Do you have 3 weeks off and are you planning a backpacking trip to Thailand? Good for you! You’ll have the time of your life in the land of smiles. But hold on—before you dive headfirst into a bowl of Pad Thai, let’s figure out how to plan this epic adventure without losing your mind (or your passport). Which places are must sees and which ones are better to skip? We’re helping you out with the ultimate itinerary for 3 weeks backpacking in Thailand. With this plan, you’ll experience the best of Thailand!
Only got 2 weeks in Thailand?
→ Check out our 2 week south Thailand itinerary
→ Check out our 2 week north Thailand itinerary
→ Check out our 2 week north & south Thailand itinerary
Got longer in Thailand?
→ Check out our one month Thailand itinerary
→ Check out our 2 month Thailand itinerary
The ultimate 3 week Thailand itinerary
Are you ready to have the time of your life in Thailand, exploring the best beaches, beautiful mountains, sacred temples and delicious street food? Follow this itinerary and you’ll experience it all!
Day 1-3: Bangkok
If you’ve already looked at flights for your trip to Thailand, you have probably noticed that flying in and out of Bangkok usually gets you the cheapest flights with the best connections. So, to make life a little easier and cheaper for you; we’ll kick off our Thailand trip in the capital: Bangkok!
Bangkok is a big, diverse and busy city and starting your trip here will immediately immerse you into Thai culture. You can spend your day in mega shopping malss like SIAM, or, if you're feeling adventurous, dive into the Chatuchak weekend market, where you can get lost for hours. If you wanna soak up some culture, Bangkok has some of the biggest and most beautiful temples. Go on a street food adventure at night or sip on a cocktail at one of the fancy rooftop bars. And let's not forget about a night out on Khao San Road, the ultimate place to get your senses (over)stimulated and drink a few buckets.
Best place to stay? Revolution Hostel Khao San by the Bliss! Book here and score 10% off your booking!
More information on Bangkok? Check out all our tips for the capital!
Day 3-5: Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is a green province west of Bangkok, with its capital also called Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi is only about 3-4 hours out of Bangkok, and easy to reach by bus. Public buses and minivans go about every hour, so you can just show up at the bus station in Bangkok and hop on the next available bus.
Kanchanaburi is the hidden gem of Thailand that’s not overrun by tourists—yet. You'll be in awe of the stunning national parks and diverse wildlife in the area. and has some of the best national parks of the country. More of a history nerd? The World War II musem and Death Railway or the perfect spots to get your geek on. Visit the famous 7 layered Erawan waterfalls, gain some knowledge in the war museum, or go paddle boarding on the river with us!
Yes, that's right - Revolution Hostels is now in Kanchanaburi! And this is our biggest hostel yet - Revolution Kanchanaburi Adventure HQ is a riverside resort wonderland, the perfect combination of peaceful relaxation and perfectly timed party. Book here and score 10% off your stay!
Want to know more about Kanchanaburi? Read our full guide on this beautiful place!
Day 5-8: Chiang Mai
From Kanchanaburi, you can take a bus straight up north to Chiang Mai. You can either choose to travel during the day or take the overnight bus. Make sure to pack enough snacks, because the journey will be about 10-11 hours. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, but doesn’t feel near as busy or big as Bangkok. After the chaotic circus that is Bangkok, it’s time to relax a bit more in Chiang Mai!
Besides the amazing atmosphere in Chiang Mai, there is tons to do in and around the city. You’ll find some amazing coffee spots, brunch places and restaurants in the city. If you venture out of the city, you’ll be surrounded by mountains and beautiful nature within minutes. Visit Living Green Elephant Sanctuary, have thrilling day out at the Grand Canyon Water Park or climb up the Sticky Waterfalls! The nightlife hits hard in Chiang Mai - take your pick from the Chiang Mai Pub Crawl, Muay Thai Fight Night, or the Drag Queen Cabaret. There's something for everyone!
Where will you rest your head? We've got the perfect place, just a few minutes walk from the famous Tha Phae Gate and the Sunday Night Walking Street market... Revolution Chiang Mai Old Town! Book here and score 10% off your booking!
Want to read more about exploring Chiang Mai? Read everything on Chiang Mai here!
Day 8-11: Pai
Next up on our backpacking itinerary is Pai, a tiny town nestled in the mountains, about 3 hours northwest of Chiang Mai. You have two options to get there: you can either take a minivan or channel your inner daredevil and rent a motorbike. Be aware that going into the mountains the road gets very windy and steep at times, so only drive yourself if you have enough experience on a bike. Taking a van? Don’t forget to pop a motion sickness pill before you buckle up. Those 762 hairpin turns are not just a scenic route; they’re a rollercoaster ride...
But trust us when we say the journey will be 1000% worth it! It’s for good reason that everyone gets stuck in Pai for so long that it even has a name - the ‘Paihole’. Pai is surrounded by amazing tourist attractions such as the bamboo bridge, the Pai canyon and a bunch of waterfalls and caves. Feeling more in the mood to party? The famous Pai Jungle Tubing is on every Tuesday and Friday, where you float down the Pai river with a drink in your hand and stop off at some amazing parties. It's guaranteed to be the best backpacker day party you ever join! And when the night falls, you'll find the best bars, raves and parties in Pai, including the Pai Pub Crawl!
The best place to sleep AND party? Revolution Hostel Pai Riverside! Want a bit more chill? Book into our Pai Town hostel - get all the perks of the Riverside location, with a bit more quiet in the evenings. Book here and score 10% off your booking!
Want to know more about Pai? Read our full guide on the northern paradise!
Day 11-13: Khao Sok National Park
Going south from Pai, you have to make your way back to Chiang Mai first. From there you can fly straight down to the south. One of the cheapest places to land in the south is Surat Thani, from which it’s only a 2 hours drive to Khao Sok National Park by minivan.
Khao Sok National Park might be the most famous national park in Thailand, and for good reason. Here, you’ll find beautiful crystal clear lakes, impressive limestone cliffs, diverse wildlife and a bunch of caves to get lost in. You can choose to go into the park on your own, do a 1-day tour, or go all in with an overnight tour. If you opt for the overnight tour, you’ll get to sleep in a bungalow on the big lake in the middle of the park. Other than that you can expect jungle hikes, cave tours and boat tours. However you choose to explore Khao Sok, it'll be a thrilling and beautiful adventure!
There are so many amazing places to stay here - try out a floating bungalow on the lake, a local guesthouse, or take it up a bougie notch and treat yourself to an all inclusive resort.
Want to know the best way to explore Khao Sok National Park? Read more here!
Day 13-15: Ao Nang
From Khao Sok, Ao Nang is about 3 hours further down south. You can easily get a minivan, which will go multiple times a day. Ao Nang is the beach part of Krabi, a city on the west coast of Thailand, and offers a lot more than just beautiful beaches.
Ao Nang is the best place to start your journey in southern Thailand. It offers beautiful temples, great beaches, day trips to surrounding islands and the best nightlife. Ao Nang itself is located on the beach of the Thai mainland, but you can book tours to a bunch of tropical islands close by, like Koh Phi Phi, where the party never stops. The popular Railay beach is only a short boat ride away. And do you want to party after a whole day of exploring? The Ao Nang pub crawl is one of the biggest and best pub crawls you’ll find in Thailand. Just make sure you don't skip the free shots!
Hostels and hotels galore in Ao Nang - the beachside properties are our top recommendation!
Want to know more about Ao Nang? Read our full guide on Ao Nang!
Day 15-18: Koh Tao
From the sunny shores of the west coast of Thailand, we're embarking on a grand adventure to the other side: the Gulf of Thailand! From Ao Nang, you can take a minivan across to the other side of the mainland, and then take a ferry to our next destination: Koh Tao.
If you’ve already done some research on popular places in southern Thailand, you probably know that Koh Tao is not to be missed. Koh Tao is known as a true diver’s paradise, so if you dive or are planning on learning it, this is your chance. Koh Tao not only has one of the best diving communities, it’s also one of the cheapest places around the world to dive. Are you not into diving? Koh Tao is still worth a visit! With its beautiful beaches that look like they were photoshopped, and amazing nightlife that could wake the dead, every backpacker will live life to its fullest here. Don’t miss out on the famous jungle party! Just remember: what happens in the jungle stays in the jungle, including your dignity.
The best preparties for Escobar Jungle Party and Leo Beach Music Festival happen at Revolution Hostel Koh Tao - even if you don't stay with us, we recommend you join us for a crazy night out! Want to stay at Revolution (yes)? Book here and score 10% off your booking!
More information about Koh Tao? Read our full guide here!
Day 18-20: Koh Phangan
We’re ending Thailand on a bang! If you’ve heard of Koh Phangan before, it’s probably because of the famous full moon party that takes place every month. Koh Phangan is only a short ferry ride away from Koh Tao, and is definitely worth a visit - even when it’s not full moon.
Koh Phangan is famous for its full moon party, which is one of the biggest parties in southeast Asia. Imagine 10,000 people gathering every month, all trying to dance like no one's watching. If you’re a real party animal, make sure to be around in the south for those dates! But wait, there's more! Even when the moon isn’t full and your dance moves are still questionable, Koh Phangan has so much to offer. Beautiful beaches, great parties and amazing community. You don’t want to miss out on this one!
We recommend checking out some guesthouses and hotels here - the prices are amazing for what you get!
Want to know more about full moon in Thailand and Koh Phangan? Check out our full blog on Koh Phangan!
Day 21: Fly out from Bangkok
Did you book a roundtrip from Bangkok? Take the last day or two days to get back from Koh Phangan to Bangkok. You can either take a ferry back to the mainland and get a bus or train back to the capital, or take a ferry to Koh Samui and fly back to Bangkok, from where you’ll catch your flight home. We’ll assure you that you’ll get back home full of amazing experiences and memories!
One last party before you go - head to Revolution Hostel Bangkok, right next to the (in)famous Khao San Road! If you're lucky, you can time it right to join us for our Saturday night pub crawl!
More information on backpacking Thailand?
Now that you’ve got your route, it’s time to really start planning your backpacking trip to Thailand. Do you need help figuring out your visa, packing, or preparing your trip in any other way? Fear not!
Read our ultimate guide on everything you need to know before backpacking Thailand—because no one wants to be that clueless tourist who thinks “Muay Thai” is a new type of spicy noodle dish!
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