Thailand Itinerary
I am sharing the itinerary of my last vacation in Thailand. It comprised of 5 nights and 6 days. But, I would recommend to take a trip to Thailand for not less than 6 nights and 7 days. We covered Bangkok, Krabi and Phuket in our trip.
Thailand is a beautiful country with some lovely white sand beaches, amazing street food, great night life, lively walking streets and both cheap and luxurious shopping places. There could be a communication problem in some of the places due to the language barrier. Also, transportation in some destinations are extremely expensive. So, instead of taking a Tuk Tuk or a Taxi, it would be much preferable to open the Google Maps and to walk to the destination if it’s just a few kilometers.
We started our journey from Bangalore to Bangkok. The flight was via Colombo. We stayed in Bangkok for one night.
But, I would recommend you to stay in Bangkok for at least two nights. Once you reach the airport, you can take a local sim from any of the counters like Klook etc. One sim in a group is at least helpful to communicate with the local vendors and for using the Internet. The sim which we took had few calling minutes but 8 days unlimited internet pack and the speed was pretty good. We booked our drop to hotel with Klook. You can also opt for any other vendor.
The Hotel check-in is generally at 2pm, so sometimes it is difficult to get the room if you reach the hotel in the morning. They would sometimes charge you extra like 500 Bahts for allowing the check-in few hrs. earlier. So, if feasible you can pay extra or you could keep the luggage in a storage room and freshen up in a guest washroom and then start your day.
One night in Bangkok
Journey to one of the popular floating markets in Thailand.
We wanted to visit a floating market in Bangkok which is pretty famous over here. There are quite a few floating markets in Thailand but when inquired about the same, the locals said us that Damnoen Saduak floating market is the biggest and has the true characters of a floating market. It is about 100 kilometers south-west of Bangkok and would take at least 1.5 hrs to reach there. So, in case you stay in Bangkok for two nights, take this route in the second day early morning. There is a Bus from Bangkok early morning or you can take a cab or you can join a tour, as preferred. The market is liveliest early morning. It is an enjoyable morning out of the city with great food and photo opportunities for your Instagram.
You will find wooden houses, shops, traders in their traditional attire, boats filled with vegetables and seasonal fruits. You can hop on to a decorated long-tail boats that will take you to the market in the narrow canals. The journey is around 30 minutes, you can get down in between to try some Thai food in any of the shops. You can also find stalls selling souvenirs, t-shirts, shawls etc. You can easily spend half a day in the market exploring around. It can be crowded with a lot of tourists and sellers around as it is the most famous floating market. But, it brings a different vibe to the area and guarantees a floating market experience.
Then, we traveled back to Bangkok which again took approximately 1.5hrs. We had the plan to cover some of the temples and finally do some shopping. So, if you have two nights then on the second day after visiting the floating market, you can spend your afternoon and evening shopping. Bangkok is a great shopping destination and is comparatively cheaper than other parts of Thailand.
Pay a visit to the beautiful Temples of Bangkok: Wat Pho and Wat Arun
First day you can cover the temples which we went on the same day after we came back from the floating market.
One of the must visit temple is Wat Pho. It is a Buddhist temple complex which houses the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand. It houses the 46m long Reclining Buddha along with the feet having auspicious symbols of Buddha. It is huge and would take at least an hour to see the complete complex. The entry fees to the Temple is 200 Baht per person and it is open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Next to Wat Pho, the Grand Palace is located. It is one of the famous places to visit in Bangkok. It gives you a glimpse of the Thai royalty. It costs 500 Baht per person and it’s opened until 3:30pm. It would easily cost you few hours to explore the complete place around. We did not visit this place as we were short of time. But, you can surely plan it in your itinerary if you have ample time.
After Wat Pho, we visited the temple Wat Arun. It is also known as the “Temple of Dawn” and is one of the most stunning temples in the city. You can take a boat ride from Wat Pho to Wat Arun down the Chao Phraya river. The architecture of the temple is worth witnessing. You can take some amazing photos in this location. The entry fee is 50 Baht per person and it is opened till 6pm.
Also, you can visit the Cave Temple. The entrance is free. It has a good number of stairs to reach the temple. So, its better to go before it gets dark as it will take time to go up and then come down.
Indulge in Street Food and Shopping
We reached China Town, which is famous for food. You can find the streets packed with stalls and restaurants with the choices of the food to eat will be endless. And the prices are also pretty cheap. You should try sticky mango rice, chicken with basil and preserved eggs. You should also try the fresh fruits like Rambutan, Water melon, Pineapple. Then we went to the Neon market where you could also do some shopping and try some good sea food.
After filling our tummy, we decided to shop till we drop. We went to the Platinum Shopping Mall where you could find the clothes with good quality in good wholesale prices. We also found a store with everything in 20 Baht which was great because it had some amazing earrings and accessories. Also, the prices are not fixed inside the mall and you can get a good deal if you are good at bargaining. Here, basically the fun of street shopping is experienced within the confines of an air conditioned space.
Other things of interest:
Sky Train, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Indra Square
Next day, we took the flight to Krabi early morning. It is generally an one hour flight. We stayed in Krabi for 2 nights. Krabi is one of the most relaxing places in Thailand. It is scenically stunning with some of the most beautiful white sand beaches, sheer limestone cliffs, national parks and more than hundred offshore islands. It is completely a tourist destination so the prices of items are comparatively high compared to the other cities in Thailand.
Two nights in Krabi
Experience the Thung Teao Forest Natural Park and the Emerald Pool
On the very first day of our stay in Krabi, we decided to visit the Thung Teao Forest Natural Park.
The Natural Park was more than a 100 km from our Hotel and it took us more than an hour to reach the place. It is one of the striking natural attractions in Krabi. The entry fee to the Natural park is 200 Thai Baht for the foreigners. The Natural Park is a virgin rain forest, home to spectacular flora and fauna. The highlight of this place is the Emerald Pool. The journey to the emerald pool begins at the wildlife sanctuary office. It
takes around 800 meters through a well-trodden forest path or alternatively you can follow the longer nature trail which winds through spectacular tropical rain forest.
In the entrance you will see a stream of the beautiful green emerald water. After walking quite a distance you could spot the Sra Krew. It is an emerald color spring pool which is covered with the lush green forest.
Then, there is a Blue pool which is really beautiful and has extreme blue color. It is prohibited to get inside this pool. And finally, we see the Emerald Pool. It is a unique attraction in Thailand and should be in your must-see list in Krabi. It is a natural pond which is warm and crystal clear that makes it great for swimming.
There is also a small ladder to help you get in and out. You can easily spend half a day in this beautiful spot. And the photographs clicked here are some of the most stunning pictures ever.
Relax in the Krabi Hot Springs
After spending few hours here,we decided to leave for our next destination, which was the Hot Springs or also known as Klong Thom. It was just few kilometers away from the Natural Park. The entrance fee is 175 Thai Baht per person. The cascading waters of the hot springs offer a therapeutic and soothing experience. The hot springs form a waterfall that pours into a stream below. It is crafted into smooth rock channeling water from deep rooted thermal springs located in volcanic chambers. The Jacuzzi type baths are pretty hot about 35 – 40 degree Celsius and are said to be brimming with natural mineral salts which are claimed to cure different health issues. It is surrounded with the rain forest leaving you with an unique experience. Many of the tourist groups have asked me which is a better choice ‘Emerald Pool’ or ‘Hot Springs’, but I could only say that both of them leave you with a completely different experience and you will enjoy every bit in both the places. So, personally I would recommend to visit both the places if time permits, else it would be completely your personal choice. At night you can visit the walking street which is near the Ao Nang beach and spend some hours there.
Explore the 4-Islands Tour by long tail boat: Poda Island, Tup Island, Chicken Island and Railay Phra Nang Cave and Beach
On the second day of our stay in Krabi, we left for the 4-Islands tour by long tail boat at 9 am. Just off the coast of Krabi at Ao Nang, the 4 islands are the most convenient, easiest and cheapest way to get a true idea of what a tropical island is. If you visit only one place in Krabi, then this has to be in your list. You can find many ticket counters in Ao Nang beach for these tours. The entrance fee to the National park should be paid extra which is 400 Thai Baht per person. Our tour guide was Mr. Cape and the name of the tour company was ‘Cape Tours and Travels’. He was an excellent guide and an amazing host. First we visited the Poda island(Koh Poda). It looks like a turtle when you see it from Ao Nang. It is ideal for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling. You can spend most of your time in this beach. There is also changing rooms available in this beach. Our next destination was the Tup Island(Tale Wek). It is another beautiful island. The water is as clear as the sky. Also, the Tup Island and the Chicken island are connected with a sand bank. You could walk between these islands as the sand bank does not have any rocks and the tide is low. Also, the Tup Island itself consists of 2 small islands with a stretch of sand between them. It looks like it connects three islands. You can spend a short time in the Tup island as there are not much shady spots here and then move on to the Chicken island. After your arrival in the Chicken island you can relax or take a swim in the beautiful turquoise ocean. You can also find some shady spots here, also there is a small restaurant in the island as well. You can also do snorkeling here and spot some colorful fishes. Then we had our lunch in the boat. It was surprisingly one of the tastiest meals we had in Thailand. Finally, we arrived at our last destination which is the Railay Phra Nang Cave and Beach. It is a small peninsula with gorgeous white sand beaches, limestone cliffs, caves, viewpoints. It is also known for rock climbing. It has a relaxing atmosphere and you can also enjoy swimming here. It was raining when we reached here, so we were thinking to give it a miss. But, there was couple with us in the boat who visited the Beach and motivated us to visit it.
So, we left our boat, got drenched but it was worth it. The beach is really beautiful. And, to our good luck the rain stopped some minutes later. We spent some of the best time of our life here. We returned back at about 5pm to the Ao Nang beach and transferred back to the hotel. At night, we went to the walking street which was approximately 2 km from our Hotel. The street has many souvenir shops, restaurants and you can easily spend hours here. It is also near to the beach. You can also choose to have dinner from any of the restaurants as you will find different options here.
So, those were the wonderful two days in Krabi. Next morning we spent relaxing in the hotel. We left for Phuket via Ferry at 3pm in the afternoon. It generally takes approximately 2 – 2.5 hrs. to reach Phuket. You can also travel by car to Phuket, it will take lesser time and you can leave as and when you want. But, I would say that the journey via Ferry should not be missed if tickets are available. It is a completely different experience which will not disappoint you. We reached Phuket by 5:30pm and transferred to our hotel. We halted in Phuket for 2 nights and then we had our flight back from Phuket to Bangalore.
Two nights in Phuket
Spend the night walking in the Bangla Street and partying in the Illuzion Club
Our hotel was pretty close to the Bangla Street which was actually good. It is one of the happening streets in Thailand. We walked towards the Bangla Street from our hotel at around 8:30pm after having some light meal. You will also find Tuk Tuks who could take you to the malls or the Illuzion club in the Bangla Street. But, they would charge you 200 Thai Bahts for mere 2 kms. You will find different restaurants, shops, pubs, clubs, and spas along the street. People performing different acts in the street and a lot of crowd. You can get buy some antique pieces or souvenirs to keep as a memory from Thailand, but do not forget to bargain. That night we went to the Illuzion club. It is one of the best party places in Thailand. The entrance is free, but you could also take a pass for unlimited drinks which was around 600 Thai Bahts. The drinks will be pretty costly inside if you do not take a pass. We also got the free pass to the Paradise Beach from the organizers. They were distributing it randomly to guests. It is one of the most happening places in Phuket. The ambience is out of the world and it gives you an ultimate clubbing experience in Thailand. There will be some or the other events every day. Also, the crowd is great. If you want to party then do not miss the best night club of Thailand. And, last but not the least, the confetti rain was awesome.
Tour to the Phi-Phi Islands by Speed Boat
The Phi Phi Islands are the best known of the Andaman Islands. It will take you to the best and the famous beaches on the Phi Phi islands. We booked our Tour to the Phi-Phi islands by Speedboat which included the 9 Pointers tour, lunch, drinks and snacks, snorkeling and life insurance. The coral reefs are very close to the beach and you can just snorkel and see some of the most amazing colors you will ever see. The tour started at 9am, before that they would provided with the snacks, National Park rules and safety information. First, was the Maya Bay which is famous for the movie ‘The Beach’. It is a stunningly beautiful bay that’s sheltered by high cliffs. There are several beaches inside the bay. But it is currently closed and can be only viewed from the boats. Next they will take you to the Pileh Lagoon for sight seeing which is pretty close to the Maya Bay. If you are wondering whether or not to visit Pileh Bay, just remember that it will leave you with one of the most surreal snorkeling experiences. It is also known as the Blue lagoon due to its stunningly beautiful blue waters. The waters here will absolutely blow your mind due to its wonderful color and the amazing limestone cliffs around it.
They will provide you with the snorkeling equipment and you could enjoy the best time here while swimming and snorkeling. Also, there was only our boat at that time when we reached the Pileh Bay, it was not overcrowded and we could have a great time. So, try to start your tour as early as possible. Otherwise in the peak season it could get crowded and the last thing you would want is too many boats spoiling this amazing moment for you. Next on our way ahead we also spotted the Viking Cave which is the famous cave of sea gypsies. We also visited the Maiton island for sight-seeing and snorkeling from the boat. Then there was Monkey Beach which as the name says is famous for the monkeys. You could find so many monkeys in the beach and be aware with your belongings like phone etc. as they can try to snatch it. You can walk along the beach and take some snaps. Next stop is Koh Phi Phi Do where we had lunch on the beach side restaurant. Here you will have free time to explore the place. The last stop is Khai Nai, you can swim with the colorful fishes and relax on the beach. You can see the beautiful fishes with your bare eyes as the water is so crystal clear. Also, the water level is low here, so people who can’t swim can easily snorkel here. We arrived to the pier at around 4:30 pm. It was a perfect day at the Phi Phi islands.
Other activities:
At night you can also visit the Patong Beach. It is another beautiful beach in Phuket with fun activities, nightlife, dining or simply relaxing.
Thailand is a beautiful country and one of the must visit destinations in the South-east Asian countries. One of the most amazing thing is the changing color of the sea. It gave me a lot of memories and I look forward to exploring some other places of Thailand in the near future. I hope this post will persuade you to include Thailand in your next travel destination or at least help you to plan your trip to Thailand. If you have any questions you can write in the comment section below. I will be happy to answer.