ThailandVoyager
Ready-made itinerary

3-week Thailand itinerary: the grand tour

Three weeks lets you see the country’s full range: ancient capitals, the mountains of the north, the Khao Sok rainforest and the Andaman coast.

Kylian DevBy Kylian Dev

  • Day-by-day plan
  • 8 stops, one logical route
  • Budget and best months

The route in one sentence

Head north from Bangkok through Ayutthaya and Sukhothai to Chiang Mai and Pai, then fly south for the Khao Sok jungle, Krabi’s cliffs and a slow finish on Koh Lanta — best from December to February.

Duration
21 days
Stops
8
Budget per person
€599 – €1,126
Best months
Jan · Feb · Dec

The route

Stops and transfers

The route travels north overland through the old kingdoms, then uses one flight to jump south. The southern legs (Khao Sok → Krabi → Lanta) are short road and boat transfers.

Route map: Bangkok → Ayutthaya → Sukhothai → Chiang Mai → Pai → Khao Sok → Krabi & Railay → Koh LantaAndaman SeaGulf1Bangkok2Ayutthaya3Sukhothai4Chiang Mai5Pai6Khao Sok7Krabi8Koh Lanta
  1. The City of Angels, a thousand flavours and golden temples1Bangkok3 days · Centre · €35 - 65 / day

    Road, about 1 h · 67 km as the crow flies

  2. Ruins of the old Siamese empire along the water2Ayutthaya1 day · Centre · €25 - 45 / day

    Road, about 5.5 h · 309 km as the crow flies

  3. Dawn of happiness: poetic ruins explored by bicycle3Sukhothai2 days · North · €20 - 38 / day

    Road, about 4 h · 212 km as the crow flies

  4. The Rose of the North, its teak temples and mountains4Chiang Mai4 days · North · €25 - 45 / day

    Road, about 1.5 h · 85 km as the crow flies

  5. A bohemian valley of rice fields and hot springs5Pai3 days · North · €18 - 35 / day

    Domestic flight or overnight train/bus · 1,161 km as the crow flies

  6. Ancient jungle, karst peaks and floating bungalows6Khao Sok2 days · Andaman · €40 - 75 / day

    Road, about 2 h · 106 km as the crow flies

  7. Dizzying karst cliffs and secret lagoons7Krabi & Railay3 days · Andaman · €35 - 70 / day

    Road, about 1 h · 46 km as the crow flies

  8. Easy living, wild beaches and golden sunsets8Koh Lanta3 days · Andaman · €30 - 55 / 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 21-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

AyutthayaDay 4

  1. Day 4 · Travel from Bangkok to Ayutthaya (Road, about 1 h). Later: Wat Mahathat.

Don’t miss: Giant freshwater prawns grilled over wood fire

SukhothaiDays 5–6

  1. Day 5 · Travel from Ayutthaya to Sukhothai (Road, about 5.5 h). Later: Sukhothai Historical Park by bike.
  2. Day 6 · Wat Si Chum & the colossal Buddha — The giant golden hand of the seated Buddha emerging from an open-air sanctuary.

Don’t miss: Sukhothai noodles (sweet-and-sour with green beans)

Chiang MaiDays 7–10

  1. Day 7 · Travel from Sukhothai to Chiang Mai (Road, about 4 h). Later: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
  2. Day 8 · Sunday Walking Street — The craft and food-stall market that transforms the old town.
  3. Day 9 · Ethical elephant sanctuaries — Respectful, no-riding observation in the wild Mae Wang valley.
  4. Day 10 · Free day in Chiang Mai: beach, market, massage or a day trip.

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

PaiDays 11–13

  1. Day 11 · Travel from Chiang Mai to Pai (Road, about 1.5 h). Later: Pai Canyon (Kong Lan).
  2. Day 12 · Tha Pai hot springs — Natural hot-water pools surrounded by lush forest.
  3. Day 13 · Pai Walking Street — Healthy street food stalls, acoustic musicians and local hill-tribe crafts.

Don’t miss: Organic vegan bowls with local avocado

Khao SokDays 14–15

  1. Day 14 · Travel from Pai to Khao Sok (Domestic flight or overnight train/bus). Later: Cheow Lan lake safari.
  2. Day 15 · Floating bungalow at sunrise — Dive straight into 28°C emerald water the moment you wake, in absolute silence.

Don’t miss: Gaeng Som (bold southern curry with bamboo shoots)

Krabi & RailayDays 16–18

  1. Day 16 · Travel from Khao Sok to Krabi & Railay (Road, about 2 h). Later: Climbing the cliffs of Tonsai & Railay.
  2. Day 17 · Phra Nang Cave Beach — Immaculate white sand, a sacred fishermen's cave and an iconic limestone spire.
  3. Day 18 · Railay's hidden lagoon — A rope-assisted scramble to a circular lake set into the rock.

Don’t miss: Whole catch of the day grilled with sea salt

Koh LantaDays 19–21

  1. Day 19 · Travel from Krabi & Railay to Koh Lanta (Road, about 1 h). Later: Mu Ko Lanta National Park & its lighthouse.
  2. Day 20 · Lanta Old Town — A traditional village of stilt houses and peaceful seafood restaurants.
  3. Day 21 · Koh Rok & Koh Haa excursion — Two uninhabited islets with some of the best-preserved coral reefs in Southeast Asia.

Don’t miss: Authentic Massaman curry with melt-in-the-mouth beef

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
Ayutthaya × 1 day€25 – €45
Sukhothai × 2 days€40 – €76
Chiang Mai × 4 days€100 – €180
Pai × 3 days€54 – €105
Khao Sok × 2 days€80 – €150
Krabi & Railay × 3 days€105 – €210
Koh Lanta × 3 days€90 – €165

Estimated on-the-ground total, per person

€599 – €1,126

About €29–€54 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 8 stops are in their ideal season each month.

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

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 three weeks in Thailand too long?

Not at all. It’s enough to combine the north, the jungle and the islands at a relaxed pace, with a few days to spare for rest.

How do I travel from Pai to Khao Sok?

Return to Chiang Mai (the Chiang Mai to Pai road is winding, about 3 hours), then fly south — usually to Surat Thani, Krabi or Phuket — and continue by road.

How much does 3 weeks in Thailand cost?

Our destination data gives the range shown above per person for this route, excluding flights. The north is very affordable; the islands cost more.

When is the best time for a 3-week trip?

December to February is when the most stops are in their ideal season in our data. Avoid the north from around late February to April, when smoky haze is common. More in our best time to visit Thailand guide.

Can I add Koh Lipe to this route?

Yes — see the “Slow Andaman island-hop” variation. Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe is 2h30–3h by speedboat, mainly from November to May.

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.