🔄 Updated 7 Jul 2026
The short version: fly into Bangkok, give it 3 days, then take a 1-hour domestic flight to Chiang Mai for 3 days of temples, mountains and slow mornings. Fly south to Krabi for 3–4 days of beaches and island-hopping, and fly home from Krabi (or hop to Phuket). Two short flights tie it together — book them early and they're cheap. Prefer to swap the islands for more culture, or the north for the south? See the alternative routes below.
The 10-day route at a glance
| Days | Base | Highlights | Get there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Bangkok | Grand Palace & Wat Pho, Chinatown, markets, rooftop bars | Fly into BKK/DMK |
| 4–6 | Chiang Mai | Old-town temples, ethical elephant sanctuary, cooking class, night bazaar | 1-hr flight from Bangkok |
| 7–10 | Krabi | Railay, Ao Nang, island-hopping (Phi Phi, Hong Islands), beaches | 1.5-hr flight to Krabi |
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Plan my trip →Days 1–3: Bangkok
Start where almost everyone lands. Bangkok rewards a couple of days: grand temples in the morning before the heat, a boat down the river, street food at night. Base yourself near the BTS/MRT (Sukhumvit or Silom) so you can beat the traffic.
- Day 1: ease in — a riverside temple or two, then Chinatown (Yaowarat) for street food after dark. See the Grand Palace & temples guide
- Day 2: the big hitters — Grand Palace, Wat Pho's reclining Buddha, Wat Arun across the river; a rooftop bar at sunset. Skip-the-line and combo tickets on the Bangkok attractions & tickets page
- Day 3: a market morning (Chatuchak on weekends, or a floating/train market) and a food tour — or take the easy day trip to Ayutthaya (below)
Where to stay in Bangkok
Stay near a BTS or MRT station to skip the traffic. Our ranked pick of the best-value hotels, verified from real guest reviews:
See Bangkok hotels →Optional Day 3: Ayutthaya day trip
If ruins and history are your thing, Thailand's old capital is an easy day trip north of Bangkok — brick temples and stone Buddhas you can cycle between. Go by cheap train or a half-day tour. See Bangkok to Ayutthaya and day trip or overnight? to decide.
Days 4–6: Chiang Mai
A one-hour flight lands you in a completely different Thailand: cooler air, moated old town, hundreds of temples and mountains on the doorstep. Chiang Mai is where most people slow down. See how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (flight vs sleeper train).
- Day 4: wander the old-town temples on foot (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh); sunset at Doi Suthep above the city. Tickets and tours on the Chiang Mai attractions page
- Day 5: a morning at an ethical elephant sanctuary (choose no-riding, observation-first camps), then a Thai cooking class in the afternoon
- Day 6: the Sunday Walking Street or Saturday market, cafés (Chiang Mai is Thailand's coffee capital), or a day trip up to Pai or Doi Inthanon
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
The old town puts you walking distance from the temples, markets and cafés.
See Chiang Mai hotels →Days 7–10: Krabi & the islands
Finish on the Andaman coast, where the limestone cliffs drop straight into turquoise water. Fly Chiang Mai → Krabi (usually via a quick Bangkok connection) and base in Ao Nang or Railay. This is your beach-and-boat stretch. See the Krabi tours & tickets and our island-hopping guide.
- Day 7: arrive, settle into Ao Nang or take the longtail to car-free Railay for cliffs and calm beaches
- Day 8: the classic island-hopping day — Phi Phi, the Hong Islands or the 4-Islands tour by speedboat
- Day 9: slow down — a quiet beach, a longtail to a hidden bay, or a day at Emerald Pool and the hot springs inland
- Day 10: fly home from Krabi, or ferry over to Phuket if you're flying out of there. Deciding between the two coasts? Read Phuket vs Krabi
Where to stay in Krabi
Ao Nang for restaurants and ferry access; Railay for cliffs and quiet.
See Krabi hotels →Book the highlights of this route
The tours most first-timers add to this itinerary — compare options and reviews:
Alternative routes: 7 days, 2 weeks, islands-only
Ten days is flexible. Shorter, longer, more culture or more beach — here's how to reshape it without rushing.
| You have / want | Suggested route | Skip / swap |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Bangkok (3) → Chiang Mai (2) → one island (2) | Drop Ayutthaya; pick one island only |
| 2 weeks | Add 2–3 days on a second island + Ayutthaya or Sukhothai overnight | Slower pace, add a diving day |
| Beach-only | Krabi + Phi Phi + Koh Lanta, or the Gulf: Koh Samui + Koh Phangan | Skip the north — see island-hopping guide |
| Culture-only (no flying south) | Bangkok → Ayutthaya → Sukhothai → Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai | All reachable by train/bus |
🏙️ vs 🏔️ Bangkok vs Chiang Mai
Which to give more days
🏝️ Phuket vs Krabi
Pick your Andaman base
⛴️ Thailand island hopping
Andaman vs Gulf, which islands
🚌 Getting around Thailand
Flights, trains, ferries, Grab
💡 Know before you go (for this route)
Bangkok–Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai/Bangkok–Krabi are cheap booked weeks ahead and pricey last-minute. Carry-on only speeds up the budget airlines.
Cool, dry season is ideal countrywide. Note Songkran (mid-April) is peak heat but a once-in-a-lifetime water festival. See best time to visit below.
Data makes Grab, maps and ferry bookings effortless. See our eSIM guide.
If you travel May–Oct, the Gulf islands (Samui, Phangan) often stay drier than Krabi/Phuket. Flip the beach leg accordingly.
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