The “Land of Smiles” is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing, cultural holiday in the sunshine- with some of the best food you’ll ever eat! has everything you need to plan your amazing trip. While it will fly by, 2 weeks is a perfect amount of time to just see the very best of this magical country.
Days 1-4: Bangkok
Wherever you come from in the world, you’ll be flying first into Bangkok so make it the first stop of your trip. The bustling metropolis is one of the most exciting cities in the world, so give yourself 5 minutes to settle in and beat your jet lag and then go explore! Khao San Road is the spot for backpackers to try all kinds of food, hit the nightclubs and do some excellent shopping. You’ll find tons of street markets selling everything from jewelry to Thai food specialties. For cultural sights, don’t miss the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the temple of the Emerald Buddha. Soak in the distinct contrast between the serene Buddhist culture and this exotic, wild city and how the two exist in conjunction here in Bangkok.
Day 5: Day Trip to Ayutthaya
The ancient capital of Thailand is just a short train ride from Bangkok, so you can knock this off in just a day. Rent a bicycle here and explore the island full of ancient ruins and wonders. One of the temples here has a 60-foot tall golden Buddha statue.
Day 6: Fly to Chiang Mai
The flight to Chiang Mai is so easy from Bangkok, at just about 45 minutes. Settle into your guest house in the northern Thai city, then head out to try one of the local northern Thai food specialties of khao soi, a curried coconut soup. Sign up for a cooking class; northern Thai food is some of the best in the country! Chiang Mai is right in the middle of some of the country’s most dense jungles, so it’s the perfect jumping-off point for treks and elephant excursions. From here, you can go bamboo rafting, go on an eco-tour, visit hill tribe villages or even spend sometime volunteering at an orphanage or elephant camp. The choice is yours! There is so much to do in and around this amazing city. The Elephant Nature Park is a great choice if you really care about the animals being treated humanely.
Day 9: Fly to the Islands
Now it’s time to see probably the most famous part of Thailand (for tourists anyway): the islands! At this point, you could go a few ways. You could fly into Phuket for a few days of beach paradise, and visit some great cultural attractions on the island. Or you could opt to fly to some of the other islands like Koh Phanang, Koh Lanta or Koh Phi Phi. Koh Phanang is the site of the world-famous Full Moon Party, if that’s your kind of thing. Koh Tau is one of the best places for snorkeling and scuba diving; here you can get scuba trained. Koh Chang is a very chilled out island, ideal for older travelers or those looking to escape the party crowd. There are so many choices, so check out flights and see what looks best.
Day 14: Fly Back to Bangkok
You’ve done it; you’ve explored Thailand in 2 weeks! Pat yourself on the back, for it’s not an easy feat to fit it all in! Hopefully you’ve eaten all the great Thai food you can, seen many Buddhist temples, played with some elephants and so much more.
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Travelbag.
