Planning Your Thailand Trip
A good Thailand itinerary fits the time your visa allows, groups places so that you spend more days seeing than travelling, and leaves room for the unexpected. Below are the steps, sample routes and the fixed Smile Taxi Service fares for the road legs.
Step 1: Check How Long You Can Stay
- 30 days visa-free for most Western visitors. From 15 September 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, can enter visa-free for tourism for up to 30 days. This replaced the 60-day exemption that had applied since 15 July 2024. For most Western passports, a trip longer than 30 days now needs a visa or an extension. Rules differ by nationality, so check your own case in the Tourism Authority of Thailand announcement before you book flights.
- Entered before 15 September 2026? If you arrived on the old 60-day exemption, confirm with Thai immigration how long you may stay (as of September 2026).
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). Every non-Thai visitor must fill in this free online form within the 3 days before arrival, on the official site tdac.immigration.go.th (TDAC user manual). It is not a visa. It asks for your accommodation address, so book your first hotel first. Ignore look-alike websites that charge a fee.
- Tourist entry fee. The planned 300 THB fee for air arrivals was not being collected as of May 2026, and no start date had been announced. Check for news with your airline or the Tourism Authority of Thailand before you travel.
Step 2: Decide Your Travel Style
| Travel style | Good bases | Pace |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | Bangkok, Chiang Mai, the islands | Fast, budget-focused |
| Comfort | Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui | Relaxed |
| Culture | Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai | Moderate, many temples |
| Nature and adventure | Khao Sok, Chiang Rai, Krabi | Active |
| Beach | Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Tao | Relaxed |
| Family | Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket | Moderate, varied |
Before you draw a route, settle your budget and number of days, choose between beaches, cities and mountains, and check whether your dates overlap a festival.
Step 3: Choose a Sample Route
One week for first-time visitors: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai and a beach
| Days | Place | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Bangkok | Grand Palace, temples, street food |
| 3 | Ayutthaya | Day trip to the ruins of the old capital |
| 4–5 | Chiang Mai | Old City, temples, night market |
| 6–7 | Phuket or Krabi | Beach time, island trips |
Go to Ayutthaya by road (Smile fares are in Step 4), and plan domestic flights for the long legs to Chiang Mai and the beaches. See our guides from Bangkok to Ayutthaya and from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Two weeks: north and south
| Days | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Bangkok | City sights, one day trip |
| 4–5 | Chiang Mai | Culture, a cooking class |
| 6–7 | Chiang Rai | White Temple, Golden Triangle |
| 8–13 | Krabi, then Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta | Beaches, island trips |
| 14 | Bangkok | Shopping, departure |
Go from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by road (Smile fares are in Step 4). For the islands, read our guides from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi and from Bangkok to Koh Lanta.
Three weeks: slow travel
| Week | Focus | Places |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Central and North | Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai |
| Week 2 | Upper North | Chiang Rai, Pai, Mae Hong Son |
| Week 3 | South | Krabi, the islands, back to Bangkok |
Three weeks fits within the 30-day visa exemption that most Western passports get. Our guides from Bangkok to Sukhothai and from Bangkok to Pai cover those legs.
Step 4: Plan Each Region
Bangkok: two to four days
Entry fees for foreign visitors in 2026 are about 500 THB for the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, about 300 THB for Wat Pho and about 200 THB for Wat Arun. The Grand Palace has a strict dress code and can refuse entry.
Trips out of Bangkok, with Smile fares (one way, per vehicle, sedan / SUV / van):
| Destination | From | Smile fare | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayutthaya | Bangkok | 1,500 / 1,700 / 2,000 THB | Ruins of the old capital |
| Kanchanaburi (city) | Bangkok | 2,000 / 2,300 / 2,800 THB | River Kwai, history, nature |
| Khao Yai | Suvarnabhumi Airport | 2,000 / 2,300 / 2,800 THB | National park |
| Damnoen Saduak or Amphawa | Bangkok | Ask for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE | Floating markets |
From Ayutthaya back to Bangkok the fare is 1,200 / 1,500 / 2,000 THB. For a return trip, ask by message for the return-trip discount. Book a sedan from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, a sedan from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi or a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Khao Yai. For one car and driver for a whole day, Smile's full-day private tours last up to 10 hours; the Bangkok Tour costs 2,700 / 3,000 / 3,700 / 4,000 THB (sedan / SUV / van / VIP van).
Northern Thailand: five to ten days
Chiang Mai is the natural base, with the Old City temples, Doi Suthep, the night markets and cooking classes. From there, Smile transfers go to Chiang Rai for 2,500 / 3,000 / 3,800 THB (book a sedan from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai) and to Pai for 2,200 / 2,700 / 3,500 THB (book a sedan from Chiang Mai to Pai). The full-day Chiang Mai + Doi Tour costs 3,300 / 3,500 / 4,000 / 4,500 THB (sedan / SUV / van / VIP van).
Southern Thailand: five to fourteen days
The Andaman coast in the west has Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe. The Gulf coast in the east has Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Bangkok Airways owns Samui Airport and flies there from both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang; see our guide from Bangkok to Koh Samui.
From Phuket Airport, a Smile transfer to Patong Beach costs 1,000 / 1,100 / 1,400 THB and to Ao Nang Beach in Krabi 2,200 / 2,400 / 3,000 THB (book a sedan from Phuket Airport to Ao Nang).
Step 5: Balance the Pace
- Fewer bases, longer stays. Every hotel change takes time for packing, check-out and travel.
- Group sights by area. Plan each day around one district.
- Leave free time. Keep one unplanned half-day for every few days of sightseeing.
Step 6: Check Holidays and Festivals
- Songkran (Thai New Year): the public holidays are 13–15 April in both 2026 and 2027. Book rooms and transport early.
- Loy Krathong: the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month, usually in November. Bangkok bans sky lanterns.
- Yi Peng (Chiang Mai lantern festival): usually in November; check the dates on the Tourism Authority of Thailand event calendar.
- Other public holidays in late 2026: 13 October, 23 October, 7 December (observed), 10 December and 31 December. Expect busier transport and higher room prices around long weekends.
Step 7: Plan the Transport
Arriving in Bangkok
Trains and buses are the cheapest way into the city. Prices were checked in September 2026; confirm them with the operator.
- Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai: 45 THB, about 27 minutes, 05:30–24:00. You can tap a contactless bank card at the gate.
- Public taxi from Suvarnabhumi (Level 1): the meter fare plus a 50 THB airport surcharge plus expressway tolls.
- Buses A1 (to Mo Chit 2 bus terminal) and A2 (to Victory Monument) from Don Mueang Terminal 1: 30 THB.
- Smile transfer to your hotel door: 600 / 800 / 1,100 THB from Suvarnabhumi and 600 / 800 / 1,000 THB from Don Mueang. Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok.
For your flight home, Suvarnabhumi Airport advises arriving at least 2 hours before departure.
What a Smile transfer includes
Smile fares are fixed per vehicle, not per person, one way, with expressway tolls included. A sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 and 4, and a van up to 7 and 5. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting from the actual landing time. A name sign or a child seat costs 100 THB each, on request. Extra stops on the way cost 250 THB per hour. You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; if you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link, with a 5% fee added. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). You can request an English-speaking driver when booking, subject to availability. See all routes and prices.
Apps and Emergency Numbers
- Grab for rides and food delivery; LINE MAN for food delivery.
- Tourist Police: hotline 1155 and the official app "Tourist Police i lert u".
- Other numbers: 191 police and general emergency, 1669 medical emergency, 199 fire.
Itinerary Checklist
- Check your visa-free days and the holiday dates.
- Book your first hotel, then fill in the TDAC within 3 days before arrival.
- Book flights between regions and your airport transfer.
- Save offline maps, bookings and your hotel address on your phone, and buy travel insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa in 2026? Since 15 September 2026, up to 30 days for nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Check the rule for your own nationality.
How much do the main Bangkok temples cost? About 500 THB for the Grand Palace, 300 THB for Wat Pho and 200 THB for Wat Arun (2026 prices for foreign visitors).
Do I need to fill in an arrival card? Yes. Every non-Thai visitor fills in the free TDAC online within the 3 days before arrival.
To plan the transfers on your route, message us on WhatsApp or LINE, or start a booking.