Travelers to Thailand typically plan a trip for 12 to 14 days when combining Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai with Phuket and Siem Reap in Cambodia. If you're not interested in Phuket, seven to nine days is enough for your Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai trip. Even travelers with limited time can see the highlights in as few as six days. Read on for the best itineraries, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and beyond.

How many days do you need in Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai?

  • Most travelers spend 7-9 days in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai combined
  • Visiting Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai in 6 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
  • With 10 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
  • The most common extensions are Phuket and Siem Reap in Cambodia

How Many Days to Spend in Thailand

Plan your trip to Thailand
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.

Recommended Itineraries for Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai

Recommended Itinerary for 8 Days

Kick off your trip with three nights in exciting Bangkok
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Bangkok, Self-Guided Exploration Bangkok
Day 2 Bangkok Temples & Canals Tour Bangkok
Day 3 Explore Bangkok at Night by Tuk-Tuk Bangkok
Day 4 Day Trip to Bang Pa-In & Ayutthaya, Overnight Train to Chiang Mai Chiang Mai
Day 5 Self-Guided Day in Chiang Mai Chiang Mai
Day 6 Visit the Happy Elephant Home Sanctuary Chiang Mai
Day 7 Scenic Drive to Chiang Rai, Visit the White Temple & Golden Triangle Chiang Rai
Day 8 Transfer to Chiang Mai, Depart Thailand Bangkok


Get ready to discover the diversity of Thailand's best-loved cities and surroundings. Zip around the buzzing neon-lit streets of Bangkok on a tuk-tuk, watch local life go by as you glide through canal-side communities, and hop between UNESCO-listed temples. Then, board the sleeper train and chug north to forested valleys and misty mountains, where you'll take dips in hot springs, meet rescued elephants, and stand on the edge of three countries. Read more

Extended Itineraries

9-Day Itinerary Including Siem Reap

Finish the trip by hopping over to Cambodia and spending a day at Angkor Wat 
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Bangkok, Self-Guided Exploration Bangkok
Day 2 Temples, Grand Palace & Klong Tour Bangkok
Day 3 Transfer to Chiang Rai, Free Day Chiang Rai
Day 4 Transfer to Chiang Mai, Visit the Golden Triangle Chiang Mai
Day 5 Visit the Happy Elephant Home Sanctuary Chiang Mai
Day 6 Half-Day Cycling Tour in the Villages Chiang Mai
Day 7 Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Free Day Siem Reap
Day 8 Explore the Complex of Angkor Wat Siem Reap
Day 9 Depart Siem Reap  


On this nine-day tour, uncover the history and beauty of Thailand and Cambodia's most revered sites. Start in buzzing Bangkok, exploring its temples and shrines, before departing for Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai to see the Golden Triangle. Feed and play with elephants at the Happy Elephant Home Sanctuary, take a cultural cycling trip around the villages, and then visit the star of the tour: the spectacular Angkor Wat. Read more

13-Day Itinerary Including Phuket

Take a speedboat to the Phi Phi Islands while staying in Phuket
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Chiang Mai, Self-Guided Exploration Chiang Mai
Day 2 Visit the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Cooking Lesson at a Thai Cooking School Chiang Mai
Day 3 Visit the Doi Inthanon National Park & Mae Klang Luang Nature Trail Chiang Mai
Day 4 Scenic Drive to Chiang Rai, Visit the White Temple & Golden Triangle Chiang Rai
Day 5 Transfer to Bangkok, Self-Guided Day Bangkok
Day 6 Temples, Grand Palace & Klong Tour Bangkok
Day 7 Explore the Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-In & Tuk-Tuk Tour Bangkok
Day 8 Visit Authentic Thai Railway & Floating Markets Bangkok
Day 9 Fly to Phuket, Free Time, Dinner at Baan Rim Pa Restaurant Phuket
Day 10 Phuket Half-Day Sightseeing Tour Phuket
Day 11 Swimming & Snorkeling on the Phi Phi Islands Phuket
Day 12 Beach Day in Phuket Phuket
Day 13 Depart Phuket  


Thailand is Asia's primary travel destination for good reason: it enchants its visitors with spectacular Buddhist temples, sizzling street food, wildlife-rich jungles, and islands wrapped in powder-soft beaches. This 13-day trip showcases Thailand's highlights in comfort and style, with private transfers for all pre-arranged tours. After exploring the cultural and natural delights of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Bangkok, you'll fly down to Phuket to complete the trip with a healthy dose of tropical paradise. Read more

Map

Map of Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai: Best Itinerary Ideas
Map of Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai: Best Itinerary Ideas