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
By road, Bangkok is 685 km from Chiang Mai (8.6 hours of driving), 836 km from Phuket (10.8 hours) and 773 km from Krabi (9.3 hours), with times calculated without stops. Bangkok sits in the centre, with the mountainous north above it and, to the south, a long peninsula between the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta) and the Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao).
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
The straight-line distance to place each destination, and for the stops you can drive to, the real road distance and driving time. For the islands, add the ferry crossing.
| Destination | Region | Straight line | By road | Driving time | How to get there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayutthaya | Central Thailand & Bangkok | 70 km | 77 km | 1.0 hrs | Take the popular 3rd-class train from Krung Thep Aphiwat central station (20 baht). |
| Kanchanaburi & Erawan | Central Thailand & Bangkok | 110 km | 126 km | 1.5 hrs | Regular direct bus from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai). |
| Pattaya | East coast | 100 km | 149 km | 1.7 hrs | 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 | 191 km | 2.4 hrs | 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 | 685 km | 8.6 hrs | 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 | 773 km | 9.3 hrs | Route guide |
| Phuket | Andaman Sea | 690 km | 836 km | 10.8 hrs | 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 (1.5 hours, from 700 THB one way, departures at 11.30 am and 1.30 pm), or from Langkawi (Malaysia) from mid-October to mid-May. |
Road distances and driving times calculated on the OpenStreetMap road network (OSRM), without stops, on 28 September 2026. In practice, allow 15 to 25% more time for breaks and Bangkok traffic.
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 685 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. The north-east, Isan, is the largest region of all: see our Isan guide.