3 WEEKS IN THAILAND ITINERARY – THAILAND BACKPACKING ROUTE

Thailand is one of the biggest travel hubs in all of Asia and the perfect destination for all sorts of travelers. In this 3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary, you will find everything from tropical beaches to buzzing cities and everything in between!

Search All ∼ Flights to Thailand on Skyscanner

 

Have you got travel insurance for Thailand? I know that nobody likes to talk about this stuff but accidents can happen and having World Nomads Insurance can save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong. 

 

THAILAND ITINERARY OVERVIEW

My Thailand backpacking route started in Krabi and ended in Bangkok. Here is a quick overview of my 3 weeks in Thailand Itinerary of all the places I visited in this order:

• Krabi (3 days)

• Koh Tao (4 days)

• Bangkok (3 days)

• Chiang Mai (5 days)

• Chiang Rai (1 day)

• Pai (4 days)

• Bangkok (1 day)

 

3 WEEKS IN THAILAND ITINERARY – DAY 1,2 & 3

KRABI

I arrived in Krabi by plane and spent 3 days exploring Krabi town and its beaches. I have to say I was absolutely blown away at each location!

See All ∼ Homestays / Hotels / Resorts in Krabi

White sand beaches surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and turquoise waters are just some of the things to expect in Krabi making it the perfect spot to kick-start your 3 weeks in Thailand!

I have put together a complete guide of the best beaches In Krabi, also including other useful information on where to stay in Krabi and the best Krabi tour packages.

View Full Blog Post ∼ Krabi Beach Travel Guide

KRABI TO KOH TAO

From Krabi, you can take a bus and ferry combination to Koh Tao and the journey takes approximately 7 to 8 hours.

I always use 12Go Asia to search and book all of my transportation within Thailand and you can too by using the search box below.

 

Railay Beach – 3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary

Krabi Beaches – Thailand Itinerary 3 Weeks

Tonsai Beach – Thailand Itinerary

 

3 WEEKS IN THAILAND ITINERARY DAY 4,5,6 & 7

KOH TAO ISLAND

Koh Tao is my favorite island in Thailand and one of the best tropical destinations in all of South East Asia! Koh Tao is the famed diving haven in Thailand and attracts scuba divers from all over the world.

Find All ∼ Accommodations in Koh Tao

However, there are many more fantastic things to do on Koh Tao other than diving, including beach hopping, island hopping, panoramic viewpoints and a buzzing nightlife scene. With all that being said, I highly recommend adding Koh Tao to your Thailand Itinerary!

I spent 4 days exploring the best of the best that Koh Tao has to offer and have put together the ultimate guide of Koh Tao Island which includes the best things to do and recommended places to stay!

View Full Blog Post ∼ 15 Awesome Things To Do In Koh Tao

KOH TAO TO BANGKOK

The next stop on this Thailand 3 weeks Itinerary is Bangkok.

From Koh Tao, you can take a ferry and bus combination to Bangkok and the journey takes approximately 10 hours.

Use the search box below to search for the best connections between Koh Tao and Bangkok:

 

Koh Tao Island – Thailand Backpacking Route

Kayaking at Shark Bay Koh Tao – 3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary

 

THAILAND ITINERARY 3 WEEKS – DAY 8,9 & 10

BANGKOK

Bangkok really is one of the world’s most buzzing cities and a central hub for backpackers! There are many things to do in Bangkok in 3 days that include vibrant street life, sacred shrines, boat-filled canals and countless rooftop bars!

Find All ∼ Hostel & Hotels in Bangkok

I spent 3 days in Bangkok and it’s a must-see destination not to be missed on your 3 weeks in Thailand itinerary!

To help you craft together your own Bangkok itinerary, I have written a detailed travel guide of the best things to do in Bangkok which also includes recommended places to stay and the best way to get around Bangkok City!

View Full Blog Post ∼ 5 Best Things To Do In Bangkok

BANGKOK TO CHIANG MAI

After a buzzing time in Bangkok, you can take an overnight bus to Chiang Mai and the journey takes around 10 to 12 hours.

Use the search box below to search for the best connections between Bangkok and Chiang Mai:

 

Bangkok City  – Thailand Itinerary 3 Weeks

Bangkok City – 3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary

Golden Mountain Bangkok – Thailand Itinerary 3 Weeks

 

THAILAND ITINERARY – DAY 11,12,13,14 & 15

CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai is a culturally rich ancient city located in the mountains of Northern Thailand. There are so many things to see and do here which is why I recommend spending 5 days of your Thailand itinerary in Chiang Mai.

Find All ∼ Accommodations in Chiang Mai

I guarantee once you get a taste of Chiang Mai you won’t want to leave!

I have put together an easy guide to Chiang Mai including panoramic viewpoints, buzzing night markets, historic temples, best places to eat and much more!

View Full Blog Post ∼ 10 Awesome Things To Do In Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI TO CHIANG RAI

I highly recommend taking a day trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai to visit the famous White Temple and more.

I organised my Chiang Rai day trip with a tour company called Take Me Tour which includes all transport, entrance fees, lunch and a guide!

Doi Inthanon Temple – 3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary

 

3 WEEKS IN THAILAND ITINERARY – DAY 16

CHIANG RAI

The Chiang Rai Tour was surprisingly one of the best days I had while backpacking Thailand. I booked the Chiang Rai Tour with Take Me Tour one of Thailand’s best tour companies offering unique and local experiences throughout the country.

I chose the Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai tour package which includes Mae Kajan Hot Spring, The White Temple, lunch at Salungkham restaurant, Doi Tung Botanic Gardens, The Royal Villa and a visit to the Akha Hill village tribe.

The Chiang Rai tour starts at 7am with a hotel pick up in Chiang Mai and returns back to Chiang Mai between 8pm – 9pm.

View Full Blog Post ∼ Chiang Rai Day Tour

CHIANG MAI TO PAI

The next destination on this 3 weeks in Thailand itinerary is Pai. You can take a shared minivan from Chiang Mai to Pai and the journey takes approximately 3 hours.

Use the search box below to search for the best connections between Chiang Mai and Pai:

 

White Temple Chiang Rai – 3 Weeks In Thailand

Gold Temple Chiang Rai – Thailand Itinerary 3 Weeks

 

THAILAND ITINERARY 3 WEEKS – DAY 17,18,19 & 20

PAI

Pai is a small countryside town in the Mae Hong Son province of Northern Thailand and far away from the crowds of Bangkok City. There is a mecca of fun things to do in Pai including viewpoints, waterfalls, hot springs and more!

Find All ∼ Accommodations in Pai

I spent 4 days exploring the Mae Hong Son province and have put together a complete guide of the best things to do in Pai and other handy information on where to stay and getting around!

View Full Blog Post ∼ 10 Best Things To Do In Pai

PAI TO BANGKOK

From Pai, you can take an afternoon minivan to Chiang Mai and then transfer to another bus and continue on to Bangkok.

Use the search box below to search for the best connections between Pai and Bangkok:

 

Yun Lai Viewpoint – Thailand Itinerary 3 Weeks

White Buddha in Pai – Thailand Travel Blog

Bamboo Bridge Pai – Thailand Itinerary

 

3 WEEK THAILAND ITINERARY – DAY 21

BANGKOK

Back to Bangkok to enjoy the last day of your 3 week Thailand itinerary! You can choose to go shopping at one of the malls or hit up Koh San road for some street food and cheap beers. Either way, it’s worth celebrating having just completed your Thailand backpacking route!

If you don’t want to travel all the way back to Bangkok from the north of Thailand, there’s the option to depart the country from Chiang Mai International Airport.

Although in my experience, I found it cheaper to fly out of Bangkok to continue on to my next destination, Bali.

Find All ∼ Accommodations in Bangkok

 

THAILAND TOURIST MAP

Want to travel full-time? ∼ Click Here To Learn How!

 

BEST TIME TO VISIT THAILAND

Thailand typically can be visited all year round as the climate can vary. However, the best time to visit is in the cool dry season between November through to early April.

Broadly speaking, Thailand’s wet season is April – October, with the wettest months being August – October.

Search All ∼ Flights to Thailand on SkyScanner.com

 

THAILAND VISA

Thailand currently offers visa-free entry to nationals of 57 countries. The free visa on arrival is valid for 30 days in Thailand. For more visa information visit www.thaiembassy.com.

 

THAILAND TRANSPORTATION

There are a few ways of getting around Thailand and that is with either bus, boat, taxi, train, plane, or motorbike.

In my experience, the cheapest and most convenient way of getting around Thailand is by bus. The most reputable bus/boat company is Lompraya transport.

I always use 12Go Asia to search and book all of my transportation within Thailand and you can too by using the search box below.

 

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The currency in Thailand is Baht and the exchange rate is approximately $1 USD = 30 Baht.

Getting a tourist sim card in Thailand is very simple. You can obtain a sim card upon arrival at the airport or from a 7 Eleven store. The cost of a tourist sim card for 8GB of data is around $15.

 

AIRBNB THAILAND

Another option for accommodation in Thailand is to stay at an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals in Thailand

Get your $40 Airbnb discount here!

 

MY CAMERA GEAR

• DSLR Mirrorless Camera: Sony A7ii 

• Drone Camera: DJI Mavic Pro 2

• GoPro: GoPro Hero 8 Black

• Everyday Lens: Sony F2.8 24/70mm

• Camera Bag: Lowepro Protactic 31L

• Selfie Stick: Sandmarc Metal Edition 1.2m 

• Tripod: Joby Flexible GorillaPod

• GoPro Dome: Underwater GoPro Dome

• Power Bank: Anker Powerbank

• External Hardrive: WD Elements 4TB

 

WHAT TO PACK FOR THAILAND?

• Waterproof Phone Case: Universal Waterproof Case

• Reusable Water Bottle: Hydro Flask Water Bottle

• Rain Jacket: North Face Rain Jacket

• Water Shoes: Slip-on Water Shoes

• Day Bag: Nomatic 20L Day Bag

• Power Adapter: Universal Power Adapter

• Packing Cubes: 4 Set Packing Cubes

• Microfibre Towel: Quick Dry Travel Towel

• Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance

• Money Belt: Hidden Money Belt

 

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions about this Thailand Itinerary 3 Weeks, please leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can!

Happy Travels!

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