Yes, Thailand is one of the easiest countries in Asia to backpack independently, with a dense hostel network, cheap transport and English signage on most tourist routes.
Dorm beds in
Bangkok,
Chiang Mai and the islands typically cost 250 to 500 baht (about US$7 to 14) a night, and a tourist SIM from any airport kiosk or 7-Eleven gets you online within minutes. Trains, buses and ferries can be booked online or at guesthouse desks, and Grab works in all major cities. Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes about 1 hour by plane or 11 to 13 hours by sleeper train, so even big jumps are simple to arrange.
Three weeks is the ideal amount of time for Thailand, enough to cover Bangkok, the north and one island group without rushing; two weeks works if you pick either the Andaman or the Gulf coast.
One week fits
Bangkok plus
Ayutthaya and
Kanchanaburi, all within 2 hours of the capital. With 14 days, add 4 nights in
Chiang Mai, 2 in
Pai and 5 or so around
Krabi. At 21 days you can include
Sukhothai and a Gulf island hop from
Koh Samui to
Koh Tao. Plan 2 to 3 nights per stop and count each flight or long bus as half a day lost.
Yes, you can get around Thailand easily without a car, using trains, long-distance buses, minivans, domestic flights and ferries.
Bangkok to
Chiang Mai is about 1 hour by air (US$30 to 70), 9 to 10 hours by bus or 11 to 13 hours by sleeper train. Bangkok to
Ayutthaya costs 15 to 20 baht by third-class train, and minivans to
Kanchanaburi take around 2 hours for 120 to 150 baht. Combined bus-and-ferry tickets reach
Koh Tao or
Koh Samui in 8 to 10 hours. On islands, songthaews and taxis cover the main roads, and scooters rent for 200 to 300 baht a day if you hold a valid motorcycle license.
The must-visits in Thailand are Bangkok’s royal temples, the ruined capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, Chiang Mai in the north and at least one stretch of limestone coast or Gulf island.
In
Bangkok, give a morning to
The Grand Palace (500 baht) and
Wat Pho.
Ayutthaya is a 1.5 to 2 hour train ride north, and
Sukhothai rewards an early bike ride through its ruins. Plan 3 to 4 nights in
Chiang Mai for its old-city temples and
Doi Suthep. In the south,
Railay Beach near Krabi and the dive sites of
Koh Tao are the strongest picks, each worth 3 nights.
If you’re short on time in Thailand, skip the big resort strips, mainly Pattaya and Patong Beach on Phuket, plus anything that duplicates what you’ll see elsewhere.
Pattaya is 2 to 2.5 hours from Bangkok and mostly nightlife and packed beaches;
Railay or
Koh Lanta give you better water. On
Phuket,
Patong Beach and the
Phuket Big Buddha can go if you’re heading to Krabi anyway. In Bangkok, evening shows like
Siam Niramit are easy cuts, and the
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is skippable if your dates include the Sunday Walking Street. Dropping
Pai also saves 2 days and two 3-hour van rides.
Yes, our itinerary-planner does exactly that. Set your trip length in days, give your interests and travel style, optionally give start- and end location and/or some mandatory stops you would like to include and the itinerary planner creates your personalized routes for Thailand in seconds. Try it out!
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