Route Overview
This itinerary uses Bangkok as the main entry, then loops north to Chiang Mai before flying south to a beach. You will fly twice domestically and end at a different airport from where you started.
| Days | City | Nights |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | Bangkok | 3 |
| 5-7 | Chiang Mai | 3 |
| 8-10 | Krabi or Phuket | 3 |
Fly into BKK and out of HKT or KBV. Multi-city tickets cost about the same as a return and save a full day of backtracking.
Days 1-4: Bangkok
Hit the highlights without rushing. Stay in Sukhumvit or Riverside.
- Day 1: Arrive, recover, evening rooftop bar
- Day 2: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun
- Day 3: Chinatown food tour + ICONSIAM
- Day 4: Ayutthaya day trip OR Chatuchak (weekend)
Days 5-7: Chiang Mai
Fly Bangkok-Chiang Mai (~70 minutes, ฿1,000-1,800). Stay in the Old City or Nimman.
- Day 5: Old City temples (Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang), Sunday Walking Street
- Day 6: Ethical elephant sanctuary half-day + cooking class
- Day 7: Doi Suthep temple + Nimman cafes
Choose elephant sanctuaries that do not allow riding. Elephant Nature Park and BEES are the established ethical operators.
Days 8-10: Beaches
Fly Chiang Mai to Krabi (KBV) or Phuket (HKT). Both are about 2 hours.
- Day 8: Arrive, Ao Nang or Patong beach
- Day 9: 4 Islands tour or Phi Phi day trip (฿1,200-1,800)
- Day 10: Railay rock-climbing or beach day, fly home
Internal Flights
| Route | Airlines | Price (THB) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKK-CNX | AirAsia, Thai, Nok | ฿1,000-1,800 | 1h 10m |
| CNX-HKT | AirAsia, Thai | ฿1,800-2,800 | 2h 0m |
| CNX-KBV | AirAsia (limited) | ฿2,200-3,500 | 2h 5m |
Budget
Mid-range total per person: ฿32,000-45,000 including domestic flights, 3-star hotels, food, tours and ground transport. Add ฿15,000 for the international flight depending on origin.
SafetyWing or comparable travel insurance is worth it for the beach leg, where boat trips and scooters cause most injury claims.