ThailandVoyager
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2-week Thailand itinerary: north and islands

Fourteen days is the sweet spot: enough for Bangkok, the temples and mountains of Chiang Mai, and three Gulf islands linked by catamaran.

Kylian DevBy Kylian Dev

  • Day-by-day plan
  • Transfers and ferries
  • Budget and best months

The route in one sentence

Bangkok for three days, fly to Chiang Mai for four, then fly to Koh Samui and hop by catamaran to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao — February is the month when every stop is in season.

Duration
14 days
Stops
5
Budget per person
€471 – €965
Best months
Feb

The route

Stops and transfers

This route pairs northern culture with Gulf islands, whose season extends well into summer. Two flights handle the long distances; after Samui, the islands are 20 minutes to 1h15 apart by boat.

Route map: Bangkok → Chiang Mai → Koh Samui → Koh Phangan → Koh TaoAndaman SeaGulf1Bangkok2Chiang Mai3Koh Samui4Koh Phangan5Koh Tao
  1. The City of Angels, a thousand flavours and golden temples1Bangkok3 days · Centre · €35 - 65 / day

    Domestic flight or overnight train/bus · 582 km as the crow flies

  2. The Rose of the North, its teak temples and mountains2Chiang Mai4 days · North · €25 - 45 / day

    Domestic flight or overnight train/bus · 1,037 km as the crow flies

  3. The island of coconut palms, exceptional spas and Ang Thong marine park3Koh Samui3 days · Gulf · €50 - 120 / day

    Boat, 20–30 min · 24 km as the crow flies

  4. Two faces: legendary parties and zen yoga sanctuaries4Koh Phangan2 days · Gulf · €30 - 65 / day

    Boat, 1h15 · 45 km as the crow flies

  5. The mecca of scuba diving and sea turtles5Koh Tao2 days · Gulf · €28 - 50 / day

Transfer 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

Your 14-day plan

BangkokDays 1–3

  1. Day 1 · Grand Palace & Wat Pho — The 46-metre Reclining Buddha and the glittering roofs of the imperial palace.
  2. Day 2 · Chao Phraya river boats — Cross the city by public ferry for 16 baht, past illuminated chedis.
  3. Day 3 · Jodd Fairs night market — Hip atmosphere, grilled skewers, watermelon juice and street fashion.

Don’t miss: Pad Thai Thip Samai with tiger prawns

Chiang MaiDays 4–7

  1. Day 4 · Travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (Domestic flight or overnight train/bus). Later: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
  2. Day 5 · Sunday Walking Street — The craft and food-stall market that transforms the old town.
  3. Day 6 · Ethical elephant sanctuaries — Respectful, no-riding observation in the wild Mae Wang valley.
  4. Day 7 · Free day in Chiang Mai: beach, market, massage or a day trip.

Don’t miss: Khao Soi with mild curry and crispy noodles

Koh SamuiDays 8–10

  1. Day 8 · Travel from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui (Domestic flight or overnight train/bus). Later: Ang Thong National Marine Park.
  2. Day 9 · Fisherman's Village in Bophut — Traditional wooden houses, designer boutiques and dinners facing the waves.
  3. Day 10 · Silver Beach (Crystal Bay) — A golden cove framed by smooth granite boulders reminiscent of the Seychelles.

Don’t miss: Blue crab with fresh green pepper and crispy garlic

Koh PhanganDays 11–12

  1. Day 11 · Travel from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan (Boat, 20–30 min). Later: Bottle Beach's secret cove.
  2. Day 12 · Srithanu Bay & wellness community — Beachfront yoga classes, sound meditation and vegan restaurants.

Don’t miss: Green mango salad with dried shrimp

Koh TaoDays 13–14

  1. Day 13 · Travel from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao (Boat, 1h15). Later: Diving at Sail Rock & Chumphon Pinnacle.
  2. Day 14 · Koh Nang Yuan islet — Three tiny islands linked by a unique strip of white sand.

Don’t miss: Giant grilled squid with chilli-lime sauce

Budget

How much does this trip cost?

Daily ranges per person from our destination data (accommodation, food, local transport and activities), multiplied by the days spent at each stop.

Bangkok × 3 days€105 – €195
Chiang Mai × 4 days€100 – €180
Koh Samui × 3 days€150 – €360
Koh Phangan × 2 days€60 – €130
Koh Tao × 2 days€56 – €100

Estimated on-the-ground total, per person

€471 – €965

About €34–€69 per day

Excludes international flights, domestic flights, dive courses and travel insurance.

Refine in the budget calculator

When to go

Best months for this route

How many of the 5 stops are in their ideal season each month.

  1. 4/5Jan
  2. 5/5Feb
  3. 3/5Mar
  4. 3/5Apr
  5. 3/5May
  6. 3/5Jun
  7. 3/5Jul
  8. 3/5Aug
  9. 3/5Sep
  10. 0/5Oct
  11. 2/5Nov
  12. 2/5Dec

Darker bars mark the best months for the whole route, according to each destination’s ideal season in our data.

Variations

Same length, different style

Make this itinerary yours

Open the route in the planner to swap stops, change the days or pick your month, then check the budget for your travel style.

Open in the itinerary planner Refine in the budget calculator

FAQ

Your questions about this itinerary

Is two weeks enough for Thailand?

Two weeks lets you combine Bangkok, the north and one island group comfortably. Seeing both coasts is possible but adds travel days.

Gulf or Andaman islands for a 2-week trip?

It depends on your month. The Andaman coast (Krabi, Phi Phi, Lanta) is best roughly from November to April; the Gulf (Samui, Phangan, Tao) from January to September in our data.

How do I get from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui?

By direct flight: Bangkok Airways flies Chiang Mai–Koh Samui in about 1 h 45, typically around twice a day (see our Koh Samui airport guide). Overland it takes the best part of two days.

How much does a 2-week trip to Thailand cost?

Our destination data gives the range shown above per person for this route, excluding flights. Koh Samui is the priciest stop; the variations can be cheaper.

What’s the best month for this itinerary?

February is the only month when all five stops are in their ideal season in our data. January is a close second.

Keep planning

Useful tools for this trip

When to go to ThailandMonth-by-month weather for every region.Itinerary builderGenerate a day-by-day itinerary, tailored to your dates and interests.Trip budget calculatorEstimate the total cost of your itinerary based on your travel style.