Thailand in 2 Weeks: Itinerary With Transport Times and Costs

Route A, Bangkok and the North, hinges on the night train to Chiang Mai: 20:05 to 08:45 next day, sleeper from THB 768. Route B, Bangkok and the islands, hinges on a Samui flight, 06:00 to 07:10 at THB 2,968 on a sampled date, or a Krabi flight from THB 1,110.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Route A, Bangkok and the North, has one long leg: the night train to Chiang Mai, 20:05 to 08:45 the next day, with a sleeper berth from THB 768. Route B, Bangkok and the islands, has a choice. Fly to Samui, 06:00 to 07:10 at THB 2,968 on a sampled date. Or take a Lomprayah bus and catamaran from THB 1,200, around 14 hours.

Both routes fit two weeks. Each day below names the leg, the travel time and the fare. Train times are for 18 November 2026 departures. Flight fares are single sampled dates, so check the live price before you book.

Which route fits your month

Why Route A suits November and December

The 1991 to 2020 normals give Chiang Mai 1.8 rainy days in December and 1.3 in January. Its haze days run 18.7 in January, 22.1 in February and 26.8 in March. November sits between the two extremes, with 4.2 rainy days and 7.8 haze days.

Bangkok has 5.0 rainy days in November and 1.5 in December. The 2026 “Chiang Mai does not burn” request runs from 1 January to 31 May 2026.

Why Route B splits by coast

Samui sits on the Gulf of Thailand. In the same 1991 to 2020 normals it has 5.6 rainy days in February and 5.9 in March, against 19.3 in October and 18.7 in November. The northeast monsoon runs from about mid-October to mid-February and makes the south rainy, most of all on the east side.

Krabi is on the west coast with Phuket. Phuket has 3.4 rainy days in February and 22.7 in October. Ao Nang counts roughly 1 November to 30 April as high season, and in low season many places shut or restrict their hours.

Closures that break a plan

• Maya Bay, Loh Samah bay and Lo Ko bay are closed 1 August to 30 September in the 2026 closure announcement.
• Mu Ko Ang Thong national park in the Gulf has closures from 1 November to 15 December.
• The Grand Palace suspends visits on a day with a royal ceremony or official function.
• The Chatuchak general goods market is closed Monday to Wednesday.
• The White Temple may stop entry before closing time, so arrive before 17:00.
• The start and end of the monsoons can vary from the normal dates in any year.

Route A: Bangkok and the North

Bangkok and Ayutthaya, first four days

From Suvarnabhumi the Airport Rail Link station is on Level B1. The line runs 05:30 to 24:00, and the fare runs from THB 15 to THB 45 depending on distance.

Day one is the Old City. The three tickets add up to THB 1,000 for one foreign adult, a total of the three Old City tickets.

Grand Palace ticket sales stop at 15:30. To reach Wat Arun from Wat Pho, take the ferry from Tha Tien pier. The Bangkok in 3 days plan covers the order and the dress rules.

Day two is Chatuchak or Jim Thompson House. Chatuchak is free to enter, and its Saturday and Sunday hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. On a weekday, Jim Thompson House costs THB 250 for an adult and opens 10:00 to 17:00.

Day three is Ayutthaya by train. See the Ayutthaya train guide for every departure.

The 3rd class fan seat on train 111 is THB 20 and the 2nd class fan seat THB 61. The station is on the east bank, so most visitors cross the river by ferry, at about THB 5. The park ticket is THB 80 for a foreign visitor. The park is open 08:00 to 18:00.

Day four is a spare Bangkok day, then the night train. The return trains 9004 and 9006 run every day.

The night train to Chiang Mai

Three trains reach Chiang Mai overnight or at dawn. The table shows the 2nd class air-conditioned sleeper berth.

For a day ride, train 7 leaves at 07:30 and arrives at 17:50. Its only coach is a 2nd class air-conditioned seating coach at THB 558. The Bangkok to Chiang Mai train guide has the full fare list.

Chiang Mai, three days

You arrive at 08:45 on train 13. Use these days for the hills, not for a second temple circuit. The Chiang Mai overview covers the city.

• Wat Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat by the main road have no entrance fee.
• Fees apply at the Pha Lat Nature Trail, Huai Kaew Waterfall, Wang Bua Ban-Pha Ngoap Waterfall, Doi Pui and Suan Son Resort.
• Foreign visitors pay 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children at those sites.
• Doi Inthanon is in Group 3, where a foreign adult pays THB 300.

Chiang Rai and back

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are about 180 to 185 km apart by road. Greenbus generally takes 3 to 4 hours. It leaves Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 (Arcade) and arrives at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1.

FairFair is Greenbus’s official online channel, with advance booking up to 30 days. The applicable fare appears once you select a departure.

The White Temple costs THB 200 for foreign visitors from 1 January 2026. It opens 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 17:30 on Saturday and Sunday. The ticket point may accept cash only. The temple is about 12 km from the city centre, and a car or taxi takes about 20 to 25 minutes.

Baan Dam staff are on duty 9.00 to 12.00 and 13.00 to 17.00 every day. The White Temple guide has the dress rules.

Back to Bangkok

Spend the next two days in the hills, then take the train south.

Train 8 arrives the same day. Train 14 arrives the next morning and its 2nd class sleeper costs THB 768 upper or THB 838 lower. The last day is your flight out of Bangkok.

Route B: Bangkok and the islands

Bangkok, first three days

Use the Old City table above for day one. Day two can be Chatuchak, free to enter, or Jim Thompson House at THB 250 for an adult. The Bangkok in 3 days plan fills day three.

The Gulf variant

Samui is the hub, with Koh Phangan and Koh Tao as ferry hops. The Bangkok to Koh Samui guide covers every way in.

The cheapest Bangkok Airways fare in the list is THB 2,752 on Tuesday 17 November.

Lomprayah publishes a 2026 timetable for its high-speed ferries. Its staff are reachable every day from 08:00 to 20:00. Check the Full Moon Party dates before you fix the Phangan days, and see the Koh Tao diving guide for the Tao days.

Gulf by land and sea

Lomprayah sells a bus and catamaran joint ticket from THB 1,200. The trip is around 14 hours.

A flight to Surat Thani works too. On Thursday 29 October Thai Lion Air left Don Mueang at 07:25 and landed at 08:40, 1 h 15 min, THB 1,110 one way. From Donsak, the Raja crossing to Samui takes about 1 hour 30 minutes at THB 200. The first sailing leaves at 05:00 and the last at 19:00.

The Andaman variant

Krabi is the base, with Ao Nang for beaches and Phi Phi for the ferry hop. The Bangkok to Krabi guide compares flying, bus and train.

The flights are sampled for Tuesday 27 October. Krabi International Airport is 40 km from Ao Nang. Railay is on a peninsula where access is by boat only.

The ferry leaves Klong Jilad Pier, Krabi’s main passenger ferry terminal, a few kilometres south of Krabi Town. The crossing takes 2 hours. Check in at the pier 30 minutes before departure.

At Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le and Mai Phai a foreign adult pays a special charge of THB 400. Maya Bay is closed 1 August to 30 September in the 2026 announcement. Park tickets are sold as e-tickets through the QueQ app. See the Maya Bay guide and the Krabi to Phi Phi ferry guide.

Both coasts in one trip

From Surat Thani, the Phantip bus costs THB 250 to Krabi town and THB 500 to the Ao Nang area. It takes about 4 to 4.5 hours. Lomprayah also runs Surat Thani to Krabi, six trips a day from 08:00, from THB 1,000. That links a Gulf stay to an Andaman stay in that direction.

For a budget leg from Bangkok, Lignite’s Economy bus leaves the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) at 18:40 and reaches Krabi at 08:40, THB 779. A 2nd class sleeper berth on train 171 costs THB 654 upper or THB 724 lower.

Swap a day: Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin or Pattaya

Each swap replaces the Ayutthaya day or a Bangkok day.

Kanchanaburi and the rail closure

Excursion train 909 leaves Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) at 06:30 and reaches Nam Tok at 11:30. Trains 909 and 910 run on Saturday and Sunday.

SRT closed the line between Tha Kilen and Nam Tok from 28 September 2026 after floodwater rose at the Tham Krasae bridge. It cancelled trains 909 and 910 on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026. While the section was closed, train 257 ran only between Thonburi and Tha Kilen.

Check train status on ttsview.railway.co.th or call 1690, 24 hours. The Kanchanaburi guide has the bus and Erawan details.

Hua Hin and Pattaya by train

Coaches leave Suvarnabhumi for Hua Hin at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 14:30, 16:00, 17:00 and 18:30. Train 43 leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat at 07:30 and is listed at Hua Hin at 10:36. See the Hua Hin guide.

For Pattaya, train 887 leaves Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) at 06:45 and is listed at Pattaya at 09:14. See the Pattaya guide.

Booking tips

• A trip of 60 percent or more of the train’s distance can be bought up to 90 days ahead. A trip of 25 to 59 percent opens up to 30 days ahead. Under 25 percent opens 1 day ahead.
• SRT’s example is Bangkok to Nakhon Sawan, 246 km on a train that runs 751 km, so it can be bought within 30 days.
• Online booking is possible until 3 hours before departure. The booking asks for the actual traveller’s name, ID card or passport number, and phone number. You must register or log in before every booking.
• You can reserve by phone on 1690, 24 hours a day, at least 5 days before travel. The SRT booking guide covers payment, changes and refunds.
• An online Grand Palace ticket can be bought up to 1 month before the visit, and it cannot be refunded, amended or moved.
• For Krabi to Phi Phi you can buy a ticket at the pier, but the operator recommends booking ahead, especially in high season.
• An economy adult or child gets 20 kg of checked baggage on Bangkok Airways. Thai AirAsia sells checked baggage at THB 624 for 15 kg.

For month-by-month rain and closure detail, see the weather by month guide and the best islands by month. More plans sit in the planning section.

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Not confirmed: Flight and bus fares are single sampled dates and change daily; check the live price. Greenbus fares between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai appear after you pick a departure. Return flights from Samui and Krabi to Bangkok have no fare here.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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