Day by day
Each day is written to balance structure with breathing room. Named hotels, named meals, named activities; logistics noted where they matter.
Day 1
Arrive Bangkok · Sukhumvit evening
Land at BKK, Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai, BTS to Sukhumvit. First-night dinner at a Sukhumvit Soi 38 street stall or a Jay Fai pad-thai wait.
Stay:Park Hyatt Bangkok or Ariyasomvilla · Sukhumvit cluster
- ◆Sukhumvit Soi 38 street-food crawl
- ◆Cocktail at Rabbit Hole (Thonglor)
Logistics: BKK → Phaya Thai: ARL 26 min ฿45 · Phaya Thai → Sukhumvit: BTS 15 min
Day 2
Bangkok · Old Town day
Early morning at the Grand Palace and Wat Pho (both in before 09:00 before it fills). Lunch at Thipsamai (legendary pad thai). Afternoon on the Chao Phraya river + Wat Arun. Evening cocktails at Sky Bar or Lebua rooftop.
- ◆Grand Palace + Wat Pho — Dress modestly; entry ฿500 combined
- ◆Pad thai at Thipsamai
- ◆Wat Arun by sunset
Day 3
Bangkok · Chinatown and floating markets
Early start to Damnoen Saduak or Amphawa floating market (90 min by car). Back to Bangkok for lunch, afternoon in Chinatown (Yaowarat), and an evening walking the streets after dark.
- ◆Amphawa floating market (best on weekends)
- ◆Chinatown (Yaowarat) street-food crawl
- ◆T&K Seafood on Phadungdao Road
Day 4
Bangkok · Jim Thompson and a final omakase
Morning at Jim Thompson's teak-wood house + silk museum. Lunch at Bo.lan (sustainable Thai tasting). Afternoon at Chatuchak market (Saturday/Sunday) or Talad Rot Fai Ratchada night market (nightly). Evening omakase or Issaya Siamese Club.
- ◆Jim Thompson House (Thai-silk museum)
- ◆Chatuchak Weekend Market (Sat/Sun only)
- ◆Bo.lan or Paste for a serious Thai dinner
Day 5
Fly Bangkok → Chiang Mai
Morning domestic flight (1h 15m, ฿1,200–2,500 on Thai Smile or AirAsia). Check into your Chiang Mai hotel by lunch. Afternoon walking the Old City inside the moat — 16th-century Lanna temples, narrow streets. Evening at the Sunday Night Walking Street market (Rachadamnoen Road, Sundays only).
Stay:137 Pillars House or The Rachamankha · Lanna-style luxury in the Old City
- ◆Wat Phra Singh + Wat Chedi Luang
- ◆Sunday Walking Street (if Sunday) or Saturday Walking Street (if Saturday)
- ◆Dinner at David's Kitchen or Ginger & Kafe
Logistics: BKK → CNX: 1h 15m domestic
Day 6
Chiang Mai · Cooking class and Doi Suthep
Morning Thai cooking class at Thai Farm or Baan Hongnual (half-day, includes market trip). Afternoon drive up to Doi Suthep mountain temple (golden chedi, city views). Evening at the Saturday Walking Street on Wualai Road (Sat) or Nimmanhaemin's cafés (other nights).
- ◆Thai cooking class (half day; ฿1,400)
- ◆Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- ◆Ristr8to or Graph Cafe (Nimman)
Day 7
Chiang Mai · Ethical elephant day
Day at an ethical elephant sanctuary (Elephant Nature Park, Chai Lai Orchid, or BLES) — these are sanctuary rescues, not riding camps. Back to Chiang Mai by evening for a night-market dinner.
- ◆Ethical elephant sanctuary visit (full day)
- ◆Evening at Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Day 8
Fly Chiang Mai → Krabi
Morning flight CNX → KBV (2h 20m, typically via BKK). Private-car transfer from Krabi airport to your Koh Lanta or Railay Beach hotel (90 min + short boat if Railay). First evening on the beach.
Stay:Pimalai Resort (Koh Lanta) or Rayavadee (Railay) · Andaman cliffside luxury
- ◆Sunset beach walk
- ◆Dinner at hotel (first night — acclimatise)
Logistics: CNX → KBV via BKK: 2h 20m flight + 1h 30m transfer
Day 9
Island boat day · Phi Phi or Hong Islands
Full-day private longtail boat or speedboat tour to the Hong Islands (from Krabi side) or Phi Phi (longer, more crowded). Snorkeling, beach lunch, and back by 16:00.
- ◆Longtail day to Hong Islands or Phi Phi
- ◆Snorkeling at Koh Rok or Koh Haa
Day 10
Rock climbing or Tham Phra Nang
A rock-climbing morning at Railay (beginners welcome; full half-day with gear ~฿1,500), or a gentler morning at Tham Phra Nang cave and Ao Phra Nang beach. Afternoon on your hotel's beach.
- ◆Railay rock-climbing half-day
- ◆Tham Phra Nang cave (free, sacred site)
Day 11
Slow day
A genuine rest day. Spa morning (most Andaman hotels have excellent Thai-massage programmes), pool afternoon, and a beachfront seafood dinner — whole fish, tiger prawns, green mango salad.
- ◆Hotel spa
- ◆Long lunch + pool
- ◆Seafood dinner (Lanta Seaside or similar)
Day 12
Kayak + mangroves
Sea-kayak morning through the mangroves of Bor Thor or Koh Lanta's quiet east coast — genuinely peaceful, swim stops, most operators include lunch. Afternoon beach reading.
- ◆Mangrove kayak half-day
- ◆Afternoon beach
Day 13
Last beach day
A full last day with no commitments — long lunch, pool, a final sunset dinner. If you have one extra activity in you, a sunset longtail around the closer islands.
- ◆Sunset longtail
- ◆Final dinner at your best hotel restaurant
Day 14
Depart Krabi
Morning breakfast, transfer to KBV airport. Most travellers connect via Bangkok (BKK) for international; Gulf-bound flights to Doha and Dubai are available direct in peak season.
- ◆Hotel → KBV transfer (90 min)
- ◆Onward flight via BKK
Logistics: KBV → BKK: 1h 30m · BKK international connections