10 Days in Thailand | An Itinerary of What to See and Do

In 2019, we visited Thailand for the first time. We spent 10 days in Thailand seeing as much as we could and we had the holiday of a lifetime. I’m sure you will love this itinerary.

I have included all of the flights we used and hotels we stayed in. I have also roughly placed what we did on each day, including any excursions / activities. So without further ado, here is your guide to the ultimate Thai adventure. I hope that you enjoy it.

10 Days in Thailand | An Itinerary of What to See and Do

Day 1: Heathrow to Bangkok

Your first stop is likely Terminal 2 at Heathrow airport. Our flight departed at 12:30, meaning that we touched down in Bangkok at 05:45. This was really early, but we had booked an early check-in so that we could drop the bags off. If you are able to do so, I would definitely suggest doing it.

We stayed at the Rembrandt Hotel in Sukhumvit. It is a really nice base to explore from and is at a great price. They also have an amazing sky bar! Day 1 is all about powering through the jet-lag and doing as much as you can before you need to flop. Out of the 10 days in Thailand, this is probably the one where you will do the least. Near the hotel is Terminal 21, a large shopping mall. This is worth a visit and means you can take it easy on your first day. You could also take the complimentary tuk-tuk or SkyTrain to MBK if you wanted to.

By the late afternoon, head back to your hotel and chill by the pool or nap. There are some great restaurants at the Rembrandt so make sure you experience them all before you go.

Day 2: Ayutthaya

Today you will head out to the ancient city of Ayutthaya. Your hotels or rep (we went with Kuoni, who had a rep in each hotel) should be able to book you onto their next tour. Make sure you do this in advance! If you are not with Kuoni, ask your hotel for similar tours to the one below.

Our tour began at 08:30am and this was perfect. So, enjoy a good breakfast before jumping on your coach. The route will take you out of Bangkok and you will be able to marvel at the Thai countryside. The first stop should be The Summer Palace if you take the same tour as we did. This is the Royal Residence in the summer and is open to tourists. I love the gardens and architecture here – look out for the “garden elephants”! When you have finished looking around, the next stop would be the Ayutthaya.

There are plenty of ruins in Ayutthaya. If you are with a tour guide, make sure you visit Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mahathat. These are the best-preserved temples and are lovely to look around. Make sure that you see the ‘Buddha head in the banyan tree’.

Once you have seen all the sights of Ayutthaya it will be time to head back to Bangkok. Our tour took as back by boat, where we had a Thai buffet. If you are able to do this, I would highly suggest you do so. It allows you to see Bangkok from an entirely different perspective and the food was incredible. Definitely a highlight of our 10 days in Thailand.

Day 3: Bangkok

The next day is all about exploring the city of Bangkok. If I am honest, one day is not nearly enough so I have packed in as much as I can. This is roughly what we did and, whilst a lot, we enjoyed it.

Your first stop is of course the Grand Palace. We arrived a few minutes before opening time (08:30) and were able to enter before the crowds arrived. Because of this, we effectively were the only people walking around. It meant we could take some incredible photos! I would definitely recommend doing this if you can wake up that early. Make sure you go and see the Emerald Buddha.

After the Grand Palace, walk down to Thai Wang road and you will see Wat Pho. This is one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand and is home to the Reclining Buddha. You can also see the Phra Chedi Rai. These look like mini temples and house some of the ashes of the royal family. Once you have explored this temple, walk out to the main street and head towards the river. You should see signs for the ferry clearly laid out.

Your next stop is the stunning Wat Arun, another temple on the other side of the river. This is a unique structure that stands up to 86m. It is also covered and decorated in beautiful porcelain, which make up different patterns. You can also climb up the temple to get a view of the temple compound and surrounding area.

After you have explored the temple, I would suggest taking a taxi or tuk tuk to MBK if you have not already done so. If not, then centralwOrld is not too far away. After finding some fake brand souvenirs, head back to the hotel and get ready for an early start. From Wat Arun you could also consider taking a ferry down to Icon Siam for a bit of high street/ designer brand shopping.

Day 4: Chiang Mai – Old Town

Our flight to Chiang Mai left at 06:00am. The flight takes just over an hour and I would suggest doing the same so that you can enjoy a day in the city. If you do this, you should arrive just after 07:00am and can take a transfer to the hotel. We stayed at the Shangri La Chiang Mai and it was an amazing experience. I cannot recommend it enough.

If you are able to drop the bags in your room, then do so. If not, leave them with the concierge and make the most out of the free tuk tuk service. The Old Town of Chiang Mai is contained within the moat. It means that you can see everything there is to offer on foot. Get the tuk tuk to drop you off in the centre and get exploring!

The first must-see is Wat Chedi Luang. This is the original home of the Emerald Buddha, which was moved to Bangkok once the city fell to the Burmese. The other temples nearby are Wat Chiang Man, Wat Lok Moli and Wat Phan Tao. If you have time, go to all of them. There was definitely a difference between these and those in Bangkok.

In the afternoon, you can either go and see some more temples in the newer part of the city, or relax by the pool at the hotel. We did the latter and enjoyed pizza and some local Chang beer. Once you have unwound a bit, head on back into the old town and browse the night markets. There is lots to see and buy here, including beautifully decorated trinkets. There is also some very tasty food!

Day 5: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

This was a highlight of our 10 days in Thailand. I knew that I wanted to spend time with elephants and chose to go to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary because of their ethical commitment. We booked our trip directly with the company and opted for the half-day experience.

You’ll get picked up at 08:30 from the Shangri-La and will be taken to the sanctuary. The entire journey will take 90 minutes or so, but you can enjoy the lovely countryside. Be prepared that the transportation is just a pick-up truck with some seats in the back…

My account of our time at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary tells you everything that you need to know about your trip here. I would suggest that you bring clothes / shoes that you don’t mind being ruined.

Once you have finished your time at the sanctuary, you should arrive back at the hotel late afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day by lazing about the pool in the Shangri-La, and order a cocktail to unwind. For dinner, order a delicious Khao Soi, a dish originally made in the city. Delicious!

Day 6: Khao Lak – Relaxation

Another early start today and it is off to your final destination; Khao Lak. You are going to be staying at our favourite hotel to date; the Devasom Khao Lak. We booked a whirlpool room and got some incredible views over the estuary.

Book an early flight from Chiang Mai (make sure you have breakfast at the Shangri-La though!) so that you can get to Phuket airport in good time. Your flight will take just over two hours and then it is a 90 minute private transfer from Phuket to the Devasom.

With this, you should arrive in Khao Lak early afternoon. Once you have checked-in, get changed into your trunks and head to the pool! There is a cool bar here that serves a variety of different food and cocktails, so eat lunch in style. You are on holiday, after all.

As it gets cooler, head back to the hotel and get changed into a dinner outfit. The Devasom does incredible food so prepare to be spoiled for choice.

Day 7: Khao Lak – Snorkelling

The next day begins with a Devasom breakfast. I think you will enjoy it; it is still the best breakfast I’ve ever had in my life.

Khao Lak is near some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in Thailand. Talk to either the staff at the Devasom or your travel advisor to book a day.

We were a bit silly and booked a snorkelling trip to Khao Na Yak. If you read my blog post it almost ended in disaster… The Similan Islands are not too far and are famous for their marine life. We chose our trip as it would be quieter and we wanted to go with a local guide. Either way, make sure you go with a reputable guide/ company to avoid mishaps.

Spend the day enjoying the Ocean and marvelling at the sea life that you can see. This should take most of the day. Once you arrive back on land, get showered and head back to the pool. Dinner again should be at the incredible Devasom restaurants.

Day 8: James Bond Island and Phang Na Bay

Today you are going to the East of the peninsula and to James Bond Island. This is a full day out and you will need to organise this with the hotel or travel company. This is not just one of my best days of my 10 days in Thailand, but arguably one of the best days travelling ever.

The drive from Khao Lak to the East coast will take just over one hour. You should be dropped off on the outskirts of the Phang Na National Park. You will then catch a traditional Thai boat to explore the limestone cliffs that make up the bay here. It is genuinely one of the most incredible landscapes you will ever see. The first stop will be James Bond Island. This was used in the film The Man with the Golden Gun. You will be able to get some great pictures and do a bit of exploring, before being taken to lunch.

The next stop is the town of Koh Panyee. Famed for being on stilts, this town is fascinating to look around. It also has the world’s only floating football pitch. Before exploring the town, you can have lunch here and enjoy the scenic views as you tuck in. Afterwards, make your way down through the town to the football pitch. Your guide should pick you up and transfer you back to the mainland via the mangrove forests.

Your last stop is Wat Suhan Kuha, known locally as “Monkey Temple”. This is because there are lots of native monkeys that live here, stealing tourist food. The temple is in a cave, which is quite unusual. You will be able to walk through it and see the bats that live there too!

At the end of the day, your transfer will drop you off at the Devasom, where you can rest and unwind.

Day 9: Khao Lak – Relaxation

The last full-day of the holiday is all about relaxing. Start off with a delicious breakfast, take your time and then get ready for the day.

Your hotel has lots of activities on offer, including canoeing down the estuary. Begin your morning with a bit of exercise and travel up river through the forest. You will be able to see a lot of wildlife and it is a great way to explore!

Once you have had enough time on the water, head back and get changed. If you head down the beach you can find the restaurant 8 Fish. This is a great alternative to lunch at the Devasom and is significantly cheaper. Enjoy a lunch and a few cocktails here; there is plenty on the menu to choose from!

Spend the last hours of the afternoon with your feet-up on the sun loungers, reading your book of choice. When you are ready, go to the restaurant and enjoy your last dinner in Thailand.

Day 10: Homeward Bound!

I would recommend booking a late flight so that you can make the most of your time. As the transfer is mid-afternoon, enjoy a leisurely morning eating breakfast, drinking coffee and chilling by the pool. If you wanted to be adventurous, you could rent a bike to cycle up to the town of Khao Lak. The transfer back to Heathrow is a long one, so make sure you are well-rested and fed before the long journey begins…

10 Days in Thailand – Final Thoughts

This itinerary for 10 Days in Thailand is very similar to the one we had. It may not be possible to do all of it, but I hope it helps. I really thought we got the balance between ‘active’ and ‘chilled’ holiday on this one and, to this day, it is arguably our favourite holiday ever. Let me know if you have any questions; I would love to hear from you.

10 Days in Thailand | An Itinerary of What to See and Do