Bangkok, Northern Thailand & Ko Samui - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, Optional Activities

Welcome to Thailand! This cultural hotbed of Southeast Asia has a long and storied history dating back to when the Thai people of southern China first settled in the region. It grew as part of the ancient Khmer empire, and when that fell, Thailand was ruled by subsequent dynasties.

 

You'll first arrive in Bangkok, the capital and largest city, which also has a fascinating history. It began as a tiny village on the Chao Phraya River in the 15th century, and today it is a modern city home to over 14 million people. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will transfer you to your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day exploring your surroundings or relaxing at the hotel. Don't worry about missing out on too much, as tomorrow is a full-day tour!

Day 2: Bangkok Full-Day Tour

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll meet a local expert and embark on a combined walking/public transportation tour of Bangkok. See the city like a local as you take the metro or public bus to the city's famous Chinatown, one of the largest such neighborhoods in the world. Follow the river to the Talad Noi, an enclave of ethnic Chinese people where you can browse an open-air market. From there, it's a short walk to Little India, where you'll visit another authentic market.

 

Then take a tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw) to Bangkok's Flower Market. Open 24/7, this aromatic marketplace is filled with vendors selling jasmine, roses, orchids, lilies, snapdragons, irises, and other flowers. Later, hop on a public river boat to see one of the most iconic temples in the country: Wat Pho. This 13th-century complex is famous for its 150-foot (46 m) statue of a reclining Buddha. Continue to Wat Sraket, which sits on the only hill in Bangkok. Hike the 320 steps leading to the top and enjoy the best views of the city. Afterward, give your feet a rest and return to your hotel by taxi.

Day 3: Visit Saduak Floating Market, Bangkok Street Food Tour

Today your guide will take you on a trip west of Bangkok to the klongs (canals) of the Ratchaburi province. Here, you'll visit the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, which is precisely what it sounds like. Plying these waterways are traditional boats filled to the brim with fresh produce, including exotic fruits like mangosteen and durian. There are even vendors cooking snacks on their boats and serving them to tourists on the banks. Practice the art of haggling with your guide before breaking for lunch, and then return to your hotel for a rest. 

 

But the day isn't over yet. When the sun goes down, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and the two of you will head out on a three-hour tour to sample Thailand's deservedly famous street food. Return to Chinatown, the epicenter of Bangkok's street eats, where you'll browse the vendors and try delicious tidbits. Highlights include pad thai, papaya salad, moo ping (grilled pork skewers), satay kai (grilled chicken skewers), and jok (rice porridge).

Day 4: Transfer to Kanchanaburi, Visit the River Khwae

Today your driver will pick you up early for the three-hour ride west toward the border with Myanmar and the town of Kanchanaburi. This is the hub for visits to the River Khwae and its infamous Death Railway, a train line built between 1942 and 1943 which took the lives of over 100,000 laborers. Upon arrival in town, check into your hotel and take some time to relax.

In the afternoon, you'll head to the nearby Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, where the POWs who were imprisoned by the Japanese are buried. You'll also visit the neighboring Thailand-Burma Railway Center, an interactive museum that features many exhibits and information about the building of the Death Railway and the POW camps. Then take a boat tour on the river followed by a ride on a section of the railway. The route is incredibly scenic, and a highlight of the trip is passing through Tham Krasae Station, which offers great river views. 

After lunch, travel back to Kanchanaburi and visit the Hellfire Pass Memorial. This combined museum and gallery was built to commemorate the thousands of Allied POWs and Asian conscripts who died while constructing the Death Railway. Return to your hotel in the early evening in time for dinner.

Day 5: Transfer to Phitsanulok, Tour Ayutthaya & Lopburi

After breakfast, meet your driver for the ride north from the River Khwae to Phitsanulok, in the heart of Thailand. The journey takes over five hours, but you'll make some stops along the way, starting at Ayutthaya. This former royal capital of the Siam Kingdom was founded in 1350 but was sacked by the Burmese in the 18th century. However, many structures, like reliquary towers and monasteries, remain to this day. You'll see these ruins and various temples on a walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Historical Park.

From Ayutthaya, you'll travel to the nearby city of Lopburi to visit Wat Phra Prang Sam Yot (Three Peaks Pagoda). This 13th-century temple boasts the three largest Buddhist pagodas built by the Khmer people in the Brahmin art style. It's also known for the large community of monkeys roaming the site who are perpetually hunting for food.

After touring the temple, continue on to Phitsanulok, one of the most important pilgrimage centers in the country, thanks to its 14th-century temple Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat, which you'll see tomorrow. When you arrive, check into your hotel and relax. 

Day 6: Transfer to Chiang Rai, Explore Sukhothai

After breakfast at your hotel, it's time to continue traveling north to the province of Chiang Rai. First, though, you'll visit Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat. Phitsanulok's most famous temple was commissioned by a Thai monarch in 1357, and Buddhists still flock here en masse. That's because it houses the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, the second-most revered Buddha statue in the country after the legendary Emerald Buddha in Bangkok. 

 

Then hit the road to Chiang Rai. The drive takes about six hours, but you'll stop for food and enjoy the scenery in the Sukhothai province. This northern region is known for its river valleys, mountain ranges, and national parks. One highlight is Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site comprises the ruins of a city that was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom from the 13th-15th centuries. Explore the area on a bicycle tour before finishing the journey to Chiang Rai, the northernmost city in Thailand.

Day 7: Visit Doi Mae Salong & the Golden Triangle

Wake up early for a drive up Doi Mae Salong, one of the northernmost mountains in Thailand. It rises about 3,937 feet (1,367 m) and overlooks the border with Myanmar. At the top of the mountain is a village populated mostly by former Chinese soldiers and their families who migrated from Myanmar. This town draws visitors for its great food and many fruit, coffee, and tea plantations. You'll get to try the famous cuisine when you sit down to lunch at a local restaurant, after which you can walk around town.

Then continue to the Golden Triangle, a region at the tri-borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. This area has a notorious history as a hub for opium production. You'll visit the town of Sop Ruak, which sits at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers, to learn more about the region's history and drug trade at the House of Opium Museum. Afterward, return to your hotel in Chiang Rai.

Day 8: Sightseeing in Chiang Rai, Drive to Chiang Mai

Today you'll leave for the northern city of Chiang Mai, but not before enjoying a half-day tour of Chiang Rai. In the morning, meet your guide and visit Wat Rong Suea Ten, more commonly known as the Blue Temple. This place of worship makes quite the impression with its gilt exterior and mesmerizing sapphire-blue decor, walls, and statues. Fun fact: This temple may look like a historic landmark, but it was only completed in 2016. 

After the Blue Temple, it's time to see the Wat Rong Khun (White Temple). One of the most famous landmarks in northern Thailand, this structure is a privately owned art installation in the style of a Buddhist temple. The exterior's gleaming white facade and reflecting pool are impressive, while inside are images of the Buddhist cycle of death and rebirth.

 

Following the visit, you'll have lunch at a local restaurant and then hit the road and travel about three hours south to Chiang Mai, the capital of the province of the same name. For centuries, from the 13th-16th centuries, Chiang Mai was also the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Even today, it retains many ancient landmarks and temples within its moat-encircled Old City. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace.

Day 9: Visit Doi Inthanon & Hike the Mae Klang Luang Nature Trail

After breakfast, you'll leave the city on a full-day tour of the gorgeous countryside around Chiang Mai. Your driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you on a two-hour ride through this beautiful province, passing fertile rice fields as you ascend into the mountains of Doi Inthanon National Park, part of the Thanon Thong Chai Range. Stand on the country's highest point, at 7,041 feet (2,146 m), where two awe-inspiring pagodas mark a viewpoint over the mountaintop.
 
Then, head to a village populated by the Karen people. Comprised mostly of refugees from Myanmar, this hill tribe is the largest ethnic minority in the country. During your visit, meet locals, learn about their traditional way of life, and browse their colorful craft market. Later, stop at the 262-foot (80 m) Wachirathan Waterfall and witness the massive cascades tumble over the jungle canopy.

 

Next is a hike along the Ban Mae Klang Luang nature trail, a forested route that runs downhill to a river. You'll eventually reach Pha Dok Siew, another impressive waterfall where you can cool off with a swim. Afterward, continue to Mae Klang Luang, another Karen village. Here, coffee is the most important crop, and you'll have a chance to visit a coffee house where they roast and hand-grind the beans. Try a cup on-site and, if you like, buy a bag to take home. At the end of the day, transfer back to your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Day 10: Cooking Class in Chiang Mai, Visit Doi Suthep Temple

In the morning, you'll venture into the countryside again, this time to visit a small village where you'll take a cooking class with a local family. Upon arrival at their home, your hosts will lead you around their farm as the chef points out the various herbs and produce that they grow on-site. Then, head inside, where you'll cook three courses and sit down to enjoy them on the terrace.

 

After lunch, continue to Doi Suthep Mountain and visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a 19th-century temple and one of Thailand's most famous pilgrimage sites. Climb the 309 steps of the Golden Naga staircase to reach the temple's sparkling pagodas. From here, you'll also be treated to incredible views over Chiang Mai below. Cap the experience by making an offering to the temple monks and receiving a blessing from them. Afterward, return to your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Day 11: Fly to Ko Samui, Free Time

It's time to fly south! After breakfast, you'll transfer to the airport in Chiang Mai, where you'll board a two-hour flight to sunny southern Thailand. Your destination is Ko Samui, the largest island in the Gulf of Thailand. Upon arrival in the main town of Chaweng, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel on the beach. Settle in and then hit the soft white sand in this tropical paradise.

Days 12-13: Free Days in Ko Samui

The next two days are free to spend however you wish, with no itineraries and no responsibilities. If you like, you can spend most of the time relaxing by the pool at the hotel or sunbathing on the beach. Speaking of which, there are some great beach options on the north side of Ko Samui, including Maenam, Bo Phut, and Coconut.

For something adventurous, take a speedboat north to Ko Tao, a small, coral-fringed islet and one of the best dive sites in the country. You can also take a boat tour through Ang Thong National Marine Park, a  42-island archipelago west of Ko Samui boasting unspoiled coast and forests.

As for sightseeing, perhaps the most famous landmark is Big Buddha Temple. This 39-foot (12 m) gilded Buddha statue sits on a hilltop on Ko Samui's northeast coast. Needless to say, the panoramic views around the temple are fantastic. For more great views, head over to Lad Ko, a viewpoint overlooking Chaweng Beach. Running 4 miles (7 km) along the east coast, this is Ko Samui's longest beach. Other activities in the area include zipline tours, hiking trails, ATV excursions, and more. 

Day 14: Depart Thailand

Unfortunately, it's time to leave the beaches behind and return home. At the appointed hour, a driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport in Ko Samui, where you'll catch your connecting flight home. Safe travels!

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Thailand? Check out these other Thailand itineraries, explore different ways to spend two weeks in Thailand, or discover the best time to visit Thailand.