Read Thailand as regions such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket / Andaman, not as a pin.
Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai is the spine.
Regions
- Bangkok — Bangkok is stop 1 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Chiang Mai — Chiang Mai is stop 2 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Phuket / Andaman — Phuket / Andaman is stop 3 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Koh Samui gulf — Koh Samui gulf is stop 4 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Ayutthaya — Ayutthaya is stop 5 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Kanchanaburi — Kanchanaburi is stop 6 in a Thailand map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
Routes
- Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai — Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Bangkok-Kanchanaburi — Bangkok-Kanchanaburi — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Phuket-Phi Phi-Railay — Phuket-Phi Phi-Railay — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Samui-Phangan-Tao — Samui-Phangan-Tao — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
Icons
- Bangkok — Why Bangkok photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Chiang Mai — Why Chiang Mai photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Phuket / Andaman — Why Phuket / Andaman photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Koh Samui gulf — Why Koh Samui gulf photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Ayutthaya — Why Ayutthaya photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
Pairings
- Slow pair — Pair Bangkok with Chiang Mai; drop a third stop before you add one.
- Weather pair — Do not force a wet coast and a dry highland into the same week.
- Honeymoon pair — Two city nights plus three quiet nights recover better than a trophy circuit.
Dropping the third city is usually a gain.
When to goPlacesHow to travelCultureCostHoneymoon notesToday