Winding Roads & Never Ending Tales

Family trips, wrong turns and the places we still talk about.

10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day

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Thailand had come up in our holiday discussions before, but we had mostly thought of crowded beaches and left it for another time. This trip changed that picture quite a bit. Bangkok, the temples and outings around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, then Koh Lanta and Krabi: we wanted a family holiday with more than one kind of day. The northern part became one of our favourites. Achha hua we did not make it only a beach trip! This is the route we followed, with the travel between places included.

Our route was Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Lanta and Krabi: ten holiday days, then the journey home on Day 11.

In this article
Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day
Our Thailand plan: ten holiday days and departure
Our Thailand plan: ten holiday days and departure. AI-illustrated overview of the full trip described in this series, not a photograph or a current transport timetable. Includes plans and options from the diary; not every optional outing was completed.
A note on this archive story

From the travel archive, first published 22 Nov 2018. This is our experience at the time, not a current price or booking guide. Check opening hours, access, fares and services before making your own plans.

The route in three holiday-sized pieces

This itinerary combines Bangkok, northern Thailand and the Andaman coast. That variety was the attraction, but it also meant transfers. The diary below has ten holiday days plus the journey home on Day 11; it is not eleven full sightseeing days.

Days 1-2: Bangkok, then north

We began with Bangkok before moving to Chiang Mai. Think of arrival and onward travel as part of the day, not invisible gaps between attractions.

Days 3-4: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

The temples and markets made the north one of our favourite parts. We would have welcomed another day in Chiang Mai; Doi Suthep remained on the wish list rather than becoming a visit we can claim.

Days 5-9: Koh Lanta and Krabi

The pace changed to beaches and island outings. The day-by-day account includes options as well as plans, so read those distinctions before treating every named island as somewhere we visited.

Days 10-11: Bangkok and the flight home

The final Bangkok stop depended on flight timing, followed by departure. Leave enough room for that last transition.

Practical planning alongside the diary

The separate Thailand tips article complements the route. Use the archive experience for context, and verify current entry, transport and activity requirements before booking.

What I would keep in mind: Our main adjustment would be fewer tightly packed outings. An early boat departure also needs agreement the night before, not a heroic alarm that only one person intends to obey.

Our Thailand Family Itinerary: Ten Days and the Journey Home

Our plan combined Bangkok, the temples and markets of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and beach time around Koh Lanta and Krabi. We wanted a mix, not ten days of doing the same thing. The north turned out to be one of our favourite parts of the holiday.

This is the plan we built around travelling with a child, including the places we left for another visit. Use it as a starting point and leave room for your own family's pace. The final entry is our departure day, which is why the diary runs to Day 11.

Day1: Bangalore to Bangkok

Arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport, pick a taxi and lie down in your hotel pool, evening take a stroll through night market or do a beer hopping in downtown.

Day2: Bangkok sightseeing

Get up, get dressed and head for the palace. Don't forget sunscreen and umbrella or Hat, it's scorching heat here

  1. Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha: check current visitor hours and entry requirements before going; our old noon-closing note should not be used for planning.
  2. Madam Tussad 
  3. The aquarium was a good family option for us. Compare current tickets and inclusions rather than relying on an old discount claim.
    Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day
  4. Flight from Bangkok to Chiangmai/You can also take an overnight train to Chiang Mai but you will have to book in advance. The journey through Hills is really memorable and worth a shot.

Day3: Chiang Mai local sightseeing(temples): 

This is one of the best stops of the trip, very nice weather coupled with equally cool vibes of the place. Stay near Night market area for enjoying a leisure stroll after hours.

Walk toward the old city and visit the amazing collection of stupas and temples, all beautifully carved and maintained. 

Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day
  1. Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan
  2. Wat Chedi Luang
  3. Wat Pan Ping
  4. Wat Chiang Man
  5. Wat Pan On
  6. Wat Umong Maha Thera Chan
  7. Night market
Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day

At night do not forget to try in amazing restaurants in the area, many stories are born in the cafes here.

Day4: Chiang Rai sightseeing:

Pre-book a cab to head early towards Chiang Rai the sister city of Mai to devour some amazing privately maintained Temples. This place is a rhapsody of colours with some amazing architecture. 

Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day
Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day
Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day
Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day
  1. Mae Kachan Hot Spring and Geyser
  2. White temple - Wat Rong Khun
  3. Blue Temple - Wat Rong Sueur Ten
  4. Black temple - Baandam Museum
  5. Wat Saeng Kaeo Phothiyan

Day5: Chiang Mai to Koh Lanta

An extra day in Chiang Mai would have given us more breathing room. We did not make it to Doi Suthep on this trip, so it stayed on the wish list. Then it was time to leave the north and head towards Koh Lanta and Laem Kho Kwang beach.

Take a stroll or head towards the market area for handmade items. Don't want to walk take a Tuk Tuk back to your hotel. Eat, Drink, Read a book or just lie under the sky everything is a bliss here.

Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day

Day6: Koh Lanta 4 island tour

How can the trip end if you haven't seen the islands up close and beautiful? Take a private longtail boat and enjoy the beauty in unspoilt form. Snorkel and if you know dive amongst the worlds best sites. Get lost in the colourful world of sea life.

  1. Ko Chueak- Amazing place to snorkel and witness God at its best creation
  2. Ko Ngai - White sand all along with blue water to give the contrast and yes you are in Heaven
  3. Ko waen 
  4. Emerald Cave was the adventurous option on the island itinerary. Ask the operator about conditions and suitability for every member of your family; it is not a casual swim to undertake on the strength of a blog description.

Day7: Koh Lanta to Krabi

Enough of privacy lets head back to the mainland for a bit of fun and nightlife in Krabi, Ao Nang Beach.

Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day

Day8: Phi Phi island tour/Hong Island Tour

We had planned a Phi Phi outing, with Hong Island as another option. I wanted to leave early before the beaches got crowded. Good plan, except one of us woke up late and that was the end of our early start.

Next time we are agreeing on the departure time before going to bed. Putting it in my itinerary apparently does not mean the whole group has agreed to it!

Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day
  1. Bamboo island
  2. Viking Cave
  3. Monkey Beach
  4. Pileh Bay
  5. Lohsamah Bay
  6. Maya Bay

Day9: Railay /Phra naga beach

Travel photograph from 10 Days in Thailand: Temples, Beaches and a Departure Day

After the organised outings, we wanted a beach day at our own pace around Railay and Phra Nang. Check the day's boat arrangements and return time locally. My earlier claim that the two beaches were not connected by land was incorrect.Railay beach or Phra Nang beach. Both of them are just a cliff away from each other but not connected via land and so making each of them less crowded yet close to the main town for all comforts. 

Day 10: Krabi to Bangkok

Back in Bangkok, Ancient Siam was an option if the flight timing left enough of the day free. Check current transport options, tickets and opening hours before adding it after a flight.

Else head for the downtown market to shop till you drop. 

http://ancientcitygroup.net/ancientsiam/en/gallery/
http://ancientcitygroup.net/ancientsiam/en/gallery/

Day11: Bangkok to Bangalore

With heavy heart bid farewell to this place and head back to home to reminisce about what you witnessed.

What I would keep in mind

  • Leave room between island trips; not every day needs another boat.
  • Our plan includes a separate departure day. Count nights and flight dates before copying it.

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Comments

  1. angel mary10 May 2019 at 17:29

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. angel mary10 May 2019 at 17:30

    Nice blog. its really helpful for me because i am going to thailand trip from kerala on next month.Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Abhinav14 May 2019 at 08:16

      Most welcome...when we travelled we also browsed through travelogues to give a fair idea in what to plan and what not

      Delete

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