15-day tour of Thailand

Travel to Thailand in 15 days on your own is possible and we assure you that it is worth it. At two weeks you can combine temples, markets, nature and beaches without dying in the attempt, of course, the route is intense. We did this trip in late November and early December, and it was the perfect balance between north and south: we started in Bangkok, continued through Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, and ended up resting in Ko Lanta, Phi Phi and Phuket.

In this article you have the complete day-by-day itinerary We provide you with links to our detailed guides and practical advice to help you organize your trip.

Days 1-3: Bangkok

We start our Thailand tour in Bangkok, a city that is worth exploring calmly despite its chaos, we loved it Three days If you organize yourselves well, you will have plenty of time. During these days we recommend you:

• Visit the main temples Wat Pho (with the reclining Buddha), the Grand Palace and Wat Arun. Try to go early in the morning to avoid crowds.
• Visit Chinatown and eat at one of its street stalls. If you don't know where to start, any place where you see a queue is usually a good sign.
• Watching the sunset from some rooftop bar. The Sky Beach or the Sirocco Bar They are cool, but there are cheaper options if you search a little bit.
• Approach us at Khao San Road especially in the afternoon-evening. It is very focused on tourists, but it has a great atmosphere, cheap food and a thousand options for a drink.
• Take a half-day excursion to the Damnoen Saduak floating market and the famous Maeklong Train Market The one where the train literally passes over the stalls. It is very set up for tourists, yes, but it is curious to see.
• Move in tuk tuk is fun, but if you don't want to be taken for a ride on the price, use Grab or public transportation (the metro and the BTS work very well).

👉 You have all the details, routes, tips and map in our Guide to visit Bangkok in 3 days

Day 4: Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam and is filled with historic temples and ruins very photogenic. It is quite close to Bangkok, so you can visit it perfectly in one day. We did the following:

• We took a cab from Bangkok in the morning (our idea was to take the train, which is super cheap and quite an experience in itself, but we were running late).
• When we arrived in Ayutthaya, we rented a motorcycle to move between the temples. You can also take a tuk tuk for the day if you prefer something more comfortable.
• We made a route through its temples (in the article you have it). Some of the best known: Wat Mahathat (the one with the Buddha entangled in the roots), Wat Ratchaburana, y Wat Phra Si Sanphet.

💡 Council
If you go during the hot season, bring water and sunscreen. The distances between temples may seem short, but the sun hits hard.

In the evening, we took a night bus to Chiang Rai. It left around 20:00h and we arrived there first thing the next morning. It is a good way to save a night's accommodation and take advantage of the travel time.

👉 More info and recommendations in our post: What to see in Ayutthaya in one day

Day 5: Chiang Rai

Our visit to Chiang Rai was not the typical one that people usually do, as we decided to explore a bit on our own according to recommendations given to us at the hotel. After arriving by night bus from Ayutthaya, we took advantage of the full day in Chiang Rai and the next morning to see things as well:

• Tea fields - Doi Chang: We really enjoyed the surroundings and the experience, we were practically alone all the way. There are a few cafes/restaurants with good views along the way.
• White Temple (Wat Rong Khun): a must stop. Although very touristy, it is quite visually striking, and it has a pikachu!
• Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten): Curious temple because it is different from what we had seen so far, and also there were not too many people. We recommend you to go at night.
• Lady Buddha (Wat Huay Pla Kang): We toured both the main temple and the large white figure. We went up to the top by elevator and from the eyes of the statue there are good views.

👉 You can see all the details, how we moved and our impressions in the post: What to see in Chiang Rai in two days

Days 6-7: Chiang Mai

After spending the morning in Chiang Rai, we traveled to Chiang Mai by bus (3h approx), the most important city in northern Thailand and one of the places we enjoyed the most during the trip. With two days It is enough to see the main things, but if you dedicate some more days you will not regret it. During our stay we did this:

• Temples in the historic center: We visited several, such as Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh. The good thing is that they are all quite close and can be visited on foot.
• Night markets: can't miss. We tested the Night Bazaar and also the Saturday Walking Street We loved the atmosphere and the street food.
• Excursion to Doi Suthep: We climbed this mountain temple, which is one of the most important in the country. From the top there are good views of the city.
• Elephant sanctuary: We spent half a day visiting an ethical sanctuary, where we were able to learn about animals and spend time with them in a responsible way.

👉 Here is the complete guide with more details: What to see and do in Chiang Mai in two days

Days 8-10: Ko Lanta

After the intense days in the north, it was time for a change of pace and enjoy the south of Thailand. We chose to start Ko Lanta because it is a quiet island, with good beaches and less overcrowded than other tourist areas. During these three days we did the following:

• Beaches: We toured several of them by motorcycle. Some of our favorites were Nui Beach, Long Beach (ideal for a sunset ride) and Bamboo Bay (more secluded and with a wilder atmosphere).
• Mu Ko Lanta National Park: is on the southern tip of the island. There is a lighthouse with very cool views and several short hiking trails.
• Lanta Old Town: a small village of wooden houses on stilts facing the sea. It has a very pleasant promenade, little shops and restaurants with terraces over the water.

💡 Tip.
The most comfortable way to move around Ko Lanta is to rent a motorcycle. Distances are long and traffic is not complicated compared to Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

👉 We leave you here all the info: What to see in Ko Lanta

Days 11-13: Phi Phi Islands

After the calm of Ko Lanta, we set course for the Phi Phi Islands The beaches, famous all over the world for their postcard scenery: turquoise waters, limestone cliffs and spectacular beaches. Here the days flew by. What we did in Phi Phi:

• Explore Phi Phi Don: the main island. We walked through its car-free alleys, full of bars and restaurants, and visited some of its coves to make snorkel.
• Ascent to the Viewpoint: a short but intense hike (especially with the humidity) to get the best views of the island.
• Boat excursion on Phi Phi Leh: We passed the famous Maya Bay (closed for years to regenerate, now with controlled access), Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave.
• Snorkeling: It was amazing to see fish and corals in crystal clear waters.
• Quiet beaches: Although Phi Phi Don is quite lively, there are also more relaxed corners if you go a little away from the central area.

👉 We leave you here all the practical details: Guide to visit the Phi Phi Islands

Days 14-15: Phuket

Last stop of the trip before returning home: Phuket Thailand's largest island with a huge offer of beaches, markets and nightlife. We spent here one and a half days since our return flight was leaving from here. We do not recommend a visit to Phuket if this is not the case, as we found it to be a total tourist attraction, very crowded. Some of the things to do there:

• Beaches: We visited Kata and Karon, there is also Patong for the party people.
• Big Buddha: huge statue with panoramic views of the island.
• Wat Chalong Temple: the most important Buddhist temple in Phuket, with several buildings and a lot of local movement.
• Night markets: we went to one of the most popular markets to have a cheap dinner and try some street food.
• Phuket Old Town: We were very surprised by this historic neighborhood, with Chinese-Portuguese colonial style houses, colorful streets, urban art and very cool cafes. Ideal for a quiet afternoon and a change of scenery after so much time on the beach.

👉 Here is our full article: What to see in Phuket in two days

Getting around Thailand

Moving around Thailand is easier than it seems. For long journeys between cities (Bangkok-Ayutthaya, north, south, etc.) you can use trains, night buses o domestic flights which are cheap and save you time. In the cities and on the islands, the most practical is usually:

• Grab: the most used transportation app, works great in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
• Songthaews and tuk tuks: cheap and authentic, although it is advisable to negotiate before going up.
• Motorcycle rental: very common in the north and in the islands. It gives you total freedom and is the best way to visit beaches, temples or villages. Of course, always wear a helmet and an international license.

👉 We tell you everything you need to know in this post: How to rent motorcycles in Thailand

Best time to travel to Thailand

The weather in Thailand changes quite a bit depending on the area, but in general the best time to travel is from November to March When temperatures are milder and it hardly rains. We did this route at late November and early December and it was a total success:

• At Bangkok, Ayutthaya It was quite hot, but nothing that could not be tolerated with a good hat and plenty of water for hydration (the worst thing is the humidity!).
• In the north (Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai) we found sunny days and pleasant temperatures, perfect for touring temples without scorching.
• In the south (Ko Lanta, Phi Phi and Phuket) we also had good weather, with warm and calm sea, ideal to enjoy the beaches. In the afternoons it was almost always cloudy and some nights it rained, but that is typical of the area.

💡 If you are traveling in other periods, please note that of May to October is the season of lrains (especially in the south), whereas in April the heat can be quite intense throughout the country.

Must-try dishes from Thailand

The Thai food deserves a separate chapter, we personally love it. During our route we tried many dishes, both in street markets and local restaurants, and these are some of the ones you can not miss:

• Pad Thai: the famous stir-fried noodles, probably the best known dish outside Thailand, although we liked other dishes much better.
• Khao Soi: a curry soup with noodles typical of the north, especially Chiang Mai.
• Pad Kra Pao: meat with Thai basil and spicy. Usually served with fried egg and rice. It is spectacular.
• Tom Yum: shrimp soup with an acid and spicy touch.
• Thai curries: red, green or massaman, all with their mixture of spices and coconut milk.
• Mango Sticky Rice: the most popular dessert, rice with coconut milk and ripe mango. For

👉 If you want ideas for places to eat at each stop along the route, here are some of our recommendations:

• Where to eat in Bangkok
• Where to eat in Chiang Mai
• Where to eat in Ko Phi Phi

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement 15-day tour of Thailand you can visit our posts about Thailand.