White sandy beaches, amazing underwater life, delicious food, friendly people, fascinating culture… I could go on and on about what makes Thailand amazing! In a country that has so much to offer, it’s not easy to decide where to go. This two week Thailand itinerary is the ideal stepping stone for first timers and divers!
Best time to visit
As most South-East Asian countries Thailand is a warm destination year round. The primary thing you should consider before booking your trip is the rainy season. Generally speaking, the wet season runs from November to April. During this time, not only are you more likely to get rain, but it is also the prime time for the Dengue mosquitoes. Therefore, if you can avoid traveling during this time (or immediately after), I’d highly recommend to go during the rest of the year!
How to get there
Thailand is quite big and long, and has hundreds of islands! Therefore, your arrival into Thailand will depend on where exactly you want to go. Overall, though, I would highly recommend to fly into Thailand through the capital of Bangkok. Not only because the city itself is definitely worth a visit, but also because you will most likely find the cheapest international flights to Bangkok! The International Airport is very well connected and a lot of major airlines offer direct flights this destination. Alternatively, for this specific itinerary, you could also look at the airports in Phuket and Koh Samui, which are also both international!
How to get around
How to get around varies a lot by the specific destination you will be visiting in Thailand. In general though, in one place or another, you will come across the following options.
By Scooter
Renting a scooter is probably the most popular form of transportation in smaller islands, especially among younger people / backpackers. However, I personally cannot vouch for this option since in my eyes it is quite dangerous. Scooters are rented out to people with no prior experience, and some streets are very narrow and crowded. Unless you feel very comfortable on a motor bike, I wouldn’t do it.
By Car
Depends on how much driving you want to do, how many people you are with and where your accommodation is located, renting a car might be an option to consider. The touristy places usually have parking, and I’m sure in more remote places this shouldn’t be an issue either. If you plan to primarily stay in bigger cities and don’t plan on driving large distances, I really don’t think you need a rental car.
By Uber / Grab / GoJek
If you’re staying within the touristy areas then Uber / Grab /GoJek or any other available rideshare app is your best friend! In my experience this worked very well for getting around Bangkok. Phuket proved to be a little more difficult, but still possible with a little patience. It’s not available on most smaller islands…
By public transport
This one only concerns Bangkok. In Bangkok the BTS Skytrain is extremely fast, safe, reliable and overall the best choice during rush hours. I’d highly recommend to check your route in Google Maps, and see whether you can get there with the BTS. Tickets can be bought with cash at every station.
By Tuk Tuk / Songthaew
Tuk tuks and songthaews work in a similar way. You can usually hail down the driver, negotiate a fixed price for your destination and then get in. We used them a lot in Koh Samui, and it truly was the easiest way to get around for short to medium length distances (e.g. up to 20 / 30 mins).
Do yo need cash in Thailand?
Yes, 100%!! There are a lot of places, from restaurants, transport, souvenirs and everything in between that only accept cash. However, there are lots of ATMs around, so you shouldn’t have an issue in getting cash whenever you need (more of) it.
How much time do you need in Thailand?
When I visited Thailand in 2022 I spent approx. 2 weeks there. We split our time between Bangkok, Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Phuket. Our trip was a mix of sightseeing and just enjoying life and chilling. I’d say for this itinerary 2 weeks was enough, even though you could easily spend 3 weeks between those places as well without getting bored. However, if we’re talking about how much time you need to see ALL of Thailand, well frankly you probably need months! We can’t wait to go back one day and explore more of this beautiful country!
About this itinerary
This was our first time in Thailand, which is why the places we chose are among the more “touristy” places. We’ve seen all the pictures online, and we wanted to experience these famous places ourselves. With that being said, after going to these places, I have to admit that they are INDEED VERRRRRYYYY TOURISTY (especially Phuket, but to a lesser extent also Koh Samui)! I wouldn’t change our itinerary, since I still think it’s a good starting point for first timers in Thailand. The places themselves are truly STUNNING, but overtourism is a real issue and definitely messes up the overall experience. Hence, in the future, I’m also looking forward to exploring places less traveled in Thailand.
2 weeks Thailand itinerary (for first timers + Divers!)
Before getting in to the day-to-day itinerary I want to point out, that the different segments of the trip can be switched around as needed. This is just a general outline of what there is to see and how much time I recommend staying at each place. The order really doesn’t matter 🙂
Day 1 – Welcome to Thailand!
For this sample itinerary, your flight will be arriving into Bangkok. From there, take an Uber / Grab to your hotel in Sukhumvit and settle in. You will have enough time in Bangkok, so don’t rush!
Since we were starving, we first headed out for lunch. Within walking distance of the hotel you will find a restaurant called Cabbages & Condoms. Yes, you read that right. And when you enter the restaurant, you will immediately understand why it’s called that 🙂 It’s a super fun and unique place, with a good cause at heart and good food! 10/10 would recommend!
Next up, since we arrived on a Saturday, we headed to the Chatuchak Weekend Market. We are usually not big market fans, but we really enjoyed this one! You will find EVERYTHING here, from food to clothes, to decor to makeup, … It’s an adventure for sure!
Finally, if you’re still feeling fit, you can head to a rooftop bar! This is definitely a Bangkok must do! There are tons to choose from, and during our stay we definitely tried quite a few different ones. On our first night, however, we opted for one close by in Sukhumvit named Brewski. It’s located on the Radisson Blu hotel rooftop and it’s definitely one of the chiller rooftop bars in Bangkok, which means there is no dress code 🙂
If your jet lag is still keeping you up, you might want to check out the Terminal 21 mall nearby.
Or, if you’re feeling funky and wild, you can go to Soi Cowboy. It is a lively street, famous for its go-go bars and nightlife. I’d highly recommend to do some research in advance though, so that you are prepared and can make informed decisions about what you want to do on the street. We personally only quickly strolled through out of interest.
Where to stay
We stayed at the The Coach Hotel Sukhumvit in the Sukhumvit district and we loved it! It’s a modern hotel, located very close to the Asok MRT station on the Sukhumvit Line. The breakfast was also great, and you can take it up and enjoy it on the roof terrace! We really enjoyed this area of town.
Day 2 – Exploring the main sights
Time to see a more traditional side of Bangkok! There are a couple of must-see things, which you can visit in any order that suits you. Here’s what you want to look out for:
There is an entrance fee for all of these attractions, which range from 200 BHT to 500 BHT. They’re all really worth it! The attractions are easily reachable either by MRT or by boat, since they are all located very close to the river Chao Phraya. We used a hop on hop off boat service, which was great fun. You can buy your tickets right by the pier.
If you’re into shopping, or just looking for a place to cool down a little, I’d recommend to check out the Siam Center or it’s upscale brother the Siam Paragon. Both are great malls, that have both your classic shops you can find anywhere else, but also some unique local shops!
In the evening, you need to visit either Khao San Road, another rooftop bar – or both! Khao San Road is another road that is famous for its nightlife. There are lots of bars, clubs, street food stands, shops, etc… We didn’t have high hopes for this street (it’s a little trashy), but we really did have fun actually! We also did a foot massage there, which I can highly recommend!
If you’re looking for a rooftop bar, I can recommend Above Eleven. This is definitely a more upscale bar, focused around fancy cocktails! We went quite late (after Khao San Road), which is why we didn’t need a reservation and I believe the dress code was not as strict anymore. If you want to go during the peak hours though, I’d highly recommend to make a reservation in advance and dress appropriately!!
Day 3 – Floating Market Day Trip
Time to explore Bangkok’s surroundings! More specifically, it’s time to take a tour to one of Thailand’s famous floating markets. We booked our tour through GetYourGuide.
Our itinerary for the day looked like this:
- Sugar Farm & Thai Traditional House visit
- Foating market incl. a complementary boat tour around the stands
- Free time to explore the market on foot or take another extra-cost boat ride
The tour arrives back in Bangkok in the early afternoon. From there, I’d recommend to check out the MBK Center, since you’re literally already there After that, take a Grab / Taxi / Tuk Tuk to the open-air mall Asiatique. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around, exploring the shops, going on the Ferris wheel and walking along the river. There are also plenty of restaurant for lunch and / or dinner options 🙂
Day 4 – Off to Koh Tao!
Time to head to Koh Tao, the dive capital of Thailand! In order to maximize your day, I’d recommend to take one of the earliest flights out of Bangkok to Koh Samui. From there, you will take the ferry to Koh Tao. We booked our ferry through 12Go, which also has an option that includes the airport transfer to the ferry terminal! I’d highly recommend to do it this way, so that you are guaranteed to arrive to the ferry terminal on time!
The drive to the ferry terminal is approx. 1 hour, and the ferry ride is approx. another 2 hours.
Once you arrive in Koh Tao, I’d immediately go check out the dive schools and arrange for your diving the next couple of days. We went with Fifty Six Dive, and I can only say good things about them!! If you’re not into diving, just relax the rest of the afternoon 🙂
Where to stay
We stayed at the Blue Tao Beach Hotel and it was great! The hotel is located in the Sairee Beach area, which is the best place to be if you’re into diving, since there are lots of dive schools within walking distance. The hotel was right by the water, the rooms were comfortable and the breakfast was great!
Day 5 – 7 – Dive & explore Koh Tao!
During your 3 full days on Koh Tao, there is plenty that you can do and explore. Here’s a couple of options:
- Do your PADI Open Water Certification. As mentioned, we did this with Fifty Six Dive but there are also plenty of other dive schools.
- Snorkel day trip to Nang Yuan Island. We booked our day trip directly with Oxygen Tours Koh Tao. Definitely a bigger group but we still enjoyed ourselves a lot 🙂
- Rent a scooter and explore the island
- Relax by the beach
- Take a cooking class. We didn’t do this but I’ve heard good things about Thai Cooking with Joy
If you’re not into diving or snorkeling, there might be other Thai islands better suited for your trip. But if you’re a diver or want to become one, then this is the place to be!!!
Day 8 – Back to Koh Samui!
Time to say good-bye to Koh Tao, and take the Ferry back to Koh Samui! Koh Samui has some of the most picture-perfect beaches you will ever see, with blue water and white sand, palm trees everywhere. It’s what you imagine paradise to look like 🙂
If you can afford it, I’d recommend to get a beach front hotel (we stayed in Chaweng) and just relax for a bit.
In the evening, when it starts to cool down a bit, head over to the little fishing village of Bophut on the Northern side of the island. You can easily get there by just hailing down a songthaew! There are a lot of restaurants and shops in Bophut, and a walking street where you can enjoy the rest of the night…
Where to stay
We stayed at the La Vida Samui in Chaweng Beach and it was amazing. Location was great, food was great, staff was great, room was great – all round 10/10!
Days 9 & 10 – Explore Koh Samui
You have 2 full days to spend on Koh Samui, here are some activity suggestions:
- Angthong Marine National Park Day Trip
- Rent a car / scooter and explore the island (e.g. temples, beaches, waterfalls, gardens, …)
- Check out different beaches (Chaweng, Lamai, …)
- Visit markets (e.g. Lamai night market)
Days 11 – 14 – Phuket or Khao Lak
Option 1: Phuket
This is what we did. However, after the pristine beaches and beauty of Koh Tao and Koh Samui, Phuket itself was a real disappointment. We stayed in Kata Beach and I would never ever go back there, it was the worst.
Nevertheless, basing yourself in Phuket for a couple of days does have some advantages. It is a great starting point for exploring some more of the surrounding area through day trips. For example:
- Diving in the Racha Islands
- Day trip to Phi Phi Islands
- Day trip to Pha-Nga Bay (James Bond Islands)
- Visits to Simon’s Cabaret, Elephant Sanctuaries, Andamanda WaterPark, etc…
Overall, though, we did not enjoy Phuket at all. It is overcrowded and overpriced compared to all the other places we visited. We ended up splitting our time between Kata Beach and Mai Khao Beach further North, which was a lot more tranquil.
Where to stay
During the first couple of nights we stayed at the Kata Centara Resort, it was terrible. DO NOT STAY IN KATA BEACH!!!! The Kata Beach Club med blocks the entire beach access, it’s terrible!
In Mai Khao we stayed at the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa. What a fabulous hotel with amazing amenities and a stunning beach!!
Option 2: Khao Lak
If I were to go back, this is what I would actually do. I would fly into Phuket and then immediately head North to the Khao Lak region. From here, you can also visit the Pha-Nga Bay / James Bond Islands, and you are very close to the Similan Islands – a diver’s heaven!
Alternatively, if you want to stay closer to the international airport, I’d recommend to immediately head North and spend all days in Mai Khao. It was beautiful!!
Let me know if you have any questions, I’d love to chat in the comments <3 For more Thailand posts, visit this page here!
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