Two weeks in Thailand. Are you planning a trip to this exotic country and you wonder what to see in 14 or more days? Are you overwhelmed by how many places there are to see and you don’t know what to choose?
I understand it so well. Even though I spent 7 weeks in Thailand, there are still so many places I wish I had seen.
This post will help you to use your limited time in Thailand the best way and plan a trip you will remember for a long time 🙂
Also remember to set your travel goals – it helps a lot when planning any kind of trip.
Two weeks in Thailand itinerary – 14 days
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. Thank you for your support!
Dorota
Day 1 – The first hours in Bangkok
You arrive in Bangkok – most probably your two weeks in Thailand start here. Go for your first walk already in the first evening. Feel the new, exotic climate immediately. No matter whether you spend your honeymoon in Bangkok or it’s just a usual trip – stroll around the city at night, see the illuminated temples, and the famous party street – Khao San Road. You might even consider going from the airport to Khao San Road directly 😉 Eat your first pad thai or fried rice, get your first Thai beer or a drink from a bucket and slowly realize you’re starting your adventure 🙂
Check this guide to Bangkok & plan sightseeing 🙂
In Bangkok, you can stay in ASAI Bangkok Chinatown, a great hotel near Chinatown. Guests appreciate the location, good breakfasts and a convenient shop 7/11 which is open non-stop.
Day 2 – Highlights of Bangkok
On your second day visit the best places and the most popular things to do in Bangkok. There are numerous temples in Bangkok and one of the must-sees is Wat Pho. Go there in the morning right after it opens to avoid crowds of tourists. Next go to Wat Arun, Chinatown, Wat Traimit with the biggest statue of Buddha fully made of gold. Before sunset go to Wat Saket (Golden Mount) and enjoy the panorama of the city.
Check: 15 Top Things To Do In Bangkok
If you need more pieces of advice for the city, check out this extensive itinerary for five days in Bangkok!
Day 3 – Chiang Mai
Take a morning flight to Chiang Mai. There are plenty of flights on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route, most of them departing from Don Mueang Airport (DMK), which you can reach from central Bangkok by train in one hour (Hua Lamphong railway station).
I highly recommend using planes to save time. I used 12Go Asia to book flights and I can honestly recommend this search engine.
However, if a plane flight exceeds your budget, choose a night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Here you can check prices and availability of train tickets to Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai is a place appearing in almost all Thailand itineraries – and it’s not without a reason 🙂 Spend a day strolling around its streets and visiting temples which catch your attention. Chiang Mai is much calmer than Bangkok and Thai people love it too.
Check my list of things to do in Chiang Mai and have fun 🙂
This Chiang Mai itinerary can be another source of inspiration for you 🙂 Make sure to go to the night market – Sunday night market in Chiang Mai is the biggest event but there is a smaller market every day too and I loved spending my evenings there.
In Chiang Mai, I recommend you to stay in Jimmy and Jeng Homestay. It’s basic but I have never been welcomed so warmly in any other hostel. And I keep dreaming about their pineapple pancakes…
Day 4 – Elephant sanctuary
Meeting elephants is a unique experience and you should include it in your Thailand itinerary for 14 days. Remember, don’t ride elephants! Make sure you’re choosing a place which takes good care of the animals. The most famous place with the best opinions around Chiang Mai is Elephant Nature Park. When I was there they didn’t have places anymore so we went to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. The elephants seemed to be fine and well-treated. We could feed them, watch them, prepare a snack for them, take a mud bath with them and clean them in a river.
Day 5 – Doi Inthanon or another trip around Chiang Mai
Doi Inthanon is a national park and the highest mountain in Thailand and you can see outstanding views around there! If you feel confident enough to drive a scooter or a car there – rent one and go there by yourself. Hike Kaew Mae Pan Nature Trail.
A reliable car rental company is Discover Cars. I have used this company in other countries and was satisfied. The car rental process was quick and the cars were clean and well-maintained.
You will need to pay 200 THB to enter the trail and take a guide. You can’t hike there by yourself. The price doesn’t depend on how big your group is – you can be alone or in a group. The trail is not difficult or long (less than 3 km) but you will see amazing views from there. After hiking drive up to the highest spot in Thailand and go to see King and Queen Pagodas.
If you book a tour in Chiang Mai, make sure it includes hiking the Kaew Mae Pan Nature Trail. It offers the best views and I think it’s not worth taking the tour without it.
Other options for that day
– Doi Suthep temple and Doi Pui hill tribe village. You can get there from Chiang Mai with red trucks – songtaew or book your tour in advance here.
– Biking tour around rural areas, kayaking or bamboo rafting – I did this bike and kayak tour and it was great. Check availability and prices now 🙂
Read this post about things to do in Chiang Mai for more inspiration.
Day 6 – Chiang Rai, White Temple
Take a morning bus to Chiang Rai. Walk around the town and in one of the local tour operators book two trips I mention below. If you have enough time – go to the White Temple and the less known, new Blue Temple. I think you can skip the famous Black House. In my opinion, it’s interesting and worth your time only if you have nothing else to do… 🙂 There are many attractions in Chiang Rai, I loved the town and the surroundings.
In Chiang Rai, you can stay at Na-Rak-O Resort. It’s an awesome place, cozy and well decorated 🙂 Breakfast is included.
Day 7 – Sunrise on Phu Chi Fa
If the weather forecast doesn’t say it’s going to be cloudy – go to see the sunrise on Phu Chi Fa. You can rent a car if you’re not afraid to drive at night on the left-hand side on winding mountain roads. You can also book a tour and then the driver will pick you up at 3 am from your accommodation and take you 90 km out of town, close to the Thailand-Laos border.
From there you need to hike up 20-30 minutes – to see a spectacular show of fog, clouds and warm light. One of the most beautiful views I’ve seen in Thailand. Double-check the forecasts though, sometimes you can’t see anything but fog… 😉
You will come back to Chiang Rai around 11 a.m., spend a relaxing day in the town or go to see the White Temple if you haven’t before. To get to the White Temple you need to take a bus from the bus station and it takes around 15-20 minutes to get there.
Day 8 – Trekking in the jungle
For the next day, I recommend you trekking in the jungle. Along with Phu Chi Fa, it was the best tour I took in Thailand. We could admire exotic nature, we saw little tiny villages and a tea plantation. A part of the tour was cooking a meal – in a bamboo.