14 daysThailandAges 18–40
14 days · Chiang Mai, Pai & Koh Phangan
Thailand in 2 Weeks is a group trip for solo travellers aged 18 to 40. You start in Bangkok and take the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Then you spend three slow days in the mountains around Pai, fly south, and finish with five nights on Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Your Trip Host is with the group the whole way, and there's free time at every stop.
Updated
From, per person
$1,390 / £1,095 / €1,285 / A$2,150 / CA$1,970 / NZ$2,450 / ₹1,16,000
Free to reserve
Sarthak's best travel memories come from going solo: hostel dorms, a new activity most days, new cultures and new food. SoloNomads grew out of that.
Sarthak travels with every group, from the first day to the last, so there's always someone on hand to sort things out when plans change and to make sure nobody gets left out.
In every country, a licensed local agency and licensed local guides look after the ground services, so you get local know-how too.
Bangkok to Koh Phangan, 7 stops in 14 days.
7 stops
14 days
Day 1
Arrive whenever your flight lands. The Trip Host meets everyone at the hostel in the afternoon for a short get-to-know-you and a run-through of the trip. In the evening we head to Chinatown and eat our way down Yaowarat Road: grilled seafood, noodles and mango sticky rice from the street stalls. That's your welcome dinner.
Day 2
An early start, before the heat, at Wat Pho and its 46-metre reclining Buddha. From there it's a short ferry across the Chao Phraya to Wat Arun. Lunch is by the river, and the afternoon is yours: a Thai massage, a nap or the Grand Palace if you want it (entry isn't included, and it needs covered shoulders and knees). At about 18:40 we board the overnight train north. Berths are made up after dinner, and most people sleep better than they expect.
Day 3
The train pulls into Chiang Mai around breakfast time, often a little late. We drop bags, get coffee and take the morning slowly. Late afternoon we ride a red songthaew up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, for the gold chedi and the view back over the city as the lights come on. The evening is for a night market: the Night Bazaar runs every night, and the Sunday Walking Street fills the Old City on Sundays.
Day 4
A half day at an elephant sanctuary in the hills outside town, where you watch a small herd feed and roam. There's no riding on this trip. Lunch is included, and we're back by early afternoon. The rest of the day is free for cafes, a massage, the old city temples or an optional Muay Thai night at the local stadium.
Day 5
Our own van takes the 762 curves up to Pai at a sensible pace, with a stop halfway. Take a motion-sickness tablet before we set off if you need one. We're in town around midday. The afternoon is for settling in and wandering the walking street. At about 5pm we go to Pai Canyon to watch the sun drop behind the hills. The ridges are narrow with drops on both sides, so we pick our spot carefully.
Day 6
A day around the valley in our van, at Pai speed. First the Land Split, a crack in a farmer's field where he serves roselle juice for a donation. Then a swim at Pam Bok waterfall and a walk over the long bamboo bridge through the rice fields. We finish with a late-afternoon soak at Tha Pai hot springs. Pai's night market does dinner well: khao soi, grilled everything and fruit shakes.
Day 7
If you're up for it, catch sunrise over the misty valley from Yun Lai viewpoint, 10 minutes from town. Otherwise sleep in. The middle of the day is completely free. In the afternoon we drive an hour to Tham Lod, a huge limestone cave you explore by lantern and partly cross on a bamboo raft. We time it so we're at the mouth when the swiftlets pour back in at dusk. After heavy rain the cave can close, and if it does the Trip Host picks another stop in the valley.
Day 8
A mid-morning van back down to Chiang Mai, arriving early afternoon with time to rest. In the evening we head to an organic farm outside the city for a cooking class. You pick herbs and vegetables from the garden, pound your own curry paste and cook four or five dishes, and then that's dinner.
Day 9
This is the one big travel day. We take a direct flight from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui, about 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 minutes, and the flight is included. From Samui's little open-air airport we transfer to the pier and take a fast boat to Koh Tao, which takes about 1.5 to 2.75 hours depending on the boat. We aim to arrive in the late afternoon or early evening, in time for dinner and a walk on Sairee Beach.
Day 10
A full day on the water. The boat circles the island and stops at four or five bays chosen for that day's conditions, often including Shark Bay, where blacktip reef sharks and turtles are sometimes seen. The highlight is Koh Nang Yuan, three islands joined by a sandbar, with a short climb to the famous viewpoint. Nang Yuan bans single-use plastic bottles, so bring a refillable one. Under Thailand's marine rules, snorkellers without a dive certification wear a life jacket, and feeding fish or touching coral is banned. Want to try diving instead? Swap the snorkel day for a Discover Scuba session (optional, extra cost).
Day 11
A free morning on Koh Tao: the short scramble up to John-Suwan viewpoint, a last swim or a Discover Scuba morning if you didn't dive yesterday. After lunch the ferry takes us south to Koh Phangan. We stay away from party-central Haad Rin, on the quieter side of the island, with an evening swim and dinner nearby.
Day 12
A boat day to Ang Thong, a national park of 42 limestone islands. We kayak between them, snorkel, and climb the steep path to the viewpoint over the islands. The climb is optional and needs proper shoes. We're back in the late afternoon. On Full Moon departures, tonight is party night: we go to Haad Rin together by taxi and share a ride home.
Day 13
There's nothing planned until the evening. Take a longtail to Bottle Beach, spend the day on the calm bays of Thong Nai Pan, do a yoga class, or sleep off last night. In the evening the group gets together one last time for a farewell dinner by the sea.
Day 14
The trip ends after breakfast. The ferry to Samui takes about 30 minutes, so book flights out of Samui from about 13:00 onwards. For a cheaper flight, take the ferry and bus combination to Surat Thani airport. Staying on? The Trip Host can suggest where to go next.
Prices are per person, and reserving is free. A date goes ahead once about 10 travellers have joined. You pay nothing until then. Once it's confirmed, we send you an invoice for the full price, and you have 7 days to pay it (or until the trip starts, if that's sooner).
7 Nov – 20 Nov 2026
Sold outMax 14 people
Price
$1,390 / £1,095 / €1,285 / A$2,150 / CA$1,970 / NZ$2,450 / ₹1,16,000
5 Dec – 18 Dec 2026
Few spots leftMax 14 people
Price
$1,390 / £1,095 / €1,285 / A$2,150 / CA$1,970 / NZ$2,450 / ₹1,16,000
9 Jan – 22 Jan 2027
AvailableMax 14 people
Price
$1,490 / £1,175 / €1,375 / A$2,300 / CA$2,110 / NZ$2,630 / ₹1,24,000
11 Jan – 24 Jan 2027
AvailableFull Moon departure, party on Fri 22 Jan, which is Day 12 and the Ang Thong day. Peak season: dry and cool in the north, calm in the Gulf, though Samui can still see a few showers early in JanuaryMax 16 people
Price
$1,940 / £1,455 / €1,700 / A$2,760 / CA$2,740 / NZ$3,420 / ₹1,86,000
13 Feb – 26 Feb 2027
AvailableMax 14 people
Price
$1,490 / £1,175 / €1,375 / A$2,300 / CA$2,110 / NZ$2,630 / ₹1,24,000
13 Mar – 26 Mar 2027
AvailableMax 14 people
Price
$1,390 / £1,095 / €1,285 / A$2,150 / CA$1,970 / NZ$2,450 / ₹1,16,000
8 Jun – 21 Jun 2027
AvailableFull Moon departure, party on Sat 19 Jun, which is Day 12 and the Ang Thong day. Green season in the north, with showers usually in the afternoon, and a good time for the Gulf. Tham Lod (Day 7, Mon 14 Jun) can close after heavy rainMax 16 people
Price
$1,850 / £1,388 / €1,620 / A$2,630 / CA$2,620 / NZ$3,260 / ₹1,77,500
6 Aug – 19 Aug 2027
AvailableFull Moon departure, party on Tue 17 Aug, which is Day 12 and the Ang Thong day. The north is at its wettest, so the Pai road can be slippery and Tham Lod (Day 7, Thu 12 Aug) can close after heavy rain, while the Gulf islands are a good choice. Day 3 is Sun 8 Aug, when the Sunday Walking Street runsMax 16 people
Price
$1,850 / £1,388 / €1,620 / A$2,630 / CA$2,620 / NZ$3,260 / ₹1,77,500
You reserve your spot for free and pay nothing to join. Once enough travellers have signed on, usually around 10, we confirm the departure and email you a confirmation with an invoice for the full trip price, paid by card or bank transfer within 7 days. You can pay in US dollars, pounds, euros, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, New Zealand dollars or Indian rupees, and the price shown for each date is what you pay. Reservations close 7 days before the start.
Every departure listed is a Full Moon departure, timed so the party falls on the night of Day 12, with Day 13 free to recover. The party is optional, and the entry wristband isn't included. The date sometimes moves for a Buddhist holiday, so we check each one about 60 days before the trip and tell you straight away if it changes.
Solo travellers aged 18 to 40. Most people come on their own, and some come with a friend. The maximum for each departure is shown with its dates, and it's never more than 16.
The Trip Host travels with the group for all 14 days, sorts out every transfer, ticket and check-in, and is the person you go to if anything goes wrong. Where an activity needs a local guide, one leads that visit. Nothing on the itinerary is compulsory, so tell the Trip Host if you want to skip something and nobody will wait for you.
It starts at our hostel in Bangkok on the afternoon of Day 1, and we send the address when you book. It ends on Koh Phangan after breakfast on Day 14. Book a flight home from Koh Samui (USM) leaving after about 13:00, or fly from Bangkok the next day. Surat Thani (URT) is the cheaper option, but it's further away by ferry and bus.
Our departures run in January and in June and August. January is dry and cool in the north and calm in the Gulf, though Samui can still see a few showers early in the month. June and August are green season in the north, with showers that usually come in the afternoon, while the Gulf islands are at their best. We don't run this trip from late February to April (smoke from farm burning in the north) or from October to mid-December (the Gulf's rainy season, when ferries get cancelled and Ang Thong is usually closed).
Many nationalities, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the EU and India, can enter Thailand visa-free for 30 days, which covers this trip. Rules change, so check our Thailand visa guide for your passport before you book flights. You also need a passport valid for six months and the free online Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), filed in the 3 days before you land. Travel insurance is a condition of joining, and it must cover medical treatment and evacuation. If you plan to try Discover Scuba, check that it covers diving.
Social hostels and small guesthouses with air-con, picked for location and cleanliness. You share a twin or small dorm room with travellers of the same gender. On Day 2 you sleep in a 2nd-class berth on the sleeper train.
Six meals are included. A street-food dish costs about 50 to 80 baht and a large beer 80 to 150 baht. Budget about 1,000 to 1,500 baht a day for food, drinks and local transport, and more on the islands. For vegetarian, vegan or allergy needs, tell us when you book so the Trip Host can ask ahead for the included meals. Thai food is easy to adapt for vegetarians and vegans, and the cooking class lets you choose your own ingredients. For serious allergies, bring a Thai-language allergy card to show at restaurants.
A soft bag or backpack you can carry up a pier ramp. Suitcases are hard on ferries. Bring clothes that cover shoulders and knees for temples, a light fleece for the train and the Pai mornings (Pai nights can drop to around 10°C in winter), a light rain jacket for June and August, sandals plus shoes with grip for the canyon and Ang Thong, a refillable water bottle, reef-safe sunscreen and a waterproof phone pouch. You won't need a scooter, because the group gets around in our own van, and riding without both a motorbike licence and an International Driving Permit that covers motorbikes can mean a fine, and most insurance policies exclude a crash.
Averagely fit. There are some short climbs (Doi Suthep's steps, the Nang Yuan and Ang Thong viewpoints) and a scramble in Lod Cave, and you'll be in and out of boats. You need to be comfortable in the water for snorkelling, and Thai marine rules require a life jacket for snorkellers without a dive certification.
It's a huge beach party, and the usual risks come with it: spiked or home-made drinks, theft, and injuries. On party night we go together, keep to the group and share a ride home. Buy drinks sealed, skip the buckets and never leave a drink unattended.
Ask here and someone on the team will email you back within 1 to 2 business days.
From
$1,390 / £1,095 / €1,285 / A$2,150 / CA$1,970 / NZ$2,450 / ₹1,16,000