The classic first trip: a taste of Bangkok, then the limestone cliffs of Krabi and two Andaman islands linked by short speedboat rides.
Three days in Bangkok, fly south to Krabi and Railay, then island-hop by speedboat to Koh Phi Phi and on to Koh Lanta — ideal from November to February.
The route
Ten days is ideal for one city plus one coast. After the flight south, every leg is a short boat ride (45 min–1h15 to Phi Phi, 30–45 min to Lanta), so you spend your time on beaches, not in buses.
1Bangkok3 days · Centre · €35 - 65 / dayDomestic flight or overnight train/bus · 664 km as the crow flies
2Krabi & Railay3 days · Andaman · €35 - 70 / dayBoat, 45 min–1h15 · 31 km as the crow flies
3Koh Phi Phi2 days · Andaman · €40 - 80 / dayBoat, 30–45 min · 31 km as the crow flies
4Koh Lanta2 days · Andaman · €30 - 55 / dayTransfer times are rough estimates. Boat times come from our ferry data; long legs are best done by domestic flight or overnight train or bus.
Day by day
Don’t miss: Pad Thai Thip Samai with tiger prawns
Don’t miss: Whole catch of the day grilled with sea salt
Don’t miss: Spicy, lemongrass-scented Tom Yum Goong
Don’t miss: Authentic Massaman curry with melt-in-the-mouth beef
Budget
Daily ranges per person from our destination data (accommodation, food, local transport and activities), multiplied by the days spent at each stop.
Estimated on-the-ground total, per person
€350 – €675
About €35–€68 per day
Excludes international flights, domestic flights, dive courses and travel insurance.
When to go
How many of the 4 stops are in their ideal season each month.
Darker bars mark the best months for the whole route, according to each destination’s ideal season in our data.
Variations
Bangkok, Chiang Mai’s temples, then Koh Samui to finish on a beach. Two flights, but a very complete first trip.
Bangkok, then Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao by catamaran — the better choice from June to September.
Open the route in the planner to swap stops, change the days or pick your month, then check the budget for your travel style.
FAQ
Yes, for a city plus one stretch of coast, or the north plus a few beach days. Beyond four stops, travel time starts eating into your holiday.
Most travellers take a domestic flight to Krabi. Overnight buses exist and are cheaper but take most of a night. Details in our Bangkok to Krabi guide.
The Andaman coast gets the southwest monsoon (rainy season) roughly from May to October, with rougher seas. In summer, the Gulf islands variation is usually the better bet.
Based on our destination data, this route falls within the range shown above per person, excluding flights. Use the budget calculator to adjust for your style.
You can — see the “North and beach” variation — but it means dropping an island and adding a flight.
Keep planning
By Kylian Dev