Thailand is a beautiful destination that has become unbelievably popular in recent years. And after spending a few months within the last years in the country, it’s easy to see why.
Thai culture is incredibly friendly and welcoming, gifting you with smiles from every direction. Moreover, the landscapes are out of this world – from lush green rainforests, and limestone mountains, to crystal-clear beaches like from a postcard.
One could easily spend a few months in Thailand without getting bored. And as a first-time visitor, you might have a hard time planning the whole trip.
And that’s where our itinerary comes in handy. After completing this route ourselves, we believe following this travel guide will ensure you’ll be able to see a little bit of everything. Apart from a day-by-day travel plan, we’ll share a few extra tips which we find useful.
Without any further ado, let’s dive in!
How many days to spend in Thailand
As I mentioned above, you could easily spend months here, and you would still find stunning and untouched places. In fact, Thailand is a popular choice for digital nomads, too.
I believe 3 weeks in Thailand is the right amount of time if you’re visiting for the first time and want to see most of the country’s famous attractions. You can easily travel around without feeling too rushed.
Of course, if you only have 2 weeks, you will still enjoy your trip! But you’re certainly going to skip a few places listed below. If this is your case, we recommend skipping Koh Samui entirely and also shortening your stay in the north.
Best time to visit Thailand
Before choosing your travel date, it’s important to know more about a few very important factors that are going to influence your overall experience.
Rainy and dry seasons
Firstly, if you’re after the perfect weather and crystal clear waters, the rainy season is not gonna be a good choice. As different regions have slightly different weather throughout the year, your safest bet would be December to March.
Most of the country is hit by heavy rains, often quick but intense, between July and October. You can still visit islands in the Gulf of Thailand at this time, as the area is not as affected by the monsoon.
If you end up traveling in rainy months, keep in mind that many hotels and restaurants close. Weather also affects boat travel, meaning your trip might end up being canceled.
If you’re after snorkeling or diving, water visibility is best between February and May.
Burning season
Another important thing to consider is the “burning season“. We hadn’t heard about it before our trip and ended up traveling to Northern Thailand when it was at its peak.
Let me explain what it is if you’ve never heard about it. As the dry season progresses, the air quality is getting worse as there’s less natural cleansing due to lack of rain. It’s also when farmers burn their fields to prepare for the next season.
The burning season lasts between February and April. It only affects Northern Thailand (and Laos). Not only is the air quality poor, or even hazardous, but the visibility is miserable, too.
Where to start 3 weeks in Thailand
The most common entry point is Bangkok. Hence, it’s also the starting point of this 3 week Thailand itinerary. Whether you’re traveling from Europe, America, Australia, or other countries in Asia, flying to the capital is the best option.
If you’re traveling from Malaysia by land, you can reverse the itinerary and start with the islands. Direct daily flights make travel easy between Penang and Phuket. If Langkawi is your final destination, hop on a 30-minute ferry to Koh Lipe.
If you’re crossing by land from the northern parts of Laos (Luang Namtha or Luang Prabang), you can take a bus from the Lao border to Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai and start in the north, before heading to Bangkok and end the three-week trip on the islands.
How to get around Thailand
The transport system is very well connected, making travel between destinations easy and effortless. During our trip, we used all possible kinds of transport – from buses, trains, and boats to flights.
In general, it’s better to choose trains over buses if possible. It’s more comfortable and faster. Most islands can only be reached by boats, but some also have airports.
99% of the time, we used 12Go to book any kind of ticket and we only had a positive experience.
For transport within particular destinations, our favorite option was Grab (or Uber). Especially in Bangkok, Grab motorbike is a fast and affordable way to explore (if you’re brave enough :D).
Where traffic was calm, we would always rent a motorbike (we even rented bikes in Chiang Mai to do Mae Hong Son Loop).
Never travel without getting proper travel insurance first! Our recommendation is SafetyWing, as it’s one of the most affordable options with great coverage.
3-week Thailand itinerary
Bangkok (3 nights)
Bangkok is a bustling city that has so much to offer, and three nights is not gonna cut it. But it’s certainly gonna give you enough time to visit all the highlights. Additionally, it’s the most convenient place to start your 3 weeks in Thailand.
Some of the absolute MUST-SEE places include the Grand Palace (a former royal residence), Wat Pho (housing the largest statue of Reclining Buddha), and Wat Arun (a beautiful temple on the banks of Chao Phraya River).
You can join this Bangkok Highlights walking tour to see the best temples.
While those are the most grandiose temples of the capital, we absolutely love the relaxed atmosphere at the Golden Mount temple.
Not only backpackers will enjoy spending some time on Khao San Road. At night it comes to life with multiple bars and their happy hours, and during the day it’s perfect for shopping.
When we mention shopping, Chatuchak immediately pops into our memories. As the largest outdoor weekend market, it’s the best place to get some souvenirs. A more unusual is a visit to the Mae Klong railway market or floating markets.
Bangkok also offers multiple sky bars above the city, huge shopping malls, and exclusive nightclubs. To see it’s most modern area, head to Sukhumvit.
Where to stay
- Khao San: U-need Huesthouse95, DE Phanakron Boutique Hotel 5*
- Sukhumvit: Hide and Seek Boutique Hometel, 137 Pillars Suites 5*
- Siam: Nine Design Place, Siam Kempinski Hotel 5*
North Thailand (6 nights)
Chiang Mai (2 nights)
As home to hundreds of ancient temples, Chiang Mai offers an incredible mix of Thai culture, tasty food, and beautiful nature. It’s a lovely change from the busy feel of Bangkok.
Its old town is a great place to see the historical architecture, and food lovers will enjoy a few night markets with tasty street food.
We recommend renting a bicycle and doing a temple tour. You can visit Wat Phra Singh, Wat Lok Molee, Wat Phan Tao, Wat Chiang Man, or Wat Chedi Luang Stupa.
If you don’t mind going a bit further, rent a motorbike to visit Wat Pha Lat and Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Doi Inthanon National Park is also an incredible destination for nature lovers.
Hidden gem: Not only coffee lovers will enjoy visiting Chom Cafe, a beautiful and cozy place with a dreamy atmosphere.
Getting there
While buses are available too, the best way to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is by train.
Since the journey takes between 10-14 hours, it might be a better option to travel by sleeper train. The prices start at 7€ but expect to pay around 20€ for the sleeper class.
A faster but more expensive option is to catch a direct flight. With multiple flights scheduled daily, you won’t have trouble finding one that suits your itinerary.
Where to stay
- Low budget: De Sripoom
- Mid budget: Pingviman Hotel
- Luxury: Chala Number 6
TIP: Ever heard of a long-neck tribe living in Northern Thailand? Their village is located near Mae Hong Son town, but it can also be visited as a day trip from Chiang Mai.
Chiang Rai (2 nights)
To be honest, Chiang Rai is a bit more boring than Chiang Mai.
If you prefer to spend your time elsewhere, you won’t miss much by only visiting its highlight, the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) on a day trip. This one should certainly be a part of your 3 week Thailand itinerary.
But if you wish to explore the area, you should definitely not skip a visit to the Blue Temple and Wat Huay Pla Kang, which is perfect for watching the sunset. You’ll also find free hot springs in town.
Hidden Gem: Visiting Wat Huay Pla Kang? Make sure to stop in Lalitta Cafe on the way! Hand down it’s the most unbelievable cafe we have ever visited!
Getting there
You can travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bus. The journey only takes 3.5 – 4 hours, and prices start at 7€. Use 12Go to check the bus schedule.
No trains connect the two cities, but you can also travel by a private van. However, this is not a budget-friendly option at all.
While both cities have airports, there are no direct flights between them. You would have to change in Bangkok.
Where to stay
- Low budget: Baan Nuk Anong
- Mid budget: Baan Mai Kradan
- Luxury: Villa Mungkala
Pai (2 nights)
While we’ve heard that some people either love or hate Pai, we can’t really agree on that. Pai felt incredibly peaceful to us, despite becoming a rather touristy destination. I believe everyone will find something to enjoy about Pai.
The town is surrounded by lush green nature, and you can visit the stunning cave system – Tham Lod Cave. Apart from that, there are a few hot springs around and at night, you can savor delicious street food on the night market.
For sunset, head to Pai Canyon.
Getting there
Unfortunately, it’s rather complicated to get to Pai from Chiang Rai. You might first need to return to Chiang Mai and take a local bus to Pai from there.
We haven’t personally made this trip, so I am not able to provide more details. Instead, we did the Mae Hong Son loop on our own motorbikes from Chiang Mai to Pai. We returned to Chiang Mai to return the bikes and took a bus to Chiang Rai.
Where to stay
- Low budget: The Countryside
- Mid budget: The Quarter
- Luxury: Pai Village Boutique
Islands in Gulf of Thailand (8 nights)
Koh Samui (2 nights)
Of all the three islands in Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui was definitely our least favorite. It’s a popular destination for a casual 2-week holiday, meaning you’ll meet a lot of tourists, families with kids, and there’s a lot of resorts.
Despite being known for amazing beaches, we didn’t have a great experience due to coming during monsoon season. But I believe if you time your visit right, you’ll get to enjoy the crystal clear waters and palm-lined soft sand beaches.
Koh Samui is perfect for backpackers looking for vibrant nightlife – you’ll love the Chaweng area, where fire shows are on the program daily. Couples and families will enjoy more peaceful Lamai.
We recommend visiting the Secret Buddha Garden, Jungle 360 Route, Grandma and Grandpa Rocks, and the Big Buddha. Definitely do not skip the Ang Thong Marine Park tour.
Getting there
Getting to Koh Samui is rather easy from any part of Thailand. While Koh Samui has its own airport, you might be able to find more flights to Surat Thani. From there, you can take a ferry to reach the island.
Where to stay
- Chaweng: King’s Garden Resort 3*, Buri Rasa Village Samui 4*
- Lamai: Phannarai House, Banyan Tree Samui 5*
Koh Phangan (3 nights)
We loved Koh Phangan for its laid-back hippie vibes and amazing snorkeling opportunities! Even if you’re not a party lover going after the Full Moon Party, do not skip this place. It is a must on any 3 week Thailand itinerary.
For the vibrant nightlife, Haad Rin is a good choice. But if you’d rather spend time in the relaxed part of the island, head to the north.
Our favorite snorkeling spots are definitely Mae Haad Beach and Haad Salad Beach. Both offer plenty of marine life and colorful corals. For peaceful evenings and sunset watching, we enjoyed Zen Beach the most.
A place you should certainly not skip in your 3-week Thailand itinerary is a little piece of paradise called Bottle Beach and a short hike with mindblowing views to Bottle Beach Viewpoint.
Getting there
Koh Phangan has no airport, hence the only way to get there is by boat. You can catch ferries from Surat Thani, Chumphon, Koh Tao, or Koh Samui. With multiple options each day, you won’t have trouble finding a connection.
However, do book in advance in the high season.
Where to stay
- Low budget: Beach Cottages
- Mid budget: Bao Village
- Luxury: Explorar 5*
Koh Tao (3 nights)
Of all the places we have visited in Thailand, Koh Tao was our number 1! We wish we had more time on the island to explore every single part of it.
Koh Tao is known as a paradise for snorkeling and diving, with some of the cheapest PADI courses in the world! Snorkeling at Tanote Bay felt like we just entered a completely different world!
I think no matter which beach you head to, you’ll meet some interesting underwater creatures. We saw sea turtles, black-tip reef sharks, and parrot fish for example.
The easiest way to see the most beautiful spots around the island is to join a boat day trip. The most reliable company is Oxygen Tours.
Getting there
Koh Tao also doesn’t have an airport and it can only be reached by a boat. You can travel to Koh Tao by ferry from Chumphon, Surat Thani, Koh Phangan, or Koh Samui. Bus + ferry and Train + ferry combined tickets are also available from Bangkok.
We also wrote a detailed travel guide with all the options for getting to Koh Tao.
Where to stay
- Low budget: Pepa Guesthouse
- Mid budget: Ananda Villa
- Luxury: Cape Shark Villas
Khao Sok (3 nights)
Khao Sok might be another highlight of this whole 3 week Thailand itinerary. The beautiful national park is home to towering limestone cliffs, hidden caves, beautiful lakes, and deep valleys.
The best way to explore everything the park has to offer is to join one of many available 2-night or 3-night tours. If your budget allows, staying in one of the floating resorts will stay in your memory forever.
If you’re short on time, you can also join a day tour which will take you to Cheow Lan Lake, Emerald Pool, Diamond Cave, and more.
Getting there
If you follow our itinerary, you’ll be traveling to Khao Sok from Koh Tao. The best way is to take the night ferry to Surat Thani and transfer to a bus which goes to Phuket and stops in Khao Sok on the way.
Otherwise, take a look at 12Go to see what options for reaching Khao Sok you have from different destinations. The nearest airports are Phuket and Surat Thani. Multiple vans and buses are scheduled to Khao Sok each day.
Where to stay
- Low budget: Palmview Resort
- Mid budget: Malulee Resort
- Luxury: 500 Rai Floating Resort
If you have more than 3 weeks in Thailand
Phi Phi Islands
Most people probably know about this little paradise thanks to Leonardo Di Caprio and “The Beach”. Phi Phi Islands are an incredible stop for 2 or 3 nights for any kind of traveler.
While the main island is rather crowded, with a vibrant party scene, exploring the area on a boat tour compensates for that. Expect to visit Monkey Beach, beautiful snorkeling spots, Maya Bay, and Bamboo Island, and if you’re lucky, you’ll meet sharks.
Getting there
Since we’re talking about small islands, the only way to come here is by boat. Direct ferries are scheduled daily for example from Krabi, Ao Nang, Phuket, or Ko Lanta.
Where to stay
- Low budget: Magic Hostel
- Mid budget: Blue View
- Luxury: Saii Phi Phi
Railay Beach
Railay Beach is a remote place surrounded by deep jungle, only accessible by boat. Yet its proximity to both Krabi town and Ao Nang brings hundreds of tourists here daily.
Railay is an amazing destination to slow down and relax. As the day comes to an end and all the day trips have gone, that’s when you’ll experience the peaceful vibe of this place.
Climbing is a very popular activity, but if that’s not your thing, we recommend hiking to the Princess Lagoon. But it’s not an easy hike!
And of course, the biggest highlight is the Railay Beach and Princess Cave.
Getting there
Direct boats to Railay Beach depart daily from Ao Nang, Krabi, or Phi Phi Islands. You can either travel by a ferry or use a longtail boat for a day trip. We wrote a complete guide about getting from Krabi to Railay.
Where to stay
- Low budget: Garden View
- Mid budget: Phutawan Resort
- Luxury: Rayvadee
Phuket
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, and every part of it is slightly different.
The liveliest area is definitely Patong, with a handful of nightclubs, and many parties organized each day. If you prefer something more relaxed, head to Kata or Karon Beach.
Some of the must-visit attractions in Phuket include Phuket Old Town, James Bond Island, and the Big Buddha statue. My absolute favorite beach was Freedom Beach.
Getting there
Since Phuket has its own International Airport, it’s easy to get here from any major destination either in Thailand or in Asia (with transfer). Additionally, you can reach Phuket by boat from a few nearby destinations, by bus, or by train.
Where to stay
- Patong: The Brown Boutique Patong 3*, Nicky’s Handlebar 3*, Eden Resort & Villas 4*
- Kata Beach: Kata Palace 3*, Color Kata 2*, Palmery Resort 4*
- Karon Beach: Fishtail Hostel, Kata Tranquil Villa 2*, Pacific Club Resort 4*
Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is often called the “Maldives of Thailand”. Known for its turquoise waters, and white-sand beaches, it attracts many tourists seeking a relaxed atmosphere each year. It’s not as busy as other islands mentioned in this 3 week Thailand itinerary.
In addition, since it’s surrounded by coral reefs it’s the perfect destination for snorkeling and diving. Some of the best beaches to visit are Pattaya Beach, Sunrise Beach, and Sunset Beach.
Getting there
Despite being rather far from the most visited places in Thailand, Koh Lipe can be reached by a direct ferry from Phuket, Krabi, or Ko Lanta. If you’re traveling from Malaysia, there are also direct ferries from Langkawi.
Where to stay
- Low budget: Nest Hostel Lipe
- Mid budget: Plaloma Resort Lipe
- Luxury: AKIRA Lipe Resort 4*
Useful tips for 3-week Thailand itinerary
Before traveling abroad, make sure to get a travel card, such as Revolut (our choice) or Wise. They offer small fees for foreign currency transactions, making it the perfect choice for travelers.
Withdraw large sums less frequently to avoid spending too much on ATM fees. Did you know that you have to pay an ATM withdrawal fee of 220 TBH? This can add up quickly.
A very useful habit is always having a scarf handy. No woman should enter a temple without having her shoulders and knees covered. So if you plan to visit different temples, get yourself a cheap scarf to avoid any issues.
TIP: Both women and men need to have their knees covered when visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok – prepare some long pants.
If you ever find yourself in need of a snack or iced coffee, head to 7-Eleven! They are literally everywhere. We kept buying our iced lattes and matchas there every single day. They cost less than a dollar and taste amazingly!
Make use of Grab or Uber to save money. Riding those tuk-tuks might be a fun experience, but it’s become incredibly overprices. If you’re looking for a cheap way to travel, use ride-sharing apps.
Final thoughts on 3-week Thailand itinerary
While this 3 week Thailand itinerary might not be perfect for everyone, it’s a good place to start. We hope it’s gonna help you with planning your trip and deciding on how much time you want to spend in each destination.
We wish we could squeeze in a few more places that are worth a visit, but I guess we’re gonna leave that for your next visit to this beautiful country!
Don’t forget to let us know how was your holiday and feel free to share your personal tips and insights.
