3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary
The Best Route For First Time Travelers
3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary
The Best Route For First Time Travelers
As the self-proclaimed king of Southeast Asia backpacker travel, Thailand has an embarrassment of riches.
The country is practically splitting at the seams with tropical beaches, adrenaline-filled hikes, delicious Thai cuisine and more monkeys and elephants than you will know what to do with.
We created the perfect Thailand Itinerary to show you how to travel to Thailand in 3 weeks as well as introduce you to some new places you might not have discovered yet.
3 Weeks In Thailand Itinerary
Days 1-2 | Arrive In Bangkok
Where To Stay In Bangkok – Bodega Bangkok
There’s nowhere better to begin your 3 week Thailand trip, in non-other than one of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations; Bangkok.
Affordable flights and a seemingly endless list of things to do make Bangkok the perfect place to begin any Thailand backpacking trip.
Bangkok is a city that never sleeps and with heavy Sodom and Gomorrah vibes, try your best not to lose yourself amongst all the madness.
Most Popular Things To Do In Bangkok:
- Grand Palace
- Wat Arun Temple
- Ghost Tower
- Khao San Road
- Sukhumvit
Suggested Blog | Best Things To Do In Bangkok Thailand {The Ultimate Travel Guide 2019}
Days 3-4 | Chiang Mai
Where To Stay In Chiang Mai – Stamps Backpackers Hostel
Once you finish up in Bangkok, the next stop on your 3 week Thailand trip is the cultural hub of Chiang Mai.
Located just 45 minutes north of Bangkok by plane, this beautiful mountainous region of Thailand is famous for its tranquil vibes and sheer serenity.
Comprised of misty mountain ranges and a vast mixture of temples and monuments, Chiang Mai will be one of the most distinctive destinations along your 3 week tour of Thailand.
And for all you Instagrammers that have been absolutely lusting over the widespread elephant photos, the sanctuary in Chiang Mai is the best place in Thailand to see elephants.
Best Things To Do In Chiang Mai:
- Elephant Sanctuary
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Songkran Festival (Massive Watergun Fight)
- Doi Suthep–Pui National Park
Days 5-6 | Khao Sok National Park
Where To Stay In Khao Sok National Park – Khao Sok Riverside Cottages
As one of Thailand’s largest protected areas, Khao Sok National Park is absolutely primed for exploration.
Hidden amongst Thailand’s deliciously green rainforest lies many enticing adventures and animals just waiting to be discovered.
Not to forget the stunning open water adventures through the massive Cheow Lan Lake.
Best Things To Do In Khao Sok National Park:
- Cheow Lan Lake Tour
- Khao Sok Elephant Experience
- Khao Sok Trail Hiking
Suggested Blog | Khao Sok National Park Tours and Everything Else You Need To Know
Days 7-10 | Koh Phangan
Where To Stay In Koh Phangan – Slumber Party Hostel
After several days of peace and tranquility step back into the madness as your Thailand 3 week tour leads you to one of the most infamous party destinations known to man!
Koh Phangan island redefines the word party with a massive 12-hour beach festival that attracts upwards of 30,000 people.
The Full Moon Party has become a rite of passage for Thailand travelers and is guaranteed to be one of the wildest nights of your life.
Occurring just once a month, Koh Phangan is the number one place to be in Southeast Asia during the full moon, so be sure to coordinate your travel itinerary around the dates of the Full Moon Party.
Best Things To Do In Koh Phangan:
- Full Moon Party
- Slip N Fly
- Haad Rin Beach
- Eden Garden Party
- Bottle Beach
- Had Salad
Suggested Blog | The Thailand Full Moon Party Dates 2019 {Everything You Need To Know!}
OTHER THAILAND BLOGS
The Thailand Full Moon Party Dates {Everything You Need To Know!}
9 Top Thailand Party Places {That You Need To See To Believe!}
Phi Phi Viewpoint {A Top Guide To Thailands Most Iconic Instagram Spot}
Maya Bay Phi Phi Island Tour {Full Guide On How To Get To Maya Bay Thailand}
The Top 4 Most Exciting Things To Do In Khao Sok National Park 2019
Days 11- 13 | Koh Tao
Where To Stay In Koh Tao – The Dearly Koh Tao Hostel
Considered the hidden gem amongst the Thai islands, Koh Tao is a place that doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
Although most backpackers only visit for the famous Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint, the island is so much more than that.
Koh Tao is among one of the most alluring of the Thailand islands rich with tropical coral reefs, breathtaking viewpoints and stunning seascapes.
Aside from its natural beauty, Koh Tao is home to a vibrant backpacker scene that represents nothing but good vibes.
If there wasn’t already a time frame set to travel Thailand in 3 weeks, then this would be an island that you could easily spend much longer than 2 days on.
Best Things To Do In Koh Tao:
- Koh Nang Yuan Island
- Sairee Beach
- John-Suwan Viewpoint
- Freedom Beach
- Koh Tao Nightlife
Suggested Blog | Koh Nang Yuan Island Thailand {The Best Koh Tao Viewpoint}
Days 14 – 15 | Ao Nang/Railay Beach
Where To Stay In Ao Nang – Slumber Party Hostel Ao Nang
Where To Stay In Railay Beach – Blanco Hideout Railay
The next stop on your 3 week Thailand Itinerary offers two distinctive choices; Ao Nang or Railay Beach.
Ao Nang is a resort town set along the Andaman Coast beachfront. The town of Ao Nang is an excellent place to organize tours to the surrounding attractions like Hong Island, Railay Beach, and Tonsai Beach.
In addition to this, Ao Nang is also excellent for nightlife and affordable seafood cuisine… and Pizza.
If you’re looking for a less touristy experience and would like to actually spend a few nights on one of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches then I recommend visiting Railay Beach. Railay Beach is a tropical oasis that is almost impossible not to immediately fall in love with!
Best Things To Do In Ao Nang/Railay Beach
- Phra Nang Beach
- Dragon Crest Hike
- Four Islands Tour
- Hong Island
- Tonsai Beach
- Ao Nang Nightlife
Suggested Blog | The Ultimate List Of 9 Top Things To Do In Krabi On Your Next Thailand Adventure
Days 16 – 19 | Phi Phi Islands
Where To Stay In Koh Phi Phi – Blanco’s Beach Bar
As yet another Thailand rite of passage, a three week Thailand itinerary would not be complete without a visit to the world-famous Phi Phi Islands.
This backpacker cult classic is just one of those travel destinations that will suck you in much longer than you had initially planned for.
The outstanding beauty of Maya Bay and the Phi Phi Island viewpoint are hands down the two most stunning spectacles on the island.
However, what makes this island truly special is the connected backpacker community on the hunt for nothing more than a good time.
If party hungry backpackers ruled the world, it would resemble the island of Koh Phi Phi.
Pro Tip
Although Koh Phi Phi is a huge party destination in Thailand, it is quite possible to avoid all the reckless drunken party antics depending on which side of the island you stay on.
While Koh Phi Phi can get quite crazy for some, it can also be exceptionally relaxing to others, offering the best of both worlds.
Best Things To Do In Phi Phi Islands:
- Maya Bay
- Phi Phi Viewpoint
- Monkey Beach
- Muay Thai Boxing
- Blanco’s Boat Party
- Ibiza Pool Party
Suggested Blog | Things To Do In Phi Phi Island Guide {The Complete 2019 Travel Blog}
Days 20 – 21 | Phuket
Where To Stay In Phuket – Bodega Phuket Party Resort
Sadly, the island of Phuket will be your last and final stop along your 3 week Thailand trip.
Much like Bangkok, Phuket offers affordable International flights.
However, for that reason, Phuket is one of the most touristy places in Thailand so don’t expect any secluded tropical beach experiences here.
Best Things To Do In Phuket:
- Phong Nga Bay
- James Bond
- Patong Beach
- Big Buddha
- Similian Islands
- Party on Bangla Road
- Ping Pong Show
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should You Spend in Thailand?
Thailand is a destination where you could easily spend 3 months exploring everything there is to see.
Quite frankly, Thailand is one of those travel destinations that is almost impossible to run out of exciting things to do or get bored of.
Is 3 Weeks Enough To Travel Thailand?
Like I mentioned above, Thailand is a place that is very easy to get lost in exploring for months at a time because it offers so much to do.
The hardest part about traveling in Thailand for 3 weeks is that you must maintain a hasty pace, not allowing much time to really settle into a destination.
With that being said, 3 weeks in Thailand is more than enough time to visit a majority of the destinations as long as you stick to this itinerary.
However, keep in mind that many destinations along this 3 week Thailand tour will really make you wish you had more time to spend in this incredible country.
For me in particular, those destinations were Koh Phangan and the Phi Phi Islands simply because I love the social vibes of the diverse backpacker community, though that may vary depending on your interests.
Pro Tip
On this 3 weeks in Thailand itinerary, I added an additional day to both Koh Phangan and the Phi Phi Islands. Therefore, feel free to add those extra days anywhere you see fit along this trip.
How much does it cost to go to Thailand for 3 weeks?
From my personal experience, a 3 week Thailand trip should cost you around $1800 USD including your return flight.
Keep in mind that about $700 of that will be your return flight.
Therefore, you can expect to spend about $48 USD a day during your 3 week trip to Thailand.
This is, of course, an average backpacker’s spending budget, so these estimates could vary a bit depending on how you choose to travel.
Average 3 Weeks In Thailand Cost Breakdown:
- Flight – $700
- Accommodation – $252 ($12 per day x 21 days)
- Local Transportation – $200
- Touristy Stuff – $150
- Meals – $252 ($12 per day x 21 days)
- Nightlife – $100
- Random – $150
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