Thailand in 7 days: full itinerary Bangkok + islands (day-by-day, budget by profile)

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

1. Overloading Bangkok: 2 days enough, more is saturated
2. Trying to add Chiang Mai as bonus: impossible in 7 days, you lose 1 day to internal travel
3. Underestimating arrival-day fatigue: plan it light
4. Last-minute ferry booking in high season (often full)
5. Eating too spicy on day one with a fragile stomach

Going further

• How to get from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi
• Maya Bay 2026
• Phi Phi vs Phuket vs Krabi
• How many days on Koh Phi Phi