Thailand is a perfect country to go on holiday or start your longer travel journey in South East Asia. I know it can be daunting to work out where to go and how long to spend in each place which is why it is great to have a travel itinerary!
I spent 3 weeks in the south of Thailand during January 2024 so I’m here to help you plan the perfect route!
The south of Thailand consists of different islands and beach towns to visit. So if you love the sun and the sand, along with some beautiful culture then this is the place for you!
Type of Travel
I am someone who prefers to travel a bit slower and spend more time in each place to explore it as much as possible! This itinerary follows a slightly slower travel path as I don’t want to rush each place and move to a new hostel every two nights. Alternatively, if you want to see more places and stay for just one or two nights in each one I will provide some more information at the end.
Where to start
There are a number of airports all across Thailand. It is most likely that you are flying into Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Phuket International Airport (HKT). You can start this itinerary from Bangkok or Phuket.
I opted to fly into Bangkok, although I had already seen the city about a year before. I will start this itinerary from Bangkok as it is the most popular place to fly into and is a great city to explore.
Days 1-5: Bangkok
Once you arrive in Bangkok its time to explore the crazy city! It may seem a little overwhelming at first but there is so much to do and see there. From temples to markets to Khao San Road, Bangkok has something for everyone.
My personal favourite things to do in Bangkok were visiting the Grand Palace and the Chatuchak weekend market. Along with eating some of the most amazing food!
Now it’s time to head down to Phuket via plane, train or bus. I booked an overnight bus through 12GO on the app. It takes about 17 hours and costs THB 1000 (£21). It’s a long journey but an important experience if you are a traveler!
Days 5-8: Phuket
Phuket is a bit like marmite. I’ve heard so many people who love it and equally the same amount who hate it! I think it all depends on where you stay. I stayed in the old town which was perfect for me. It was easy to walk around to explore the area, go to the big Buddha, and even do a day trip to the Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay (where Leonardo DiCaprio filmed “The Beach”!).
If you are looking to party then I would recommend staying in Patong instead. Bangla Road has a huge nightlife scene if that’s what you’re looking for!
Days 8-10: Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok is a must for your south of Thailand itinerary! Get there by minivan from Phuket, you can easily book through 12GO. To visit the national park you need to book on a tour to stay on floating bungalows inside the park. Each tour and experience will be slightly different so you can choose one that suits your budget and the activities you want to do.
If you are a traveler like me, you can book your tour through a hostel located just outside the national park. The big hostels like Coco and Smiley book up quickly so you need to plan a couple months in advance if you want to go with them. If you want the freedom to go whenever, then I suggest Painting Family hostel! I went with them and they had great tour options I could book the day before. Whichever hostel you choose you will have an amazing time!
During the tour you go on boat safaris looking for monkeys and wild elephants, see famous viewpoints, hike in the jungle, and explore caves. All while staying in floating bungalows on the lake! (And getting yummy free food!)
If you choose a budget tour it should cost around 2,600 THB (£57). It is a must-do experience!
Days 10-14: Ao Nang
Many tourists choose between staying in Ao Nang or Krabi. For me Ao Nang was the best choice. It has a beautiful beach, great nightlife, and many day trip options.
While I was there I did two days trips. One was an islands day trip organised through my hostel, which included snorkeling, visiting island beaches, lunch, and seeing bioluminescent plankton in the dark! The second trip I did was taking a long tail boat to the famous Railay Beach! It was so easy and a beautiful place to visit.
Around Ao Nang there are so many things to do, including the monkey trail, nightmarkets, the Emerald pool, and Tiger Cave Temple. And plenty of bar crawls in the evening!
days 14-17: Koh Samui
To reach Koh Samui you have to get a bus and ferry to the island. Once you are there, the most popular areas to stay are Lamai and Chaweng. I chose Chaweng but after visiting I would recommend staying in Lamai instead as I think it’s prettier!
If you have an international driving license I would recommend renting a scooter to get around the island! This way you can get around much more easily and don’t need to pay expensive Grab prices!
There is plenty to see on the island, such as Fisherman’s Village, Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha), Wat Plai Laem, and waterfalls. You can also do day trips to Angthong Marine Park and Pig Island!
Day 17-21: Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is the perfect place to end your south of Thailand trip! It is a gorgeous island which is much quieter than most of the other places on this itinerary. It is most popular to stay near Long Beach or Khlong Dao Beach. You can spend your last few days in Thailand sunbathing and swimming in the most beautiful place, with amazing sunsets too!
I also visited the national park to do a hike. But don’t do it in the middle of the day like me and end up almost getting sunstroke! Also I chose to do a Thai cooking class at Lanta Thai Cookery School which I would absolutely recommend!
Got More Time?
If you have more time to explore the south of Thailand or want to move through each place a little quicker you could consider adding in some of these places.
- Koh Phi Phi for the party traveler.
- Koh Phangan for the full moon party.
- Koh Tao for the scuba divers.
- Koh Lipe for the beach lovers.
final takeaways
Traveling throughout Thailand will be a great experience that you will never forget. Following a route is a very helpful way to start but keep doing your own research on the country and what you want out of it. Most importantly, remember to also be open to changing your plans throughout your travel, you never know what amazing people you will meet!
Have fun!