Best Thailand Itineraries: 7-Day Routes — null travel guide
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Best Thailand Itineraries: 7-Day Routes

August 16, 20264 min readBangkok

Thailand is 1,600 km north to south and has three completely different regions. The north is mountains, temples, and hill tribes. The south is islands, beaches, and limestone cliffs. The northeast (Isaan) is the real Thailand — rice paddies, Khmer ruins, and almost no tourists. Here are three 7-day itineraries, each covering one region.


Route 1: Bangkok and Chiang Mai (7 Days) in Bangkok


Route 1: Bangkok and Chiang Mai (7 Days)


Day 1-3: Bangkok. Grand Palace (€12.50, 8:30 AM), Wat Pho reclining Buddha (€7.50), Wat Arun (€2.50). Eat at Or Tor Kor market (€3-5). Take the Chao Phraya river ferry (€0.50). Stay at Suk 11 Hostel (€11/night).


Day 4: Overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (€20, 13 hours, book a lower bunk). Or fly (€30, 1.5 hours).


Day 5-7: Chiang Mai. Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (the golden temple on a mountain, €2). Take a cooking class (€25, full day, includes market tour). Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary (Elephant Nature Park, €60, full day — no riding, no chains). Eat khao soi (curry noodles, €1.50) at Khao Soi Khun Yai. Stay at a guesthouse (€10-15/night).


Total cost: €200-250 for 7 days.


Route 2: Southern Beaches (7 Days) in Bangkok


Route 2: Southern Beaches (7 Days)


Day 1-2: Bangkok. See above. Fly to Krabi (€30, 1.5 hours).


Day 3-5: Railay Beach. A peninsula reachable only by boat (€2, 15 minutes from Ao Nang). Limestone cliffs, white sand, and rock climbing. Stay at Railay Bay Resort (€40/night) or a bungalow (€15-25/night). Kayak to Phra Nang Cave (€5/hour rental). Eat at the night market in Ao Nang (€3-5).


Day 6-7: Koh Lanta. Take a ferry from Railay (€10, 2 hours). A quieter island with 30 km of beaches. Rent a scooter (€5/day) and explore the south coast. Stay at a beach bungalow (€15-25/night). Eat at the night market in Saladan (€3-5).


Total cost: €250-350 for 7 days.


Route 3: Isaan Off the Beaten Path (7 Days) in Bangkok


Route 3: Isaan Off the Beaten Path (7 Days)


Day 1-2: Bangkok. Fly to Udon Thani (€30, 1 hour).


Day 3: Ban Chiang (50 km from Udon Thani) — a UNESCO archaeological site with 5,000-year-old pottery. The museum is €3. Continue to Nong Khai (60 km) — a riverside town on the Mekong. Visit Sala Kaew Ku (a sculpture park with giant concrete Buddhas, €1.50). Stay in Nong Khai (€15/night).


Day 4-5: Khon Kaen. Take a train from Nong Khai (€5, 3 hours). Khon Kaen is the heart of Isaan — university town, night markets, and the best som tum (papaya salad) in Thailand. Visit Phra That Kham Kaen (a temple with a relic of the Buddha, free). Stay at a guesthouse (€12/night).


Day 6-7: Phimai. Take a bus to Phimai (€4, 2 hours). Phimai has the best Khmer ruins in Thailand — a 11th-century temple complex as impressive as Angkor Wat but with no tourists (€3). Walk the old town walls. Return to Bangkok by train (€10, 6 hours).


Total cost: €150-200 for 7 days. The cheapest route.

When to Go

November-February is the best time — dry, 28-30°C, and cool in the north (20°C in Chiang Mai). March-May is 35-40°C. June-October is monsoon — rain for 1-2 hours daily but cheap and green.

Money

Thailand is cheap. Hostels: €10-15. Meals: €2-5. Transport: €2-30 per leg. Attractions: €2-12. Budget €25-40/day. ATMs everywhere. 40 baht = $1.

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