Thailand · 12 days · Untravel editors
The first-timer trinity — city, mountains, beach — north to south, with the temple circuit and the street food done right. The geography does the work; cheap flights link the hubs.
12 days and 19 stops — Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, with two moves between them. It opens with arrive, ease in. Every stop carries the note that put it on the list. Read it all here, no app and no account.
The 12-day Thailand itinerary, day by day
Day 01 · Bangkok
Arrive, ease in
Sukhumvit
Settle on the BTS line (best transit + dining). Street food below your hotel to ease in.
Sukhumvit rooftop bar
A rooftop bar for the skyline on the first night — Bangkok does these better than almost anywhere.
Day 02 · Bangkok
The temple circuit, timed right
The Grand Palace
Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew at opening (฿500, strict dress code).
Wat Pho
The Reclining Buddha, ฿100, a 10-min walk south of the Grand Palace.
Wat Arun
The Temple of Dawn, ฿200, via the ฿3 cross-river ferry. Finish by early afternoon to beat the heat.
Thip Samai
Street-food legend — egg-wrapped pad thai. (Or 1-Michelin-star Jay Fai if you'll queue.)
Day 03 · Bangkok
Markets + the city
Chatuchak Weekend Market
A market morning (if it's a weekend), then a proper Bangkok night out — the rooftop bars here are world-famous. Use Grab, not street taxis.
Transfer · day 3 → 4584 km apart
Day 04 · Chiang Mai
Into the north
Chiang Mai Old City
Settle, then an Old City temple wander as the day cools.
Night-market khao soi
First khao soi at the night market — the northern signature dish.
Day 05 · Chiang Mai
Elephants (ethically)
Elephant Nature Park
Full day at an ethical sanctuary (watch/walk/feed only; book ahead). The trip highlight.
Day 06 · Chiang Mai
Cooking + temples
Khao Soi Khun Yai
Early lunch (before 11:30, sells out), then a cooking class and Doi Suthep at sunset.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Mountain temple at sunset.
Day 07 · Chiang Mai
Markets + slow
Sunday Walking Street
Old City at your pace; the Sunday market if your dates land on a Sunday.
Transfer · day 7 → 81221 km apart
Day 08 · Phuket
Beach arrival
Kata Beach
Settle on the relaxed Kata/Karon side. Beach afternoon.
Kata seafood sunset
A beachfront seafood dinner at sunset to start the southern leg.
Day 09 · Phuket
Island-hop
Phi Phi Islands
Day-trip (Maya Bay), or James Bond Island + Phang Nga Bay sea-cave canoeing. The iconic limestone-and-turquoise day.
Day 10 · Phuket
Slow water day
Phuket Old Town
A wander through the 120-year-old Sino-Portuguese shophouses — the underrated cultural side of Phuket.
Tu Kab Khao
Lunch at the Bib Gourmand southern-Thai spot — crab curry with noodles, deep-fried turmeric fish.
Day 11 · Phuket
Last beach day
Karon Beach
Float. Earn the flight home.
Day 12
Fly out
Nothing scheduled — the day is the journey home.
