How should a first-time Thailand trip be structured?
With one week, choose Bangkok and either Chiang Mai or the beach. With ten days, all three can fit if you fly and use one easy beach base. With two weeks, spend three nights in Bangkok, four in Chiang Mai and five or six on one coast or island.
Full answer
Thailand is easiest to enjoy when the trip has two or three clear parts.
Bangkok should usually be one of them. The city can be hot and overwhelming on the first afternoon, but it rewards a few days: boats on the Chao Phraya, markets, temples, neighbourhood food and evenings when the streets remain busy long after dinner.
Then choose the north, the beach, or both if there is enough time.
Bangkok
Spend three nights in Bangkok on a first trip.
That gives two full days after arrival. One can be used for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the river. The other can be built around food, markets, museums or a part of the city such as Chinatown, Ari or Thonburi.
A hotel near the BTS, MRT or river will save time. Bangkok journeys that look short on a map can take much longer in traffic.
Chiang Mai and the north
Chiang Mai is a good change after Bangkok.
The old city contains temples and markets, but the wider stay can include mountain views, cooking, food at night markets and slower mornings at a café or guesthouse. Three nights is the minimum; four or five nights are better if you want a day outside the city.
Choose animal experiences carefully. Avoid venues that rely on riding, performances or close contact that is not clearly in the animals’ interests.
Northern Thailand is not ideal at every time of year. Smoke from agricultural burning can seriously affect air quality during parts of the late dry season. Check current conditions before building the trip around Chiang Mai or Pai.
The beach
Choose one coast or island area and stay there.
Phuket has the widest choice of flights, hotels and services, but the experience changes greatly between beaches. Krabi is good for limestone scenery and boat trips. Koh Lanta suits slower stays and families. Koh Samui has direct flights and many resorts. Koh Tao is better for diving, while Koh Phangan ranges from quiet beaches to nightlife depending on the area and dates.
Do not visit three islands simply because ferries connect them. Every move uses a morning or afternoon and introduces another weather risk.
Suggested routes
Seven or eight days
Bangkok and Chiang Mai, or Bangkok and one beach area.
Ten days
Three nights in Bangkok, three in Chiang Mai and four at the beach. Fly the long journeys and choose a base with easy airport or ferry access.
Two weeks
Three nights in Bangkok, four in Chiang Mai and six at the beach, with one day left around the flights.
What to leave out
Leave out Pai when the winding road and another hotel change are not worth two nights. Leave out an island reached through a flight, long drive and ferry when the stay is only three days. Leave out a northern stop when smoke or extreme heat is likely to spoil the reason for going.
Thailand is not difficult to revisit. A first trip should not try to include every version of it.