At a glance
| Recommended days | 7 - 14 days |
|---|---|
| Budget level | $ / $$ |
| Daily cost | €20-40 / €60-110 |
| Best season | Nov-Feb |
| Region | Southeast Asia |
Day-by-day plan
This route comes from our full Thailand Islands & Temples guide - each day below links to the deeper detail there.
- Bangkok: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chinatown
- Bangkok → Chiang Mai: overnight sleeper train
- Chiang Mai: old city temples, Doi Suthep
- Chiang Mai: cooking class, Sunday market
- Chiang Mai → Krabi: Railay Beach
- Krabi: Four Islands snorkel, hot springs
- Krabi → Phi Phi: viewpoint, Maya Bay
- Phi Phi → Phuket: Big Buddha, sunset
Pacing this route
Two islands, not five: every hop costs a ferry morning and a check-in afternoon. The itinerary alternates a busy island (Phuket/Krabi or Samui) with a slow one (Lanta, Phangan, Tao) — the pattern is the holiday.
Full-moon dates move the Gulf: Phangan party nights double ferry and room demand. Either avoid or book six weeks out; there is no middle.
Fewer or more days
- Fewer days: Krabi/Railay (2) + Koh Lanta (2) is the 5-day Andaman core without Phuket's sprawl.
- More days: add Koh Tao (diving, 3), Koh Phangan (2, outside the party), or phi phi with an overnight stay to see it after the boats leave.
Practical tips for this route
- Confirm ferry times the day before — schedules shift with the monsoon and the low-season reductions catch people out.
- Cash is still king on the smaller islands: ATMs charge THB 220 per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often.
- Wear the lifejacket on longtails and check the weather flag — the sea turns fast in the green season and calm mornings are the safe window.
Pair the route with the daily budget breakdown and the best-time-to-visit calendar to lock your dates, or hand the stops to our interactive trip planner.
Related guides
Best time to visit the Thai islands · the Thai islands travel budget · Full the Thai islands guide · Interactive trip planner
FAQ
How many days for the Thai islands?
Seven to ten covers two coasts or two islands properly; the itinerary's fuller frame adds a diving island. Under a week, pick one coast and go deep.
Koh Phi Phi — worth it?
For Maya Bay and the viewpoint, yes — but stay overnight: the day-trip crowds leave by 16:00 and the island doubles in quality. Alternatively skip it for Lanta or Ngai.
When is Songkran?
Every year 13-15 April, with the biggest water fights in Chiang Mai and Bangkok — on the islands it is festive but shorter. Book transport early; the country travels.