Once a faraway paradise exclusive to backpackers and explorers, Thailand is now becoming a hotspot for UK holiday seekers who want a tropical but adventurous holiday. Being a long-haul destination, 2-weeks is the most popular choice and it’s a good amount of time to get a nice sample of what this beautiful country has to offer.
Rather than staying in one destination, we highly recommend staying in 2, 3 or even 4 different places for your trip. We’ve put together a list of recommended Thailand 2 week itinerary ideas, from an adventure in the north to a more traditional beach holiday in the south (and everything in between).
Unlike many Thailand 2 week itineraries that focus on seeing as much of Thailand as possible within a short amount of time, we’ve designed the following to be less travel intense, with plenty of relaxation time. After all… it is a holiday!
The north – “A traditional Thai adventure”
- Bangkok – 2 nights
- Ayatthaya – 1 night
- Chiang Mai – 5 nights
- Pai – 2 nights
- Chiang Rai – 3 nights
- Bangkok – 1 night
Why you should choose this itinerary
The north is the place to go for those who want a taste of traditional Thailand. It has hundreds of miles of countryside, jungles and only a handful of cities. Here you’ll find an assortment of impressive temples, cheap but excellent food and an endless amount of adventure activities. This includes jungle trekking, water rafting, elephant sanctuaries, rock climbing, waterfalls and much more.
It’s not all ‘on the go’ in northern Thailand. The serenity and quiet vibes of a local village or an eco spa can be just as relaxing as the beaches of the south, although you will be trading white sands for a swimming pool.
This Thailand 2 week itinerary starts in the chaotic must-see city of Bangkok, with a countryside trip to the north via the historic old town ruins of Ayatthuya, spending the majority of your time in the enchanting areas of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Pai. Here you’ll have an endless list of activities and places to explore.
Itinerary highlights:
- The north is very much ‘off-the-beaten-track’. Accommodation and activity prices are cheap but you’ll still find luxury if you desire
- This is no doubt our most action packed and cultural itinerary. You’ll see temples, ancient ruins and have plenty of cultural excursions
South (Andaman) – “A beach lover’s dream – perfect for couples”
- Bangkok – 2 nights
- Krabi (Ao Nang) – 2 nights
- Krabi (Railay Beach) – 3 nights
- Koh Phi Phi – 3 nights
- Ko Lanta – 4 nights
Why you should choose this itinerary
This is the first of our beach lover’s itineraries. Rather than visiting just one Thai beach, we highly recommend checking out multiple during your stay. You get to enjoy the relaxation and tranquillity radiated by many of Thailand’s white sands beaches, but have a change in scenery throughout your holiday and you’re open to a wider variety of excursions.
Enjoy the cultural and lively city vibe of Bangkok, amazing beaches of Krabi, the nightlife and island tours of Koh Phi Phi and the laid-back paradise of Ko Lanta.
It suits travellers who simply want to relax on the beach alongside those who want to partake in snorkelling, boat trips and other adventurous activities. It’s easy to get to each of our chosen destinations via ferry so you won’t spend much time travelling around. In our opinion, the above locations have the best beaches in Thailand.
Itinerary highlights:
- In our opinion, the Andaman Islands and Krabi have the best beaches in Thailand.
- This is the most relaxing of our Thailand 2 week itinerary and a beach lover’s dream. Islands are small and quiet and you can reach almost everything on foot or by boat.
South (Gulf of Thailand) – “A lively yet relaxing beach hopping holiday”
- Bangkok – 2 nights
- Koh Pha-Ngan – 3 nights
- Ko Tao – 4 nights
- Koh Samui – 5 nights
The Gulf of Thailand features a selection of holiday islands, each offering something unique. Rather than spending your full holiday on one of the islands as many holidaymakers do, why not see 3 of the best islands of offer plus a national park?
This Thailand 2 week itinerary begins in Bangkok. It’s very different to the chilled out vibes of the south, where you can see the temples, sample the street food and see the historic side of this impressive Metropolis. Alternatively, you could opt for a luxury hotel stay with shopping, fine dining and skyscraper cocktail bars.
When you reach the islands, you’ll find a mixture of nice beach resorts and vibrant nightlife on Ko Pha-Ngan, scuba diving and secluded beach huts on Ko Tao and a more traditional beach resort holiday on Koh Samui to end your holiday in style. Hotels are cheap, you’ll get to experience a number of different beaches and there are enough boat trips and inland excursions to keep you busy the whole holiday (although we’re sure you’d pick this itinerary to wind down and enjoy the beaches as much as you can too).
Itinerary highlights:
- Experience the legendary Full Moon Party on Ko Pha-Ngan.
- Spend your days learning to scuba dive or snorkel in Ko Tao – one of the cheapest and best places in the world to get your PADI licence.
Island hopping in the south – “The best beaches and islands Thailand has to offer”
- Krabi (Ao Nang) – 2 nights
- Railey Beach – 3 nights
- Ko Tao – 4 nights
- Koh Samui – 4 nights
- Bangkok – 1 night
Can’t decide whether to visit the Andaman Islands or the Gulf of Thailand? Why not visit both? It takes around 3.5 – 4 hours to travel between the two coastlines but considering you’re on a 2-week trip, it’s well worth the travel time.
You can fly to Krabi directly, for boat trips around the impressive limestone cliffs of the area and quiet beach relaxation. This is great for winding down after a busy time at work and long flight. Once you’re re-energised, travel northeast to the larger island of Koh Samui for a luxury hotel stay. You should also add Ang Thong National Park to your itinerary here, which is just a short boat ride away. Finally, travel to Ko Tao for the final stretch of your trip, where you’ll find quieter island beach life with a livelier nightlife than Krabi.
Bangkok is the final destination on your trip where you can pick up some last minute shopping or check out the more cultural temples and markets of the city.
Itinerary highlights:
- You get to see the iconic limestone cliffs of the Andaman and impressive national park of the Gulf – both beach areas but completely different geology!
- The itinerary alternates between lively nightlife and areas with plenty to do, to more relaxed beach retreats.
North and South – “Perfect for first timers and a wholesome experience of Thailand”
- Bangkok – 2 nights
- Chiang Mai – 5 nights
- Krabi (Ao Nang) – 2 nights
- Koh Phi Phi – 2 nights
- Krabi (Railay Beach) – 3 nights
Why you should choose this itinerary
Out of all of our itineraries, we’d recommend this one for first time visitors to Thailand. You will have the opportunity to experience the cultural and ‘green’ north for a full week of action packed sightseeing, before venturing to the south for a much more chilled out second part of your holiday on the beautiful beaches. Here you can do as little or as much as you wish!
It may not be as relaxing as some of our suggested beach itineraries but for anyone that wants to see true Thailand and have a more traditional experience of the country, we believe that the north is a must see! There is a fair amount of travelling with this Thailand 2 week itinerary so it suits those who want an ‘on-the-go’ holiday over a traditional holiday on the beach.
Throughout this itinerary, we’ve selected locations which will stay in your memory and were definite highlights of our travels.
Itinerary highlights:
- A good mix of culture versus beach relaxation
- You’ll get to see the best of what Thailand has to offer (in our opinion), although there is more travelling involved than some of our above beach focused itineraries
Each Thailand 2 week itinerary was designed around our own experiences of Thailand but there may be a couple of things you’d like to change around, substitute and customise to create your perfect trip. We recommend doing your own research on each of the destinations before you arrive to ensure that you make the most of your 2 weeks in the country.
View more of our Thailand holiday guides and tips here.
THANKS FOR READING! IF YOU LIKED OUR ARTICLE, SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR PRINT IT OUT FOR YOUR TRIP. FEEL FREE TO 
