Considering a backpacking trip to Thailand? Here are some ideas for your itinerary.
One Week: If you only have one week in Thailand, you will have to make sacrifices on what you will be able to see. The most common route would be to spend a few days in Bangkok, checking out the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and getting familiar with the Thai culture. The remainder of the trip could be spent on one of the numerous beach locations Thailand has to offer.
Catch a cheap flight to Either Phuket or Ko Samui to relax on the beach for a few days. From Ko Samui you could spend a few days at Ko Pha Ngan if you wanted to attend the full moon party (book accommodation well in advance if you are trying to go to the full moon party). From Phuket, you could spend a few days on the beautiful island of Ko Phi Phi, relaxing on the beach or going snorkeling.
Two weeks: With two weeks in Thailand, you will be able to the vast majority of what Thailand has to offer. Again your trip will most likely start in Bangkok.
If you want to do the beach circuit, catch the bus or a cheap flight to Phuket. Spend a day in Phuket, before heading to Ko Phi Phi. From Ko Phi Phi, catch a ferry to the Krabi region and spend some spend rock climbing and snorkeling. From Krabi take the bus to Surat Thani, to catch the Ferry to head to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, before heading back to Bangkok to conclude your trip.
Another option is to visit Northern Thailand, but still spend some time on the beach. Again start in Bangkok before catching the train to Chiang Mai. While in Chiang Mai, visit local native hill tribes, go on elephant rides, go bamboo rafting, take Thai cooking classes, and visit the Sunday Market. From Chiang Mai you can choose to either visit Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan, or Phuket, Ko Phi Phi and Krabi. The easiest way is to catch a cheap flight from Chiang Mai to either Ko Samui or Phuket.
One Month: With one month in Thailand you can visit almost every corner of the country. Along with all the destinations previously mentioned, you can also visit the white sand beaches of Ko Samet and Ko Chang. To the East of Bangkok, these destinations are much quieter than the beach destinations in Southern Thailand. Ko Chang is a good place to visit if you are into scuba diving.
Another destination that is possible to visit is Ko Tao. A short ferry ride from Ko Pha Ngan, this sleepy island also has some excellent scuba diving, and can be a peaceful break from the craziness of the full moon party.
Unfortunately, due to Bangkok's central location and the fact that it is the transportation hub of Thailand, you will have to backtrack if you want to see all corners of the country. If you are willing to take some discount flights, it can help to eliminate the long backtracking journeys.
Knowing where to go when planning your trip can be difficult, so it important to do some research before you leave. To get help on planning your trip, visit http://www.timetogobackpacking.com to create your free Southeast Asia backpacking itinerary. Also, check out the backpacking forums to chat with other travellers.
