Thailand itinerary advice for island visits

Hello, We’re heading to Thailand for 26 days (excluding flights) next July with our two teens (12 and 15 years old). My husband and I have been there several times before they were born—so that’s 15 years ago—and I’m a bit worried about some of the changes that might have happened since, especially with the rise in tourism... I’d also like to keep a pace that allows us to settle in a bit and enjoy local life beyond just the main sights. Plus, we’re pretty active. For now, our plan looks like this:

Arrival in Bangkok, where we’re thinking of spending several days (minimum 4) Chiang Mai for about a week 2 or 3 islands in the Gulf Return to Bangkok for 2 days before departure.

We’re pretty set on Bangkok and Chiang Mai, but we’re unsure about which islands to visit—I’ve read such mixed things that I’m even wondering if we should consider the coast instead. Organization-wise, I’d love any tips or feedback on whether we need to book in advance at this time of year, which transport options to prioritize (train, bus, or plane), and of course, any suggestions for stops or routes. Thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to help us prepare for this amazing trip!

Thanks for the tips on Chiang Mai and the beachy south!

Thank you Chiang Mai and the beachy south.

Hi Songsam, I don’t understand your reply?

why not your suggestions for stops

So far from the sea, tourist crowds, and not in the south, I can make you a list.

Hi Songsam, I’d love to hear any tips and experiences you have—it’d be really great if you could share them! My teens love the water and snorkeling, so it’ll be tough not to spend a few days doing just that...

Hi there,

Arrival in Bangkok where we plan to spend several days (minimum 4) (...) return for 2 days in Bangkok before departure.

Six days total in exhausting Bangkok might be too much. I wouldn’t spend any there at the start* and would visit it at the end for 3-4 nights max.

* Examples right from arrival day: settle in the much more relaxing and nearby Ayutthaya or take an immediate flight (or overnight train) to Chiang Mai.

My teens love water and snorkelling, so it’ll be tough not to dedicate a few days to that...

"A few days"—sure, but two-thirds of the trip... 😕

Suggestions for non-beach stops: I’ve stayed in most of these places multiple times, sometimes for several weeks. These towns or villages are worth visiting because they’re either very charming and peaceful, offer several sights to see (including—or especially—in their surrounding areas), or both. All have accommodations and are accessible by public transport. None are on the typical tourist trail.

Worth at least 2 nights: Khao Yai National Park Khong Jiam (or Chiam) Phimai Nong Khai Pak Chom Thong Pha Phum Mae Sot Mae Sariang Chiang Saen Phrae Phayao Trang Phattalung

Worth at least 3 nights: Sri Chiangmai Chiang Khan Loei Sangkhlaburi Tha Song Yang* Mae Hong Son Soppong/Pang Mapha Tha Ton Mae Salong Thung Chang Phetchaburi Nakhon Si Thammarat

Worth at least 4 nights: Nan

* Not to be confused with Ban Tha Song Yang, on the same road, which also deserves a spot on this list but sadly has no accommodations—I had to sleep in a soup vendor’s shop.

If you pick some of these stops, we can easily help you connect them into a coherent itinerary, including other places not on this list, based on available transport.

Nan, Wat Phra That Chae Haeng:

Hi Songsam,

Thanks so much for your feedback. I’ll keep your advice about Bangkok in mind, and I think we’ll head straight to Chiang Mai. I’ll check out the destinations you suggested.

On previous trips, moving every 2-3 days ended up feeling a bit tiring, so we’d like to find places where we can stay a little longer and explore the surrounding area. Chiang Mai seems like a good first option—do you have any other suggestions for us?

Have a great day, Stéphanie

Hi there,

We’d like to find places where we can stay a bit longer and explore the surrounding area. Chiang Mai seems like a first option—do you have any other suggestions?

Yes, just one. But a second long stop will mean cutting down your beach time: how many of your 14 beach days are you willing to give up?

My first post was a bit confusing—I had only listed the safe stops (BKK and Chiang Mai), but the rest wasn’t necessarily beach-focused. It was more of a blank slate with a little beach time to plan! What’s your idea for another key stop?

Places where we can stay a bit longer and explore the surrounding area. (...) What’s your idea for another key stop?

With these criteria, besides Chiang Mai, the only other long stop I see is Kanchanaburi.

Things to see/do around Kan:

- The ruins of Phrasat Muang Sing Historical Park, the westernmost "castle" (translation of "phrasat") of the ancient Angkorian empire (half-day round trip by train to Thakilek and back + 5-minute motosai ride included),

- The Wangpo viaduct/Tham Krasae/Death Railway Bridge (three names for the same place), a solid half-day round trip: 1.5-hour train ride to Tham Krasae + 5 km uphill walk + 1-hour public bus or minivan back to Kan included,

- Erawan Falls, a full-day trip with 2.5–3 hours of public bus round trip included. Swimmable,

- Wat Tham Seua, a temple with very unusual architecture for Thailand, a short half-day trip. Reachable by bus + motosai or arrange a driver (ask your accommodation),

- Elephant World Kanchanaburi*, a full-day experience. They pick you up from your accommodation and bring you back. https://www.elephantsworld.org/ ,

- Kayaking down the River Kwai, distance varies—check with agencies, half-day activity.

Plus what there is to see in town.

* There’s a similar activity in Chiang Mai, but since the latter also offers other kid-friendly options (downhill biking on Mt. Suthep, treetop walks** + ziplining, etc.) that Kan doesn’t, I’d recommend doing the elephants in Kan to spread things out. ** It has a name I’ve forgotten.

Transport: Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus, train (book in advance), or flight (book ahead—Bangkok has two airports: BKK and DMK). Main Bangkok train station: Krung Thep Aphiwat.

Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi direct: 2–3 daily buses (one daytime, 1–2 overnight), 12-hour trip.

Kanchanaburi to the south without going back through Bangkok: 55-minute bus 81a/c1 (every 20 minutes) to Ban Pong, then a 10–12-minute walk to the train station, where overnight trains depart for major southern destinations (train-accessible only), e.g., Chumphon or Surat Thani for Koh Tao/Phangan/Samui.

Around Kanchanaburi:

Wat Tham Seua (2 photos)





Wangpo Viaduct from the train driver’s cabin along the River Kwai Noi:



Fleeting encounters:





Muang Kan (Kanchanaburi town):

Bus 81 Kanchanaburi–Ban Pong–Bangkok Sai Tai:



Chiang Mai–Kanchanaburi bus:



One of the two museums worth seeing:



The famous Saphan Mae Nam Kwae with a train on it and kayakers below:

Hi there, Thank you so much for the tips and lovely photos! Kanchanaburi seems like a really interesting option—we’ll look into it in more detail. Have a great weekend, Stéphanie

Hi there, At this stage, we're planning to take a flight to Chiang Mai as soon as we arrive in Bangkok. We’d stay there for a few days before heading down to Sukhothai and then Kanchanaburi, taking our time to explore the surrounding areas. We’ll be using buses for transportation. After that, depending on the weather, we’d like to head to some islands or the coast. As for accommodations, is it recommended to book in advance during this period? Best regards

Hi there,

We’re planning a flight to Chiang Mai as soon as we land in Bangkok.

Have you already bought the flight ticket?

Sukhothai then Kanchanaburi, taking time to explore the surrounding areas. We’ll be using buses for the connections.

Direct bus Chiang Mai–Sukhothai: yep, ~5–6 per day. But no direct bus Sukhothai–Kanchanaburi. Two possible options with one transfer: - Morning or overnight (departures until ~11 PM): bus Sukhothai–Bangkok Mo Chit, then a 10-minute walk to Mo Chit Minivans, and from there minivans to Kan every 20–30 minutes. In these minivans, either you hold your luggage on your lap or buy an extra seat to put it on. Total time: 9–10 hours + transfer time. - Morning: bus from Sukhothai to Tak* bus terminal to catch the Chiang Mai–Kanchanaburi bus, which stops there around 11 AM. Total time: ~8.5 hours + transfer time.

* Satani Lotmê Taa (the “k” isn’t pronounced).

About accommodations—is it recommended to book in advance at this time of year?

If you don’t have a specific place in mind, no need.

Chiang Mai, festival at Wat Chedi Luang (x3):





C.Mai, Lanna Architecture Center (x2):





C.Mai, Tha Phae* Gate: * Tapê exterior:



and interior:

Sorry, I had a reply ready but the site was glitching like crazy when I tried to post. I copied it to a corner of my computer and we’ll sort it out later.

Hi there,

we’re considering a flight to as soon as we arrive in Bangkok .

Have you already bought the flight ticket?

Sukhothai then Kanchanaburi, taking time to explore the surrounding areas. We’ll use buses for the connections.

Direct bus from Chiang Mai to Sukhothai, no problem—about 5-6 departures a day. But no direct bus from Sukhothai to Kanchanaburi. Two possible options with one transfer: - Morning or overnight (departures until around 11 PM): bus from Sukhothai to Bangkok Mo Chit, then a 10-minute walk to Mo Chit Minivans, where minivans to Kanchanaburi leave every 20-30 minutes. In these minivans, you either hold your luggage on your lap or buy an extra seat to put it on. Total time: 9 to 10 hours + transfer time. - Morning: bus from Sukhothai to Tak bus terminal* to catch the Chiang Mai-Kanchanaburi bus, which stops there around 11 AM. Total time: about 8.5 hours + transfer time.

*Satani Lotmê Taa (the "k" is silent).

About accommodations—is it recommended to book in advance at this time of year?

If you don’t have a specific place in mind, no need.

Chiang Mai, festival at Wat Chedi Luang (x3):







Chiang Mai, Lanna Architecture Center (x2):





Chiang Mai, Tha Phae* Gate: *Tha Phae exterior:



and interior:

Hi Songsam, We haven’t bought the BKK to Chiang Mai flight yet—I’m thinking of booking it soon with Air Asia, taking a flight 3 hours after we arrive from France. For the Sukhothai to Kanchanaburi route, I didn’t realize it’d be so long… maybe a stopover between the two?

the BKK to Chiang Mai flight, I’m thinking of doing it soon with Air Asia, taking a flight 3 hours after our arrival from France.

If it’s an AirAsia flight from BKK (6 departures/day), 3 hours is okay (it’s even a bit too much). If it’s an AirAsia flight from DMK (17 departures/day), 3 hours between the international flight landing and the domestic flight taking off won’t be reasonably safe (traffic jams, shuttle cancellation, etc.). Allow at least 4 hours. Free shuttles run from BKK to DMK on the arrivals level, opposite exit 3. You’ll need to show proof of your flight from DMK. It’d be better to find an AirAsia flight departing from BKK. Which airline are you flying from Paris to BKK with?

For the Sukhothai-Kanchanaburi route, I didn’t realize it would be so long... maybe a stopover between the two?

In another discussion, Jojoone1 suggested Uthai Thani, but getting there from Sukhothai and then on to Kanchanaburi by bus is a bit unclear. Alternatively, spend a few days in Ayutthaya, but two ruin stops in a row might wear out your group. There are a few buses a day from Sukhothai to Ayutthaya, then a daily tourist shuttle from Ayutthaya to Kan (book through your accommodation the day before or earlier) or a bus from Ayutthaya to Suphanburi plus a bus from Suphanburi to Kan.

We're flying with Air Saudia, then I’m counting on a domestic flight from the same airport (BKK). I’m also worried that Sukhothai and Ayutthaya might be a bit redundant... We picked Sukhothai because it seemed less touristy, but the connection to Kanchanaburi is a bit of a concern. Would a taxi be an option? With four people, it might be worth it.

we had chosen Sukhothai because it seemed less touristy

No, it's the opposite. Sukhothai is the more touristy of the two because all the basic organized tours on the planet stop there, which isn't the case for Ayutthaya. If you end up choosing the latter, you could take the Chiang Mai-Ayutthaya sleeper train and then do as mentioned above for Kanchanaburi (or via Bangkok Mo Chit minivans).

Would a taxi be an option? For 4 people, it might be worth it.

For city-to-city taxis, I don’t know much. After searching online, I found prices ranging from ~190 to ~220 € for 4 people, which means you’ll probably find something 25-30% cheaper on the spot (by asking your accommodation to arrange it, for example). For comparison, the total cost of the Sukhothai-Tak and Tak-Kan buses will be around ~15-16 € per person. Note that for nearly four-fifths of the trip (Tak-Kan), the bus is VIP class—isn’t that an argument that would make the journey physically less taxing for those with sensitive constitutions?

Thanks again for the details. I thought Ayutthaya’s "proximity" to the capital made it more touristy. How much time do you think we should spend there?

The train connection from Chiang Mai sounds great, and then continuing by bus or van. I have no doubts about the comfort of the buses, and it’ll work perfectly for our happy group.

Thanks so much for sharing your photos—we can’t wait to be there!

I’ve got a new question: which website do you use to book trains? I made an account on the national railway’s site, but the prices seem higher than with some third-party resellers...

I created an account on the national carrier’s website, but the prices seem higher than with some third-party sites...

Could you share the link to the national carrier’s website, please? Your comment surprised me, so I’d like to make sure we’re thinking of the same one.

Hi Songsam, Here’s the link: https://www.railway.co.th/Home/Index

Hi Stephanie,

For bookings, the site you used does redirect to the one I recommend. I assume that’s where you must have created an account: https://dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicWeb/home/Home. Which sites did you find better prices on?

When you book a sleeper berth, keep the following points in mind: - the type of train (ranked from cheapest to most expensive): Rapid, Express, or Special Express, - the class: 1st (air-conditioned), 2nd air-conditioned, 2nd “fan” (i.e., non-air-conditioned, but unfortunately this option is now only available on certain trains heading south). In both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned 2nd-class sleepers, lower berths are more expensive than upper ones. All these factors come into play when comparing prices across different sites.

I ran some simulations for a Chiang Mai–Ayutthaya trip on 15/07 in a 2nd-class air-conditioned sleeper on train SP10 (the most expensive but also the one that arrives earliest), price per person:

Official SRT site (national railway company): lower berth 1016 Baht, upper berth 916 Baht

Baolau site: same as SRT. Since I couldn’t proceed further in the simulation, I didn’t see if any fees are added at the end.

12GO site: 1300 Baht. It doesn’t specify whether it’s for a lower or upper berth.

Which site do you use to book the train?

I don’t book in advance but do it on the spot at the station or through an agency because I know the country well—including backup plans—and since I don’t book accommodations either, I can change my plans in 5 minutes if the train is full, even switching destinations. I don’t plan any itinerary before leaving, not even the first step. For your trip, book any journey on the Chiang Mai–(Ayutthaya)–Bangkok line as early as possible because all organized tours use it too (they take buses on the way up).

Here’s a site with tons of info on Thai trains: https://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm

Hi Songsam, Thanks again for all the details and addresses. I went through my history and can't find which site seemed cheaper—I must’ve mixed it up with bus routes. It makes sense that the national carrier’s site would have the best prices, and that’s what I’d read too. I’ve got another question (don’t hesitate to tell me if it’s too much): I’m thinking about options after Kanchanaburi and was wondering if you’ve ever been to Khao Sok National Park? Best regards,

No, I’ve never been to Khao Sok National Park, but it’s a name that comes up pretty often in the forum—I think others can give you their thoughts. Make sure to check the weather in July. As for transport from Kanchanaburi, it’d be easy: bus 81 to Ban Pong + overnight train to Surat Thani + 2-3h by bus.

Hi Songsam, July really doesn’t seem like the best time for hiking in Kao Sok National Park... Thanks so much for your tips! Stéphanie