Content updated . Check the linked sources for current details. Editorial information, not live availability.
Three nights in each destination gives you two full days in Bangkok, two in Chiang Mai and two in Phuket. Use the other days for arrival, flights and departure, with these local routes ready for the time you actually have.
The route at a glance
Day numbers include arrival, transfers and departure. This example contains 9 nights. Confirm your own connections before booking.
- Days 1–3: Bangkok · 3 nights
Arrive on day 1; use days 2 and 3 for the Old Town/river and Chinatown or Siam.
- Days 4–6: Chiang Mai · 3 nights
Travel north on day 4; explore the Old City on day 5 and Doi Suthep or the western neighbourhoods on day 6.
- Days 7–9: Phuket · 3 nights
Travel south on day 7; use days 8 and 9 for the beach and Old Town, or swap one for a boat excursion.
- Day 10: Departure · Departure day
Main version departs from Phuket. For a Bangkok departure, move night 9 to Bangkok and reduce Phuket to two nights.
Check the two domestic journeys before choosing hotels
Search Bangkok → Chiang Mai for day four and Chiang Mai → Phuket for day seven. Compare the total price with the luggage you will take, the flight's actual operating airport, and the arrival time at the next hotel. A direct flight on a route map is not a promise of a suitable departure on your travel date.
Use the airline's own confirmation for airport codes and check-in requirements. Bangkok flights can use Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK); changing between them adds a road journey. If the flight options force awkward connections, a useful nine-night alternative is three Bangkok nights and six Phuket nights, with no Chiang Mai flight.
Days 1–3: riverside temples, then Chinatown or Siam
After arrival on day one, eat near your hotel. For day two, use Wat Pho → Tha Tien lunch → Wat Arun as the main route. If the Grand Palace is the sight you want most, visit it first and reduce the afternoon temple plan. Stay around Tha Tien/Sanam Chai for Old Town access, or near an MRT/BTS interchange if you prefer evening options elsewhere.
On day three, walk Talat Noi → Song Wat → Yaowarat and eat in Chinatown. Alternatively, choose Jim Thompson House → BACC → Siam Square for art, a house museum and shopping. Check BACC's opening day. Both versions give a distinct second day without placing an out-of-town excursion between your Bangkok arrival and Chiang Mai flight.
Days 4–6: the Old City and the west side of Chiang Mai
On day four, travel north and check into the Old City, Chang Moi or Nimman. Day five can follow Wat Phra Singh → Wat Chedi Luang → Tha Phae Gate, then continue towards Chang Moi and Warorot Market for local food. Look for khao soi at lunch and northern snacks around the market rather than relying on a market night to fall on your dates.
Use day six for Doi Suthep with return transport arranged, followed by Nimman for food and cafés. If you prefer a city-and-crafts day, substitute Wat Umong and Ban Kang Wat. These are alternatives: adding Doi Inthanon would create another substantial road outing. Check weather and air quality before fixing the outdoor plan.
Days 7–9: choose a beach base and an Old Town route
Day seven is the flight and hotel transfer. Kata or Karon work for a west-coast beach stay; choose Patong if evening bars are a priority, or Phuket Town if food and architecture matter more than walking to a swimming beach. Compare the hotel's exact location with the airport transfer and the outings you want to make.
Use day eight for your beach area. On day nine, walk Thalang Road → Soi Romanee → Dibuk Road, then eat around Phuket Town's old streets; Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Road is an optional cultural stop. If a boat excursion is the priority, give it one of these two full days and choose whether to keep the beach day or the Old Town day. Check the operator's actual pier, pickup and cancellation terms.
Day ten: depart from Phuket, or move night nine to Bangkok
This version assumes your departure is from Phuket. If the international ticket leaves Bangkok, fly back on day nine and sleep there; the count becomes three Bangkok nights, three Chiang Mai nights, two Phuket nights and one final Bangkok night. That leaves only one full day in Phuket, so choose a local beach day or Old Town rather than promising both.
For a longer beach stay, use Bangkok plus Phuket for all nine nights. For a city-focused trip, split nine nights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and omit the south. These alternatives preserve the ten-day trip length while changing the balance; compare the whole set of tickets before deciding which version offers the holiday you want.
Save this guide to your favourites
Keep it handy for later, wherever your trip takes you.
Questions worth answering
How many full sightseeing days does this route provide?
Two in each destination in the main version: days 2–3, 5–6 and 8–9. Arrival, domestic travel and departure occupy the other four days.
Can I fit in Phi Phi?
A bookable day excursion can replace a Phuket day if its pickup, sea conditions and programme suit you. An overnight stay changes the hotel and transfer plan; it is not included in these nine nights.
Can I take the train instead of the Bangkok–Chiang Mai flight?
Yes, if you replace Bangkok night three with an overnight train and adjust day three around its actual departure. Search SRT first; this draft's main night split assumes daytime flights.
What our guide is built on
Rules, transport, weather and access can change. We use primary sources where they matter and recommend checking the relevant authority before paying or travelling.