Thailand is a destination that has it all – bustling cities, ornate temples, beautiful beaches, and some of the best food in the world. For this trip, we stayed four nights in Bangkok, one night in the Phang Nga province, two nights in Khao Sok, and four nights in Krabi.
I’ve included our itinerary for the 11-day trip below. You can read my individual blog posts on the separate areas for much more detail and lots of photos!
Day 1
Bangkok was our first stop on our Thailand trip. Mike and I spent four nights here. We stayed at Lebua at State Tower for our four nights here. It is in a great location and our view of the skyline and river were incredible! We arrived in the evening of our first day and headed directly to our hotel for an early night in.
Day 2
We had breakfast at Cafe Mozu in the hotel and then headed out for the day. We took the tourist hop-on-hop-off boat from Sathorn Pier. The boat was easy to navigate and cheap – only 40 baht each (about $1.25 USD). We got on the first boat of the day at 9am. If you want to go earlier, you can take one of the commuter boats.
Grand Palace
We exited the boat at the Grand Palace stop and walked about 10 minutes to the Palace entrance. There were throngs of people all walking to the entrance. We paid the entrance fee of 500 baht each, and it was completely packed by the time we got in around 9:40am.
We wandered around for about 45 minutes, but the gobs of tourists made the experience unpleasant for me. I think the Palace is definitely worth seeing, but I would recommend getting there right when they open at 8:30am.
Wat Pho
From the Grand Palace, we walked next door to Wat Pho, a temple that is famous for its 46-meter long Reclining Buddha statue. We entered Wat Pho around 11am, and it was not nearly as busy as the Grand Palace. The entrance fee here is 300 baht each. The grounds aren’t as big as the Grand Palace. We headed straight to the Reclining Buddha statue and had to remove our shoes to enter the temple. I was impressed by the massive Buddha statue! We then wandered a little around the property, admiring the beautiful spires and architecture.
Lunch & Massages
We ate at Moomgapao, a popular spot for pad kra pao. The food was very good! We took the hop-on-hop-off boat back to our hotel to drop our things off, then headed for some relaxation time at Serene Massage. It was an amazing experience! We got a couples hot stone 90 minute massage, and it was probably the best massage I’ve ever had. Once we were relaxed, we headed back to the hotel for a little downtime before heading back out for the evening.
Dinner Cruise
One of the top recommended activities in Bangkok is a river cruise along the Chao Phraya river. We picked the company ChaoPhraya Cruise, and booked our tickets about a month ahead of time. The cruise leaves from Asiatique, which is an open-air mall and night market located a little south of where we were staying. We took the free boat shuttle that goes between Sathorn Pier and Asiatique to get there.
The boat was two levels, and our assigned table was outside on the top floor. The weather was perfect for sitting outside with a nice breeze as the boat started to move. There were two hosts that essentially sang karaoke all evening and a buffet for dinner. The food was mediocre, but we really enjoyed seeing the city and all the temples from the water.
Overall, we had a good experience. I would just recommend not getting your hopes up about the food.
Day 3
We woke up on our next day and headed to the breakfast buffet in the hotel. It was a rainy morning, so we didn’t rush to get going. Mike started feeling like he was getting sick, so he decided to stay at the hotel, while I ventured out to my next temple visit.
Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram
This temple is far less touristy than the ones we visited the previous day. The temple is made of Italian Carrara marble and is absolutely stunning! I arrived around 10am and paid 100 baht to enter. It was lightly raining on and off, so I had the temple almost completely to myself. They offered free umbrellas to use while I was there, which I ended up using a few times. I wandered around for about an hour, taking lots of photos. The grounds are much smaller than the temples we visited the prior day, so an hour was plenty of time.
Thipsamai Pad Thai
My driver dropped me in front of a very popular restaurant called Thipsamai Pad Thai, famous for their pad thai. They do not take reservations, so I’d read to arrive on the early side of lunch. I got there around 11:30 and was seated immediately. I ordered the original pad thai with shrimp oil, fresh prawns, wrapped in egg. It was incredible. One of my favorite meals of the trip and the best pad thai I’ve ever had. I am still dreaming of this meal!
From lunch, I took a tuk tuk that was waiting nearby back to our hotel for some downtime.
Song Wat Road
Later that afternoon, I walked from Lebua to Song Wat Road. This is a trendy neighborhood that has been ranked as one of the 50 coolest neighborhoods in the world. It’s located along the river and has lots of cool boutiques and restaurants. It was about a 30 minute walk from the hotel, and I enjoyed taking photos along the way.
I was very hungry and thirsty when I arrived, so I stopped at Gu Long Bao for a dumpling and Thai tea combo. It was so good!
Chinatown
I then walked over to the next neighborhood, only about 5 minutes away, Chinatown. Chinatown is centered on Yaowarat Road and is one of the world’s largest and oldest Chinese communities. This is the spot to go if you’re in the mood for Chinese food. There are tons of street vendors, offering a wide array of food options. I wasn’t really hungry after eating all those dumplings, but I found a mango sticky rice vendor that had tables to eat at. The tables were literally on the road, with some temporary fences separating us from the vehicles. This was the best (and cheapest) mango sticky rice I had during our time in Thailand. It was delicious! Then I walked all the way down to the end of Yaowarat Road to see the decorative gate at the entrance to Chinatown.
Day 4
Mike was feeling even worse the next day, so I prepared to head out on my own again. There was one more temple I was excited to see.
Wat Arun
Wat Arun is an iconic temple, and a must-see when visiting Bangkok. Also known as the Temple of Dawn, it has a 270 foot tall pagoda that is decorated with Chinese porcelain. The grounds of this temple are fairly small, and it is easy to see everything within an hour. I took the tourist boat to get there and arrived at about 9:20am. The majority of people on my boat were also getting off at this stop, so it got more crowded when we arrived. I was one of the first ones off the boat, so I paid the 200 baht to enter, and headed straight for the opposite side of the temple. I was hoping it wouldn’t be as crowded on the far side, and I was right! On the entrance side, there were tons of people taking their photos, and on the opposite side, I was one of the only ones.
There were a lot of people getting their photos professionally taken. They were dressed in a traditional Thai costume that you can rent. I set up my tripod, took some photos before it got crowded, and headed on my way. I highly recommend getting here by 9am if you can, so you can arrive before the crowds.
IconSiam
I took the tourist boat back towards the direction of Lebua, but got off at the stop before at the massive IconSiam mall. I’d heard about the glamorous malls of Bangkok, and I wanted to see one for myself. This particular mall is 10 stories, has over 7,000 shops, and 100 restaurants. The entrance from the river takes you into Sooksiam, which is an indoor floating market showcasing food and crafts from the four regions of Thailand. I found several souvenirs here that were cute and original.
Next, I took the shuttle boat that goes from IconSiam to Sathorn Pier. This is cheaper than the tourist boat, only 8 baht per person, and it runs about every 15 minutes.
Massage & Dinner Near Hotel
After resting at the hotel, I headed back to Serene Massage for one more Bangkok massage. This time I just got a hot oil massage, which was very nice, but not quite as amazing as the hot stone massage. I still really enjoyed it.
Later that evening, I walked about 10 minutes from Lebua to a local restaurant called Siamhouse Cafe. I had some very delicious Pad See Ew. Then I headed back to the hotel to pack up our stuff since we had an early flight the next morning.
Day 5
Fly to Krabi
We flew to Krabi the next morning and made a detour to Sametnangshe Boutique Hotel for a night. This detour added about two hours of driving, which was completely worth it in my opinion.
Renting a Car
Drive to Sametnangshe
The drive went smoothly and the roads were in great condition! It was highway driving most of the way there, except for the final stretch. The hotel is clearly marked with a sign along the road. When we pulled in, security showed us the way to their parking lot.
Afternoon & Evening at Sametnangshe
Security got our bags from our car and escorted us to the lobby for check in. We were greeted with a yummy fruity drink and floral bracelet. They then called a truck to drive us up the super steep hill to the resort. You do have the option to walk, but it is very steep!
The staff showed us the way to our room, which had an incredible view. We stayed in one of the “Deluxe” rooms, which is small but fine for a night. The room we stayed in had an incredible view!
I spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool while Mike rested in the room. We then made our way to dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. I ordered a lychee mocktail, which was one of my favorite drinks of the trip. We wanted a switch up from Thai food, so we ordered from their Italian menu. I got pizza and Mike got chicken alfredo. Both were okay, but nothing great. There aren’t really any other restaurants nearby, outside of the few other hotels in the area, so this was kind of our only option. The convenience was nice since we could easily walk there from our room after a long day of travel.
Day 6
Sunrise and Breakfast
I woke up about 30 minutes before sunrise and climbed the stairs up to the hotel’s cafe. The view is even better than the rest of the property since you have to climb further up the hill. To my surprise, I was the only person up there, so I could take as many photos and enjoy the view for as long as I wanted in peace. This was one of my favorite sunrises I’ve ever experienced.
After sunrise, we headed to breakfast, which was included with our stay at the same restaurant as dinner. We thought the breakfast food was much better than dinner.
Drive to Khao Sok
From Sametnangshe, we had a 2.5 hour drive to Khao Sok. Khao Sok National Park is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world and is a truly unique place to visit in southern Thailand. The roads were all in great shape and we had no issues driving. There weren’t really any quick eating options along the way, so we stopped at a 7-Eleven to grab some sandwiches for the drive. The drive is pretty, and it starts to feel more jungle-y as you approach the park. We arrived at Our Jungle House, the property we chose to spend our first night at. This property has unique treehouses and bungalows tucked into the dense rainforest. We’d prearranged a couple activities before arriving.
Elephant Experience
Our Jungle House has an activity called the Elephant Experience that we chose to do. A driver picked us up in a songthaew (a converted pickup truck with benches in the back) to take us to Khao Sok Elephant Conservation Centre.
Our experience lasted about two hours. It started with a guide giving us a background on elephants in Thailand and their sanctuary. There are many domesticated elephants in Thailand, and ethical sanctuaries rescue some of these elephants from owners who can no longer take care of them or non-ethical camps where they were mistreated. After the learning experience, we got to make food for the elephants and feed them. We were in a group of about 15 people interacting with three elephants.
Next, we walked with the elephants to a different part of the property where we watched the elephants give themselves a mud bath. Elephants cover themselves in mud to help cool down. They gave us the option to get in the mud with them and help rub them down if we wanted.
The best part of the experience was getting in the river with the elephants. The elephants really seemed to love getting in the water and we could get in and help splash them and get the mud off.
At the end of the experience, the guides gave us some snacks and drinks while we waited on our driver from Our Jungle House to pick us up. What a great experience!
Stay in Treehouse
When we arrived back at Our Jungle House, we checked in and found our treehouse. The treehouses are located mostly along the river, which is a little bit of a walk from the reception area. Fortunately, since the treehouses are literally up in the trees, the staff helps bring your bags up the steep steps to your house.
We were greeted by a ton of monkeys on our porch. Staff had warned us to keep our doors and windows closed and locked or the monkeys would find their way in and trash the place! The treehouses do not have air conditioning, but the temperature dropped quite a bit overnight and there was a large fan to cool the space down. The treehouse was also open air, so bugs were able to get in and out, but there is a net you can put over the bed. I would describe this as a glamping experience. Each treehouse has its own bathroom with a shower.
That evening, we had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. The pad thai was really good!
Day 7
Breakfast
If you want breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, make sure to order it the night before. We both got the American breakfast and it was good! I also got an iced Thai tea, which was becoming one of my favorite drinks.
Canoe through the Rainforest
Our next activity was canoeing through the rainforest. Our driver met us at the reception area and drove us for about 15 minutes, picking up our river guide along the way. The guide sat in the back of the canoe and did all the paddling, so Mike and I just got to enjoy the views. This was one of my favorite activities of the trip! About two minutes into the paddle, we saw several monkeys playing along the shore. The guide said he doesn’t always see monkeys, so we got lucky.
As we went farther, the views of the limestone cliffs got better and better. We saw several frogs and birds along the way. Our guide stopped us near the end of the trip and another canoe guide with two other guests caught up with us. We all got out of the river and they made a fire and heated up some water in bamboo and proceeded to make us coffee and tea. Mike and I really loved this whole experience!
Drive to Cheow Lan Lake
We were originally planning on doing the overnight trip to the lake with Our Jungle House. However, Mike was still really sick, so we changed the trip up a bit. We cancelled our overnight experience and drove to the town closest to the lake in Surat Thani. I found an affordable hotel called Takhun Mountain View Hotel. The rooms were a good size, they had AC, and a nice pool. The beds were hard as a rock, but we were so tired that we still slept well.
Dinner at Chef Ja
We found a nice restaurant nearby. I got the pizza, which was actually pretty good, and Mike got pasta. We really liked the vibe of the restaurant and the waitress was very nice. We went to bed early that night as Mike wasn’t feeling well and I had an early morning.
Day 8
Tour of Cheow Lan Lake
I ended up booking a private sunrise tour of the Cheow Lan Lake. I had come all this way and didn’t want to miss out on seeing this beautiful lake. The tour was through Get Your Guide. I drove 20 minutes to the Cheow Lan Pier, which was the meeting spot for the tour. I arrived just before 5:45am. You generally have to pay for parking, but there was no one around, so I got away with not having to pay.
We took off just before 6am, while it was still pitch black. It was almost a little eerie being by myself on a boat in the dark, but the sun started to rise shortly after, and it was an incredible experience. The driver was local and didn’t speak any English, but he was very nice. He took me to several beautiful stops and took my picture each time without me having to ask. The lake is actually manmade and was created in the 1980s when a dam flooded the valley, leaving behind hundreds of limestone peaks rising out of the water. The sunrise trip was extremely peaceful, and we only saw a handful of other boats out and about.
We stopped at a cave, and my driver took me through, pointing out where some bats were sleeping! It wasn’t scary at all, and only took about five minutes to walk through.
Next, we stopped at some floating bungalows, where we got out, and I was able to use the restroom and had the option to buy breakfast. I got the impression we could stay however long I wanted. Since I was alone, I didn’t really want to stay long. I told the guide I was ready, and we headed back. The total tour was about four hours, so I got back to my car around 10am. Then we still had the whole day!
Drive to Krabi
Next, we drove to our last area of the trip, Krabi. It takes about 2.5 hours to get there by car. During our time in Krabi, Thailand, we chose to stay at the Varana Krabi Hotel. Constructed in 2023, this is a modern wellness-focused luxury hotel. It is located about 20 minutes from the town of Ao Nang, in the Khlong Muang area of Krabi. This area is quieter and calmer, which was perfect for us as a couple who were looking for some relaxation time. We stayed here for four nights.
Day 9
Hong Islands Half Day Trip
The Hong Islands are a small group of islands off the coast of Krabi, famous for their dramatic limestone cliffs and gorgeous blue water. They are only about 30 minutes from the coast by longtail boat, and a half day trip was the perfect amount of time to visit them.
We first headed to Hong Island, which is the main island. The driver dropped me off and we made a plan for him to pick me up in about 45 minutes. I paid my national park fee and headed straight to the lookout, which is accessible via a climb of about 419 stairs. Most of the climb was in the shade and nearly everyone was climbing up in their swimsuits (including me). It was already so hot out and I was drenched by the time I reached the top.
The view at the top is absolutely worth it, and it gives you an incredible view of the ocean and surrounding islands. I definitely recommend doing this first on your tour while it’s the coolest part of the day.
Our second stop was to Hong Lagoon, which is accessed through a narrow opening between two large limestone cliffs. The lagoon is very shallow, and boats can only access it during high tide. It was too shallow while we were there, so my driver dropped me off at the entrance and I waded around through the knee-high water. It was really peaceful and beautiful!
Next was Lao Lading, which features a small crescent-shaped beach surrounded by limestone cliffs. We stopped here for about 30 minutes. It was incredibly hot out, so I enjoyed dipping in the ocean to cool off.
Next we visited Pakbia Island, a small uninhabited island. It’s best known for its beautiful sandbar and crystal-clear water perfect for snorkeling. The beach was absolutely packed when I was here and almost too crowded to get in the water. I ended up heading back to the boat a little before my driver and I had agreed upon and we headed back to shore.
The Beach Club Krabi
My driver dropped me off at the beach club right by our resort. It was around 12:45pm, so it was perfect timing to get lunch. Mike met me at the club and we got a table to eat at. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, including burgers and sandwiches, salads, seafood, pizza, and Thai food. Everything we got was good!
If you are a guest of the Varana Hotel, you can hang out on the bean bags on the beach for free. If you want to sit on one of the loungers or cabanas by the pool, there is a minimum food/drink spend.
We spent the rest of the evening around the hotel and had dinner at one of the hotel restaurants.
Day 10
Tiger Cave Temple
Tiger Cave Temple is one of the most iconic landmarks in Krabi. Visiting this temple requires a challenging 1,260-step climb, but you’ll be rewarded with a huge golden Buddha statue and panoramic views of Krabi.
The climb is relentless – it was incredibly hot and humid (you’re also required to cover your shoulders and knees since you’re at a temple), the stairs are steep, and there are no breaks! It takes most people around 30 to 60 minutes to get to the top. It took me about 40 minutes, and I was taking frequent but short breaks to catch my breath.
The view at the top is amazing and there was a nice breeze to help me cool down. I spent about 20 minutes wandering around and taking pictures. Descending was much easier and only took me about 15 minutes to speed down. There were several monkeys hanging out near the steps on my walk down!
I suggest spending the second half of your day around the town of Ao Nang. It is a really cute beach town with tons to do!
Zama Local Thai Restaurant
This was possibly our favorite restaurant of the trip and we visited twice while we were in Krabi. We ordered the fried shrimp with pepper to share, shrimp fried rice with shrimp oil, and crab fried rice. Everything was incredible! My mouth is watering as I write this just thinking about it!
Beach & Massage
The beach right in town is nice and a great spot to spend a couple hours. There are also tons of massage parlors in the area and I recommend getting one while you’re here. You are in Thailand after all!
Ao Nang Night Market
The night market in town is open from 5 to 11pm. There were several free parking spots right in front around 5pm. There are lots of food stalls to pick from and plenty of shops to get souvenirs. For dinner, I got a loaded potato from the grilled potato stall (which was outstanding), followed by mango sticky rice for dessert.
Fire Show
The Luminous Fire Team does a free nightly show at 6:30pm or 7pm (depending on the season) on the main beach. I arrived a little after 6pm and found a large crowd sitting and waiting for the team to set up. They started their show a little after 6:30 and it lasted for roughly 45 minutes. I loved that it started at sunset and continued after dark. Definitely worth checking out! There are also a few restaurants/beach clubs in the area that offer shows, but I thought this one was fun!
Day 11
Railay Beach
Railay Beach is one of the most famous parts of Krabi, known for its towering limestone cliffs right by the beach. It is technically part of Krabi mainland, but is only accessible by boat because the sheer cliffs cut it off from any roads connected to the rest of the province.
Since Railay is a very popular tourist spot, there are constantly boats going in and out, both from the town of Ao Nang, and the pier of Ao Nam Mao. I opted to drive to Ao Nam Mao Pier, where there is a paid parking lot right next door. I walked to the pier, where I got one of the first boats out of the morning at 9am. There were several other people waiting as well. The round trip ticket costs 200 baht. The boat departs directly from the pier, which is nice compared to the boats that leave from Ao Nang, which you’ll have to wade through water to get to. Something to keep in mind if you are staying overnight at Railay and have luggage with you!
The boat to Railay takes about 10 minutes. They will drop you off at East Railay Bay, while boats from Ao Nang will drop you off on Railay West. It’s a quick and easy 10 minute walk on a cute pedestrian street to get between the two sides.
Railay West Beach
I knew the west side would get crowded, so I headed straight there from the beach. Most of the shops along the pedestrian street weren’t open quite yet. I walked around on the beach and took some pictures. It really is so beautiful!
D’Oasis Cafe
Next, I was walking to the southern-facing beach of Phra Nang, and stopped in East Railay for an acai bowl at D’Oasis Cafe. This is a cute cafe right on the water. I loved their acai bowl and it was nice to stop here for about 20 minutes to cool down.
Phra Nga Beach
Next, I continued on to Phra Nga, which may be even more beautiful than Railay West. There are some limestone islands right off the shore that make it extra scenic. On the way, you’ll walk through a jungle-y area, where you are likely to see monkeys. I arrived at the beach around 11am and it was so hot outside already. The shady parts of the beach were absolutely packed with people, but then I walked a little ways down the beach in the sun and there was almost no one there. I found a little section for myself and laid down for a bit and soaked up the sun.
When I’d had enough sun, I went back to the pier where I was dropped off. There were several groups of people waiting, so I was glad I had my return ticket to show to one of the operators and he pointed me in the right direction. When I got back to the hotel, we spent the rest of the day lounging around and getting food at the hotel restaurant.
Day 12
Fly home
Sadly, the end of the trip had come, and we had to make our way back to the US!
When to Travel to Thailand
Thailand’s dry season is between November and February. It is also the coolest during these times, but keep in mind it is not cool! We visited in February and the daily high temperature averaged around 90 degrees. We only had one rainy morning during our entire 11 days there!
Tips for Traveling to Thailand
Atm Withdrawal Fees
Most places in Thailand (as of 2026) only took cash, no international cards. We stopped at an ATM at the airport when we first arrived in Bangkok and pulled out the max we could pull out. The ATMs in Thailand charge a crazy fee every time you use them (around $10 USD), so make sure to make as few withdrawals as possible.
Check Grab Prices to Bargain with Tuk Tuks
One useful thing I discovered while we were there was to check the prices of Grab (similar to Uber/Lyft) to see what a trip should cost you. I found Grab rides to take awhile to arrive (sometimes up to like 30 minutes), so I preferred taking tuk tuks when traveling by land (plus they’re way more fun!). I’d check the price on Grab, then ask the tuk tuk drivers how much to go to my destination, and then bargain with them until we agreed upon a reasonable price.
Stay Near the River in Bangkok and Take Boats for Transportation
My favorite way to get around Bangkok was via the tourist boat on the river. There is no traffic to worry about (traffic can be horrendous), and the boats were always on time and easy to navigate. It was helpful that our hotel was near the river, so it made this a great option when the destination we were visiting was also near the river.
Mosquito Spray
The mosquitos can be bad here, especially in the jungle, so it was highly recommended to wear bug spray. I picked up one of the pink bottles from a 7-Eleven. I used it one day while we were in Khao Sok and slept in it since our treehouse was not bug-free, and I woke up the next morning covered in a rash. The pharmacy had some anti-itch ointment I could use, but wasn’t able to clear the rash up until I got home to my steroid cream.
Avoid Mid-Day Heat
It is incredibly hot year-round, so I recommend planning an activity or two for the morning, getting lunch, having some down time in the afternoon when it is hottest, and then going back out for the evening.
Don’t be Afraid to Visit a Hospital if You Get Sick
If you get sick on your trip and need a doctor, we visited Wattanapat Hospital in Krabi twice and thought it was very nice! Everyone spoke great English, the doctor took excellent care of Mike, and his hospital bill was extremely affordable (even before insurance). I encourage you to go if you aren’t feeling well. We waited way too long for Mike to see a doctor and he ended up getting pneumonia!
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