around Thailand
Thailand is generally easy to navigate. To get between major destinations, consider booking short, inexpensive flights. There are lots of budget airlines that fly domestically around Thailand.
If you are looking for the cheapest way to get around Thailand, you will want to look into trains. There is a good train system in Thailand, although the trains can be quite long and slow.
Another option is to take a bus. These operate to more destinations than trains. Thai buses go pretty much anywhere in the country and are comfortable. Some of the buses cater to the general public and some are for tourists (which are a bit more expensive but often the most convenient).
Taxis and Tuk Tuks are a good option if you need a short quick ride in town.
Renting a car or a motorbike is another option. This was a great option for us as we were traveling as a family and wanted the flexibility to get around. There are definitely parts of the country where you don’t want to rent a car because the roads are in poor shape. We rented a car in Krabi and drove up to Khao Sok and then used the car around Krabi.
If you plan to visit any of the islands, you might also travel by ferry. The ferry system is generally easy and reliable and you can book online or in person.
Is Thailand Safe?
Thailand is one of the safer countries to travel to, although you should always use common safety practices when you are in a tourist destination.
Thailand Currency and Language
Thailand uses the Baht for currency. The official language is Thai although there are 71 languages found in the country. In many of the touristy areas, you can expect some people to speak other languages. We found many people did not speak English, but we did not have much trouble communicating.
Tips for Traveling in Thailand
- Check which immunizations are required
- Use sunscreen and bug spray
- Drink bottled water
- Do your homework when visiting with animals – never ride elephants, take selfies with tigers or feed monkeys
- Cover up when you go into temples – this includes covering your knees and shoulders
- When you enter temples remove your shoes
- Expect slow food service (and make sure to try to the street food)
- It is illegal to bring a Buddha statue out of the country
Map of 2 Week Thailand Itinerary
This map shows some of the main points of interest we visiting on our trip to Thailand. You can also see more links to the different places below.
Complete Details for 2 Week Thailand Itinerary
Now it’s time to get into all the details of this itinerary. Note that there are also lots of links if you want to learn more about the different activities. This itinerary assumes that on the first day you will arrive into Bangkok – you might have time to check out one of the activities, if you are coming from far away, you may also need to start adjusting to Jet Lag.
Bangkok and Ayutthaya (3 Days)
Bangkok is a bustling town, crammed full of noise and life. People either love it or hate it! We really enjoy our few days in the city but were equally happy to get out of town after our time in the city. You should note that the town is big with several distinct sections. Depending on where you stay, you will find part of the city walkable but will need to take a taxi or bus to get across town.
Things to do in Bangkok
During your time in Bangkok, you will likely want to see and do as much as possible. In three days, there is time to visit the temples, check out some of the markets, wander, and day trip to Ayutthaya. Below is a list of activities for your visit to Bangkok broken up into 3 days, but you can easily mix and match.
See more about: The Perfect Bangkok Itinerary for 1-4 Days: Complete Travel Guide
Day 1 – Visit the Temples and the Grand Palace
Start your morning with a visit to the Grand Palace. The grounds and buildings here are massive and worth the time to wander. You could easily spend hours here and not see it all. Avoid scams by going all the way to the ticket window to book entry.
Spend the afternoon exploring the temples. You will want to make sure you get to Wat Pho to see the reclining Buddha, Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) to see the spires, Wat Mahathat Yuwararangsarit, and Wat Suthat. These temples will easily take you all afternoon to explore and you likely won’t get to them all – you could also split them up into two days by doing the Grand Palace one day, and the Temples on another day. These sites are all located along the river and you can find places to eat and a water taxi that takes you back and forth across the river.
In the evening, head to Chinatown for dinner. Although it might seem strange to start your time in Thailand in Chinatown – this bustling area is full of stalls, food, and bright lights and is the perfect way to end your day after walking through temples all day!
Day 2: Markets, Attractions, and City Life
There are several options to do on your second day in Bangkok. If you didn’t get to see all the temples you wanted to see, start your day there. Otherwise, you will want to save some time to check out the markets. There are many markets around town and they are fun to visit both during the day and in the evening. Some of the best Bangkok markets include Chatuchak Market (open Sat and Sun), Train Night Market, Neon Night Market, Sampeng Market, and Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market.
In the afternoon you have plenty of activities to choose from: take a riverboat ride, visit the Zoo, explore the Aquarium, check out Khaosan Street, or get a Thai Massage. In the evening head back to the markets and watch them light up after dark. Make sure to take a tuk-tuk ride.
Day 3: Day Trip to Ayutthaya
On your 3rd day in Bangkok, take a day trip to Ayutthaya. This historic town was once the center of civilization and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is full of archaeological sites and includes palaces, Buddhist temples, monasteries, and statues.
There are several ways to do this. One option is to book a full tour. This is a great option if you don’t mind the price. You will travel comfortably and hit all the best spots. This small-group tour gets good reviews and is reasonably priced.
We decided to take the train up to Ayutthaya and self-tour around the town on bikes. The train takes 1-2 hours and drops you off right outside the town. From here, take the short ferry ride across the river where you can rent bikes (you can also take a tuk-tuk or taxi ride across town). There is a small fee to get into the different sites. Make sure you check out: Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phu Khao Thong, Wat Yai Chaimongkol, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Phra Mahthat, and Wat Yai Chai Mang Khon. Truly – the best way to see the town without a guided tour is to simply explore and stop anywhere that looks interesting!
Where to Stay in Bangkok
Since Bangkok is large, it’s best to start closest to the activities you want to do. We stayed at an apartment called the Serena House. It was simple and a good landing place for our family to get settled. We liked the option of staying closer to the temples instead of staying more downtown. Other lodging options that get good reviews and are in a good location are:
Praya Palazzo – we considered this more elegant hotel with a pool
Lamphu Tree House Boutique Hotel – this fun-looking place was also on our list, but didn’t work well for a family with the room set up.
Travel to Khao Sok – To Get from Bangkok to Khao Sok, take the short flight to Krabi and then drive, book a ride, or take a bus to Khao Sok.
Khao Sok (3 Days)
Khao Sok is a National Park located about 2 hours north of Krabi. At the center of the National Park is Cheow Lan Lake – a man-made lake with stunning limestone karsts rising straight out of the water. Taking a boat ride on the lake, hiking and spending the night on the lake was one of the highlights of our trip. Here’s how we did it!
On the first night, we arrived in the late afternoon at our hotel. We stayed at Our Jungle House (which we highly recommend). We stayed in one of their treehouses and love walking into town to eat and down to the river to watch the monkeys. We were able to book an overnight trip on Cheow Lan Lake through Our Jungle House, but you can also find many tour companies that take you out for either a day trip or an overnight.
Another option is to show up at the dock and find someone to take you out for the day. It depends on how busy it is and whether this will work, but it is likely the least expensive option.
See more: How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Khao Sok National Park with an Overnight on Cheow Lan Lake
Our trip to Khao Sok included a boat ride on a large long tail through the limestone towers. It is truly breathtaking. In the afternoon we made our way to the floating huts where we spent the night. There are several floating huts/bungalows around the lake and the tour company you are with (and how much you pay for a ‘luxury’ hut) will decide which one you spend the night in. The huts we stayed in were very basic.
In the late afternoon, we took a hike up to see the lake from above. Depending on the time of year, they do offer different options for this tour including visiting a cave.
We enjoyed a shared meal in the evening and enjoyed swimming from the bungalows and using the kayak before turning in for the night. In the morning, we ate an early breakfast and got out for a morning wildlife safari before collecting our things and taking the boat back to the dock.
Where to Stay in Khao Sok
We loved staying at Our Jungle House or you can check out their other property Our Jungle Camp.
The other place we checked out that looked excellent was Malulee Khaosok Resort.
If you’re looking for a budget option, check out Khao Sok Morning Mist Resort.
After your time on the lake, drive down to Krabi
Krabi
We spent a full week in Krabi and found plenty of things to do. If you are trying to see more on your visit, you could spend a few days in Krabi and add on another destination (such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, or drive to one of the nearby destinations in the South).
For us, Krabi was the perfect mix of adventure, ease, and fun. Every day felt full of activities and we enjoyed eating out in town every night. Since we had a car, we were able to drive to many of the destinations, although you can also book tours directly if you don’t have your own transportation. Here are all the activities we did during our time in Krabi:
- Boat trip to the Phi Phi Islands
- 4 Island Boat Trip
- Rock Climbing
- Visiting an Elephant Sanctuary
- Hiking up Tiger Cave Temple
- Walking Around Emerald Pool
- Checking out all the local beaches
- Getting Thai Massages
Check out: 15 Best Things to do in Krabi
Boat trip to the Phi Phi Islands – We booked a day tour out to the Phi Phi Islands (although you could also book overnight and/or take the ferry). The benefit of the tour is that they took you to several spots in the islands where you could swim and snorkel and included lunch in the town. The boat ride out to the islands takes about 1 hour but we really enjoyed the trip and getting to see these beautiful islands.
4 Island Boat Trip -There are so many tour options to get out to see the islands right off the coast of Krabi. We chose to go by Longtail boat (which we enjoyed) instead of the speedboat. None of the rides were very long. We also decided not to book a tour in advance online and went down to the beach the night before and booked a private tour for the day. Not only was this cheaper, but we had the boat to ourselves AND since we got an even earlier start we beat the crowds.
Learn more about booking an Island Hopping Tour from Krabi
Rock Climbing – this was high on our list when we came to Thailand. We booked a rock climbing tour at Railay Beach that included transportation, a guide and climbing gear. We have all climbed before, but there was no experience required.
Visiting an Elephant Sanctuary – Another tour we booked was a day at the Krabi Elephant Sanctuary. This small group activity was amazing and my kids talk about it often. Always do your research when you are planning an animal encounter experience. See a complete review of our visit to Krabi Elephant Sanctuary.
Hiking up to Tiger Cave Temple – Located just inland from Krabi, Tiger Cave Temple (or Wat Tham Suea) is a temple high above the water. To get there, you will need to climb the 1,237 steps. We saw lots of monkeys on the walk-up and really enjoyed spending time at the temple right at sunset. You can also book a tour if you don’t have a car (this one is a combined tour with a few activities).
Walking Around Emerald Pool
This activity exceeded my expectations. We decided to visit at the last minute, and drove ourselves. Once you get there you will find a series of trails (with a small entrance fee). The trails take you through a jungle of beautiful trees, small ponds, mangroves, and the beautifully colored Turquois water. You can simply walk, or swim in the fresh water in several spots. We loved exploring the Emerald Pool.
Checking Out all the Local Beaches
Krabi, Thailand is famous for it’s beaches. Railay Beach is one of the most famous (and most beautiful) beaches in the world, but you can also find amazing beaches on many of the islands. Some of our favorite beaches include Phra Nang, Railay, Tonsai, Ao Nang, Nopparat Thara Beach, and Koh Poda Beach.
Getting Thai Massages
This was so much fun and even the kids got foot massages. You can find many places to get a massage right in town.
Read more below for more suggestions on how to tweak you Itinerary for Thailand.
Where to Stay in Krabi
Krabi is a easy place to visit with plenty of lodging options for all budgets. We stayed in an Airbnb a bit outside town since we had a car. Below are the other lodging options we considered that all looked great:
After your time in Krabi, fly back to Bangkok or head off on your next adventure.
Other Thailand Itinerary Options
There is so much to do and see in Thailand that a 2 week trip to Thailand will just give you a sneak peak into the country, and you will need to pick and choose what to see. You can also shorten or lengthen your trip quite easily and you can see a few suggestions below for how to put together a 10 day trip to Thailand or even a 7 day trip to Thailand.
Other Options for a 2 Week Thailand Itinerary
If you want less beach time in Thailand and want to visit Chiang Mai, you could easily adjust this 2 week Thailand Itinerary by shortening your time in Krabi (or skipping Khao Sok) and travel up to Chiang Mai. We strongly considered this, but ultimately wanted to spend less time traveling and more time doing activities in each place.
Another option for a two week Thailand itinerary is to spend a few days in Bangkok, and fly to Phuket. From Phuket, you could do an overnight on the Phi Phi Island or travel up the coast. We chose Krabi over Phuket since it seemed a bit more laid back.
Thailand Itinerary 10 days
If you have just 10 days in Thailand (or even want a 12 day thailand itinerary), you can still follow this itinerary with just a few changes.
Start your visit with a few days in Bangkok and do the day trip to Ayutthaya as listed above. Then fly down to Krabi for the remainder of the trip. You can do an overnight tour to Khao Sok directly from Krabi and enjoy many of the other activities listed above.
Thailand Itinerary 7 Days
If you only have 7 days in Thailand, you will want to think carefully about what you want to see. Since you are likely flying in and out of Bangkok, you should plan to spend 1-2 days in Bangkok and choose one of the destination (Phuket, Chiang Mai, or Krabi). You will miss seeing the ruin at Ayutthaya and Khao Sok National Park, but you will still have 5 days to spend outside of Bangkok.
Thailand Itinerary 3 Weeks
If you have 3 weeks or even a month in Thailand, you have the flexibility to slow down your travel pace and see it all. In addition to the 2 week Thailand itinerary described above, consider adding on one of these places:
- Chiang Mai (see more about the The Ultimate Adventure in Chiang Mai: 15 Unique Things to do)
- Phuket
- Similan Islands Marine National Park
- Phang Nga
- Ko Chang
- Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park
- Khao Yai National Park
