Hotels Guide Thailand
Two weeks in Thailand – a first-timer's route and where to stay
Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China, CC BY-SA 2.0

By Hotels Guide Thailand editorial team

Two weeks in Thailand – a first-timer's route and where to stay

Updated |Editorial policy

A practical two-week Thailand itinerary covering Bangkok, the north and the beaches, with suggested bases, travel times and seasonal swaps.

Two weeks is enough to see the three sides of Thailand most first-time visitors want: Bangkok, the north and a beach. This route keeps the number of hotel changes low and uses short domestic flights for the long jumps.

The route at a glance

Days Base Highlights
1–4 Bangkok Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the river, markets, a day trip to Ayutthaya
5–8 Chiang Mai Old City temples, Doi Suthep, an elephant sanctuary, a cooking class
9 Chiang Rai (optional day trip) White Temple, Blue Temple, Golden Triangle
10–14 A beach: Krabi, Phuket or Ko Samui Island-hopping, snorkelling, rest

Bangkok (days 1–4)

Stay near a BTS or MRT station, or on the river if your focus is temples. See our Bangkok neighbourhood guide for the pros and cons of each area. A day trip to Ayutthaya by train is easy and cheap.

Chiang Mai (days 5–8)

Fly from Bangkok (about 1 hour 15 minutes) or take the overnight train for the experience. Stay in the Old City for walkable temples or in Nimman for cafés. A long day trip to Chiang Rai is possible, but staying a night there is more relaxing.

The beach (days 10–14)

Fly from Chiang Mai to your chosen beach. Several airlines connect Chiang Mai with Phuket, Krabi and Ko Samui; routes change by season, so check current schedules.

  • November to April: choose the Andaman coast, such as Ao Nang, Railay or Kata.
  • May to September: consider Ko Samui, for example Bophut or Lamai.

Read Andaman coast or Gulf of Thailand? for help choosing.

Swaps and variations

  • Short on time: drop Chiang Rai and add a night in Bangkok at the end.
  • Want more nature: replace the north with Kanchanaburi and Khao Yai.
  • Travelling with children: limit hotel changes, and choose beaches with calm water and resorts with pools.

Practical notes

  • Leave a buffer day before international flights home, in case of weather delays on island ferries.
  • Domestic flights are often cheapest when booked a few weeks ahead.
  • The cool season (November to February) is also the busiest; book hotels early.