2 Weeks in Thailand | Thailand Travel Itinerary & Guide
Two weeks in Thailand is just enough to scratch the surface of this amazing country. There is so much to see and do here. Plus, with the prices in Thailand, it is perfect for low-budget travel. Making Thailand one of the best countries for backpacking and solo travel!
Or as I like to travel, flashpacking. Flashpacking Thailand basically just means you stick to a budget but you have a little bit more to spend on accommodations, transport, and meals. Meaning, I may stay in a $5/night hostel, but I’ll pay $30 more to fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai instead of taking the train so I can save time.
Take a look at this Thailand Two Weeks Itinerary to help plan your trip to Thailand!
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3 Days in Bangkok
Bangkok is the perfect spot to start your Two weeks in Thailand because it is home to the main International airport. It’s also a great spot to travel from because it’s centrally located in the country, so you can easily travel up to North Thailand or South Thailand from here.
I’m not typically a big city type of gal when I explore new places, I just feel like you lose some of the country’s culture because big cities tend to be melting pots. I do not feel that way about Bangkok whatsoever — I absolutely LOVED it here.
Bangkok has so much to do — temples, street food, festivals, fancy bars, tons of nightlife options, and shopping. You get all the great things about Thailand mashed together with a big city.
Check out my list of Things to Do in Bangkok to plan your Bangkok Itinerary!
Where to stay in Bangkok:
Budget Option: There are tons of great and cheap hostels in Bangkok! Generally, anything 9+ rating will probably give you a good stay for cheap.
My one recommendation would be if you want a quiet room and a nice night of sleep, stay then I would suggest not staying on Khao San Road. It’s a big backpackers’ party area so it’s loud at night. If you’re a heavy sleeper, then no worries!
Mid-Budget Range: I stayed at Akara Boutique Hotel. It costs about $40-45 a night and is very close to the line to the airport. If you’re getting in late at night or leaving early in the morning, this would be a perfect location for easy and cheap access to the airport.
3 Days in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a must-see city in Thailand. And that is why you will find it on every Thailand travel blog itinerary.
Chiang Mai is full of so much Thai culture. This is a great spot to book a cooking class, check out an ethical elephant sanctuary, and see the famous sticky waterfalls!
It’s a real break from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and very walkable. Due to all the things to do in Chiang Mai, I definitely recommend staying here for at least 3 days!
Where to stay:
Budget Option: Chiang Mai has tons of 9+ rated hostels. So it’s really hard to be wrong here. I stayed at Hidden Garden Hostel.
Hidden Garden Hostel had a spa-like feeling to it. It was extremely social without being a party hostel. Great to meet tons of people to hang out with but also sleep through the night. The owners are super nice too.
Middle-budget luxury AKA not trying to throw down all the money but wanting to feel some luxury: I recommend Aksara Heritage. I’ve heard great reviews and it has an amazing location, right in Old Town. So it’s very walkable to everything!
How to get to Chiang Mai:
There are a couple options for getting from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Cheapest option: Take the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Quickest option: Fly (quickest option)
Middle budget and not quite as long: Take a bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
The option you choose definitely depends on your budget! I am more of a flashpacker, so I flew to Chiang Mai. The time was more valuable to me than the money.
However, overnight trains are a super cool experience. So definitely consider it if you are on a budget — plus then you don’t have to pay for accommodations for the night. It’s a 2 and 1!
2 Days in Pai
I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Pai. The only negative about my time in Pai was that I didn’t plan enough time. This is such a cool place — amazing and relaxing vibes. Just a hippie mountain town in the middle of Thailand.
While Pai has tons of tourists, it’s for good reason. If you are looking for a laid-back hippie version of Thai food and culture, this is your place!
Check out my guide to Pai to help plan your Pai Itinerary!
Where to stay:
Budget Option: There are a few hostels in Pai you can choose from. I heard great things about Happy House Backpackers.
Middle-of-the-line budget: I cannot recommend Pai Village Resort and Spa. This place was one of my favorite hotels I’ve stayed at and it only cost about $45 for a private bungalow. Check out my review of the resort to see if you’d like to stay there.
How to get to Pai:
Getting to Pai from Chiang Mai is easy, which is the way it’s perfect to go to Pai from Chiang Mai. There are a couple options:
Cheapest: Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Pai. It takes about 3 hours.
You can typically book this from whatever accommodation you are at, especially if you are at a hostel. I booked mine the day before.
Tip: Take some motion sickness medicine before you go. This is a 3-hour journey on very windy mountain roads.
Adventurous Option: Rent a motorbike and drive yourself!
If you have experience riding a motorbike, this is a great option. You can send your luggage ahead of time so that you don’t have to bring that with you. Then take the mountain journey on a motorbike to get to Pai.
You don’t need to return the bike so this works for one-way travel from Chiang Mai to Pai.
2 Days in Koh Phi Phi
So this is really 2 nights and 3 days, but traveling from Pai to Koh Phi Phi takes most of the day. But that’s fine because that’s still plenty of time in Koh Phi Phi.
I was not really a fan of Koh Phi Phi. It’s VERY touristy. The first thing you see is a Burger King and a McDonalds touristy.
However, it’s a great spot to stay for a night to do the 7-island tour (including Maya Bay) and I definitely recommend that. It’s the entire day on a boat exploring the beautiful islands, snorkeling, and seeing the world-famous Maya Bay.
So I basically came for a couple nights to do the 7-island tour and then leave early the night after. If you are not a fan of extremely touristy places, then I recommend you do the same.
Where to stay:
So Koh Phi is a pretty small island so there aren’t a ton of options. There are also no cars on the island because of its size so no matter where you stay, you’ll probably be in a good location.
I will say, I do not recommend ChaoKoh Phi Phi. I got suckered into staying here for the low price and great location to the boat dock. The hotel was pretty dirty and not worth the price, even if it was cheap.
I will say to check out Agoda when you are looking for hotel options in Thailand. I had great experiences and you often get discounted prices!
How to get to Koh Phi Phi from Pai:
I took the bus back to Chiang Mai, flew to Phucket, and then took the ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi.
Sure this seems like a day wasted traveling, but I knew I was not going to enjoy Phucket based on what a friend told me so I wanted to just head out to the islands. However, if you wanted to break your time up more, you could certainly stay in Phuket for a day!
2 Days in Koh Lanta
I adored Koh Lanta. Especially after being in Koh Phi Phi. It’s much quieter and laid back. There are still tons of locals that live on the island so you still get to experience the culture.
I will say you will probably find more picturesque beaches on other islands in Thailand but you probably won’t get the charm! Koh Lanta just feels different.
Koh Lanta has a mix of Sea Gypsies and Thai Muslims. So you get great curry, the call to prayer played over the speakers on the island and little hippie beach bars. It was such a nice break at Koh Phi Phi that it actually brought me tears of joy.
This is a good island to check out if you to have a relaxed couple of days. If not, then I’d recommend checking out another island (there are tons).
Where to stay:
Budget Option: I highly recommend Hubs of Joy Hostel. The people are so friendly and the complimentary breakfast is amazing.
Mid-Range Option: Long Beach Chalet. Right on the beach and less than $100
How to get to Koh Lanta from Koh Phi Phi:
Take a quick ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta. This is easily booked when you are on Koh Phi Phi — you’ll send stands everywhere with schedules for ferries to other islands.
2 Days in Railay Beach
Railay Beach is even smaller than Koh Phi Phi. It’s actually a peninsula but because of the landscape, you have to get to it by boat. It’s separated by two sides: East and West beach with a little town between the two sides. The views on the beaches here are unreal.
Railay Beach offers the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. You can rock climb, hike, kayak, rent a SUP, and lay on stunning beaches. It’s so small that you can walk all over the peninsula to see everything in a couple of days.
I recommend staying here versus just doing a day trip because then you can enjoy the beaches without all the large crowds.
Where to stay:
Budget Option: There aren’t a ton of options for hostels on Railay Beach. Most people stay at Blanco Hideout Hostel.
Mid-Range Option: Bhu Nga Thani Resort — great location, close to beaches and pier! Slightly more expensive than other mid-range options on this 2 week in Thailand itinerary but still less than $100
How to get to Railay:
To get to Railay Beach from Koh Lanta, you take a bus from Koh Lanta to Krabi. From Krabi, you can take a ferry to Railay Beach!
Check out this ultimate guide to Railay Beach to help plan your time there!
Obviously, there are tons of places to see in this country and 2 weeks in Thailand just does not feel like enough. But you can definitely get a good taste of the country in 2 weeks. Some other places I couldn’t make it but can’t wait to see when I get back area:
Koh Tao: Great for scuba diving
Koh Phangan: Beautiful beaches, full-moon party, and half-moon party
Chiang Rai: Tea plantation, the famous White Temple, and Blue Temple
Krabi: Mainland of Railay Beach
Thailand is also best explored without a strong plan. It’s so easy to get around the country with many options for travel and budget accommodations. Even if you don’t want to stay in a hostel, there are many nice hotels that won’t break the bank. Plus, you’ll get to meet so many travelers and find that you’ll end up crossing paths several times.
My recommendation is to not book any strict plans too far in advance, other than the ethical Elephant Sanctuary. This will allow you to advice from travelers you cross paths with and stay longer in places you really like (or leave if you hate a place).
