By Kylian Dev
North Thailand
Mountains, Lanna temples and cooler nights. Chiang Mai is the hub; Pai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son are a few hours away by road.
Guide to the regionMap
Map of Thailand: regions, islands and destinations
Where is Phuket compared to Koh Samui? How far is Chiang Mai from Bangkok? This map puts the 28 destinations of this guide in place, region by region, with the two seas and their islands, so you can plan a realistic route.
- 28 destinations placed
- 5 regions, 2 seas
- Distances from Bangkok
In short
Thailand stretches about 1,600 km from the mountains of the north to the Malaysian border, and covers about 513,000 km² split into 77 provinces. Bangkok sits in the centre. The north (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai) is mountainous. The south is a long peninsula between two seas: the Andaman Sea to the west (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe) and the Gulf of Thailand to the east (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao). The eastern islands (Koh Chang, Koh Kood) are closest to Bangkok.
Overview
The destinations on the map of Thailand
Green dots are the main hubs; grey dots are the other destinations of the guide. Each region has its own detailed map below.
Region by region
The 5 travel regions of Thailand
Central Thailand & Bangkok
Bangkok and the historic plains: Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi are day trips or short stays from the capital, and Hua Hin is the nearest beach resort.
Guide to the regionGulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand islands, linked by frequent ferries: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Their dry season is the opposite of the Andaman coast.
Guide to the regionAndaman Sea
The west coast of the peninsula: Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Lipe, with Khao Sok and Khao Lak inland and to the north.
- Khao Sokweather
- Phuketweather
- Krabi & Railayweather
- Koh Phi Phiweather
- Koh Lantaweather
- Koh Lipeweather
- Khao Lakweather
- Koh Yao Noiweather
- Trang Islands
Distances
Distances from Bangkok
Straight-line distances, rounded. By road, count roughly 20 to 40% more; for the islands, add the ferry crossing.
| Destination | Region | Straight line | How to get there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayutthaya | Central Thailand & Bangkok | 70 km | Take the popular 3rd-class train from Krung Thep Aphiwat central station (20 baht). |
| Kanchanaburi & Erawan | Central Thailand & Bangkok | 110 km | Regular direct bus from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai). |
| Pattaya | East coast | 100 km | Bus from Bangkok's Ekkamai station or a direct shuttle from Suvarnabhumi airport (about 2 h). In town, shared songthaews run along Beach Road. |
| Hua Hin | Central Thailand & Bangkok | 150 km | Scenic train or air-conditioned van from Bangkok in just 3 hours. |
| Koh Samet | East coast | 170 km | Bus or minivan from Bangkok (Ekkamai) to Ban Phe (about 3 h), then ferry (40 min) or speedboat (15 min). National park entry fee payable on arrival. |
| Koh Chang | East coast | 270 km | 45-minute fast ferry from the Ao Thammachat pier in Trat. |
| Chiang Mai | North Thailand | 580 km | Route guide |
| Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle | North Thailand | 690 km | A scooter or local driver is ideal for reaching the scattered temples. |
| Pai | North Thailand | 660 km | Minibus from Chiang Mai (3 winding hours) or rent a motorbike if you're an experienced rider. |
| Koh Samui | Gulf of Thailand | 480 km | Route guide |
| Koh Tao | Gulf of Thailand | 410 km | Route guide |
| Krabi & Railay | Andaman Sea | 660 km | Route guide |
| Phuket | Andaman Sea | 690 km | Route guide |
| Koh Lanta | Andaman Sea | 700 km | Minibus with a short car-ferry crossing from Krabi, or a direct speedboat from Koh Phi Phi. |
| Koh Lipe | Andaman Sea | 820 km | Speedboat from Pak Bara pier (Satun), or a seasonal connection from Langkawi (Malaysia). |
FAQ
Map of Thailand: your questions
Where is Phuket on the map of Thailand?
Where is Koh Samui compared to Phuket?
How far is Chiang Mai from Bangkok?
About 580 km in a straight line and around 700 km by road. The flight takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and the night train about 11 to 13 hours.
Which are the closest islands to Bangkok?
How many regions does Thailand have?
Officially, 77 provinces grouped into several geographic regions. For travellers, the country splits simply into 5 areas: the north, the centre, the east coast, the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman coast.