3 Weeks in Thailand Itinerary

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Thailand is undeniably one of the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia. It’s safe to say that it is the gateway to the region welcoming tourists with its fine white-sand beaches. Thailand is also known for being an affordable vacation place compared to Europe and North America.

To spend 3 weeks in Thailand is not a problem. There are so many places to see from hiking mountains, diving for the corals, and most importantly, tasting authentic Thai dishes. You can do all these in just 21-days in Thailand without rushing yourself.

In this article, I will show you the must-see places in Thailand and how many days to spend on each. You don’t have to follow this itinerary day-by-day, you can make your own travel itinerary that is more suitable for you. Use this as a guide instead. To help you with packing smartly, download our free packing list for a 3-week trip which you can find on our sidebar or scroll at the bottom if you are on mobile.

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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THAILAND

4 images - Wat Arun temple, Chiang Mai sea of clouds, Phuket beach shore, pad thai - 3-Weeks in Thailand Itinerary

But before you pack your bags and book the flights, take a quick look at these things you should know about taking a vacation in Thailand. This will help visualise and organise your trip better.

When is the best time to go to

Southeast Asia has long months of typhoon season. For Thailand, it’s from June to December, which means the best time to visit Thailand is from December to April when there’s very little chance of rain. The month of May is very hot.

You should remember that December to February is the busiest time in Thailand. This means that hotels get booked up quickly the prices are a little higher. The crowds are also much larger.

Are 3 weeks in enough in Thailand

For 20 days, you could visit a lot of places in Thailand. Of course, the more time you have the better. But with 3 weeks in Thailand, you can see the top attractions such as exploring Bangkok, hiking around Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, and visiting the southern islands such as Koh Samui, Phuket, and Krabi.

If you do a mixture of taking the bus and taking a domestic flight, you could definitely maximise your time. Rent a motorbike around the islands which will give you the freedom to see many places in a short period of time.

What to pack

Aside from your best swimsuits and sunglasses, don’t forget to pack some good walking shoes or sandals. This 3 weeks in Thailand itinerary includes visiting Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai where you can do some fun hiking.

Thailand is also filled with temples and pagodas, which means that you should carry lightweight and long trousers or shirts for covering your legs and shoulders (both sexes). A lightweight big scarf or sarong will do the job as well.

Animal abuse

Thailand was a known place for riding elephants and tigers photo opportunities for over a decade. Elephants were trained to be friendly around people, make the ride on their bike “safe”, and perform circus-like shows. During this training, elephants get tied, beaten, and abused. On the other hand, tigers were drugged so tourists can take a picture “safely”.

Today, although the government has distanced itself and condemned these businesses offering this kind of experience, there’s yet to be a law to prevent these businesses from existing.

There are now many “sanctuaries” for elephants claiming to be ethical and working towards rescuing and taking care of them. Instead of riding, tourists will get to feed and bathe the elephants. Although many of them do a lot of good, not all of them are completely ethical.

Be cautious of places labelling themselves as elephant sanctuaries, tiger/kingdom sanctuaries, and dolphin shows/aquariums. I recommend you read reviews from different sites and Youtube Channels to filter places out.

How to get around

You probably know that tuk-tuks are the main transportation in Thailand both in cities and rural areas. Getting from one city to another, you can either take a domestic flight or a bus. Plane tickets are quite cheap, so to save you some time and travel hassle-free it’s better to get on a plane if possible.

In metropolitan cities, you can also use ride-hailing apps such as Grab and inDriver. While you can rent a motorbike in small towns or islands to get around if you feel comfortable driving it. You must have your international driver’s license or IDP to legally drive in Thailand.

Visa and COVID-19 protocol

Thailand has quite a friendly visa policy. Visitors with passports from most of Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and some Latin America, Gulf Countries, Africa, and South Asia can enter Thailand and enjoy visa-free or visa on arrival for 14 to 90 days.

Thailand is open to tourists, however, travellers must apply for a “Thailand Pass” beforehand. The list of documents to prepare differs depending on if you are fully vaccinated or not. Those who are not vaccinated don’t need to do a quarantine upon arrival. It also required to present a negative RT-PCR test and travel insurance covering COVID-19 with a minimum of US$20,000 coverage.

Other travel tips

If you need help in finding trusted sites for travel services, these are the tools and websites I always use:

HOTELS
VISA
CAR RENTAL
TOURS
FLIGHTS
BUS (EU/US/CA)
TRAINS EUROPE
TRAIN/BUS (ASIA)
TOUR AGENCY
INSURANCE COVERAGE
EXIT TICKET
HOSTELS
AIRPORT PICK UP
CRUISES
BIKE RENTAL

MUST-SEE PLACES IN THAILAND (pinned map)

Click the enlarge button on the top right corner. Credit: map data: Google

3 WEEKS IN THAILAND ITINERARY

This itinerary will take you to one of the world’s most famous cities- Bangkok where you can warm up for your vacation. Then you will head to the north for some hiking, before you fly down to the south for some beach time and water activities.

Bangkok for 4 days

Bangkok is known for many things but one of those is how street food here is amazing. If you are worried about sanitation, these local dishes can also be found in restaurants. Thai food is well-liked everywhere in the world. So, don’t let this chance of trying authentic Thai food slip away.

Bangkok also has a very vibrant party scene and it’s definitely one of the must-do for a lit of visitors to Thailand. Below you will a list of places to see and things to do in Bangkok.

What to do in Bangkok

Day trips from Bangkok:

Accommodations in Bangkok

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai/Pai for 7 days

After your adventure in Bangkok and its surrounding areas, it’s time to spend time with nature and get away from busy areas. Thailand’s northern part has five national parks that you have to hike during your 3-week vacation.

You can reach Chiang Mai via a direct flight from Bangkok, alternatively, you can also take a 9-hour bus ride. Apart from hiking, there are many places to see in Chiang Mai and tours that you can get on. If you love yoga and meditation, this is also the spot you want to be.

Since you have a week in Chiang Mai, you can also head to Chiang Rai or Pai which is about a 2 to 3-hour drive. In those locations are more hiking trails and adventures waiting for you.

What to do in Chiang Mai

What to do in Pai

  • Kho Kuu So Bamboo Bridge
  • Yun Lai Viewpoint
  • Pai Canyon
  • Santichon Village
  • Doi Kiew Lom Viewpoint And Rest Stop
  • Sai Ngam Hot Spring
  • Nam Lod Cave

What to do in Chiang Rai

  • Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) and Golden Triangle – join a guided tour
  • Garden Of Reeds
  • Singha Park Chiang Rai
  • Pong Phrabat Hot Springs
  • Baan Dam Museum
  • Long Neck Village
  • Huay Mark Liam Hot Spring

Accommodations in Chiang Mai

Phuket and Krabi for 6 days

Even though hiking the mountains of Thailand give such inner peace and complete serenity, you probably can’t wait to see Thailand’s famous beaches and see for yourself why they are very sought-after. 3 weeks in Thailand have to include these two famous and stunning beach destinations.

From the north of Thailand, you can get on a direct flight to Phuket which is about two hours. Phuket is an island in the south of Thailand, just hours from the border with Malaysia. It’s well-loved for very clear blue waters, lots of spots for diving and snorkelling, and many many areas for water activities or simply beach bumming.

Krabi is not very far from Phuket. You can get there by land which is about a 3-hour drive or a 3.5-hour ferry ride. Krabi is another spot for great water adventures such as diving, snorkelling, and exploring mangroves and caves.

RELATED POST: 3 weeks in Malaysia

Things to see in Phuket

Accommodations in Phuket

What to do in Krabi

Accommodations in Krabi

Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan for 3 days

Your last stop is Koh Samui, another island off the coast of Thailand. You can get there by taking a direct flight or a 7-hour bus ride. Although Koh Samui is an island, the places you can explore are not only about off the coast. There are many things you can do inland such as waterfall hopping and hiking.

On this island though, I highly recommend you book a luxury resort. Not only do you deserve to simply be lazy at the end of your trip but also because has the best 5-star resorts in Thailand. It also has the best spots for sunset and sunrise.

There’s another island next to it – Koh Pha Ngan which you can reach by boat tour or a ferry (if you wish to change islands). On your last day, make sure to arrange your airport transfer.

What to do in Koh Samui

  • Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park – book a sunset cruise
  • Tan Rua Waterfall
  • Lat Wanon Waterfall
  • Khun Si Waterfall
  • Na Mueang Waterfall
  • Namtok Tar Nim & Magic Garden
  • Lamai Beach & Viewpoint
  • Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks (Hin Ta Hin Yai) – go on a wild 4WD Jungle Safari trip
  • Lipa Noi Beach
  • Laem Yai
  • Maenam Beach
  • Fisherman’s Village
  • Big Buddha
  • Lad Koh View Point

What to do in Koh Pha Ngan

  • Namtok Than Sadet National Park
  • Salad Beach
  • Chaloklum Beach
  • Mae Haad Beach
  • Namtok Wang Sai
  • Malibu Beach
  • Haad Khom
  • Bottle Beach and Viewpoint
  • Thong Nai Pan Beach
  • Haad Sadet Beach
  • Haad Wai Nam
  • Haad Rin

Accommodations in Koh Samui

SUMMARY OF 3 WEEKS IN THAILAND ITINERARY

It’s so easy to spend 3 weeks in Thailand. During this time, you can visit and do so much; from hiking, city exploration, to island hopping. Towards that end, you can even do nothing for 2 to 3 days and instead go for massages and read your book.

I hope that you found this itinerary for 3 weeks in Thailand helpful in your upcoming vacation. Remember to make the most out of your holiday because you deserve it.

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Thailand is definitely a famous destination for people of all ages. You can hike, go to the beach, and be a foodie. Here's how you can spend 20 days in Thailand. via @threeweektraveller

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