Having lived in Asia for as long as I can remember, I always thought Thailand would be low on my travel priority list.

But that perspective changed pretty much after the pandemic.

I developed a newfound appreciation for the tropics: the beaches in Southern part of Thailand are so underrated and the North of Thailand is is rugged for trekking.

While 10 days might not seem like much, it’s enough to truly experience Thailand if you’re intentional about your trip.

My advice? Don’t try to cram in too much. Instead, leave space for some quirks, spontaneity, and slower pace that make Thailand so special.

Here’s my trip breakdown:

Bangkok (2 Days)
Krabi (4 Days)
Chiang Mai (3 Days)

*p/s: If you want more beach time, pick between Koh Phangan, Krabi or Phuket and Phi Phi Islands; but if you want more hillsides and countryside, pick Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

10 Days Thailand Itinerary

Bangkok and it's buzz (2 Days)

a sprawling view of bangkok on 10 days itinerary

The traffic, the buzz and the energy — if you want to see the best of Bangkok you’ll need to catch the trains everywhere. They’re modern great and it is so easy to avoid the traffic.

The best way to see Bangkok is to experience the must-sees like heading towards Wat Phra Kaew, Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It was carved from a single block of jade and if you love to check out the temple’s grandeur, this is the place.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) are also must-sees in Bangkok.

Now if you’re tired of temple hopping, you need to check out ChatuChak’s weekend market. Let me tell you it is quite the experience here as you can buy almost anything and everything here from clothes to food to medicinal products.

Now for something truly offbeat, I recommend checking out Bangkok’s hidden gems bike street tour. You will see areas of Bangkok, which you would normally not see as a traveller and I think it’s really great to get to see a different part of the city.

There’s also a night bike tour option and this is way cooler as firstly the weather is better, and the boat ride across the river plus all the lights add to the experience!

For foodies, check out Bangkok after dark on a food tour by tuk-tuk — the food was amazing plus you meet some pretty great people!

Where to stay in Bangkok?

Krabi (4 Days)

The distance from Bangkok to Krabi is quite long like 10-12 hours. It is best to take a flight and check your options via 12Go.Asia. Several airlines, including AirAsia, offer direct flights and you can get there in 2 hours.

This is the perfect place to explore the beaches of Thailand and explore their nearby islands like Phi Phi Islands and Railay Beach. Krabi is truly underrated because you’ll find less raves, and more beach time with less crowds.

Your first day could be in Aonang beach and head to the beach to catch the fire dance which happens everyday at 6.45pm.

Spend the next few days visiting the Tiger Cave Temple, as well as the hot springs and emerald pools.

It is known for its stunning emerald-green water, which comes from the high mineral content in the surrounding limestone.

For the beaches, the best way to experience them is take the Phi Phi & 4 Islands Sunset Boat Tour and check out the 7-Island Tour by Luxury Longtail Boat with Snorkeling.

Sometimes nobody is on the boat and you get the whole thing to yourself - just imagine!

If you truly want to soak in the best beach here, it would be nice to stay atleast a day in Railay beach. You can take that walk up to Princess Cave and Phra Nang beach. Just walk on the trail past all the caves as the view is stunning just to get there.

Where to stay in Krabi

Also read: How I Spent 3-5 Days in Krabi: Travel Itinerary + What To Do

Chiang Mai (3 Days)

The hills and countryside of Chiang Mai is super underrated — it is also the second largest city after Bangkok with atleast 10.7 people. That’s a lot of people!

But it is still a bit less chaotic than Bangkok and the vibe, the cuisine, the temples and the mountains are what makes this place truly special.

Your first order of the day should be a massage at Zira spa and eating the best Khao Soi, the northern Thai curry noodles. You can have it at Khao-Sō-i.

The next thing is to head to Doi Suthep, one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples. You can follow in the footsteps of pilgrims by climbing 309 steps to the stupa on the hilltop (or take the cable car).

The best part about being in the countryside are the hills. In your second day, head towards Doi Inthanon National Park. It is Thailand’s highest peaks and has some of the best hiking trails. There are 32 trails for hiking with elevation gains ranging from 22 to 19,826 feet.

A cool way to experience it is to do the Pha Dok Siew Trek. You get to have lunch at at the Hmong Market, and experience breathtaking views from the Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail.

On your last day, take a day trip to Chiang Rai. This affordable tour does it all for you.

You get to see the White Temple, check out the Blue Temple, a captivating blend of traditional Buddhist style and stroll round Long Neck Karen Village and get a glimpse of their unique culture.

p/s don’t visit Chiang Mai during the burning season from Feb 15 to end April.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai?

Also read: 3-5 Days Chiang Mai Itinerary + Why You'll Wish You Stayed Longer

When’s the best time to visit Thailand?

The best time to visit Thailand is from November to February.

Generally speaking, it is a tropical country so rainy weather is unescapable but two things you should know — their burning season is from Feb 15 to April and you’d want to avoid the northern parts and just stick to the coasts.

May to October is monsoon season, which brings rain and occasional storms, especially in the Andaman Sea region (Krabi, Phuket).

In April, the Songkran Festival is also a great time to visit if you love experiencing a cool festival!

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