Thailand is the perfect vacation country for anyone just getting acquainted with backpacking or Asia. Everything is well organized in Thailand, which is what makes it so nice to travel around here. If you are going to Thailand for 3 weeks you will have to make choices about what to visit. In fact, Thailand is 13 times larger than the Netherlands. In this popular travel itinerary for 3 weeks in Southern Thailand, we skip Northern Thailand with Chiang Mai and Pai and thus head south from Bangkok alone. This saves a lot of time, allowing you to travel more relaxed and ultimately see more of Thailand.
Content of this blog:
Bangkok: 3 days
How to get to Bangkok: there are several daily flights to Thailand from any place in the world. Through Skyscanner, you’ll see the cheapest option for your dates. Are you flexible in your dates? Then you can also compare if you leave 3 days earlier or later, this can save a lot of money.
Things to do in Bangkok: Your journey in Thailand begins, of course, in chaotic Bangkok. For the very first time in Asia, this city probably comes across as overwhelming. Everywhere you look there are people, lights, food smells and traffic. A lot of traffic. Yet Bangkok also has many charming places and you can entertain yourself for days here. Make sure you start your trip slowly and stay in Bangkok for at least 3 days after arrival. This way you can recover from the long flight, your jet lag and at the same time you can already get acquainted with Thai culture. For example, visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun temples. Immediately learn delicious Thai cooking at this fun cooking class and attend a Muay Thai match! Of course, also look for the best parties at Khao San Road. We have written down the 15 best activities in Bangkok for you in this overview. That way you’ll immediately have plenty of inspiration for your stay in the capital!
Tip: read all about transportation in Bangkok here.
Accommodation in Bangkok: if you are going to Thailand as a solo traveler, the Here Hostel and Back Home Backpackers hostel are the best places to stay. Here you are going to meet a lot of fun, new people with whom you can do activities. If you are just looking for a nice hotel then Casa Nithra and Reno hotel are the best places: a very chill pool and they are right in the center.
Koh Tao: 4 days
How to get to Koh Tao: The easiest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao is by bus and ferry. Several buses go daily from Bangkok to Chumphon. In Chumphon, transfer to the ferry to Koh Tao for the final leg of the journey. In total you will be on the road for around 9 hours so this is a long day of travel though. Tickets for this entire route can easily be purchased in advance online through 12GO.Asia.
Things to do in Koh Tao: Koh Tao is Thailand’s most famous island to get your PADI. Everywhere on this small island you will see diving schools and stores selling diving equipment. If you would like to get your PADI, set aside at least 5 days for Koh Tao. Yet Koh Tao is also a wonderful island if you don’t want to go diving. There are several idyllic beaches, lots of green nature and beautiful viewpoints. The most famous viewpoint in Koh Tao is the John Suwan viewpoint. From here you have a beautiful view of the entire island and its clear waters.
Accommodation in Koh Tao: For solo travelers, Savage is the very best hostel in Koh Tao. Unfortunately, this is also why this hostel is often fully booked a week in advance. Other nice hostels in Koh Tao include Warehouse and Revolution. Koh Tao is a popular destination for backpackers anyway. You will make many new friends to hang out with here. The best hotels in Koh Tao are Koh Tao Heights and Isla Tortuga Diving.Want a really nice stay with an infinity pool and stunning views for less than ā¬100 a night? Then check out the amazing Ava Resort.
Tip: On the islands, the easiest mode of transportation is a motorbike. There are risks involved here, however: in fact, without a motorcycle license, you are not insured if you have an accident. Also read this article to learn more about renting a scooter in Asia.
Koh Phangan: 3 days
How to get to Koh Phangan: From Koh Tao, several boats sail up and down to Koh Phangan daily. The fastest boat takes 1 hour and the slow boat takes 1.5 hours. Tickets can be bought on any street corner from vendors in Koh Tao. If you like it better to arrange it online, you can easily do so through 12GO.Asia.
Things to do in Koh Phangan: Koh Phangan is known for its full moon party. Every month, 20,000 people gather on Haad Rin beach to party hard. Check out this article for this year’s full moon party dates and more information about the full moon party.
A half moon party festival is also held on Koh Phangan. Tickets for this cost ā¬60, and many feel it is not worth the money. Therefore, this celebration is being attended less and less. Much more fun is to find some yourself with cozy people from your hostel. Still, you don’t have to come to Koh Phangan just for the parties because it is otherwise a beautiful island. There are fine beaches all over the island, but the most beautiful ones are in the north of the island. You’ll also find Koh Phangan’s beautiful viewpoint here: Bootle Beach Viewpoint.
Accommodation in Koh Phangan: keep in mind that all accommodations around the full moon party are often booked months in advance. In this period you can’t find (affordable) accommodation a few days in advance anyway, unfortunately. If you are not going to Koh Phangan around the full moon party then there are some fine hostels where you can stay: See Sea Backpackers, Echo Beach Hostel and Phangan Arena Hostel. These are all cozy and social hostels.
We ourselves stayed at the Morning Star Resort. These lovely bungalows are right on the beach and there is also a chill pool. The rooms are very reasonably priced, especially around the full moon party! Be sure to book well in advance, though, or everything will already be sold out. The Dreamland resort also looks good, has a nice pool and often has a spot 1 month before the full moon party.
Khao Sok: 2 days
How to get to Khao Sok: From Koh Phangan, take the ferry to Surat Thani pier. This ferry takes 2.5 hours. Then, from Surat Thani, catch a minivan to Khao Sok. This one takes 3.5 hours. Then you will arrive at Khao Sok Village. The next day you can do the overnight tour in the national park. Book this itinerary in advance through 12GO.Asia so you can be sure everything goes well!
Doing in Khao Sok: You only come to Khao Sok for one thing: the overnight tour on Lake Khao Sok. You will spend over 24 hours in the national park and see the most beautiful nature here. On top of that, you spend the night on a floating cabin on the lake. Read this article for all our tips for the overnight tour in Khao Sok as well as a handy packing list.
Accommodation in Khao Sok: To get into the national park, you always have to take a tour. Still, you have to spend one night in Khao Sok Village before you can do the tour. Book your overnight stay at Palmview Resort in Khao Sok. Here you will meet the most friendly Thai who can make you laugh so hard that the whole jungle will join in. He can also arrange the overnight tour for you, if you contact him in advance through booking.com.
Ao Nang: 4 days
How to get to Ao Nang: From Khao Sok, take a 5-hour minivan to Ao Nang. You can book this minivan on the same day you return from the overnight tour. You will often be back around 1:00 / 2:00 p.m. so make sure you book the minivan through 12GO.Asia after that.
Things to do in Ao Nang: Ao Nang is often confused with Krabi. Krabi is the province and Ao Nang is the town where you will be staying. It is right on the beach and is very touristy. That does mean there are lots of fun things to do too! For example, there are several boat tours you can book; especially the 4 island tour is very nice. Furthermore, from Ao Nang you can easily take a day trip to Railay Beach, considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in Thailand. Also read our article on the 10 best activities in Ao Nang.
Accommodation in Ao Nang: There are two great hostels in Ao Nang: K-bunk center and Tan X. These are really social hostels and fun pub crawls are also organized from K-bunk. If you are looking for a party hostel, Koko hostel is perfect for you.
Prefer to relax in a hotel? Ao Nang Lodge and The Loft Hotel are the very best options in Ao Nang.
Koh Phi Phi: 3 days
How to get to Koh Phi Phi: From Ao Nang, you can easily arrange a transfer to Koh Phi Phi. At all tour operators in Ao Nang, they offer this itinerary. This often includes pickup at your hostel. You can also book it yourself online through 12GO.Asia. The trip to Koh Phi Phi takes around 3 hours.
Things to do in Koh Phi Phi: Koh Phi Phi is known as a real party island. So of course you can catch very good (beach) parties here but besides that it is also just a very beautiful island. Koh Phi Phi has high mountains and beautiful green nature. You can see this especially from the popular viewpoint. After a 20-minute walk, you are already at the top.
Furthermore, from Koh Phi Phi you can take many beautiful tours for diving and snorkeling. Among others, to the famous Maya Bay. If you’d rather spend the last few days of your vacation doing nothing, you’re in the right place too: Koh Phi Phi has 5 lovely beaches where you can relax well. Read all of our tips for Koh Phi Phi here.
Accommodation in Koh Phi Phi: Because Koh Phi Phi is a small island, accommodations sell out quickly. Therefore, make sure you prefer to book your stay a little in advance. The best hostels, where you won’t be kept awake by thumping music, in Koh Phi Phi are Sweed Dee Hostel and Dee Dee Sea Front. For a hotel, it’s best to book Wood Loft; the beds here are a lot softer and nicer than anywhere else in Thailand, and it’s just a lovely stay close to the center!
Back to Bangkok
The end of your 3-week tour of Thailand has arrived. From Koh Phi Phi take the boat back to Ao Nang, or to Phuket. From either of these two cities, take a domestic flight to Bangkok. Check Skyscanner for the cheapest options on this route.
Note that there are two different airports in Bangkok: Don Mueang airport, where domestic flights arrive and depart. Suvarnabhumi International airport is the airport where international flights arrive and depart. So if you have a domestic flight first and an international one right after that you’re not going to make it. It is a 45-minute drive in Bangkok’s chaotic traffic to the other airport. Rather, book one more night at a hotel near Suvarnabhumi airport so you can catch your flight the next day anyway. A fine hotel near the airport is Gate 43 Airport Hotel.
Would you still prefer to see something less popular places in Thailand? Then check out our authentic itinerary or see all our Thailand articles here.
You have great itineraries! Very thoughtful. Thank you for doing this!