• 4 min readOh Thailand. With it’s heady markets, rich Buddhist culture, verdant jungles and drop-dead gorgeous coastlines; peppered with powder-white islands, it’s little wonder it’s remained a popular travel destination.
Whether you’ve done the ‘backpacking thing’ and are coming back for more, or you’re a total Thailand newbie, we’ve got just the right mix of Meaningful experiences to help you discover the real Thailand, beyond the typical tourist trails. You can create whatever type of holiday you like from our bite sized Thailand trips. Here, take a look at some of our top picks & see which itinerary best suits you…
First time to Thailand – 2 week itinerary
If you’ve never been to Thailand before and are looking to see and do as much as possible, I’d recommend an itinerary like Thailand in a Nutshell. This authentic adventure covers the capital city of Bangkok, floating rafts on the famous River Kwai, elephant encounters in Chiang Mai, an authentic homestay and plenty of local flavour on tropical Ko Lanta.
Alternatively if you’re looking for a little extra beach time, our A Taste of Thailand covers the main highlights of Bangkok, River Kwai, Khao Sok Jungle as well as two beautiful islands of Ko Phangan and Ko Samui which usually have great weather from January through to September.
Through Tropical Jungle to Elephant Island is a better option if you are travelling between October and December as Ko Chang Island usually has great weather from October to May, whereas Ko Phangan and Ko Samui have their wettest weather in October and November. If you love Thailand as much as we do, you could save Northern Thailand for your next adventure, or even use it as a starting point for Laos…
The dream Thailand honeymoon itinerary
For complete relaxation or a romantic occasion such as your honeymoon, Discover Dreamy Beaches and Castaway Coves is the perfect itinerary. It includes a little bit of adventure in Bangkok and the River Kwai giving you a dose of bustle and culture, but you’ll mainly spend your time island hopping between our favourite tropical islands – all of which are very different in terms of landscape, but all boasting the stunning white sand beaches and crystal clear waters that you’ve been dreaming about! These islands are perfect from November – April, but if you are travelling between May – September you could island hop between Ko Samui, Ko Tao and Ko Phangan for a similar experience. In October, Ko Samet and Ko Chang would be the best option for you.
Watching the pennies – 2 week holiday
All of our Thailand itineraries can be tweaked if you wanted to add on an extra day here or there or have more than two weeks to spare. Our 2 week itinerary Train tracks through Thailand, gives you a rounded experience, even if you’re on a tight budget. I’ve found that when backpacking it is often the case that you run out of time to see all of the highlights, may not be able to find decent accommodation at the last minute or be able to book transport tickets when you arrive so you end up staying in one place or wasting lots of time trying to organise your trip! During this itinerary, we will take the hassle out of booking your trip, and you’ll stay in simple/comfortable accommodation travelling the local way to keep costs down.
Second time to Thailand, or escaping the tourist trail? 3-week Thailand itinerary
Fancy a Journey from Ancient Ruins to Swaying Palms? Our 3 week itinerary takes you even further off the main tourist trail and is perfect for more adventurous travellers or a second trip to Thailand. You’ll start in the heady city of Bangkok, before heading off to the ancient imperial city of Sukhothai. In Chiang Mai, you’ll have a close encounter with the elephants of the Elephant Nature Park before travelling up to the Golden Triangle in Northern Thailand. After hopping over the border to Myanmar, you’ll stay with a friendly Thai family on a homestay and top it all off with a relaxing break in Khanom; pretty town on the mainland of Southern Thailand. Sounds like an ideal way to spend 3 weeks!
If you’re swooning at the thought of a Thai island getaway and want to find out more about which islands to visit and when then take a look at our guide to island hopping in Thailand.
