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

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

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Optimal 7-day itinerary: D1-D2 Bangkok (temples, floating markets, Chao Phraya dinner), D3 flight Krabi + transfer Ao Nang, D4 4 Islands Tour or Hong Islands, D5 ferry Phi Phi + Tonsai sunset, D6 Maya Bay + Pileh + Bamboo Island, D7 return ferry Phuket and flight. Budget: 25,000-40,000 THB per person ex-international flights for mid-upscale comfort.

Bangkok skyline at sunset over the Chao Phraya
Grand Palace golden roofs, Bangkok
Damnoen Saduak floating market
Bangkok skyline at sunset over the Chao Phraya
Grand Palace golden roofs, Bangkok
Damnoen Saduak floating market
Golden Buddha statue, Bangkok temple
Bangkok street food vendor
Bangkok cityscape aerial
Golden Buddha statue, Bangkok temple
Bangkok street food vendor
Bangkok cityscape aerial

Duration

7 days

Stops

3 (BKK→Krabi→Phi Phi)

Budget total

35-60k THB

Best season

Nov-Feb

Flights

1 internal

Ferries

2

Marché flottant de Damnoen Saduak

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
Day 1-2: Bangkok temples + street food
Day 1-2: Bangkok temples + street food
Grand Palais, Bangkok

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 9am Krabi → Tonsai Pier (about 2h20, from 750 THB)
  • Phi Phi arrival around 11:20am, 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 (about 2h20, from 650 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.

Marché flottant de Damnoen Saduak
Day 3-4: Krabi limestone islands
Day 3-4: Krabi limestone islands
Wat Arun au coucher du soleil, Bangkok

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
Wat Arun au coucher du soleil, Bangkok

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.

Marché flottant de Damnoen Saduak
Marché flottant de Damnoen Saduak

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
Grand Bouddha doré de Wat Paknam, Bangkok

Going further

In pictures

Everything you want to know

Yes for a well-aimed first time: Bangkok culture + South islands. You will not see the North (Chiang Mai), no Pai, no Sukhothai, no Golden Triangle, count 12-14 days to add the North. But a well-built 7-day trip beats a scattered longer one.
Bangkok at the start is better. You arrive jet-lagged, Bangkok absorbs the fatigue with its temples and energy. Islands at the end = you leave relaxed and tanned. The reverse works but jet lag hits hard on the beach.
1-2 days Bangkok max (Wat Pho, Chinatown, river dinner), 4 days Krabi/Ao Nang single base with hotel pool + 4 Islands Tour + elephant sanctuary day, 2 days Phi Phi day trip or overnight. Avoid multiple internal flights, tiring for little ones.
Backpacker: 12,000-18,000 THB. Mid comfort: 25,000-40,000 THB. Upscale: 60,000-100,000 THB. Premium honeymoon: 150,000+ THB. Includes hotels, food, excursions, internal transport.
December-March (dry season). November = very good. April = hot but dry. Avoid July-October (south monsoon, unstable ferries). If you must travel in July, do Bangkok + Chiang Mai instead of South.

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