Thailand Itinerary
One of the islands we kayaked to in the Krabi Providence!
Thailand Girls Trip
I took a 12 day girls trip with my best friends from college and it was amazing. One member of our girl gang, Carly, has an uncle that lives in Thailand - so we really had the inside scoop on what to do (thanks uncle Dan!) So below you’ll find our itinerary as well as my suggestions and recommendations.
Friday: Bangkok - fly into BKK airport
Stay at Printing House Poshtel
Highly recommend this poshtel - it was so cheap (we got a 4 bed family suite for 2025 baht/$63 per night!) and the service was amazing, they really go above and beyond! Also there’s a cute rooftop bar on top of the poshtel so that’s always a plus
Saturday: Bangkok
We actually planned to go to the Grand Palace this day but on our way there a nice Thai woman stopped us and asked where we were going. We told her and she said the king was visiting so it was truly a terrible day to go. Instead she pointed us in the direction of a private riverboat tour of Bangkok, got us a tuk tuk to the pier and sent us on our way. It was an hour and a half tour and we saw the most beautiful temples from the water. I doubt there is a website for this riverboat tour but the one we went on was right next to Above Riva restaurant and I believe it was only 1000 baht/30 USD per person!
Speaking of which - we ate at Above Riva after and it was so damn good. Their spring rolls were the best we had and that’s saying a lot because we literally ate them at every single restaurant while in Thailand. Also the views of Wat Arun across the river were astonishing.
Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun)
Only a ferry ride away from Above Riva. This is the most photographed temple in Bangkok! Super pretty views from the top, also looks gorgeous at night - very IG worthy. It’s also one of the only temples that you can climb up. Definitely go here when in Bangkok!
Plan to spend about 3 hours here - this place is far bigger than we imagined and the shopping was unreal. I was worried I would spend every baht I had but I managed to maintain a small amount of self control.
After this we were starving so we hopped in a tuk tuk and asked him to bring us to food - he brought us to a relatively shady but very authentic place
Sunday: Chiang Mai
One-way flight through Thai Airways International from BKK to Chiang Mai International Airport - CNX
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Sacred temple - entrance is 30B/pp - Get here early if possible for sunrise
We were blessed by a monk here! A wonderful experience if you get the opportunity!
A few stairs (and by that I mean like 200+ stairs) but it’s worth it for the view. Our calves were visibly shaking after getting back to the bottom so be prepared
Wat Phra Singh
25 minute drive from Doi Suthep, located conveniently in the city center
We then explored Chiang Mai and got dinner at Vegan Heaven - it was so good!
On our walk back we saw this Thai boxing arena of bars and some Thai women convinced us to stop in one for a drink and yeah… we ended up getting drunk and dancing to 80s songs. Believe me when I say the Thais know how to party
Monday: Chiang Mai
Book online in advance! Downpayment due with booking and then 6,000B ($47 USD pp) due in cash on day of in their gift shop
They pick you up from your accomodation. Plan to spend entire day here, they provide a bomb ass lunch
What to Bring: Hat, Sunscreen, Sandals/Flip Flops, Towel, Shoes for walking, Camera, Bug Repellent, Refillable Water Bottle (Rain Jacket - Rainy Season April - October)
AMAZING MUST DO, see my blog entry about this experience
We got dinner at Whole Earth restaurant and loved it! For more detailed descriptions of some of the amazing food we ate check out Carly’s foodie instagram
We then got Thai massages and walked around night market down the road from our Airbnb
Tuesday: Chiang Rai
We booked a taxi from our Airbnb to the airport in Chiang Rai, stored our luggage there and headed off to the temples
Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
Breathtakingly beautiful, a must see!
Please do yourself a favor and go extremely early - the amount of tourists was absurd
Wat Rong Seur Ten (Blue Temple)
25 minutes from white temple
Less touristy, gorgeous
Flight from Chiang Rai to Phuket
Airport only 12 minutes away from Blue Temple
PLEASE NOTE: I would not suggest this airport… it was small, lots of delays and flight changes and Nok Airways screwed us with our luggage. So if you can make Chiang Rai a day trip from Chiang Mai instead I would highly suggest that instead
Wednesday: Phuket
Ao Phang Nga National Park
Kayak trip 7:30am-5:30pm (pick up from our accommodation included in price)
One-day trip costs 4,000B ($125USD) per person and includes transfers, all equipment, lunch & insurance
What to Bring
Swimwear, shoes that can get wet, hat and sunglasses, sunscreen, a towel, a dry change of clothes
We went through Paddle Asia and it was one of the highlights of our trip! The guide was so knowledgeable on all the critters we saw, we visited three islands - Ko Batang, Ko Roi and Ko Kuda Yai and we got to cliff diving at the end! It was just the four of us and the islands were empty except for us. Cannot gas up this enough, so fun!
After this we hit Patong beach, got some food and tropical drinks on the beach and went back to our rooftop pool for a bit before dinner!
Thursday: Phuket
A morning with the Elephants at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
9:30-1:00pm, meeting point at their office in Paklok, 45 minute ride from Patong beach area
Bring your passport and confirmation code
Vegan/vegetarian lunch buffet included
Hang out with the rescued elephants, feed them, walk with them, watch them play and learn about their background
8,400B/$66USD due in cash on day of
Bangla Road - closes down at night, best nightlife in Phuket
Note: a portion of this is their red light district and that was way too intense for us. Approximately every 3 steps someone was shoving a Ping Pong show (not what you think it is - google it if you must know) sign in our faces and begging us to come inside - no thank you
Friday: Krabi
Take taxi from Phuket to Krabi, 2.5hr ride
Airbnb: Hilltop Sky Loft overlooking Ao Nang beach
Absolutely amazing view
Tiger Cave Temple
1200+ stairs straight up but gorgeous view
Bring water bitches - prepare to complain the whole way up
Wear temple appropriate clothes but maybe a sports bra underneath - you will sweat
20 minute drive from Krabi city
Ate at the Hilltop restaurant that was owned by the same lady who ran our Airbnb, gorgeous views of the city and great food!
Explore Krabi, go to the bars
Saturday: Krabi
This Saturday happened to be the first day of the Thai New Year Songkran water festival!
Railay Beach
Accessible only by boat, from Ao Nang to Railay beach is 60B/$2USD for 15 minute boat ride, goes all day
Calm, family-friendly for the most part
Sunday: Ko Phi Phi Islands
Boat to Phi Phi Islands - beware, the ferry has weird times. Look in advance! We ended up having to bum around Krabi for a few hours and wait for a speedboat so that we could even get to Phi Phi before 3pm
Beach hopping via Leh (longtail boat ride)
Monkey Beach - large population of beach monkeys (we didn’t see a single monkey on this beach but maybe you’ll have better luck)
Then we got drunk on the beach at night - Phi Phi is WILD
Monday: Phuket
Ferry to Phuket
We got food and drinks and decompressed
Tuesday: Bangkok
Flight from HKT to BKK
Luggage storage
Spent the day in Bangkok
Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782
If you want any chance of getting photos out front without 500 people in them you must go early af - we didn’t go early because it wasn’t possible for us but once again I would highly recommend getting your ass up early
Dress extremely modest
$15USD/500 pp Baht to get in
Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddhist Temple)
This is Thailand's most important sacred temple housing the utmost precious religious icon
No photos allowed inside - be respectful
Included with Tickets from Grand Palace
Another Thai (seriously the best massage ever)
Flight home
And that was our trip to Thailand! Much love to my best friends - Katie, Carly and Samantha, for being such great travel partners and helping plan the perfect trip!
You NEED to see this phenomenal country, experience the culture and eat your body weight in curry. There is truly something for everyone and the Thai people love tourists! Plus it’s inexpensive and is THE place to go right now. So really.. what are you waiting for?