itineraries
Whether you’ve got six days or 60, these itineraries provide a starting point for the trip of a lifetime. Want more inspiration? Head online to lonelyplanet.com/thorntree to chat with other travellers.
Two Weeks Essential Islands & Beaches
Consider this the itinerary for the uninitiated, and what a warm welcome you’ll receive. Flying down and back from the islands will save you about a day’s worth of travel on either end, so save up those precious pennies to cash on more beach time. From Bangkok, fly down to Krabi where you’ll enjoy the craggy spires of stone in Railay, a climber’s paradise. Hop a boat over to Ko Phi-Phi and join the legions of bucket-wielding backpackers as they sit in the soft sands of the island’s signature hourglass bays. A second boat ride will take you safely to the shores of Ko Lanta, with its flat vistas of peach-tinged shoreline and lapping azure waves. Travel overland to knock out the gulf’s triad of idyllic islands – dive-centric Ko Tao, lazy, lie-in-the-sun Ko Pha-Ngan and luxury-focused Ko Samui – before flying back to Bangkok. If you can, try to arrange your visit to coincide with the notorious Full Moon Party, which comes roaring to life roughly once a month on Ko Pha-Ngan’s southeastern shore.
One Month The Full Monty
A month, you say? There are thousands of perfectly good itineraries to think up but, well, why not consider a hammock tour extraordinaire. Not just any old beach trip, this is enough time to really get to know southern Thailand’s islands, beaches and jungle-clad parks. Start your journey in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, before following the coastline south. Your first stop is Hua Hin, the king’s preferred holiday destination and home to a thriving local and expat scene that cavorts among seafood markets and charming shanty piers. Hike the craggy hills of quiet Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park before making your way out to Ko Tao. Strap on your tank and dive with the fish below before moving over to Ko Pha-Ngan for some subdued beachside relaxing. Ko Samui, next door, offers a bit more variety and has a magical stash of holiday fodder to suit every budget and desire – don’t miss the chance to do a day trip out of the wild islets of Ang Thong Marine National Park (which are said to have inspired Alex Garland’s The Beach). Swap coasts with a stop in Khao Sok National Park, known to be one of the oldest stretches of jungle in the world. If time permits, hop on a live-aboard diving excursion in Khao Lak to explore the kingdom’s finest diving treasures lurking in the Surin and Similan Islands Marine National Parks near the Burmese border. Travel down the coast to Phuket and sample Thailand’s finest iteration of luxury hospitality; spend a night in Patong if you dare. Paddle around the limestone karsts of quiet Phang-Nga then sleep beneath the ethereal crags of Ko Phi-Phi after a spirit evening (no pun intended) of beach dancing and fire twirling. Scale the stone towers of Railay, next door, zoom around the flat tracts of land on mellowed-out Ko Lanta, then hop on a boat bound for the Trang Islands – paradise found. One last archipelago awaits those who travel further south towards the Malaysian border. Ko Lipe is the island of choice for those looking for something social, but let the local chow lair (sea gypsies; also spelt chao leh) lead you to silent Ko Adang or Ko Rawi next door if you’re looking to get away from it all.
FEARGUS COONEY/LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©
FRANK CARTER/LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©
Two Weeks Jewels of the Andaman
Dreams of perfect beaches, silky sands and emerald waters come true along the Andaman coast, where limestone crags soar skyward creating infinite moments for that perfect photo-opp. Do not pass ‘Go’, do not collect $200, just head directly to Phuket to start your journey down one of the finest stretches of coastline in the world. Cruise through the limestone karsts of Ao Phang-Nga National Park, which give Halong Bay a run for its money. Ko Phi-Phi’s hourglass bays further south can’t be beat, especially when the sun sets behind the earthen crown of Ko Phi-Phi Leh just offshore. Let the towers of stone in Railay cast anthropomorphic shadows on the sands, then sail down to Ko Lanta, a flat island best explored by motorbike. Savour the secrets of the Trang Islands, like the hidden emerald lagoon or the untouched house reef of Ko Kradan, then make your way to the Malaysian border where you’ll find tiny Ko Lipe protected by its looming neighbour, Ko Adang.
Three Weeks The Trailblazer Trip
Buck the travel trends and blaze your own trail through some of the lesser-known beaches and islands of southern Thailand. Start in Ranong, a rather inauspicious welcome mat to the region, then connect to the nearby island of Ko Phayam and ‘little’ Ko Chang (not to be confused with the ‘big’ Ko Chang near Cambodia). Trade diver tips in Khao Lak further south and join a live-aboard up to the Burmese border. Then switch coasts, stopping in Khao Sok National Park to enjoy a spot of submarine cave diving. Reward yourself with lazy beach days once you reach the gulf’s Khanom. Explore the rich, temple-filled, cultural centre of Nakhon Si Thammarat further south before returning to the Andaman coast for a few more days of island-hopping. Choose among the lonely stone specks of the Trang Islands – perhaps Ko Kradan or Ko Sukorn – then wander south for a camping excursion with the chow lair on whisper-quiet Ko Adang or Ko Rawi.
Two Weeks Let’s Go Gulf-ing
With less dramatic weather than its Andaman counterpart, Thailand’s gulf is solid choice for a beach holiday almost any time of year. Start in Bangkok and travel overland down to Hua Hin, home to the king’s holiday palace. Gorge on fresh fish at the markets before heading for the hills of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. Towering limestone, hidden temples and quiet beaches await those with the luxury of time. Roll through the sleepy seaside villages of Prachuap Khiri Khan then grab a boat from Chumphon and hit the cool gulf waters, stopping first in Ko Tao – where you can learn all the tricks of the diving trade – before moving on to Ko Pha-Ngan to live out your castaway fantasies on one of the island’s quiet beaches. Fete the Full Moon before leaving, then set your sights on Ko Samui, the area’s largest island and undoubted master of luxury dream holidays. Quainter lodging options and diverse restaurants also stretch as far as the eye can see.
Ten Days East is Eden
Thailand’s southern treasures are undoubtedly the kingdom’s major drawcards, but if you’re pushed for time or heading into Cambodia, it’s worth exploring the eastern gulf. From Bangkok head to rustic Ko Samet, where Bangkokians let loose on weekends. Follow the coast to sleepy Trat then hop on a boat for one of the Ko Chang archipelago’s many islands. Ride elephants and hike the interior of jungle-topped Ko Chang, the largest and most developed island in the region. Get further off the beaten track on secluded Ko Mak or rugged Ko Kut. Hardcore Robinson Crusoes can go one step further on neighbouring, ultra-simple Ko Kham or Ko Rayang for some stunning coral. Alternatively, hit up to Ko Rang for a genuine Survivor experience, sans pesky host, cameramen and tribal councils.