Duration
7 days
Stops
3 (BKK→Krabi→Phi Phi)
Budget total
35-60k THB
Best season
Nov-Feb
Flights
1 internal
Ferries
2
Quick answer
Here is the itinerary I recommend to most of my francophone first-time travelers (works in English too):
- D1-D2 Bangkok: temples + Chao Phraya + floating market + Chinatown
- D3 Flight Bangkok→Krabi, transfer to Ao Nang or Railay
- D4 4 Islands Tour or Hong Islands from Krabi
- D5 Ferry Krabi→Koh Phi Phi, sunset View Point 2
- D6 Maya Bay + Pileh + Bamboo Island (6h speedboat tour)
- D7 Ferry Phi Phi→Phuket, evening flight to Bangkok or international from Phuket
Detailed day-by-day
Day 1 — Bangkok arrival + first culture shock
Morning (depending on arrival time)
- Bangkok hotel check-in (recommended: Riva Surya, Sala Rattanakosin, or Ariyasom Villa by budget)
- Rest 2-3h if night flight
Afternoon
- Wat Pho: 46m reclining Buddha, marble, calm — best first temple
- Wat Arun: river crossing by public ferry-bus (5 THB), terrace climb
Evening
- Chao Phraya river dinner: Manohra or Anantara dinner cruise 1,800-3,500 THB
- Budget alternative: terrace at Eat Sight Story or Sala Rattanakosin with Wat Arun view (800-1,200 THB)
Tip: get the rechargeable MRT/BTS pass on D1 — saves 30 min per move.
Day 2 — Bangkok markets + cuisine
Early morning (depart 6:30am)
- Damnoen Saduak floating market or Amphawa (weekend): longtail tour through klongs (canals), street-food breakfast on the boat
- Count 4h round trip
Lunch
- Chatuchak Market (Sat-Sun): 8,000 stalls, unique vibe
- Weekday: Or Tor Kor Market (quality, clean, less touristy)
Afternoon
- Chinatown (Yaowarat): walk between Sampeng Lane and Wat Mangkon Kamalawat
- 1h Thai massage at a serious school (Wat Pho Massage School: 600 THB)
Evening
- Yaowarat street food dinner: 200-400 THB for a feast
- Rooftop bar Vertigo (Banyan Tree) or Lebua Sky Bar for nighttime wow (cocktails 600-900 THB)
Day 3 — Bangkok → Krabi → Ao Nang
Morning
- Flight Bangkok → Krabi 8am (Thai Airways, AirAsia, Bangkok Airways), 1h20
- Krabi arrival 9:25am
- Taxi/transfer to Ao Nang or Railay (30-50 min)
Afternoon
- Hotel check-in (Ao Nang: Aonang Cliff Beach Suites, Krabi Cha-da Resort, Anyavee by budget)
- Relax, Ao Nang or Pai Plong beach
- Beachside massage (300-500 THB / hour)
Evening
- Dinner at Ao Nang Walking Street: fresh fish BBQ, 600-1,200 THB
- Upscale alternative: Lae Lay Grill or Last Cafe Krabi
Day 4 — 4 Islands Tour OR Hong Islands
Morning (depart 8:30am)
- Longtail or speedboat departure from Ao Nang
- 4 Islands Tour: Phra Nang Cave Beach, Tup Island (legendary sandbar), Chicken Island, Poda Island
- OR Hong Islands (quieter, more upscale): Hong Island lagoons, hidden beach, snorkeling
Typically included
- Snorkel + mask + tube
- Beach picnic lunch
- Water, fruit
- National park fees (200-300 THB depending on tour)
Typical fares: 1,200-1,800 THB shared group, 8,000-15,000 THB private
Return around 4:30pm, beach / pool, dinner
Day 5 — Krabi → Koh Phi Phi
Morning
- Check-out, transfer Klong Jilad Pier (taxi 20 min, 250 THB)
- Ferry 9:30am Krabi → Tonsai Pier (1h30, 450-500 THB)
- Phi Phi arrival 11am, longtail to hotel if needed
Afternoon
- Phi Phi hotel check-in (Tonsai/Loh Dalum for nightlife, Long Beach for calm, north for luxury)
- Loh Dalum or Long Beach
- Beachside Thai massage 350 THB / hour
Evening (the highlight)
- Hike View Point 2: depart 5pm, 25 min steep walk, panorama on both bays (Tonsai + Loh Dalum)
- Sunset 6:15pm — one of Asia best views
- Headlamp descent, Tonsai dinner (Anna, Le Grand Bleu, or night market)
Day 6 — Phi Phi Leh: Maya Bay + Pileh + Bamboo
The mandatory tour that everyone comes for.
Morning (depart 7am, mandatory for empty Maya Bay)
- Chartered speedboat or shared group
- Maya Bay: arrival 7:45, swim in buoy zone, photos, 1h on site
- Pileh Lagoon: outside anchor, snorkel in turquoise lagoon (often more beautiful than Maya Bay)
- Viking Cave: photo stop (no interior access, restriction)
- Loh Samah: snorkel, juvenile blacktip reef sharks frequent
Lunch on Phi Phi Don (included) or onboard picnic
Afternoon
- Bamboo Island: powder white sand, turquoise water, shallow reef
- Nui Bay or Yong Kasem: final snorkel
- Tonsai return around 4:30pm
Evening
- Sunset on the beach
- Dinner at a beach bar (Stones Bar, Sunflower Bar)
- Bioluminescent plankton trip (October-March): private longtail 7-9pm, 1,800-2,800 THB per person
Maya Bay national park fee: 400 THB per foreign adult, cash on the spot. Never included.
Day 7 — Return to Bangkok or international
Morning
- Quiet breakfast
- Last swim at Loh Dalum (fine sand, shallow water)
- Final massage 350-500 THB
Midday
- Check-out, pier transfer
- Ferry Tonsai → Phuket Rassada Pier 2pm (2h, 500 THB)
Evening
- Pier taxi → Phuket Airport HKT (1h)
- Flight Phuket → Bangkok (1h25, last connection to international flight, or Bangkok night then flight)
- Alternative: direct flight Phuket → international (Air France, Qatar, etc.) skipping Bangkok
If your international flight leaves from Bangkok, plan 2 nights in Bangkok at the end instead of 1 transit day. Same total duration, much less stressful. BKK→Phuket flight can be cancelled/delayed in monsoon.
Budget by profile for 7 days (per person, ex-international flights)
Backpacker (12,000-18,000 THB)
- Hotels: dorms/guesthouses 400-700 THB/night
- Food: street food + markets, 250-400 THB/day
- Transport: ferries + bus, 2,500 THB total
- Excursions: shared 4 Islands 1,200 THB + shared Maya Bay 1,500 THB + park fee 400 THB
- Total ~12,000 THB very tight, 18,000 THB more comfortable
Mid comfort (25,000-40,000 THB)
- Hotels: 3* mid-range 2,500-4,000 THB/night
- Food: street food mix + sit-down restaurants 800-1,200 THB/day
- Transport: domestic flights + private transfers
- Excursions: speedboat Maya Bay + Krabi Hong Islands + Bangkok floating market
- A few massages and bonus activities
Upscale (60,000-100,000 THB)
- Hotels: 4-5* 6,000-12,000 THB/night
- Food: upscale restaurants, dinner cruise, fine dining
- Transport: private transfers throughout, Bangkok Airways flight (premium domestic)
- Excursions: 6h private speedboat Maya Bay, private longtail Pileh, private evening plankton
Premium honeymoon (150,000+ THB)
- Hotels: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Rayavadee Krabi, Zeavola Phi Phi
- Food: starred, beach private dinners
- Transfers: limousine + chartered speedboat
- Spas, photographer, private plankton
Variants by season
December-February (high dry season)
Itinerary above is perfect. Book 2-3 months ahead.
March-April (hot dry)
Same, but drink 4-5L water/day. Prefer pool hotels in afternoon.
May-June (start of monsoon)
Itinerary OK. Prepare waterproof bags. Ferries can be 1-2h delayed, planning buffer.
July-October (south monsoon)
Modify: replace Phi Phi with Koh Samui or Koh Tao (Gulf side, opposite weather). Or with Chiang Mai (North) for cultural-nature experience.
Mistakes to avoid
- Overloading Bangkok: 2 days enough, more is saturated
- Trying to add Chiang Mai as bonus: impossible in 7 days, you lose 1 day to internal travel
- Underestimating arrival-day fatigue: plan it light
- Last-minute ferry booking in high season (often full)
- Eating too spicy on day one with a fragile stomach