7 days in Thailand: itinerary

Seven days in Thailand works as one city plus one region. Bangkok is the air hub for every other leg, so it goes first or last, and one domestic flight gets you to the north or the coast. Trying to add both the north and an island inside a week means two flights, two hotel changes and a day lost to each transfer.

The route below is the parent-country recommendation for 7 days: 3 nights in Bangkok with an Ayutthaya day trip, then 4 nights in Chiang Mai or on the Andaman coast. Pick by season — the Andaman side (Krabi, Phuket, Koh Lanta) is driest Nov–Apr, the Gulf islands (Samui, Phangan, Tao) Feb–Sep, and the north is best Nov–Jan with smoke in Feb–Apr.

If you want the north and a beach, book 10 days. If you want temples, mountains and two coasts, 14 days is the realistic minimum.

Two bases, one flight out. Bangkok sits in the centre of the country and both Chiang Mai and Krabi have direct flights from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, so you never need to backtrack through the capital on the way home unless your international ticket says so. If you fly home from a regional airport, check whether your airline routes you back through Bangkok — that is a second domestic leg, not a free connection.

Ayutthaya is a day trip, not a base, on a 7-day trip: trains run north from Bangkok through the day and you can be back for dinner. Check current timetables and fares with the State Railway of Thailand before you go.

Mornings are for the sights that get hot and crowded by 10am; afternoons for travel, markets and food; evenings for night markets and river boats.

Domestic flights are the backbone of a 7-day trip. Bangkok to Chiang Mai or Krabi is a short hop, and budget carriers plus Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways run it many times a day. Book early for the cheapest bands; add 2 h at the airport for check-in and bags. Check exact schedules and fares with the airline.

In Bangkok, the BTS Skytrain, MRT and river boats beat taxis at peak hours. Metered taxis are cheap but insist on the meter; Grab works well in the cities. In Chiang Mai, red songthaews run fixed-ish routes in town; in Krabi and Ao Nang, songthaews and longtail boats cover the coast. Local fares are low but vary — check on the ground.

Overnight buses and trains save a hotel night but cost you a day of energy. On 7 days, fly. If you want the train experience, the Bangkok–Chiang Mai sleeper is the classic one and takes most of a night; check times with the State Railway of Thailand.

Two bases, two bookings. In Bangkok, stay near a BTS or MRT station or on the river: Sukhumvit and Siam for transport and malls, Riverside for temples and boats, Khao San for the backpacker scene. In Chiang Mai, the old city or Nimman; in Krabi, Ao Nang for boats and restaurants or Railay if you want to be car-free.

Book the Bangkok nights first, then the second base, and keep the last night near the airport only if your flight leaves before 9am.

A 7-day trip lands around ฿18,000–45,000 per person excluding international flights (roughly $500–1,300), depending on hotel class and how many tours you book. Flights and boats are the variable that moves most. These are 2026 estimates — check current prices when you book.

Swap the north for the coast: fly Bangkok–Krabi instead of Chiang Mai and spend 4 nights between Ao Nang and Railay. Swap the coast for the north: Chiang Mai plus a night in Chiang Rai if you do not mind a third base.

If you have more time, 10 days adds a coast to the north, and 14 days covers Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and the Andaman. If you have less, 5 days is Bangkok plus one short hop.

Other 7-day shapes: Bangkok plus Pattaya (about 2 h by road, no flight needed) for a beach without airports, or Bangkok plus Kanchanaburi for the Death Railway and Erawan falls.