One week is short, so this route stays focused: the capital, the ancient royal city of Ayutthaya and the temples and mountains of Chiang Mai.
Three days in Bangkok, a day among Ayutthaya’s ruins, then fly or take the night train north for three days in Chiang Mai — best from November to February.
The route
With only seven days, fewer stops means more time actually visiting. This culture-first route needs just one long transfer (to Chiang Mai), which you can do by short flight or overnight train.
1Bangkok3 days · Centre · €35 - 65 / dayRoad, about 1 h · 67 km as the crow flies
2Ayutthaya1 day · Centre · €25 - 45 / dayDomestic flight or overnight train/bus · 521 km as the crow flies
3Chiang Mai3 days · North · €25 - 45 / 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: Giant freshwater prawns grilled over wood fire
Don’t miss: Khao Soi with mild curry and crispy noodles
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
€205 – €375
About €29–€54 per day
Excludes international flights, domestic flights, dive courses and travel insurance.
When to go
How many of the 3 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
Two days in Bangkok, then Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, linked by a 20–30 min catamaran. A good summer option.
Fly straight into Phuket, then Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta by speedboat. Best from November to April.
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
It’s enough for one region done well — for example Bangkok and the north, or one group of islands. Trying to see both north and south in 7 days means spending a lot of time in transit.
Choose one. The main route focuses on culture (Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai); the variations above are pure beach weeks in the Gulf or the Andaman Sea.
By domestic flight (roughly 1h15 in the air) or by overnight train or bus, which saves a night of accommodation. Every option is compared in our Bangkok to Chiang Mai guide.
Using our destination data, this route comes to roughly the range shown above per person, excluding flights. Your travel style can move that a lot: refine it in the budget calculator.
November to February, when Bangkok is at its least humid and Chiang Mai has cool nights and sunny days.
Keep planning
By Kylian Dev