The Best Itinerary for 10 Days in Thailand

You’re planning to visit Thailand for 10 days?

Great idea!

In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared for you this 9-10-11 days itinerary in Thailand.

In this itinerary, you will visit 2 emblematic cities, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, as well as the historical park of Ayutthaya. But that’s not all! You will end your 10-day trip to Thailand by enjoying the beautiful beaches of Southern Thailand in Phuket or Krabi.

In addition to the must-see attractions for each stage of your itinerary, I will also give you all my best tips and accommodation suggestions depending on your budget.

So, how to spend 10 days in Thailand?

Let’s find out!

1) Bangkok (2 days)

When visiting Thailand for 9-10 days, the best option is to land in Bangkok.

To get to your hotel From Suvarnabhumi International Airport, you should take the Airport Rail Link. It departs from the underground level of the airport.

It takes about 30 minutes and costs around 45 Bahts to reach Phaya Thai station, the terminus. There are departures every 15 minutes from 6 am to midnight.

You will have to buy your token (= ticket) at the vending machine and keep it until the end of your journey when you will need to insert it in the exit gate.

Your hotel may not be close to an Airport Rail Link stop. In this case, you will then have to take the BTS Skytrain or the metro “MRT”, or perhaps a taxi to finish your journey.

Taking the Airport Rail Link to downtown Bangkok is the cheapest and fastest option, as you will avoid all traffic jams.

Alternatively, you can a taxi from level 1 of the airport to go to your hotel.

As taxis depart from various lanes, you will first have to go to a ticket machine that will give you the lane number where you’ll have to wait for your taxi.

It costs between 250 and 450 Bahts for a ride to the city center, and a bit more if you get stuck in traffic. Never accept a fixed fare for a taxi ride, always ask the driver to turn on the taximeter.

And if you’re looking for a stress free option, you should book a private transfer in advance online. It’s for sure the easiest and most convenient, as the driver will be waiting for you on arrival. You need to book your airport transfer by clicking here.

Last tip: if you take a regular taxi, you should give the driver the address of your hotel written in Thai. With the hundreds of hotels in Bangkok, it may be difficult even for them if you just have the hotel name.

Upon arriving at your hotel, rest a bit and have a good night’s sleep before starting your 10-day tour in Thailand.

The next day, it’s time to start your visit to Bangkok!

First, you should go to the Grand Palace, for sure the most famous place to visit in Bangkok. If your hotel is nearby, you can walk there, otherwise take a taxi as there is no metro station nearby.

The Grand Palace is the Thai royal family’s former residence. Nowadays, you can visit it and discover the numerous pavilions, palaces and beautiful buildings decorated with sculptures and statues.

During your visit, you shouldn’t miss:

• The Emerald Buddha statue in the Royal Chapel
• Chakri Maha Prasat palace, where King Rama V lived. He is still revered today for contributing greatly to the country’s economic rise in the 19th century.

The Grand Palace is open every day and the entrance costs 500 Bahts.

You should then go to Wat Pho, only a 5-minute walk from the Grand Palace.

There, you will find the largest statue of a sleeping Buddha in the city: 45m long and 15m tall!

The entrance fee is 200 Bahts.

After your visit to Wat Pho, let’s now head to another beautiful temple: Wat Arun, located on the opposite bank of the river.

It’s very easy to get there, just take the river shuttle (4 Baht), it will drop you right in front of the entrance (entrance fee: 50 Baht).

Wat Arun is especially famous for its large 82 meters tall Prang (tower) accompanied by 4 smaller ones. They are all covered with beautiful colorful mosaics.

As there are no explanations panels at the 3 sites (The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun), the best way to learn more about Bangkok’s most famous monuments is to opt for a guided tour!

To book your guided tour, you just have to click here.

When you’re done visiting Wat Arun, cross the river back.

If it’s not too late, you can for example visit one of these 2 museums:

• Museum Siam, perfect if you’re traveling with kids, as it’s quite fun. The museum is less than a 10-minute walk from the boat landing stage and the entrance fee is 300 Bahts.
• Bangkok National Museum, 2 km from the pier. This is the largest museum in Southeast Asia, very interesting and complete. The entrance fee is 200 Bahts.

After the museums, your should head to Bangkok’s most famous street: Khao San Road. It’s lined with numerous jewellery shops, bars and restaurants. Perfect to have a drink and take a break!

To end your first day in Bangkok in style, you should go on a dinner cruise.

It’s the perfect activity to discover Bangkok from another angle and admire the illuminated monuments and temples!

You need to book your dinner cruise by clicking on the button below:

And if you’re looking for a more luxurious and less touristy version, you should opt for this VIP dinner cruise aboard an old rice barge:

Spend a second night in Bangkok.

The following day, let’s continue your 10-day stay in Thailand by exploring other districts of Bangkok.

Here is an itinerary for your second day, to discover the best of Bangkok (in chronological order):

• First, go to Golden Mount temple (Wat Saket), famous for its terrace offering a panoramic view over Bangkok. The entrance fee is 50 Bahts. 
• Then, take a walk in the Chinese district. Don’t miss Wat Traimit, known for its golden Buddha statue weighing nearly 5.5 tons! Entrance fee: 40 Bahts.
• For a relaxing moment, you can go to the beautiful Lumpini park, the largest public garden in the city. Keep your eyes wide open and you will surely meet a few Malay lizards (not to be confused with the Komodo dragon, which are much larger and dangerous!).
• You can then go to the Siam district and its huge shopping malls. There is absolutely everything here: Electronics, clothes, jewellery, souvenirs and a lot more!

In the evening, you should really go to the top of the Bayoke tower to enjoy the view. You need to book your ticket in advance by clicking here.

If you prefer, you can alternatively go to the King Power Mahanakhon, currently the highest observation deck in Thailand. Tickets available here!

And if you’re looking for a bit more action and a thrilling atmosphere, you can attend a Muay Thai boxing fight! You need to book your tickets here.

Spend one last night in Bangkok.

To learn everything about the best places to visit in Bangkok, you should read my other article: The 30 Best Things to Do in Bangkok.

Accommodation in Bangkok

To sort through the hundreds of accommodation options, I have prepared a list of the best hotels to stay in Bangkok!

The best hotels near the Grand Palace and Wat Pho:

• D Hostel Bangkok: Youth hostel located near the temples and 5 minutes on foot from Khao San Road. Dormitory beds start at €20. Strong points: The location within walking distance to the temples, the cleanliness, the modern decor. Perfect for small budgets!
• Rambuttri Village Plaza: Located 1.5 kilometer from the Grand Palace and 500 meters from Khao San Road. Bright and pleasant double rooms starting at €30 a night, breakfast included. Strong points: Location, the rooftop swimming pools.
• Baan Wanglang Riverside, Bangkok: A hotel located on the riverbank opposite the Grand Palace, only 5 minutes away by shuttle boat. Spacious double rooms with a river view starting at €50. Strong points: The amazing river view, the rooftop, the proximity to the 3 main temples of Bangkok.
• Siri Heritage Bangkok Hotel: A brand new hotel, 10 minutes on foot from the Grand Palace and 1km from the National Museum. Warm and comfortable rooms with a balcony starting at €70, breakfast included. Strong points: The surroundings, the comfortable beds, the friendly staff, the pool. It’s my favorite for its amazing value for money around the Grand Palace!
• Inn a day: located 600 meters away from the Grand Palace. Rooms with unusual and atypical industrial style decoration starting at €100, breakfast included. Strong points: Amazing view of the river and Wat Arun, excellent breakfast, the design.
• Chakrabongse Villas: On the riverbank, only a 15 minute walk to Wat Pho. Rooms and suites with Oriental yet modern decor start at €170, breakfast included. Strong points: The incomparable view of Wat Arun, the excellent location, the pool. It’s my recommendation for a romantic stay in Bangkok!

The best quiet hotels near the metro (to get around easily)

• Bangkok Patio: Located 10 minutes away on foot from the BTS Skytrain. Super spacious and modern studios and apartments with equipped kitchens and balconies starting at €40 per night. Strong points: The pool, the quiet, the location. It’s my favorite for its excellent value for money! Also perfect for family holidays.
• Noursabah Boutique Bed Bangkok: Situated 500 meters from the BTS and Airport Rail Link (a direct line to the airport). Well decorated rooms with super comfortable bed begin at €50 a night with breakfast included. Strong points: The quiet, the comfort, food is available (noodles, yogurt, cereal), water, fruit juice 24 hours a day, super convenient to go to the airport.
• Anajak Bangkok Hotel: Located 5 minutes from the metro and the Airport Rail Link. Very comfortable and cozy rooms starting at €75 a night with breakfast. Strong points: The calm location, the pool, the style of the rooms. An excellent choice for visiting Bangkok or to easily get to the airport at the end of your trip.
• Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn: Situated just a few steps from the metro. Spacious rooms with large bay windows, staring at €115 including breakfast. Strong points: The great value for money, the infinity pool, the delicious breakfast, the direct access to the metro. It’s my recommendation for a high-end stay in Bangkok.
• Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok: Luxury hotel with direct access to Siam Paragon shopping center and the BTS. Elegant and contemporary rooms starting at €230, breakfast included. Strong points: The large pools and garden, the jacuzzi, the spa, the excellent breakfast. The best hotel in Bangkok for a luxurious stay!

2) Ayutthaya (1 day)

For the second leg of your 10-day road trip in Thailand, you will be going to the historical park of Ayutthaya, only 75 km away from Bangkok.

You have 4 options to get there from Bangkok:

1) Rent a car (the most convenient, as you will use it for the rest of your holiday).

You should ideally rent a car at Don Muang airport (not the one you arrived at). It’s by far the most convenient, as it’s on the way to Ayutthaya! You will thus avoid traffic jams in the city center.

It’s then only a 45-minute drive from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.

You should compare prices on Booking.com Cars, it’s the easiest way to find the best deal for your car rental in Thailand.

To book your rental car, simply click on the button below:

2) By train: the cheapest option, with a train ticket costing only 15 Bahts for 2 hours.

3) By bus: It takes 90 minutes and costs 50 Bahts

4) In a minivan: It takes one hour and costs 70 Bahts

In any case, you should leave Bangkok early enough so that you can spend a full day at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ayutthaya.

One day is the perfect duration to explore the magnificent ancient temples of the second capital of the kingdom of Siam.

To facilitate your visit to the historical park, I have prepared a comprehensive article that answers all your questions:

• How to visit Ayutthaya?
• Practical information: prices, opening times…
  
• The list of the most beautiful temples
• How much time does it take to visit Ayutthaya
• The tourist map of the temples
• An itinerary to visit Ayutthaya in 1 day
• And of course, a bit of history!
  

Simply click on the following link to read my guide of Ayutthaya and plan your visit: Visiting the historical park of Ayutthaya – All you need to know.

If you don’t want to bother organizing the journey to Ayutthaya by yourself, you can also opt for an organized day trip from Bangkok.

You thus won’t have to worry about anything, as everything is included:

• Bus from your hotel in Bangkok to the historical park
• A guide to accompany you on temple visits
• Entrance fees to temples
• Lunch
• Return by boat, with a river cruise!

At the end of the day, you can choose between spending the night in Ayutthaya, leaving directly for your next stop or returning to Bangkok.

I’ll explain these options below.

Accommodation in Ayutthaya

• Early Bird Hostel Ayutthaya: Hostel located 700 metres from Wat Mahathat. Dormitory bed from €13, breakfast included. Strong points: friendly staff, cleanliness, privacy thanks the curtain. Perfect for backpackers!
• Baan Baimai Boutique Room: Located 1.7 km from Wat Mahathat or 5 minutes by car. Spacious and well decorated double room from € 27. Strong points: quiet, decor, private parking. An excellent choice for cheap accommodation in Ayutthaya!
• P.U. Inn Resort: Located 5 minutes from the bus station and 10 minutes from Mahathat temple. Comfortable and colourful double room from €45. Strong points: swimming pool, central location, warm welcome.
• Baan Thai House: Located 1.4 km from Wat Yai Chai Mongkon. Spacious villa with balcony and garden or lake view from €65, breakfast included. Strong points: swimming pool, outdoors, good meals, setting, calm.
• Classic Kameo Hotel & Serviced Apartments, Ayutthaya: 5 minute drive from Yai Chai Mongkon Temple. Double room with kitchenette and sitting area, modern and spacious, from €75, breakfast included. Strong points: facilities, comfort, swimming pool, spa.
• Sala Ayutthaya: Located 1.6 km from the historical park and the Wat Chai Watthanaram. Modern double room with exposed red bricks from €140, breakfast included. Strong points: swimming pool, view of the river and the temples, food quality, hotel design. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Ayutthaya!

3) Chiang Mai (3 days)

Let’s continue your 10-day Thailand trip and head to Chiang Mai, the Northern capital of the country. It’s located about 600 km from Ayutthaya, and you have a few options to get there:

1) Take a flight from Bangkok

After your visit to Ayutthaya, you can return to Bangkok and take a flight to Chiang Mai the following day. It’s the prefect choice if you have opted for the organized day trip to visit Ayutthaya, with departure and return to Bangkok.

A flight is for sure the fastest way to reach Chiang Mai, as it only takes 1 hour. Prices are also very reasonable.

Feel free to compare flight prices to Chiang Mai using our comparison tool in partnership with Skyscanner. It’s the best way to make sure that you will get the best rates.

 2) Stay in Ayutthaya at the end of the day and catch the night train to Chiang Mai.

This is a 12-hour journey, but it’s clearly the cheapest option! If you take a bed in a night cabin, you can take the opportunity to sleep and rest before your visit to Chiang Mai.

3) Spend a night in Ayutthaya and leave the next day with your rental car (or a day train)

In this case, you will have to dedicate one day of your trip to the journey and thus lose one day in Chiang Mai (2 full days there instead of 3).

Arriving in Chiang Mai, you should start by visiting the old town on foot. This is where the main temples and museums are located.

Here is my recommended itinerary, to make sure you don’t miss out on anything:

• Wat Phra Singh. Free entry.
• Wat Chedi Luang, where the Emerald Buddha, now at the Grand Palace of Bangkok, was previously exhibited. Entrance costs 40 baht.
• Photo stop at a small teak temple: Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang. Free of charge
• Go to the the Three Kings Monument
• Visit of one of the 3 museums in the monument square: the cultural centre, the history centre or the Lanna museum of popular arts. They all depict the history of the city and the province.
• Wat Chiang Man
• Then go to Moon Muang Road
• Warorot market, the largest in the city
• Wat Saen Fang, Wat Buppharam and Wat Mahawan. Only the Buppharam temple has an entrance fee: 20 Bahts.
• End your day at the Night Bazaar on weekdays or the Saturday and Sunday Night Market on weekends. You can stock up on souvenirs and try the excellent Thai street food!

Spend a night in Chiang Mai.

Your 9-10 day itinerary in Thailand continues, it’s now your 2nd day in Chiang Mai:

Visit the Doi Suthep National Park, located just outside the city. There are several places to visit in the park:

• Doi Suthep temple (Wat Phra That Doi Suthep), the park’s main tourist attraction. Once you climb the 300 steps, you can enjoy a 360° view over Chiang Mai province. 30 Bahts.
• Bhubing Palace, where the Thai royal family spend part of the winter. It’s not possible to visit the inside, but you can take a walk in the beautiful gardens. 50 Bahts.
• A Hmong village, with its waterfall, garden and its many souvenir stalls. 10 Bahts.
• Mon Tha Than waterfall. 100 Bahts.
• Huay Kaew waterfall: another waterfall near the park entrance. Free entry.

To explore the park, it is best to have a car or to rent a scooter.

There are many song thaew (Thai shared taxi) that leave the old town and go to the park, but you will have to wait for them to fill up before leaving.

And if you don’t want any hassle, you should opt for the guided tour from Chiang Mai.

As always, everything is included!

You will find all the details and can book it by clicking on the button below:

If visiting Doi Suthep National Park doesn’t take you the full day, you can then go spend a bit of time by Huay Tung Tao lake, also just outside the city.

The place is pleasant, with a road running around the lake and wooden huts on stilts where Thai families come together to eat and taste fresh fish.

You can also go for a swim or hire paddle boats.

And make sure you take a souvenir photo of your trip to the lake among the many giant straw animals (gorillas, elephants, buffalo).

Entrance to the lake costs 50 Bahts.

In the evening, if you haven’t done so already in Bangkok, you can attend a Muay Thai boxing match in Chiang Mai. They take place every evening, but the location changes depending on the day of the week.

Check with your hotel. It will cost between 400 and 600 Bahts depending on the category of tickets.

Spend another night in Chiang Mai.

For your last day in Chiang Mai, you will have the choice between several activities.

Depending on your tastes, you can choose between:

1) A Thai cooking class. Chiang Mai’s cooking schools are the most renowned in Thailand!

The cooks are super nice and will take you to the market to buy some of the ingredients you’ll cook afterwards. The class ends with the tasting of your dishes and you also get a small recipe booklet.

To take a cooking class in Chiang Mai, you just have to click on the following button:

2) During your 10-day tour in Thailand, it would be a shame not to see elephants

Near Chiang Mai, several sanctuaries are on a mission to help the most iconic animals of Thailand and give them a second life after years and years of abuse and mistreatment.

You can spend half a day with the caretakers to help feed and wash the elephants. As the number of visitors is limited, you really need to book in advance.

3) You prefer a sportier activity?

No problem, you will be spoilt for choice:

• Mountain biking: From 2300 Bahts for 4 hours.
• Rafting: For a 10km descent, it costs 3000 Bahts per person.
• Quad biking: Starting from 2200 Bahts for 3 hours.
• Kayaking: 2300 Bahts for 4 hours.
• A buggy ride in the jungle. 2000 Bahts per person for 1 hour
• A 2h Segway tour + zip lines at Flight of the Gibbon park
• A day at the Grand Canyon water park: featuring slides, inflatable water attractions, zip lines, paddle boats, kayaks, boats.
• A hike in Doi Inthanon National Park
• A jungle hike + a visit to a mountain village

Spend one last night in Chiang Mai.

You can find more details and information about visiting Chiang Mai in my dedicated article: The 20 Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai.

Accommodation in Chiang Mai

• HOSTEL by BED: Youth hostel located 500 meters from Wat Phra Sing and the Sunday market. The beds are in a modern and clean dormitory and start at 10€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: clean rooms and common areas, a good and healthy breakfast, bottled water. This is the best budget accommodation in Chiang Mai. Perfect for backpackers!
• Wing Bed: Located in the old town, 800 meters from Wat Chedi Luang. Comfortable and cosy double rooms starting at 35€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: brand new building, ideal location, excellent service. It’s my recommendation in Chiang Mai for its outstanding value for money!
• Pingviman Hotel: Located 10 minutes away from the weekend market and 700 meters from Wat Phra Sing. Thai style double rooms with carved wooden furniture, spa bath and balcony, starting at 80€, breakfast included. Strong points: swimming pool, traditional decoration, perfect location, comfort.
• 99 The Heritage Hotel: Located in the pedestrian street of the Sunday night market. Double room with tasteful decoration and very comfortable bedding starting at 135€, breakfast included. Strong points: swimming pool, friendly staff, good location, free mini bar, fruits and cakes available all day long. A great choice for a romantic stay in Chiang Mai!
• Chala Number6: 5* hotel located in the historic center, 200 meters away from Wat Chedi Luang. This luxury hotel offers spacious and very comfortable rooms, starting at 190€, breakfast included. Strong points: swimming pool and garden, lovely staff, charming hotel, snacks offered every day. It’s my recommendation for a luxury stay!

4) Phuket or Krabi (3 days)

For the 4th leg of your 10-day stay in Thailand, it is time to leave the North and go and relax on the most beautiful beaches of the South!

As there is an aiport in Chiang Mai, it’s very easy to get to Phuket or Krabi, both located in the Andaman Sea. In less than 2 hours, you can lay your towel on the  beach!

For the next 3 days, I have thus prepared 2 options, depending if you prefer to stay in Phuket or Krabi.

Option 1 – Phuket (3 days)

For your first day in Phuket, you should relax a bit and enjoy the beaches.

You can for example go to Patong beach, the longest beach and busiest area of the island. In addition to sunbathing and swimming, you can try water sports such as jet skiing or parasailing.

At the end of the day, take a walk along Bangla Road, the island’s most famous street for partying.

Several ladyboy shows (extremely well-made and dressed men who could be mistaken for women) are performed here. The most famous is the Simon Cabaret Show: it is a full house every day!

You should book your tickets for the show in advance, right here!

Spend the night in Phuket.

For the second day, head to the eastern part of the island to discover Phuket Town and its surroundings.

The easiest way to get around Phuket is to rent a scooter.

In Phuket Town, you can take a stroll to admire the coloured houses of Sino-Portuguese architecture. The area is very pleasant, with several small craft shops, bars and restaurants.

Then, head to Thalang Road, the most popular street. You can visit the Thai Hua museum, depicting the history of Phuket.

Nearby, you can go to “ Monkey Hill”, home to numerous monkeys. They understand that most people come to feed them, so they aren’t very wild.

In the area, there are many bananas and groundnuts sellers, so you will easily find something to give to the monkeys if you wish to.

After feeding the monkeys, take the opportunity to climb to the top of the hill to admire the view.

Speaking of views, there is another very famous viewpoint in Phuket Town: Khao Rang Hill. On the way there, stop by Khao Rang temple to see its large golden Buddha statue.

Finish the afternoon at one of Phuket’s beaches. You will find a selection of the best beaches in Phuket in this article: Visiting Phuket: The Definitive Guide. 

Spend a second night in Phuket.

For your 3rd and last day in Phuket, here are a few suggestions:

1) A boat trip to discover Koh Phi Phi, the most famous island in Thailand.

In addition to Koh Phi Phi, you will explore:

• Bamboo Island
• Khai Island
• Maiton Island
• Monkey Beach
• Pi Leh Cove
• Viking Cave

Simply click on the button below to book your boat tour to Koh Phi Phi from Phuket:

And if you’re looking for a more VIP experience, you can opt for a similar boat trip on a luxury catamaran. Click here to book it!

2) A boat trip to the Similan Islands archipelago, one of the best places to dive in Thailand.

To book your excursion to the Similan Islands from Phuket with a serious agency, simply click on the button below:

3) A boat trip to Phang Nga Bay, including a stop at the famous James Bond Island.

This tour also includes 2 stops to go kayaking around the karst rocks while enjoying the fabulous landscapes of Phang Na Bay. You will also stop at Koh Panyee and its famous floating market.

To book your James Bond Island tour from Phuket, simply click on the button below:

4) Visiting an elephant sacntuary (if you didn’t do it in Chiang Mai)

You just need to click on the button below to book your visit to Phuket elephant sanctuary:

If you want to learn more about the best places to visit and activities in Phuket, you should read my dedicated article: The 23 Best Things to Do in Phuket.

Spend one last night in Phuket.

Your 10-day trip to Thailand is now coming to an end! You should now return to the airport and take your return flight.

Accommodation in Phuket

If you want to be in the middle of the action, I have prepared a selection of accommodation on the Patong side:

• Lub D Phuket Patong: Youth Hostel 5 minutes from Patong Beach and 10 minutes from Bangla Road. Modern and very clean dormitory bed from €12. Strong points: huge swimming pool, common areas with even a boxing ring, design, cleanliness. This is the best hostel in Phuket!
• Mazi Design Hotel by Kalima: Located 5 minutes from the night market and 10 minutes from Bangla Road. Spacious designer double room from €35 per night, breakfast at €7. Strong points: swimming pool, location, comfort of the rooms. It’s my favorite for its excellent value for money in Patong.
• Holiday Inn Express Phuket Patong Beach Central: Located opposite the beach. Modern and warm double room with balcony from €72, breakfast included. Strong points: outdoor facilities, swimming pool, welcoming atmosphere and the friendliness of the staff.
• Phuket Marriott Resort Spa, Merlin Beach: 5-star hotel complex located 2 miles from Patong, right on Tri-Trang beach. Warm and comfortable double room with private balcony or terrace from €110, breakfast at €19. Strong points: sea-side location, private beach, quiet, playground for children, setting. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Phuket!

If you prefer to stay in Phuket Town, here is my selection of hotels:

• Baan Baan hostel: Hostel located in Phuket Old Town. Dormitory bed from €8, breakfast included. Strong points: helpful staff, cleanliness, location, calm atmosphere. The best youth hostel to stay in Phuket Town!
• Ritsurin Boutique Hotel: Located 600 metres from Thalang Street. Clean and well-equipped double room from €28. Strong points: location, cleanliness, friendly staff.
• The Malika Hotel: Located 1.8 km from the old town. Double room with very comfortable bedding and balcony from €38, breakfast at €6. Strong points: swimming pool, quiet atmosphere, friendly staff, ideal location to take the boat to Koh Phi Phi. It’s my favorite for its excellent value for money in Phuket Town!
• Casa Blanca Boutique Hotel: Located in the old town. Double room decorated with great taste from €50 per night, breakfast at €7. Strong points: excellent location, friendly staff, right next to the night market.
• Novotel Phuket Phokeethra: Located 1 mile away from the old town. Super spacious double room, modern design from €85, breakfast at €15. Strong points: setting, comfort, ideal to visit the old town, close to the boat to the islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. This is my recommendation for an upscale stay in Phuket Town!

Option 2 – Krabi (3 days)

Instead of Phuket, you can choose to continue your 10-day road trip in Thailand in Krabi, easily accessible by taking a flight from Chiang Mai.

Upon arrival, you should go to Ao Nang, a seaside resort featuring beautiful beaches, hotels, restaurants and shops.

Staying in Ao Nang is by far the most convenient, as you can easily go to the beach and it’s the departure point for boat trips to other islands.

For your first day, you can spend a quiet afternoon at Ao Nang beach or at the slightly wilder Nopparat Thara beach.

Spend the night in Ao Nang.

On the second day, you should go to Railay peninsula, only 10 minutes by boat from Ao Nang (200 Bahts round trip per person).

This is where you will find the most beautiful beaches in the province of Krabi: fine sand and crystal clear water in a splendid setting, bordered by forests and huge karst cliffs.

Railay is thus especially famous for its 2 beautiful sandy beaches: Railay West beach (where you arrive by boat) and Phra Nang Beach, a 15-minute walk from the first beach.

And if you feel like doing activities, you can rent kayaks and stand up paddles. However, the main activity in Railay is actually not a water sport: it’s rock climbing!

With nearly 700 climbing routes, Railay is a real paradise for climbers.

And it’s actually the perfect place to get started with this sport.  You can book a few hours long course to learn the basics!

To book your rock climbing course in Railay, simply click on the button below:

At the end of the day, return to Ao Nang.

For your 3rd and last day in Krabi, you should really go on a boat trip to discover the surrounding islands.

The boats depart from Ao Nang and you need to book in advance, as these days trips are very popular.

All these boat tours will allow you to snorkel and swim in idyllic locations. Only the islands you will visit change.

And as always, everything is included:

• Transfer from your hotel to the harbor
• Full day boat trip
• Snorkeling equipment
• Lunch
• Unlimited soft drinks
• Water and fruits

Here are the 3 boat trips you can choose from:

1) The 4 islands boat tour, to discover Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Koh Tup and Phra Nang Cave

2) A boat trip to Koh Phi Phi, one of the most famous islands of Thailand

3) A boat tour to the Hong Islands

You will find all the details about these boat trips and the other best things to do in Krabi in guide: The 17 Best Things to Do in Krabi.

Spend one last night in Ao Nang.

Unfortunately, you are now at the end of your 9-10 day itinerary in Thailand. You will now have to go back to the airport and catch your return flight.

Accommodation in Krabi / Ao Nang

• K-Bunk Hostel: Hostel located 15 minutes walk from Ao Nang beach. Dormitory bed from €13. Strong points: the staff, the ambiance, comfortable beds.
• Cocco House: Located 1.5 km away from Nopparat Beach. Very clean and quiet bungalow from €30 per night, breakfast included. Strong points: excellent breakfast, free bike rental, good bedding. It’s my favorite for its excellent value for money in Ao Nang.
• Wake Up Aonang Hotel: Located right next to the beach. Double room with large bay windows and sea view from €50. Strong points: the beach adjacent location and all the restaurants, swimming pool, comfort.
• Phu Pha Aonang Resort Spa: Located 800 m away from Ao Nang Beach. Wooden and parquet floor room with patio from €75, breakfast included. Strong points: lush garden, view of the cliff, swimming pool, free shuttle to the town. This is my recommendation for an upscale stay in Ao Nang.
• The Nine Thipthara Klongson Resort: Located 5 km from the sea. Very spacious and tastefully decorated villa with a spa bath, from €220, breakfast included. Strong points: environment, swimming pool, beautiful rooms. My recommendation for a luxury stay in Ao Nang. The best place to spend a romantic holiday!

10-day itinerary in Northern Thailand

If you prefer, you can also choose to focus only on Bangkok and Northern Thailand for your 10 days itinerary.

In that case, you should follow this itinerary till leg 4 (Chiang Mai).

Then, instead of heading south, you can spend the end of your trip in Chiang Rai. The city is about a 3-hour drive from Chiang Mai.

There, you can visit the white temple, one of the most famous in Thailand.

To organise the last 3 days in Chiang Rai, you should read my article: Chiang Rai: the definitive guide.

10 days itinerary in South Thailand

On the other hand, you can also choose to spend your entire 10-day stay in Southern Thailand.

In this case, you should land directly in Phuket or Krabi.

You can then organise your holidays as follows:

• 3 days in Phuket or Krabi
• 2 or 3 days in Koh Yao Noi
• 2 or 3 days in Koh Lanta

I give you detailed daily itineraries for these islands in this article: 7 days in South Thailand.

If you need help to organize your 10-day itinerary in Thailand, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below.

Thailand travel Guides

• Buy the Lonely Planet Thailand guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
• Buy the DK Eyewitness Thailand guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk

You’re traveling to Thailand? These articles will help you!

Discover all my articles about Thailand: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Thailand are listed there.

The 25 Best Things to Do in Thailand

• Itinerary: One week in Thailand – Perfect to visit Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai!
• Itinerary: 6,7 or 8 days in Thailand – 2 itineraries to the southern islands, starting from Phuket or Krabi
• Itinerary: 10 days in Thailand – The perfect itinerary to discover the best of Thailand!
• Itinerary: 2 weeks in Thailand – Discover Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, + Best Southern islands!
• Itinerary: 15 days in Thailand – The best itinerary to visit the most beautiful Southern islands
• Itinerary: 3 weeks in Thailand – Discover the best of Thailand in 20-21 days
• Itinerary: 1 month in Thailand – The most complete itinerary to visit Thailand!

• Road trip in Thailand: The best itineraries for 7, 10, 15, 21 and 30 days

• Ayutthaya: The definitive guide to visit the archaeological park
• Bangkok: The 30 best places to visit
• Chiang Mai: The 20 best things to do
• Chiang Rai: The 17 must-see attractions
• Koh Lanta: The 15 most beautiful places to see on the island
• Koh Yao Noi: All the things to do on this paradise island!
• Krabi: Top 17 best places to visit
• Phuket: The 23 best things to do
• Sukhothai: How to visit the historical park?

• 3 days in Bangkok – The best itinerary to visit the Thai capital in 72h!
• 3 Days in Chiang Mai – The perfect itinerary to visit the Chiang Mai in 72h!

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