Thailand Itinerary Inspiration

Thailand – a dream destination for travelers looking for that perfect mix of culture, history, and breathtaking sights. And when it takes a 12+ hour flight to get there, you want to make sure you’re soaking up everything this beautiful country has to offer.

So naturally when we booked our flight to Thailand and a return flight three weeks later, we planned our route to maximise our time. Heading down south to Phuket and Khao Lak, and working our way up through Bangkok and Chang Mai, we got to experience something new each day. You’ll be surprised how different each area is!

Phuket

In the south of Thailand is Phuket – probably one of the most well-known areas of Thailand. Think gorgeous islands with white sand beaches and crystal blue seas, a thriving night market with handmade trinkets and crispy crickets (it’s a delicacy, apparently) and a giant buddha statue.

You will need to get a domestic flight from Bangkok, which takes two hours or so. Then, depending on where you’re staying, expect an hour-long car transfer from Phuket airport. We booked this beforehand as we were arriving late and wanted peace of mind. A word of warning – driving in Thailand is not what you’re used too!

We stayed in a hotel just by Kata Beach, this gave us gorgeous beaches and an array of restaurants and bars on our doorstep. Our organised tours all picked up directly from our hotel, so we didn’t need to worry about finding a pickup location.

Highlights:

Phi Phi Islands – A tropical paradise just outside of Phuket. We took an organised boat trip there and snorkeled in some of the clearest water I have been in. We spotted lots of fish, turtles and even a pufferfish! We then spent some time relaxing on the beaches, soaking up the sun and eating the local produce.

Phang Nga Bay & Koh Panyee – Another day trip to a group of islands. It’s a long way to go but it was worth it in the end! We visited the Koh Panyee floating village, which was a marvel itself, and then had a kayak trip through island caves in Phang Nga Bay. Our guide was so knowledgeable and told us all about the formation of the caves.

The Big Buddha Phuket – For sightseeing on the mainland, no visit to Phuket is complete without seeing The Big Buddha. As the name suggests, the statue is an incredible feat of construction. We were left in awe!

Khao Lak

After our time in Phuket, we took an organised car trip up to Khao Lak, which is translated to ‘Main Mountain’. The journey took about 2 hours, but you’re surrounded by prominent peaks and lush forests all the way. You may have heard of Khao Lak before, as this is where the 2004 Tsunami hit. Whilst the area has been rebuilt and remains a popular destination, there are hints of this horrible event throughout the area, including a stranded patrol boat that was forced 1.25 kilometres inland.

We stayed on a hotel right by the beach, and there was a collection of market stalls and restaurants just outside of the hotel complex. Whilst not as thriving as our location in Phuket, this offered a tranquil setting fitting for the devastating history of Khao Lak.

Highlights:

Khao Sok – One of the breathtaking National Parks in the region, this is the oldest evergreen forest in the World! Surrounded by huge limestone cliffs, we took a canoe through the deep valleys to appreciate this unique setting and spot some incredible wildlife. We saw snakes and colourful birds, but you could even be lucky enough to see a tiger or leopard!

Similan Island – Listed as one of the top 10 diving spots in the world by National Geographic, this group of islands has spectacular coral reefs and underwater caves. These islands are protected, and travel is restricted in certain months, with some islands completely restricted. We took an organised boat trip out to snorkel in crystal clear water, and spotted whale sharks and manta rays! If this is a must-do activity for you, make sure you head outside of Monsoon season as that’s when tourists can visit the islands.

Sea Turtle Conservation Center – It’s a small hatchery that looks after young turtles and safely returns them to the sea. It also caters to older and sick turtles, which are rescued and cared for permanently, as they wouldn’t survive on their own. The centre is taken care of by the Royal Thai Navy and volunteers. This was such a wonderful place, so informative and you could feel the passion from the volunteers.

International Tsunami Museum – A memorial museum highlighting the impact of the Tsunami, at the location where the patrol boat was stranded. Whilst very small and perhaps quite underfunded, it provides an emotional description of the event from the community perspective. We found it poignant to visit this museum and then head back to our hotel on the beach where it all happened. I believe it’s important to learn about the history of a Country, no matter how heartbreaking it is, and the 2004 Tsunami is a vital part of Thailand, and the world’s, history.

Bangkok

Heading back to Phuket airport from Khao Lak is a 1 hour / 1.5 hour drive depending on how fast your driver is going. When then took a domestic flight back to Bangkok. After the beaches of Phuket and forests of Khao Lak, you’ll be wondering why on Earth you’ve come to Bangkok. But to experience all parts of Thailand, Bangkok is a must. You’ll almost get used to it after a day.

We stayed in a hotel off Sukhumvit, which is Thailand’s longest road, in a quieter street (Soi 8). Close to shopping centres, restaurants and bars, we found this a good location to avoid the busiest parts of Bangkok whilst finding it relatively easy to get to the sights. We mainly got taxi’s and tuk tuks but be careful as we were scammed on one taxi ride: the driver kept going the wrong way despite us directing him via google maps (worth the data charge). We assume he was trying to increase the fare which worked to an extent as we had to pay more than we should have, but luckily, we realised what was happening quickly as we were following the map and stopped the ride.

Highlights:

Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute Snake Farm – One of the oldest snake farms in the world, this institute is dedicated to snake conservation, education and research, whilst producing an anti-venom for snake bite victims across Thailand. We got to see a snake handling show (and got to handle the snakes ourselves) and a venom extraction show. It was probably one of the best experiences I had in Thailand, and I left with much more knowledge and appreciation for snakes.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Undoubtedly the most tourist focused floating market in Thailand, we took a boat ride through the canals and saw the boat stalls full of fresh produce, trinkets and snacks. Make sure you organise this through a tour beforehand, to avoid any scams. If I went again I would probably visit one of the less famous floating markets now - check out Taling Chan or Amphawa for that more authentic local experience.

Cabaret Show – We went to the Calypso Bangkok Theatre for a Cabaret/ Ladyboy show. Calypso. This may not be for everyone, but for us, it was a real celebration of individuality, plus the performance value was second to none! Kathoeys, or ladyboys, are a well-known aspect of Thailand’s culture and entertainment, and this venue breaks through any stigma surrounding it. As the Calypso Bangkok’s website states: this isn’t just a performance - it’s a celebration of being seen, heard, and loved.

Chiang Mai

For our last stop on our Thailand adventure, we headed up North to Chiang Mai. We hopped onto a domestic flight from Bangkok to Chang Mai Airport and then it’s about a 15-minute drive to the centre, so you’ll be able to explore the nearby attractions straight away.

It’s the second largest city in Thailand, but instead of the skyscrapers and busy streets of Bangkok, you get high mountains and golden temples. To me, it has the perfect mixture of city life, culture and nature – the perfect conclusion to your Thailand trip. Chiang Mai natives have a reputation for ‘slow living’, and we embraced this by making sure we had days with no plans, just to wander around and see what exciting experiences awaited us. This is such a lovely way to travel.

Highlights:

Talats/ Markets – Whatever time and day it is, there will always be a market on in Chiang Mai. Taking advantage of our free time, we spent hours looking at everything on offer from colourful fruits to handmade souvenirs, to the classic Thai elephant pants. At night, bustling food stalls open and Thai recipes waft enticingly through the streets. Look out for the Talat Pratu on Bumrung Buri Road for an absolute treasure trove of goodies – it was our favourite.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep – This temple is a sacred site and not only does it have cultural significance, it also offers gorgeous panoramic views of Chiang Mai. To get there however, you’ll need to climb 309 steps (or get a funicular up…). Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll see the famous golden chedi, as well as statues, pagodas and shrines. Once we caught our breath, we found the whole experience a testament to the Buddhist faith and Thailand culture.

Thai Cooking Class – Dotted all around Thailand, we took part in a Thai cooking class. After weeks of eating the delicious food Thailand has to offer, we loved the experience of creating it ourselves. We made spring rolls and a main dish each, under the watchful eye of our culinary teacher, who also taught us how to pick the freshest ingredients. We did our class at the Asia Scenic Cooking School and I couldn’t praise it enough.

Elephant Nature Park – There are countless horror stories on how animals are treated in Thailand, from questionable tiger parks and of course the elephant rides. Whilst we were desperate to see elephants, we were very conscious of the welfare of the elephants and did not want to contribute to this dark side of tourism. We visited the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, which is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre. They have elephants who have been injured through tourism and circus shows. It was heartbreaking to hear their stories but seeing them roam freely in this park was bittersweet. We got to feed the elephants and stroke them too, which was a once in a lifetime experience. A moment I will remember forever is when the herd was spooked by a noise nearby, and they all bellowed and stampeded off. I felt like I was in the middle of a David Attenborough documentary!

And with the sound of elephants echoing in our ears, our time in Thailand came to an end. What a whirlwind adventure it was, creating some of my favourite travel memories that I will remember forever. The kind of memories I’ll be eager to share for years, starting with, ‘I remember the time I was in Thailand and…’