Southeast Asia is a traveling hot spot right now but when I decided to go I had little more than a few pictures from friends’ travels to guide me. I did a few searches online and looked at pre-planned itineraries offered through groups like Contiki (and even booked one of their island tours) to get ideas but in the end, I made my plans along the way. The itineraries did make me feel like I would consider rolling over on a twin mattress in a hotel somewhere it was that extensive but, I enjoyed every moment of it!
The best destinations and activities we discovered were based on the recommendations of other travelers we met (and kept running into) during our trip so I thought I would share my recommendations in hopes that it will help other travelers enjoy Thailand as much as we did. We stayed at the Devasom Hua Hin most of the time (visit the Devasom Hua Hin website here) and enjoyed it ALOT! You can click on the links for each day to read about that days’ activities in more depth.
jacqui oakley |
A 3 WEEK ITINERARY FOR THAILAND
DAY 1: Arrive BKK
Sleep – Khaosan Immjai
Eat – Green House or anywhere nearby (on Rumbuttri Road)
Do – Queue for a taxi at the airport (they should turn the meter on), settle in to your accommodations, walk around Khao San Road area for food and shopping
DAY 2: Temples of Bangkok
Sleep – Overnight train to Chiang Mai
Eat – Complimentary breakfast at hostel, lunch near the temples
Do – Stop by Hua Lamphong Railway Station early to book your air-con sleeper (2nd class) on the overnight train then head to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho for the day to explore the wildly intricate temples
DAY 3: Waking up in Chiang Mai
Sleep – Deejai Backpacker near the Old Town
Eat – Breakfast on the train, lunch at Deejai Garden down the road, dinner at the hostel
Do – Get a pool pass at Deejai Garden (50 THB if you are staying at the Deejai Backpacker)
DAY 4: Exploring Chiang Mai
Sleep – Deejai Backpacker
Eat – Cafe du en Amor and Ratchadamnoen Kitchen
Do – Walk around Old Town which is filled with markets, shops and spas, then when your feet get tired stop for the fish spa
DAY 5: The Temple in the Mountains
Sleep – Deejai Backpacker
Eat – Street food outside of the temple
Do – Take a songthaew to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (the temple in the mountains) and enjoy the viewpoints along the way, in the afternoon get a cheap pedicure or massage at a local spa
DAY 6: The Bus Ride to Pai
Sleep – Spicy Pai
Eat – Any and all of the street side restaurants
Do – Explore the walking street market at night
TIP: Spicy Pai is on the edge of town but don’t be put off, it’s very social and an easy walk or motorbike ride into town
DAY 7: Exploring Pai
Sleep – Spicy Pai
Eat – Cafe in front of Spicy Pai for great spring rolls and fruit shakes, Texas Steakhouse for dinner
Do – Find your way to the Mor Paeng waterfall in the morning then cool off at the Fluid Pool in the afternoon, make some friends at the Yellow Sun bar after dinner before heading over to Sunset bar
DAY 8: Motorbikes in Pai
Sleep – Spicy Pai
Eat – Boomelicious for breakfast if it’s open and Witching Well for lunch
Do – Motorbike back to the Mor Paeng waterfall (my favorite) or explore one of the other waterfalls, head to Pai Canyonn after lunch and look for the sign on the right side of the road for the “Land Split” – go there if you have time!! – catch the latest bus back to Chiang Mai
DAY 9: Elephant Nature Park
Sleep – Deejai Backpacker
Eat – Breakfast at hostel early or packed to go, included lunch at the sanctuary, dinner on Rachadamneon
Do – Visit the elephant sanctuary to enjoy the elephants up close and in a cruelty-free environment but be careful, you have to book in advance
DAY 10: Train to Bangkok
Sleep – Overnight train
Eat – Eat breakfast and lunch in town (I reccommend Miguel’s Cafe for decent Mexican), Lays potato chips and Chang beer, or whatever snack you stock up on
Do – Buy a train ticket early, walk around Chiang Mai in the morning, grab lunch and then drink til the train
DAY 11: Train, Plane, Bus and Ferry to Koh Samui
Sleep – Nora Chaweng Hotel
Eat – Airport food, Coconut Willy’s or Ark Bar for dinner
Do – When you arrive in the Bangkok train station go back to the counter and ask for a commuter train to the airport, fly to Suratthani, take a transfer bus to the port, ride the ferry to Koh Samui, take Lomprayah’s shuttle to your hotel, grab dinner at one of the restaurants nearby and go out on the beach
Day 12: Exploring Koh Samui
Sleep – Nora Chaweng Hotel
Eat – Breakfast at hotel, lunch on top of the mountain, dinner at Islander
Do – Take a jeep tour around the island – on the tour you will see monkeys, drink fresh coconuts, visit the mummified monk to get your fortune, recieve a blessing from a monk, slide down a waterfall water slide, off-road to the magic Buddha garden and the big Buddha, catch an amazing view of the entire island
DAY 13: Chaweng Beach
Sleep – Nora Chaweng Hotel
Eat – Breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the beach, banana pancakes on the street and dinner in the Thai restaurant at the back of the night market
Do – Lounge along the beach all day or try out some of the water sports on offer
DAY 14: Ferry to Koh Tao
Sleep – Charm Churee Villa
Eat – A Thai BBQ buffet dinner on their deck over the water
Do – Take the ferry, explore town, walk along the beach, watch the sunset at dinner
DAY 15: Snorkel in Koh Tao with Goodtime Adventures
Sleep – Charm Churee Villa
Eat – Grab sandwiches from the sandwich lady (she has a cart on the side street just before the port) before getting on the boat, enjoy dinner at Moov beach bar and lounge
Do – Hop on the boat early in the morning for a day trip around the island, snorkel, explore a private island and then head back to town for a lady boy show after dinner
DAY 16: Ferry to Koh Phangan
Sleep – Shiralea Backpacker’s Resort
Eat – Shiralea’s kitchen
Do – Hop on the ferry to Koh Phangan in the morning and hang out in town or grab a taxi straight to your accommodations, lounge at the pool, enjoy a BBQ dinner and spend the night playing trivia and making new friends. I’d really recommend visiting Koh Phangan if you get a chance. If you want to know como ir de Bangkok a Koh phangan, then visit Vamonos’ webpage.
DAY 17: Beach Day and Floating Bar
Sleep – Shiralea Backpacker’s Resort
Eat – Shiralea’s kitchen or one of the beachfront restaurants
Do – After enjoying Shiralea’s delicious hangover cures, I mean breakfast, walk to the beach for some sun and water, at night take a taxi to the floating bar
DAY 18: Book a tour to zipline, snorkel and wipe out
Sleep – Shiralea Backpacker’s Resort
Eat – Shiralea’s kitchen
Do – Book a tour through Shiralea, just let them know which one to sign you up for by 5 PM the previous day, at night turn down the lights and enjoy a paint party
DAY 19: Back to Koh Samui then Bangkok
Sleep – Khaosan Immjai
Eat – Falafel and hummus at Shoshana near Khao San Road
Do – Relax after the long journey or walk along the roadside stands
DAY 20: Shopping in Bangkok
Sleep – Khaosan Immjai
Eat – Lots and lots of street food
Do – Buy an extra suitcase and stock it full of goodies to take home, taste test everything and anything from the street vendors
DAY 21: Depart BKK (or if you’re like us, cancel your flight and hit the road!)
[…] to plan your stay in Thailand? Here is my three week itinerary including where to stay, what to eat and what to do in Bangkok, Northern Thailand and the East Thai […]