Thailand - The trip that sparked it all (a 2-week Itinerary) 🌴

Hey everyone!

Before we board our one-way flight for our upcoming travels, we wanted to take a little trip down memory lane. To understand why we are so incredibly drawn back to Asia, we have to look back at the adventure that started it all: our two-week journey through Thailand in September 2024.

This was the trip where we realized that two or three weeks of vacation a year just wasn't going to cut it. We fell head over heels for the food, the people, and the landscapes. Looking back at our itinerary, two specific experiences stole our hearts—and one taught us a massive lesson about responsible travel.

For those of you planning your own Thai adventure, we’re breaking down exactly how we got around and where we laid our heads each night!

We wanted a mix of city hustle, dramatic coastlines, and deep jungle nature. Our two-week loop looked like this:

Bangkok ➡️ Krabi & Phang Nga Bay ➡️ Khao Sok National Park ➡️ Bangkok

Map data © Google

Stop 1: The Vibrant Chaos of Bangkok 🏙️

Our trip kicked off straight into the energy of Thailand's capital. We spent our days exploring massive local markets and taking a fantastic day-trip train out to the ancient temple ruins of Ayutthaya. We originally had Khao Yai National Park on our wishlist, but chose to skip it this time due to time constraints.

• Getting Around: Right after landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), we grabbed local SIM cards (AIS had the best coverage) and took the Airport Rail Link train into the city (Phaya Thai station) for just 50 Baht. For our day trips, we navigated the local train system out of the massive Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station. In Ayutthaya, we rented a bike and drove from one temple to the other. 

• Where We Stayed: We stayed at Blue 395, a great base for exploring the city center. 

• The Highlight: From temple hopping by bike to exploring massive street-food markets, Bangkok completely swept us off our feet—there were so many unforgettable experiences that we will probably write a dedicated article just on the highlights of Bangkok!

Stop 2: Coastal Vibe in Krabi 🏖️

After a few days in Bangkok, we caught a quick domestic flight south to start our coastal adventure.

• Getting Around: We flew from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport (DMK) down to Krabi with NokAir. We took a taxi from the airport to the city. 

• The Highlight: Krabi was our gateway to the south. We used this time to relax, take in the beach atmosphere, check out the local night markets, taste some of the most amazing food of our trip and spot monkeys at the seaside. 

• Where We Stayed: We stayed at Just Fine Krabi, which was a cozy and convenient base to explore Krabi. 

Stop 3: A Private Escape in Phang Nga Bay & Krabi 🛶

Next, it was time to head south for those iconic dramatic limestone cliffs rising straight out of the emerald-green water.

• Getting Around: From Krabi, we took a local minivan directly out to Phang Nga.

• The Highlight: Because Phang Nga Bay is world-famous, it can get incredibly crowded. We decided to book a private longtail boat tour—and it was worth every single Baht. Gliding between the massive rock formations on our own schedule, away from the roaring crowds, felt like stepping straight into a movie set.

• Where We Stayed: In Krabi, we stayed at a lovely spot called Just Fine Krabi. Once we moved over to Phang Nga, we based ourselves at T.P. Place Hotel.

🚫 Why We Skipped Phuket: When planning a trip to southern Thailand, almost everyone automatically looks at Phuket. We intentionally decided to skip it entirely. From what we had gathered, it’s incredibly busy, highly commercialized, and geared heavily toward intense nightlife and massive group tours. That is just not our vibe when we are looking for a relaxing, authentic holiday. Choosing Krabi and Phang Nga instead allowed us to experience that stunning coastal beauty without the chaotic party crowds.

Stop 4: The Crown Jewel – Khao Sok National Park 🌲

If you ask either of us what our absolute favorite place in Thailand was, the answer comes instantly: Khao Sok.

• Getting Around: We hopped on a local bus from Phang Nga straight to Khao Sok. To head back north afterward, we took a minivan to Surat Thani and boarded the classic Thai overnight sleeper train all the way back up to Bangkok. It was an experience in itself!

• The Highlight: We booked a 3-day, 2-night lake tour deep into the national park, and it blew our expectations out of the water. Imagine waking up in a floating bungalow, opening your door, and diving straight into warm, crystal-clear water surrounded by ancient rainforest. We spent our days kayaking, trekking through caves, and completely disconnecting from the digital world.

• Where We Stayed: Before heading deep onto the lake, we stayed at the beautiful Khao Sok Palmview Resort right by the park entrance. During the tour itself, we slept in floating bungalows out on the lake.

An Honest Lesson: The Elephant Sanctuary Dilemma

As travelers, we always want to be transparent with you—not just about the logistics, but also about the things we regret or learned from.

While in Thailand, we visited an elephant sanctuary. We had done our research beforehand and truly believed it was an ethical setup. However, being there firsthand opened our eyes to the harsh realities of animal tourism.

Even well-meaning "sanctuaries" that allow tourists to feed, swim with, or bathe elephants are often still putting the animals through unnatural stress for human entertainment. Looking back, we would highly advise against doing any interactive elephant experiences in Thailand. The only truly ethical places are 100% "hands-off"—sanctuaries where the animals are simply left to be wild, and humans are only allowed to observe them from a respectful distance without ever coming close. It was a huge eye-opener for us, and something we are taking with us as a golden rule for all our future wildlife encounters.

Stop 5: One Last Bangkok Hurrah 🏙️

After waking up on the sleeper train, we weren't done just yet! We spent our final 2 days back in the capital for some last-minute shopping, market wandering, and eating as much street food as humanly possible.

• Where We Stayed: For this final leg of our trip before flying home, we checked into the Tivoli Hotel.

How Much Time We Needed 

If you’re trying to map out your own version of this itinerary, here is exactly how much time we spent in each spot to give you a realistic idea of the pace:

• Bangkok & Ayutthaya: 3 to 4 days. This gave us just enough time to shake off the jet lag, experience the main city sights, and take a dedicated full day-trip train to the ruins of Ayutthaya.

• Krabi: 2 to 3 days. Depending on how much beach time you want, you can stay a little bit longer, but to get a feel of the city, this should do. 

• Phang Nga Bay: 1 to 2 days. Definitely take that incredible private day trip out onto the water in Phang Nga. If you have time, go enjoy a Thai massage. 

• Khao Sok National Park: 3 to 4 days. The absolute sweet spot for the lake tour is 3 days, 2 nights. It gives you enough time to fully immerse yourself in the jungle, sleep on the floating bungalows, and disconnect without feeling rushed. We arrived the day before to get an extra night next to the park. 

• The Return Journey: 1 to 2 days. We took an overnight sleeper train back up to Bangkok, for some last chill days in the capital to enjoy some more street food before our flight home. 

Our Take on the Pacing: Honestly, we could have stayed longer than two weeks, but if we had added more time, we wouldn't necessarily have packed in more sights. Instead, we would have just added more dedicated rest days, more beach time, and a slower rhythm to just soak it all in.

The Ultimate Thailand Checklist 🇹🇭

No matter how you structure your route, there are a few classic experiences you absolutely cannot skip. While you're in Thailand, make sure you:

• Get a traditional Thai massage: The ultimate way to unwind after a long flight or a heavy day of walking.
• Race around in a tuk-tuk: Hang on tight! Navigating the bustling city traffic in the back of an open-air three-wheeler is a thrilling, neon-lit rite of passage.
• Visit a Big Buddha: Standing at the base of one of these towering, golden monuments is incredibly humbling.
• Visit (way too many) temples: You'll start out amazed by every single detail, and by day four, you'll experience total "temple overload"—but you'll still find yourself stopping to look at just one more.
• Spot wild monkeys: Keep your eyes peeled near the cliffs and temple ruins (just remember to keep a respectful distance and guard your snacks!).
• Hop on an overnight sleeper train: Staring out the window as the Thai countryside rolls past, falling asleep to the rocking of the tracks, and waking up in a completely new city is an absolute rite of passage.

The Verdict

Our time in Thailand planted a seed that just kept growing. It taught us how amazing it feels to pack a bag, navigate foreign train stations, and dive into a completely different culture.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that our upcoming "Pacific Voyage" brings us back to those beautiful night markets and smiling faces eventually, but first, a brand new challenge awaits us in the steppes of Central Asia!

Over to you:

Have you ever been to Thailand? Do you prefer the fast-paced city life of Bangkok or the total quiet of the deep jungle? Come chat with us over on our instagram-page @letsgetpackd. 

See you on the road,

Robin & Liz