Beyond Path Asia · Thailand
Thailand travel guide
Temples, northern landscapes and tropical coasts — with time to enjoy the journey.
Start with your route, then choose the coast
For a first Thailand trip, choose Bangkok, a northern base and one beach region. With more time, add Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi or Khao Sok for a different layer. Keep several nights in each base and count the transport between them before filling the days with excursions.
Central and western Thailand
Bangkok
River journeys, golden temples and neighbourhoods worth getting lost in.
Suggested stay: 3–4 nights.
Ayutthaya
Brick stupas, river light and a slower encounter with Thailand’s former capital.
Suggested stay: 1–2 nights.
Kanchanaburi
River stays, thoughtful history and waterfall days with room to breathe.
Suggested stay: 2–3 nights.
Northern Thailand
Chiang Mai
Lanna courtyards, mountain mornings and northern food at an unhurried pace.
Suggested stay: 3–4 nights.
Chiang Rai
Contemporary temple art, northern landscapes and time beyond the day-trip circuit.
Suggested stay: 2–3 nights.
Rainforest and southern coasts
Khao Sok
Rainforest paths, river lodges and limestone rising from Cheow Lan Lake.
Suggested stay: 2–3 nights.
Krabi & Ao Nang
Limestone cliffs, longtail journeys and a beach base chosen for your pace.
Suggested stay: 3–4 nights.
Koh Lanta
Long beaches, slower evenings and an island stay without a packed schedule.
Suggested stay: 4–5 nights.
Koh Samui
Gulf-coast beaches, village evenings and a resort base that fits your season.
Suggested stay: 4–5 nights.
Phuket
Choose your beach, discover Old Town and leave space between the excursions.
Suggested stay: 4–5 nights.
Compare Thailand routes
Thailand in two weeks
A clear first route with Bangkok, the north and one Andaman beach base.
14 days · 13 nights
Thailand in three weeks
Add western history, northern art and rainforest while keeping a proper beach finish.
21 days · 20 nights
Thailand in four weeks
A slower, broader route with room for central Thailand, both northern cities and the Andaman coast.
28 days · 27 nights
Thailand family itinerary
A suggested two-week family route with fewer bases and a Gulf-coast beach finish.
14 days · 13 nights
Practical Thailand guides
Thailand travel budget
A realistic budget starts with your route, rooms and transfer choices.
Thailand with kids
Fewer bases, suitable rooms and enough space between the highlights.
Responsible travel in Thailand
Better choices for wildlife, communities and the places you come to enjoy.
Make the key choices
Which Thai island is right for you?
Choose by season, transfer and the kind of days you want.
Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai — or both?
Choose a northern base that fits your time and interests.
Thailand or Malaysia?
Compare the shape of the trip before comparing individual highlights.
A good first-trip rhythm
Use three or four nights for Bangkok, three or four for Chiang Mai and a substantial beach finish on one coast. Give long-haul arrival and departure their own space. A two-week holiday is not enough to see every northern town and several islands without frequent moving days.
For longer trips, add a stop because it changes the experience: Ayutthaya for the former capital, Kanchanaburi for river and historical interpretation, Chiang Rai for contemporary art and temples, or Khao Sok for forest and lake landscapes.
Thailand planning FAQ
How long should I spend in Thailand?
Two weeks gives a clear first route; three or four weeks allows more variety and slower stays. Start with the nights you have rather than a list of every famous place.
Which coast should I choose?
Compare the season, flight or ferry sequence and type of stay. Phuket, Krabi and Lanta are Andaman choices; Samui is a Gulf option with a different rainfall pattern.
Do I need a visa?
Check the current official rules for your nationality, passport and stay. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is a separate arrival requirement, not a visa.
Can I use these guides with children?
Yes, adapting pace, rooms, transport and activity conditions. The family guide and separate family itinerary help with those decisions.
Sources and last review
Reviewed 1 November 2026. Recommendations are editorial; verify official entry rules, weather and attraction access for your dates.
More Thailand guides
Continue with the route, practical advice or destination that fits the next stage of your trip.
Thailand overview · Destinations · Routes · Travel guides · Where to stay · With kids