Holiday in Thailand: How long to go for to make the most of your trip?

First-time travellers to Thailand often ask themselves the question – how long should I go to Thailand for? The answer is simple – you should spend there around 2 weeks minimum. However, the length of your holiday in Thailand will depend on what you want to see and what type of traveller you are. Wether you are a backpacker, or a lover of luxury holidays, in this post you’ll find advice on your Thailand travel itinerary and your trip duration.

I went on a proper holiday to Thailand only once. What I mean by ‘proper’? It was a two-week break from work. Just time off, which people normally take. After that I moved there, lived there for 3 years. Nowadays I tend to go for a month or longer. So, I’m not a typical tourist, but I know the country enough to know what the ultimate time is to spend in the Land of Smiles. 

Below I’m going to show you how to plan your travel to Thailand. I will show you different regions and make it easier for you to decide how long you should go for.

Your plan for your first trip to Thailand

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The ultimate Thailand trip duration – Your quick answer

Before we dive deep into this topic, I’d like to say again that the best length of your holiday in Thailand is two weeks. This is the absolute minimum that you should spend there.

In two weeks you’ll be able to see the most important sights and relax a bit before heading back home.

Spending 2 weeks in Thailand requires a bit more planning as you might have to choose destinations that are closer to each other and have good access to airports and bus/train stations.

If you have more time – then perfect, you can be more flexible and see more.

During two weeks you can see the following:

• Bangkok – How many days to spend in Bangkok? I think 2-3 days tops. During your first trip the city will seem interesting, but it’s not worth wasting precious time sitting in a concrete jungle, right?
• Chiang Mai – spend 4 whole days in Chiang Mai. Focus on exploring the markets, temples, drinking good coffee, eating something regional, and go outside the city for a tour.
• Islands – about a week – choose the region according to the weather. Check which seasons are best in which region. For example, it could be Koh Chang, Koh Mak, Koh Khut or Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao, or the area around Phuket.

Check the plan for 2 weeks – Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Krabi.

If you have more time, then you can see even more:

• Bangkok – 2-3 days if you are not interested in the city.
• Chiang Mai – one week or more. From Chiang Mai you can go to Chiang Rai, Pai and Mae Hong Song. You can also visit lesser-known cities like Nan or Phayao.
• South – here you also have many options. Check out the Nakhon Si Thammarat region if you’re in the mood for something less touristy, or do some so-called island hopping, or moving from island to island.

Below you will see more detailed plans for your stay in Thailand.

How long to stay in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the south of Thailand?

Bangkok

Bangkok is a true metropolis. It’s chaotic, wild, loud and crowded. It can be peaceful, too. To some people it’s charming. To me it’s a city, where I get lost and overwhelmed, but I also understand the appeal of it.

Bangkok has many amazing sights, including the Grand Palace, Wat Pho i Wat Arun. If you go outside the city a bit, you will stumble upon some truly outstanding places, like Koh Kred – a little island, where life happens in its own rhythm.

From Bangkok you can also explore the beautiful historical Ayutthaya, which is one day trip. Alternative version, especially for people with kids, is the Ancient City in Samut Prakan.

I would recommend spending in Bangkok around 2-3 full days, unless you are planning some extra activities, then 4 days would be enough.

The Northern Thailand

From Bangkok it’s easy to get to Chiang Mai, which is the capital of the northern region. It’s hard to advise what to do exactly because there are so many things to explore!

First of all, focus on coffee and coffee shops, eat delicious food, visit markets and go outside the city to places like Sticky Waterfall.

You should also go to Pai, if you have time. Pai is around 2 hours drive from Chiang Mai and it’s a perfect place to relax in the Thai mountains. If you don’t have time, then make a scooter trip and do glamping in Mon Jeam, nearby the city.

Stay in the north around 5 days.

The South

The South features amazing islands, beaches and relaxing lifestyle. It’s the perfect place to rest and charge your batteries. Your Thailand travel itinerary should include at least one of the islands.

There are many to choose from: Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Chang, or you can stay on the land and relax near Railay Beach.

Depending on what you want to do and how much time you have, you should spend from 5 to 7 days in the South.

You have more time? See these hidden gems of Thailand

Mae Kampong

A small mountain resort with beautiful architecture and delicious coffee. Do you like peace and quiet, and cooler temperatures? Mae Kampong will be perfect for you. It’s good to have a scooter here to visit the surrounding villages and attractions as well.

I recommend spending 2 nights here.

Sukothai

Sukothai is the old capital of Siam. Here you can admire a park with temple ruins, and visit the surrounding mountains. Sukothai’s famous noodles are also worth trying.

Spend 2 – 3 days on Sukothai.

Khanom

Khanom is in the south of the country and is not a typical resort. There are some very nice beaches here, but you can see with the naked eye that tourists are unlikely to look here. A big attraction here are the pink delphiniums that appear off the coast in winter.

Types of travellers and suggested duration of your trip to Thailand

Backpackers

Are you travelling with a backpack? You like to be flexible and are looking for some adventure? I guess you also don’t want to spend too much money. Am I right?

Backpackers in Thailand often look for overland transportation, which is cheaper, but takes more time. They also like to take things slow, experience the surroundings, hang out with other people in the hotels and relax.

This is why I think it’s best to allow yourself a bit more time to travel around Thailand. 2 weeks will be the minimum, but 3 will be the best as you can take as many buses and trains as possible and slow down a bit.

Luxury Travellers

If you like to splash the cash a bit during your trip to Thailand, then you can be sure that you will find everything what you need right here.

The country is filled with luxury resorts, lovely 5-star hotels and top-notch Michelin-stars restaurants.

From my experience, luxury travellers like to stay in less places, fly to their destinations and relax more than run from one attraction to the next one.

I think 1-2 weeks in a nice resort and seeing some attractions will be enough.

Adventure seekers

If you’re a person who likes different activities, such as jungle treks, kayaking or rock climbing, you will find it all in Thailand.

I think that the north has the best trekkings, especially around Doi Inthanon. Check some of the trekking options here. In the south you can snorkel, dive or spend time rock climbing on one of the beaches.

If you are after some adventure, then 1-2 weeks will be a good time to travel to Thailand.

Practical advice for your travel to Thailand

When to visit Thailand? 

Thailand is good to visit at any time of they year, but the best period is November-March, when the temperatures are not as high. Just remember that it’s the high season in Thailand and everything is a bit more expensive. If you want to save, go during the other months. 

Read here to find out more when to visit the country. 

How much does it cost?

Thailand can be cheap or very expensive – it all depends how you like spending your time. I normally spend around 1,000-2,000 Euros travelling there for a month. I’m not sure if it’s a lot or not, but we all set our own budgets.

Check out my blog post about the costs of travelling to Thailand and find out by yourself if you’re going to be able to afford it.

Visa requirements

When travelling to Thailand, you always need to consider visas. Your Thailand trip duration will depend on how long your visa will last.

Without a visa, you can stay in Thailand for 30 days (this refers to certain countries only, please check with your embassy). After that, you can leave the country and go back and get another 30 days. If you want to stay longer, you can get an extension at any immigration office within Thailand.

There are also some tourist visas for 60 days and 180 days, which you might want to consider. You can apply for them online, which saves a lot of time.

The ultimate Thailand travel itinerary should last minimum 2 weeks if you want to travel around. During this time you will see the best sights and will have a chance to relax. However, the Thailand trip duration should be adjusted to your taste and to what you like doing.

I based these suggestions on my own preferences. For example, I don’t like Bangkok and I avoid spending time there. I like the islands and relaxing on the beach, but it might not be your cup of tea. Don’t forget to check out other blog posts that will help you to plan your trip accordingly.