A one-week holiday that will have you back for more
A quick break
A quick break
A trip like this is suitable for those who have just a week in Thailand but still want a bit of sun along with the culture.
To keep the travel time down, you're never more than a few hours from Bangkok on this trip, but you'll still get to experience some of Thailand's lush scenery and tropical island beaches.
One advantage of using a trip like this as a base, is that there's lots of potential for sidetrips, and that week-long stay can easily stretch out into a month.
Pay attention to the weather! There's few things as miserable as a weeklong long sojourn on a sodden island. More climate information can be found here: Travelfish interactive weather map.
The suggested minimum time for a trip like this is one week, though two weeks is far more comfortable.
1) Bangkok -> Kanchanaburi (lush scenery, river trips, national parks, trekking, historical interest)
2) Kanchanaburi -> Bangkok
3) Bangkok -> Ko Samet (tropical island)
4) Ko Samet -> Bangkok
One day: fly from Trat to Bangkok
One day: Visit Ayutthaya as a day-trip rather than as an overnight stay
Two days: Visit Kanchanaburi as a long day-trip (not recommended)
One day: Strike north from Bangkok to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. While it can be visited as a long day-trip, an overnight stay is recommened.
Two days: Further west from Kanchanaburi lies the remote town of, Sangkhlaburi -- well worth the effort to reach if time allows
Two days: Visit stunning Ko Mun Nork -- not cheap, but it is lovely.
Three days: Head further east for some more island-downtime on the very popular Ko Chang, or the neighbouring islands of Ko Maak or Ko Kut.
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View One week in Thailand in a larger map |
To help you work out how you'll get around, we've listed the trip durations for the various forms of transport available. Note that with the exception of flight times, these are average trip times, so no hate mail if you take the slow train.
| THAILAND: A one-week holiday that will have you back for more | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | Air | Bus | Train | Boat |
| Bangkok | Kanchanaburi | - | 2:00 | 2:45 | - |
| Kanchanaburi | Sangkhlaburi | - | 5:00 | - | - |
| Bangkok | Ban Phe (for Ko Samet) | - | 3:00 | - | - |
| Ban Phe | Ko Samet | - | - | - | 1:00 |
| Ban Phe | Klaeng (for Ko Mun Nork) | - | 1:30 | - | - |
| Kleang | Ko Mun Nork | - | - | - | 1:00 |
| Ban Phe | Trat (for Ko Chang) | - | 3:00 | - | - |
| Trat | Ko Chang | - | - | - | 1:00 |
| Trat | Ko Maak | - | - | - | 3:00 |
| Trat | Ko Kut | - | - | - | 5:00 |
| Trat | Bangkok | 0:50 | 5:00 | - | - |
Where to go, how long to stay there, where to go next, east or west, north or south? How long have you got? How long do you need? Itinerary planning can be almost as maddening as it is fun and here are some outlines to help you get started. Remember, don't over plan!
Burma lends itself to a short fast trip with frequent flights thrown in or a longer, slower trip where you don't leave the ground. There isn't much of a middle ground. Ground transport remains relatively slow, so be wary about trying to fit too much in.
Roughly apple-shaped, you'd think Cambodia would be ideal for circular routes, but the road network isn't really laid out that way. This means you'll most likely find yourself through some towns more than once, so work them into your plans.
How long have you got? That's not long enough. Really. You'd need a few lifetimes to do this sprawling archipelago justice. Be wary of trying to cover too much ground - the going in Indonesia can be slow.
North or south or both? Laos is relatively small and transport is getting better and better. Those visiting multiple countries can pass through here a few times making for some interesting trips.
The peninsula is easy, with affordable buses, trains and planes and relatively short distances. Sabah and Sarawak are also relatively easy to get around.The vast majority of visitors stick to the peninsula but Borneo is well worth the time and money to reach.
So much to see, so much to do. Thailand boasts some of the better public transport in the region so getting around can be fast and affordable. If time is limited, stick to one part of the country.
Long and thin, Vietnam looks straightforward, but the going is slow and the distances getting from A to B can really bite into a tight trip plan. If you're not on an open-ended trip, plan carefully.
This is where itinerary planning really becomes fun. Be sure to check up on our visa, border crossing and visa sections to make sure you're not trying to do the impossible. Also, remember you're planning a holiday -- not a military expedition.