Thailand itinerary: 10 days, two ways to do it

Ten days gives you more room than a week, but the two Thai coasts run opposite calendars, so the shape you pick still depends on when you're travelling. The route below stays on the water the whole way, crossing from the Andaman side to the Gulf with a short flight instead of a long overland link. If your dates fall outside its January to April window, the second route further down swaps a coast for Bangkok and the north instead. For the full picture of what fits at every length, see the Thailand itinerary guide.

The recommended route: both coasts, Andaman to the Gulf

This route stays on the coast the whole way, crossing from the Andaman side to the Gulf with a direct Krabi to Koh Samui flight (about 50 minutes) instead of the 8 to 14 hours the same crossing takes by road and ferry. It only works from January to April, the narrow window when the Andaman coast (dry November to April, worst May to October) and the Gulf islands (best roughly February to September, rainy October to December) are both calm at the same time. Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September, so it is open throughout this window.

!The view over Phi Phi Don's twin bays from the island's viewpoint For the fare and ferry detail on each leg, see the Andaman coast itinerary and the Gulf islands itinerary.

The other way: Bangkok, the north and a Gulf island

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  1 week or 10 days · November to January

  Northern Thailand itinerary

  Bangkok, the overnight train to Chiang Mai, then Pai and, with the full 10 days, Chiang Rai.

  Best for Mountains and temples, no beach

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  10 days · November to April

  Andaman coast itinerary

  Phuket, Krabi and Koh Phi Phi, with a quieter finish on Koh Lanta.

  Best for A slower island-hop, one coast only

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  10 days · November to February

  Mae Hong Son Loop

  The full loop out of Chiang Mai instead of an out-and-back to Pai.

  Best for Motorbike riders

If your dates fall outside January to April, or you'd rather have mountains than a second coast, this route swaps the Andaman islands for Bangkok and the north, then flies south to one Gulf island instead of two coasts.

Pai is trimmed to two nights here rather than the three most people prefer, and the return to Chiang Mai and the flight south happen on the same day, which makes it the one long day on this version. This route works best from mid-December to February, when the north is cool and the Gulf has settled, and again from June to August, when the north is green and the Gulf is at its best. Avoid late February to April (northern smoke) and November, the Gulf's roughest month. If November is your only window, pair Bangkok and the north with the Andaman coast instead, which is drying out by then.

Choosing between them

Costs, best time and getting around

Outside flights into and out of the country, budget about 1,000 to 1,500 baht a day for food, drinks and local transport, plus accommodation, transfers, the domestic flight and any activities you book. The recommended route's one flight (Krabi to Koh Samui) and the alternative's overnight train and flight (Bangkok to Chiang Mai, then Chiang Mai to Koh Samui) are worth booking as soon as your dates are fixed, since fares rise closer to departure. Since 15 September 2026, visitors from about 60 countries, including the UK, US, EU, Canada, Australia and India, can enter Thailand visa-free for 30 days for tourism, which covers either route; check our Thailand visa guide for your passport before you book flights.

Keep planning

• Thailand itinerary guide
• 7-day Thailand itinerary
• 2-week Thailand itinerary
• Andaman coast itinerary
• Gulf islands itinerary
• Northern Thailand itinerary
• Thai food guide