Thailand Travel Guide: The 10 Day Itinerary That Does It All

Welcome to the ultimate Thailand travel guide where you’ll uncover the best ten-day itinerary. From rich cultural immersion within Bangkok’s temples to elephant sightings in Chiang Mai to stunning blue beaches in Phuket, Thailand is a paradise for all travelers.

This was my first trip to Asia and one I’m positive I’ll never forget. I am spilling all the details today— from $12 massages to epic boat days, to help you plan a seamless trip!

Travel With EF Ultimate Break

Dreaming of your first trip to Asia but have no idea where to start? I understand how overwhelming it can seem and was right there with you which is why I decided to book this trip with EF Ultimate Break.

Bangkok

Our trip began in the bustling city of Bangkok, Thailand. Although I knew Bangkok was a large city, nothing could have prepared me for the blend of modern skyscrapers, vibrant street life, and striking temples. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, attracting millions of visitors each year. Whether you want to ride an iconic tuk-tuk or shop via a floating canalyou can truly get a taste of everything here.

We spent three nights here and yet I think I could’ve spent three weeks exploring all this city has to offer.

✈The Grand Palace 

You can’t come to Bangkok without visiting The Grand Palace. This historic temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Thailand as it’s the official residence of the Emerald Buddha. This 2-foot Buddha is dressed in solid gold. No photos are allowed inside and you must take off your shoes to enter but trust me when I say it is such a beautiful sight to see!

✈Visit Wat Arun

Wat Arun also known as the Temple of Dawn is another famous temple, known for its stunning riverside location and beautiful porcelain detailing. Fun fact: The 260-foot central spine is decorated with over one million ceramic tiles! People from all over come here to take photos so expect to see many tourists around.

✈Lat Mayom Canal Tour  

We drove an hour outside of the city to the area known as Lat Mayom. They call this area the Venice of the East because this community is built around canals. Because of this, the homes are only accessible by boat. Many low-income locals live here, farming their produce and handcrafting their goods to sell in the markets around Bangkok.

This community in particular sells every Saturday and Sunday and you can book a tour, but most people choose to visit the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market which is open daily. It was eye-opening to see what day-to-day life looks like for locals.

✈Railway Trains Market

This street is lined with different vendors and local artisans selling small knick-knacks and handmade goods. These pop-ups are located along a train track so every hour when the train passes through they quickly close down their tents and move things to the side for it to pass. It’s one of the coolest things you’ve ever seen— you must check this out.

✈Floating Markets 

Of course, the thing to do in Bangkok is visit the floating markets. Hop in a boat and cruise through the canals while shopping for local goods, street food, and handmade souvenirs. All of these stands are cash only, so make sure you have some Thai Bhat on hand. This is also the most popular area to negotiate, so come ready to barter— you can usually chew people down by over half!

The cruise lasts about an hour and a half and is the perfect way to get a taste of the local culture.

✈Coconut Farm

Thailand’s culture relies heavily on coconuts. Sugar, flour, and oil are produced from the coconut which become staple cooking elements in the kitchen. We visited a local farm to see the process of these items being made. We even got to sip on some coconuts!

✈Akara Rooftop Drinks 

Want a chic night out? Bangkok is the best place to grab a rooftop cocktail or bottle service. In the city center downtown there are tons of chic, futuristic spots. We had a 10/10 experience at Akara— everything from the music to the atmosphere to the drinks was amazing.

✈Chinatown Bar Crawl 

There are dozens of bars and speakeasies in the Chinatown area— I highly suggest checking out a few of the local spots. Follow this itinerary for a successful baby bar crawl!

• Pijiu Bar— This hole-in-the-wall has a huge selection of local craft beers and ciders. More of a mellow spot where you can come and play a game + chat with your friends!
• Independence— Not only was the atmosphere here incredible but the drinks were so unique. They had a specialty cocktail menu with drinks based on different countries featuring local liquor. Ask for the Pina colada Thai style.
• TAX— Quiet yet vibey this is the ideal “let’s grab a drink to get the night going” type of spot. It’s a speakeasy up a flight of stairs that would make an incredible date spot! All of the drinks are based on Thai teas and vinegar. Their black tea spritz was super tasty.

✈Massage 

You’ll be amazed at how cheap everything is in Thailand. One of the things they are most known for here are their spas & massage services. I went to a place in Chinatown and got an hour-long full-body oil massage for $12… yes, you read that right! $12 freaking dollars!

Obviously, Bangkok is the #1 red-light district in the world, so there are a lot of questionable places. I suggest doing a little research beforehand and finding a spa with good reviews and cleanliness to ensure your safety!

Chiang Mai

We spent three days in Chiang Mai exploring all of its lush mountains and rich culture. From amazing locals to fun nights out you must add this city to your Thailand itinerary.

✈Wat Suan Dok Temple

Our first stop in Chiang Mai was to Wat Suan Dok. This temple houses a highly reserved Buddha relic and a monk university making it an important religious and educational site. We learned the proper bow system for Buddhist praise and had a lesson from a monk.

✈Monk Chat 

At the temple, we also had a two-hour chat with Buddhist Monks. Prat KK taught us all about Buddhism, delivering a moving speech on the importance of cleansing our mind + treating it with as much kindness as our body. From incredibly eye-opening anecdotes to facts about the Buddhist practice, this was an incredibly interesting lesson and one of my favorite parts of our trip!

✈Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

This incredible temple is located 1,600 meters above sea level and there are over 300 steps to its highest point. Wat Phra is the most important temple in Northern Thailand. For centuries it has been a spiritual center attracting both tourists and pilgrims from around the world. Everything from the gold-encrusted details to the beautiful 180-degree lookout of Chiang Mai will take your breath away!

Prepare to be barefoot upon entering these temples + have your shoulders and knees covered.

✈Karen Elephant Sanctuary 

Visiting Karen’s Elephant Sanctuary was by far one of my favorite excursions of the trip— this village has four elephants each of which is assigned to a handler that cares for them 24/7. These elephants roam freely throughout these mountains, eating over 9 tons of food a day.

Our guide took us on a mile hike through the mountains where we were able to see them in the wild eating and roaming about. We were able to take photos and stand within 10 feet of them. It was the coolest experience. Not only did we see where they sleep and eat, but we were also fed a yummy lunch!

You walk through the rice fields to get to the sanctuary so make sure you’re wearing closed-toe shoes for this excursion.

✈Traditional Chiang Meal & Show 

We attended Kasalong Restaurant for a traditional Northern Thai dinner and “show“. We were served family style on the ground, which is typical for Thai families of this region. Our meal consisted of a large variety— pork rinds, pork stew, and sticky rice which are some of the most popular dishes.

Of course, all the while there was a variety of performances happening on the stage before us. From traditional Thai dances to kung chugs, to knife throwing we saw it all during this hour.

✈In-Home Cooking Class  

One of the most authentic excursions I’ve ever done was a cooking class at the Raunkaew-Yanon family home. This family makes a living by letting tourists into their home, and showing them how to make traditional pad Thai and red curry dishes. It was so cool getting to make our food from scratch.

In addition, the family took us through their huge farm full of herbs, fruits, and other veggies that are used in a variety ofThai dishes. The food was amazing and it was really neat getting to experience their culture up close and personal like this!

✈Night Out @ Kalarae Night Bazaar

While Bangkok and Phuket had tons of clubs, Chiang Mai was more of a bar scene. We went out to the Kalarae Night Bazaar area where there was a huge collection of street food, stands, and more. It was super easy to hop from one place to the next. Drinks were cheap and American music was booming everywhere despite the places being packed with locals!

✈Boxing Match 

One of the most popular things to do in the evening here is go to a boxing match. Of course, when in Thailand, we couldn’t say no to anything. The boxing ring is within the Kalarae Night Bazaar area and for roughly $35 USD you can sit front row and experience a piece of the action! Not my usual scene but it was epic.

✈Brunch at Cafe Arte 

If you’re looking for a cute spot to grab brunch Cafe Arte is the place! This place was super modern and had the most amazing croquet monsieur I’ve ever had. A strong French vibe between the menu and courtyard area which was a nice change of pace from all the Pad Thai for breakfast.

Phuket 

Phuket is one of the liveliest cities in Thailand. Known for its picture-perfect beaches, turquoise blue waters, and insane nightlife scene, Phuket is likely what comes to mind when you think of the term “bucket list destination“. We packed a ton into our three days here but I could’ve easily spent three months exploring all the local fruit stands, beaches, and beautiful National Parks.

If you’re a beach girl at heart and are planning this trip outside of EF, definitely give yourself a couple of extra days to explore here!

✈Ziplining at Hanuman World 

There is a part of me that really enjoys the thrill of an adventure so we woke up at 8:00 am and decided to go zip lining, This course had 12 different hiplines ranging in height and speed. The views were epic— a fun excursion to add to the itinerary if you like a little bit of an adrenaline rush!

✈Canoe Tour of James Bond Islands 

James Bond Island is one of the most widely photographed destinations in the world. Tons of famous movies have been filmed here, including the obvious, James Bond.

EF arranged an all-day canoe tour for us and it was the most amazing day. We boarded a large boat that had over 25 canoes on board. We set sail for an hour and a half before loading two at a time into a canoe. Each canoe pair had a Thai paddler on board who navigated us into the most beautiful caves and past the largest rock formations.

Our day tour included three different canoe rides/stops, the yummiest lunch dinner cooked by their kitchen staff, and a mock Full Moon ceremony. The Full Moon ceremony in Thailand usually happens in November and involves people releasing, small decorated floats called “krathongs” onto bodies of water.

The act is meant to pay respects to the water goddess and symbolize letting go of grudges, anger, and defilements, seeking good luck and blessings for the future. We made our own arrangements and with the help of our local guides set them free with our wishes. It was a night I’ll never forget and my favorite part of the trip.

✈Phi Phi Islands Tour 

EF arranged. second optional excursion day which involved a six-hour boat tour of the Phi Phi islands. If you’re coming to Phuket you definitely want to get out on the water and the best way to do so is by getting on a boat. This tour made five different stops— one to Maya Bay (the most picturesque spot in town), Pilehi Lagoon to swim in the caves, Monkey Island, a quick pitstop for some of the most insane snorkeling I’ve ever done, and Koh Phi Phi for some beach time.

✈Beach Time at Ko Phi Phi 

Speaking of beach time, if you want to relax by the beach, sip on a Pina colada, and eat some yummy Thaai food this is a great beach to do so. You will see tons of the “Pinterest wooden boats” here and it’s relatively quiet so you get to swim and relax without disruption.

The water here is insane so you won’t be disappointed.

✈Dinner at Three Monkeys 

Three Monkeys is one of the most popular restaurants in Phuket. Known for its incredible atmosphere and large menu this spot is such a vibe. Perfect spot to have dinner and drinks before a proper night out begins!

✈Night Out @ Patong Beach 

Patong Beach is like Las Vegas on steroids… it’s the craziest nightlife I’ve ever experienced. This is essentially a two-mile strip of bars, clubs, and casinos. There are tons of strip clubs, naked dancers, and performers lining the streets. Buy oneget one free beer + a free shot of tequila is the standard regardless of where you go.

Despite the loud music and intense atmosphere, I felt safe both nights we went out! Of course, I always suggest sticking with a friend and keeping an eye on your drink regardless!

Book With EF Ultimate Break

Sounds incredible, right?! This trip is truly worth every single penny and I walked away with friends that I will have for a lifetime.

Interested in having someone else do the work? Want to turn your brain off and just enjoy the thrill of it all? Book solo or bring a friend to room with… you can find all the details of this trip here + you can use code MCKENZIE100 for $100 off your first EF Ultimate Break trip!

What To Wear

Not sure what to wear on your trip to Thailand? I was in the exact same boat before leaving for my trip which is why I put together a detailed outfit guide sharing all of my outfits with links to shop.

It’s important to note that Thailand has a sub-tropical climate which means it is hot and humid all year round. Despite temperatures nearing the hundreds, locals tend to dress on the conservative side. Be sure to pack a few modest looks for those tourist-heavy days in the city center. Shoulders and knees must be covered during these two days!

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Of all the trips I’ve been on, Thailand was without a doubt my favorite I’ve ever been on. I always imagined my first trip to Asia would be a bit culturally shocking but nothing could have prepared me for how much I loved the vibrant culture, yummy cuisine, and stunning water.

It was, without a doubt, the trip of a lifetime. I know it won’t be long before I’m back in this beautiful country. It has too much to offer to stay away! Enough researching, just book the trip. 😉