Thailand is the world's most-visited country in Southeast Asia for good reason — extraordinary temples, islands of impossible beauty, the world's greatest street food, and a warmth of welcome that genuinely sets it apart.
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary
📅 Bangkok
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho's reclining Buddha, and the riverside at sunset by longtail boat. Chatuchak Weekend Market. Midnight street food on Yaowarat Road (Chinatown). Muay Thai at a local stadium — not a tourist show.
📅 Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep temple above the city at sunrise. Cook a Thai feast at a morning market cooking class. Cycle through the moated old city. Day trip to Doi Inthanon — Thailand's highest peak through cloud forest. Night Bazaar for handcrafted silver.
📅 Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle
The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) — one of Asia's most extraordinary modern buildings. The Blue Temple. Boat trip at the confluence of three countries. Visit a hill tribe village responsibly with a local guide.
📅 Islands — Koh Lanta or Koh Lipe
Fly south to Krabi and take a longtail to a quieter island. Koh Lanta for long beaches and easy diving. Koh Lipe for the clearest water in Thailand. Snorkel the Andaman's coral gardens — hawksbill turtles, leopard sharks, barracuda.
📅 Khao Sok National Park
One of the oldest rainforests on Earth — older than the Amazon. Kayak the flooded canyon lake at dawn with karst towers rising from mist. Night jungle walk for civets, hornbills, and the world's largest flower (Rafflesia).
🏨 Where to Stay
Capella Bangkok
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Riverside luxury, teak pavilions, direct Chao Phraya access
💡 Key tips: Cover shoulders and knees for temple visits — carry a sarong. Tuk-tuk drivers who offer to take you to a 'special shop' are running gem scams — decline politely. Street food from busy stalls with high turnover is perfectly safe. Negotiate tuk-tuk fares before getting in. Songkran (Thai New Year, April) is the world's greatest water fight — and the worst time to travel.
