Fourteen days is the length most first-time visitors settle on, and it's genuinely enough if you don't try to add a third region. This route links Bangkok, the north and the Gulf islands with one overnight train, one flight and a run of short ferries, so almost every day is either doing something or moving somewhere in under two hours. For the full range of lengths, see the Thailand itinerary guide.
The recommended route: Bangkok, the north and two Gulf islands
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Bangkok | Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, overnight sleeper train | Chinatown street food on Yaowarat Road |
| 3 to 4 | Chiang Mai | Old City temples, Doi Suthep at sunset, an elephant sanctuary, a cooking class | Khao soi from a night-market stall |
| 5 to 7 | Pai | Canyon sunset, the Land Split, Tha Pai hot springs, Tham Lod cave at dusk | Pai's Walking Street night market |
| 8 to 9 | Koh Tao | A round-island snorkel boat, Koh Nang Yuan, or a Discover Scuba dive | Fresh fish barbecue on Sairee Beach |
| 10 to 13 | Koh Phangan | Ang Thong Marine Park, Bottle Beach, a slow finish | Hoy tod and beachside pad thai |
| 14 | Depart | Boat to Koh Samui, fly home | A last breakfast |
The train to Chiang Mai (Special Express 9, leaving Bangkok at 18:40 and due in at about 07:15) saves a hotel night. Published 2nd-class berth fares are about 940 baht for an upper bed and 1,040 baht for a lower one, but they may have risen, so check the current price on D-Ticket. The direct Bangkok Airways flight from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui (about 1 hour 30 to 45 minutes) turns what would be a day of buses and boats into an afternoon. Book both as soon as your dates are fixed: train tickets go on sale up to 180 days ahead, berths sell out fast in December and January, and flight fares only rise. Ang Thong Marine Park is usually closed from about 1 November to mid-December, so check before you plan a December start around it. For the day-by-day detail on Chiang Mai, Pai, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, including opening times and entry fees, see the Northern Thailand itinerary and the Gulf islands itinerary.
Other ways to spend 2 weeks
Northern Thailand itinerary
The north's full 10-day version, leaving 4 days free for one island coast.
Best for Mountains first, then a coast
Andaman coast itinerary
Phuket to Koh Lanta, then a flight across to a Gulf island.
Best for Both coasts, Andaman first
Gulf islands itinerary
Enough days on Koh Tao for the Open Water course, plus a rest day either side.
Best for A PADI course, done properly
Northern Thailand only, with Chiang Rai added
If mountains matter more than a beach, skip south altogether and use the extra 4 days on Chiang Rai instead of an island. This works November to January best, when the north is cool and dry. Avoid it from February to April, when farm-burning smoke settles over the valleys and March is usually the worst month.
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Bangkok | Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, night train | Chinatown street food |
| 3 to 4 | Chiang Mai | Old City temples, elephant sanctuary, cooking class | Khao soi |
| 5 to 7 | Pai | Canyon sunset, hot springs, Tham Lod cave | Pai's night market |
| 8 to 9 | Chiang Rai | The White and Blue Temples, the Golden Triangle | Northern-style nam prik ong |
| 10 to 14 | Chiang Mai or a second Pai stint | A slower finish, or a second visit to a sight you rushed | A final khao soi comparison |
Both coasts, no north
Swap the north for a second island coast, using the direct Krabi to Koh Samui flight to cross from the Andaman side to the Gulf. This route needs January to April, the one window when the Andaman coast (worst May to October) and the Gulf islands (worst October to December) are both calm at once. Maya Bay now runs on timed entry with no swimming, and it closes for the monsoon months each year (August and September in 2026), which doesn't touch this window.
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Bangkok | Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun | Chinatown street food |
| 3 to 5 | Ao Nang and Krabi | The four-island longtail day, Railay | Fresh grilled seafood |
| 6 to 7 | Koh Lanta | The Emerald Cave, a slower pace | Koh Lanta's Muslim-Thai seafood curries |
| 8 to 9 | Koh Phi Phi | Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, the viewpoint | A beach barbecue on Tonsai's strip |
| 10 to 13 | Koh Phangan | Flight via Krabi and Koh Samui, then Ang Thong and Bottle Beach | Hoy tod, beachside pad thai |
| 14 | Depart | Boat to Koh Samui, fly home | A last breakfast |
Gulf islands only, dive-focused
If a full PADI Open Water course matters more than a second region, fly Bangkok to Koh Samui and boat straight to Koh Tao instead of taking the train north. That leaves most of the two weeks on Tao and Phangan between them, with room for the course, a rest day and a proper stretch on the beach. This suits February to September best, and Ang Thong Marine Park is usually closed from about 1 November to mid-December. The Andaman coast above is the swap if you're travelling outside that window and would rather have two coasts than a diving focus.
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Bangkok to Koh Tao | Arrive, fly to Samui, boat to Koh Tao | A first Sairee Beach dinner |
| 3 to 8 | Koh Tao | PADI Open Water, then an Advanced course or fun dives | Fresh fish barbecue on Sairee Beach |
| 9 to 13 | Koh Phangan | Ang Thong Marine Park, Bottle Beach, a slow finish | Hoy tod and beachside pad thai |
| 14 | Depart | Boat to Koh Samui, fly home | A last breakfast |
Choosing between them
| Choose... | If you... |
|---|---|
| Bangkok, the north and two Gulf islands (the recommended route) | Want a first trip that covers temples, mountains and islands without adding a fourth region |
| Northern Thailand, with Chiang Rai | Care more about mountains and temples than a beach |
| Both coasts, no north | Want two island coasts, and you're travelling January to April |
| Gulf islands, dive-focused | Want to finish a PADI course rather than just see an island, and you're travelling February to September |
Costs, best time and getting around
Outside these transport legs, most people spend about 1,000 to 1,500 baht a day on food, drinks and local transport, more on the islands and on party nights. That is roughly US$30 to $45, or £22 to £34, at the September 2026 averages of about 33 baht to the dollar and 44.6 baht to the pound. Dorm beds start at about 150 baht in Chiang Mai and Pai and cost more on the islands. Mid-December to early February is the best window for the recommended route, when the north is cool and dry and both coasts are calm. June to August is a good second choice if you're pairing the north with the Gulf islands. Since 15 September 2026, most Western passports get 30 days visa-free, which covers this route; the Thailand visa guide has the rules for yours. Our Thailand cost guide breaks down a full trip.
