Thailand in 2 Weeks: Itinerary With Transport Times and Costs

Go north in November or December and to the islands from January to March. The north hangs on the night train to Chiang Mai, 20:05 to 08:45, sleeper from THB 768. The Gulf hangs on a 06:00 flight to Samui at THB 2,968 on a sampled date, and Krabi flights start at THB 1,110.

On this page
  1. Route A: Bangkok and the North
  2. Route B: Bangkok and the islands
  3. Swap a day: Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin or Pattaya
  4. Booking tips
  5. Step by step
  6. Common questions

Go north in November or December and to the islands from January to March: Bangkok first, then one long leg and one base. Both routes fit in two weeks, and each leg below says how you get there and what it costs.

Route Best months The long leg
A: Bangkok and the North November to December Night train, 20:05 to 08:45, from THB 768
B, Gulf: Samui, Phangan, Tao February to March Flight, 06:00 to 07:10, THB 2,968
B, Andaman: Krabi, Phi Phi January to March Flight from THB 1,110

Flight fares are single sampled dates, so check the live price before you book.

Route A: Bangkok and the North

Days 1 to 3: Bangkok and Ayutthaya

From Suvarnabhumi, take the Airport Rail Link from Level B1, which runs from 05:30 to 24:00. Give day one to the Old City, where the three big tickets come to THB 1,000 for one foreign adult.

Sight Foreign adult Verdict
Grand Palace, with Wat Phra Kaew THB 500 Go first, ticket sales stop at 15:30
Wat Pho THB 300 Worth it
Wat Arun THB 200 Cross on the ferry from Tha Tien pier

The Bangkok in 3 days plan sets out the order and the dress rules. For day two, pick by the day of the week. Chatuchak is free to enter and is open Friday to Sunday for general goods, so go there on a weekend. On a weekday, Jim Thompson House costs THB 250 for an adult.

Day three is Ayutthaya by train, and it is an easy yes. Train 111 leaves at 07:50 and arrives at 08:57, for THB 20 or THB 61 depending on the seat. The park charges a foreign visitor THB 80, and the station is on the east bank, so most visitors cross the river by ferry. Take train 112 back at 16:04, and see the Ayutthaya train guide for the rest.

Then the night train north

Take train 13, which leaves at 20:05 and arrives at 08:45 the next day. A 2nd class air-conditioned sleeper berth costs THB 768 upper or THB 838 lower. Train 9 leaves earlier at 18:40 but costs THB 938 upper, so it only makes sense if you want to arrive at 07:15. The daytime option is train 7, which leaves at 07:30 and arrives at 17:50. See the Bangkok to Chiang Mai train guide.

Days 5 to 7: Chiang Mai

Spend these days in the hills rather than on a second temple circuit. Wat Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat have no entrance fee. Doi Inthanon sits in Group 3, where a foreign adult pays THB 300. The Chiang Mai overview covers the city itself.

Days 8 to 9: Chiang Rai and the White Temple

Take Greenbus from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 (Arcade). The ride generally takes 3 to 4 hours, with departures between 07:00 and 18:30. Book on FairFair up to 30 days ahead.

The White Temple is the reason to go, and it is worth a full morning. Foreign visitors pay THB 200, and it opens 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. Bring cash, since the ticket point may accept cash only. See the White Temple guide.

Days 10 to 14: back to Bangkok

Take train 8 from Chiang Mai at 07:30 for the same-day arrival at 17:40, at THB 558. If you would rather sleep through it, train 14 leaves at 17:05 and arrives at 05:55 the next day. Use your last days for the Bangkok sights you skipped and the flight out.

Route B: Bangkok and the islands

Days 1 to 3: Bangkok

Follow the Old City day from Route A, then choose between Chatuchak and Jim Thompson House at THB 250. The Bangkok in 3 days plan fills day three.

The Gulf: Samui, Phangan and Tao

Base yourself on Samui and treat Phangan and Tao as ferry hops. The flight is the pick: Bangkok Airways leaves at 06:00 and lands at 07:10. Overland is the budget fallback, with a Lomprayah bus and catamaran ticket from THB 1,200 that takes around 14 hours. Every way in is in the Bangkok to Koh Samui guide.

Leg Departs and arrives Fare
Samui to Phangan, catamaran 08:00, 08:30 THB 350
Phangan to Tao, catamaran 08:30, 09:30 THB 600
Tao to Phangan, ferry 16:30, 18:10 THB 450
Phangan to Samui, ferry 18:30, 19:30 THB 250

Look up the Full Moon Party dates before you fix the Phangan days, and plan Tao with the Koh Tao diving guide. Flights back from Samui to Bangkok are near-hourly.

The Andaman: Krabi and Phi Phi

Make Krabi your base, with Ao Nang for beaches and Phi Phi as the ferry hop. Thai Lion Air is the cheap flight, leaving at 17:20 and landing at 18:45 for THB 1,110, while Thai VietJet leaves at 07:00 for THB 1,224. Krabi airport is 40 km from Ao Nang. The Bangkok to Krabi guide weighs flying against the bus and train.

The Krabi to Phi Phi ferry leaves at 09:00 and arrives at 11:00 for THB 450. Come back at 10:30 or 15:30. Book ahead in high season, although you can still buy a ticket at the pier. A foreign adult pays THB 400 at Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le and Mai Phai.

Ferry operator timetable with two daily sailings from Krabi, Klong Jilad Pier, to Phi Phi Island, Tonsai Pier, each row listing the crossing time, adult and child fares and daily operation, with a remark box below.
The operator's timetable for the Krabi to Phi Phi ferry used on the Andaman route. Source: Andaman Wave Master: Ferry Timetable, Krabi to Phi Phi (opens in a new tab), captured 17 October 2026

Maya Bay is closed from 1 August to 30 September in the 2026 announcement. Check the Maya Bay guide and the Krabi to Phi Phi ferry guide.

Both coasts in one trip

Going from the Gulf to the Andaman is easiest from Surat Thani. The Phantip bus costs THB 250 to Krabi town or THB 500 to the Ao Nang area, and the ride takes about 4 to 4.5 hours.

Swap a day: Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin or Pattaya

Any of these can swap in for Ayutthaya, but SRT closed the Kanchanaburi rail section between Tha Kilen and Nam Tok from 28 September 2026. The bus from the Southern Terminal takes about 2 h 30 min; see the Kanchanaburi guide.

Hua Hin is about 4 hours by Suvarnabhumi coach for THB 361, and Pattaya is about 2 hours by Ekkamai coach for THB 144. The Hua Hin guide and Pattaya guide have the rest.

Booking tips

Train tickets open earlier the more of the train’s distance you ride. For 60 percent or more, sales open up to 90 days ahead. For 25 to 59 percent, they open up to 30 days ahead. Under 25 percent, they open 1 day ahead.

Each booking asks for the traveller’s name and passport number, and you must register or log in first. Payment and refunds are in the SRT booking guide.

Grand Palace tickets go on sale online up to 1 month before the visit, and an online ticket cannot be refunded, amended or moved.

For rain and closures month by month, see the weather by month guide and the best islands by month. The planning section holds more plans.

↑ Contents

Step by step

  1. Pick the route by monthRoute A suits November and December, Route B on the Gulf suits February and March, and Route B on the Andaman coast suits January to March.
  2. Book the sleeper train firstRegister on the SRT booking site and enter the traveller's name and passport number. A trip of 60 percent or more of the train's distance opens up to 90 days ahead.
  3. Book the Grand Palace online if you want a fixed slotAn online Grand Palace ticket opens up to 1 month before the visit and cannot be refunded or moved.
  4. Book the island ferries ahead in high seasonKrabi to Phi Phi tickets can be bought at the pier, but the operator recommends booking ahead in high season.
  5. Leave room for closuresCheck Maya Bay and the Kanchanaburi rail line before you lock the dates.

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.

Common questions

Is two weeks enough for Thailand?

Two weeks covers Bangkok plus one region. Route A reaches Chiang Mai on the night train, 20:05 to 08:45, while Route B reaches Samui on a 06:00 to 07:10 flight.

How much is the night train to Chiang Mai?

Expect THB 768 for an upper or THB 838 for a lower 2nd class air-conditioned sleeper berth on train 13. Train 9 costs more: THB 938 upper or THB 1,038 lower.

How far ahead can you book Thai trains?

It depends on how much of the train's distance you ride. For 60 percent or more, sales open up to 90 days ahead, and for 25 to 59 percent, up to 30 days ahead. Under 25 percent, they open 1 day ahead.

How do you get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?

Board Greenbus at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 (Arcade), and plan on a ride that generally takes 3 to 4 hours. Departures run between 07:00 and 18:30.

How do you get from Samui to Koh Phangan?

Take the 08:00 catamaran: it arrives at 08:30 and costs THB 350.

When is Maya Bay closed?

Maya Bay, Loh Samah bay and Lo Ko bay close from 1 August to 30 September under the 2026 closure announcement. Everywhere else in the national park stays open.

Can you combine the Gulf and the Andaman coast?

Budget THB 250 to Krabi town or THB 500 to the Ao Nang area on the Phantip bus from Surat Thani. Allow about 4 to 4.5 hours for the ride.

Is Chatuchak market open on weekdays?

Plan your visit for Friday to Sunday, when the general goods market is open; it is closed Monday to Wednesday.

Sources and reader comments

Official legal texts (Gazette, government portals):

Show 36 more sources

Company and press pages (not official sources):

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

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