If you are orientating yourself to travel to Thailand, you have many options. In this article you can read why Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia to travel to, what you can see there, which transport options there are, how much a trip through Thailand costs and why this 3 weeks in Thailand itinerary is complete and diverse.
We have traveled for 3 weeks in Thailand and based on our experience we put together this 3 weeks Thailand itinerary. You can also read tips to extend or shorten this to a trip of 3 weeks Thailand. Our trip has a nice mix between cities, nature, culture, and history. If you are looking for adventure and want to do something different every day, this 3 week trip to Thailand is perfect for you.
You can copy this 3 week’s itinerary of Thailand and do exactly what we have done or you can use this itinerary as inspiration to put together your route.
How many days do you need for Thailand?
We recommend traveling through Thailand for at least 2 weeks, with 3 weeks in Thailand being perfect. In 3 weeks you have enough time to discover different places. If you have more/less than 3 weeks, you can add/skip destinations in this 3 weeks Thailand itinerary.
When planning your trip, it is important not to underestimate the distances and travel times between destinations. If you have a balanced itinerary you are mainly discovering things instead of being constantly on the road.
If you have less than 3 weeks, you can minimize our itinerary. In addition to our Thailand itinerary for 3 weeks, we also share a Thailand itinerary for 2 weeks.
If you have more time to discover Thailand, you have several choices, depending on your wishes. If you like culture, temples, and nature, we recommend spending more time in the north of Thailand in Chiang Rai province. If you are in Chiang Mai, it is highly recommended to extend your trip by visiting Pai. This is a village in the middle of the mountains. We were unable to visit Pai because the roads were unsafe due to the rain.
If you like islands, tropical sandy beaches, snorkeling, and the sea, island hopping from Koh Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan, and Ko Tao is highly recommended. Other top destinations in the south of Thailand are Phuket and the Trang Islands. Due to a lack of time, we were unable to visit these places.
How much does it cost to travel through Thailand?
Thailand is cheap to travel to. In Southeast Asia, Thailand is one of the more expensive countries to travel to. If you watch your spending, by not doing extremely expensive excursions every day, and don’t doing crazy things, a budget of $25-$30 per day can be sufficient. This only applies to people who consider themselves budget travelers. An average traveler spends $33-$55 per day. This is an indication if you want to know more about how much it costs to travel through Thailand you can read our article for more information. In this article, you can read in detail how much you spend per cost type per day. You can also read how much we spend during this 3 week Thailand itinerary.
Our favorite places to stay during this Thailand itinerary
During our trip through Thailand, we went looking for nice and special places to sleep. In our opinion, the nice and special accommodations where you stay give your trip an extra dimension. We have managed to find those places in Thailand and are happy to share this with you. We share two unique tips per destination. In this article, we give you an overview of the best places to stay in Thailand.
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Thailand itinerary which direction to go?
Your trip probably starts in Bangkok, the advantage of Bangkok is that this city is centrally located in Thailand. After seeing Bangkok, you have two options: travel north or south. We recommend traveling north first and then continuing your journey south. The reason for this is that you do more activities in the north and have more time in the south to enjoy the tropical islands and beautiful beaches. We prefer to do at the beginning our the trip the most active things. In the second part of the holiday, you will have more time to relax. You can also turn it around, this is completely personal.
3 Weeks Thailand itinerary
Below you see the perfect Thailand itinerary that we made based on our experience. To give you a good idea of all the destinations of this Thailand itinerary, we have briefly described each destination below. If you want to know more about a specific destination, you can click on the link to the destination. We have written a detailed article for each destination in which you can find information about sights, activities, dining options, our favorite hotels & hotels, and our tips. These articles help you to give a good picture of the destination.
See all destinations below in an overview in which you can see how many nights and days you will stay per destination.
| Destination | Night* | Day* |
| Bangkok | 3 | Day 1 – 4 |
| Chiang Mai | 4 | Day 4 – 8 |
| Pai | 3 | Day 8 – 11 |
| Surat Thani | 1 | Day 11 – 12 |
| Koh Samui | 5 | Day 12 – 17 |
| Koh Sok National Park | 3 | Day 17 – 20 |
| Bangkok | 1 | Day 20 – 21 |
| Total | 20 |
*You are of course free to determine how many days and nights you are going to stay at certain places. In our experience, this is a great division, so that you have a good mix between nature, culture, adventure, and relaxation.
Bangkok
Your journey begins in Bangkok, a great city to discover. It is a perfect place to get used to the Thai culture and the high temperatures. Be prepared to get used to all the noises because this city is different from the ones you’re probably used to. In Bangkok you can do many great things, for example, you can go to the palace of the king, discover different temples but also visit local markets. You need 3 days for Bangkok, open our article via the link.
Tip: Bangkok is very popular, so our favorite accommodations fill up quickly. Bangkok is probably your start and end destination of the tour through Thailand or Southeast Asia. It is therefore recommended to record these in good time.
Tip: stay 3 nights | day 1 – 4
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is arguably the best city to visit in Thailand. It is a city with a relaxed atmosphere. The highlight of Chiang Mai is the local Sunday night market. From Chiang Mai, you can organize a lot of fun activities. You can visit a recognized elephant sanctuary where you can volunteer for a whole day. You can also make beautiful hikes in the Chiang Mai area and do many more activities. Are you curious about what you can do in Chiang Mai, where you can eat, and which accommodation we recommend? We’ve gathered all our tips in our 3 days Chiang Mai itinerary.
Tip: stay 3 nights | day 4 – 8
Tip regarding Pai: If you have the opportunity, we recommend that you continue your journey to Pai. We were unable to visit Pai because the roads were unsafe due to the rain. Stay 3 nights | day 8 -11.
Surat Thani
Surat Thani is a city in the south of Thailand. From Chiang Mai, you travel via Surat Thani to Koh Samui. If you take the plane from Chiang Mai to Surat Thani in the morning, you can take the ferry to Koh Samui in the afternoon. If you leave in the afternoon (or later) from Chiang Mai, you will arrive in Surat Thani in the evening, there you can take the ferry to Koh Samui in the evening/night. It is then not necessary to stay in Surat Thani, so you can stay 1 night longer in Koh Samui.
If you arrive in Surat Thani very late, we recommend staying in Surat Thani at B Boutique Residence. The next morning you can take the first ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui. The advantage is that you do not travel at night, which means you are more rested.
Tip: stay 1 nights | day 11 – 12
Koh Samui
It’s time to discover one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands. Above Surat Thani are three very popular islands and each has its advantages. We went to Koh Samui because this is the largest island and therefore has more to offer. We are travelers who love to discover the authentic parts of a country and believe us you can find it in Koh Samui. It’s very easy, rent a scooter and go around the island. There are many places where it seems like you are the first to discover it. There are plenty of beaches on Koh Samui where you will be all alone. We share our tips in our Koh Samui guide.
Tip: stay 5 nights | day 12 – 17
Khao Sok National Park
After relaxing in Koh Samui, you will visit perhaps one of the most beautiful national parks in Thailand: Khao Sok National Park. This park is surrounded by rock formations that can have an altitude of 900 meters. When you are in Khao Sok National Park you have the feeling as if you are standing in a scene from Jurassic Park. There is a lot you can do in this park. We wrote all our tips and things you need to know in this article Khao Sok National Park travel guide. This will help you to make sure that you get the most out of it.
After relaxing on Koh Samui, you will visit perhaps the most beautiful national park in Thailand: Khao Sok National Park. This park is surrounded by rock formations that can be up to 900 meters high. When you are in Khao Sok National Park you feel like you are in a scene from Jurassic Park. You can do a lot in this park, such as staying in a bungalow on the water in the middle of the wilderness. We’ve written all of our tips and things not to miss in this article Khao Sok National Park travel guide. This article ensures that you are prepared.
Tip: stay 3 nights | day 17 – 20
Thailand travel guide
Putting together an itinerary is part of preparing yourself for 3 weeks backpacking in Thailand. If you want to know more about Thailand, we recommend reading this Thailand travel guide. In this travel guide, you read what is the best period to visit Thailand, how safe Thailand is to travel to, which items are essential to bring with you, and more useful information.
Itinerary Thailand 3 weeks FAQ
1. I would like to travel for 2 weeks in Thailand, which itinerary do you recommend?
If you are looking for a 2 weeks Thailand itinerary, you can use the overview below as inspiration. During these 2 weeks, you still have the chance to discover nice places in Thailand. The only difference is that you have less time at a destination and do not visit Pai.
| Destination | Night | Day |
| Bangkok | 2 | Day 1 – 3 |
| Chiang Mai | 3 | Day 3 – 6 |
| Surat Thani | 1 | Day 6 – 7 |
| Koh Samui | 4 | Day 7 – 11 |
| Koh Sok National Park | 2 | Day 11 – 13 |
| Bangkok | 1 | Day 13 – 14 |
| Total | 13 |
What do you think of our 3 weeks Thailand itinerary? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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