2 Weeks in Thailand – The Full Family Itinerary
This is the two-week version of my standard Thailand route. Fourteen nights gets you a real beach split instead of just a finale, and it lets Chiang Mai breathe into four nights instead of three. You can taste the country, not just sample it.
The route hits three regions and two coasts. Two short flights, no long drives, no day-long transit days.
At a glance
- Nights 1 to 3: Bangkok. Mandarin Oriental or Capella.
- Night 4: Fly to Chiang Mai.
- Nights 4 to 7: Chiang Mai. 137 Pillars House, Anantara Chiang Mai, or Four Seasons Mae Rim.
- Night 8: Fly to Krabi via Bangkok.
- Nights 8 to 10: Krabi (Tubkaek). The Tubkaak Krabi or Beyond Krabi.
- Day 11: Boat transfer to Koh Yao Noi (or fly to Phuket).
- Nights 11 to 14: Koh Yao Noi or Phuket. Six Senses Yao Noi or Trisara.
Day-by-day
Days 1 to 3: Bangkok
Same as the 10-day itinerary’s first three days. Riverside hotel, temples on day 2, food and shopping on day 3.
If you want to mix in something different on day 3, take a half-day cooking class with Bo.lan Lite or a guided street food tour through Chinatown (Yaowarat). Both are worth the time.
Stay: Mandarin Oriental, Capella Bangkok, or Anantara Riverside for family.
Day 4: Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Afternoon flight from BKK or DMK to CNX. Check in by 5pm. Light walk if energy permits. Dinner inside the old city at Huen Phen.
Stay: 137 Pillars House for the boutique. Anantara Chiang Mai for family. Four Seasons Mae Rim if you’re skipping the old city and want the resort.
Day 5: Old city day
- 6:30am: Wat Phra Singh before the heat. Take a coffee from Akha Ama afterward.
- Late breakfast at the hotel.
- 10am: Wat Chedi Luang, then the Lanna Folklife Museum.
- Lunch at Khao Soi Khun Yai (north of the old city).
- Afternoon massage or pool.
- Sunday Walking Street (Sundays only) or dinner at Hideout.
Day 6: Elephants
Half-day or full-day ethical elephant sanctuary. Elephant Nature Park is the best-known and most ethical. Book directly through them at least a few weeks ahead. Their full-day tour includes lunch.
Back at the hotel by 5pm. Sunset cocktails, easy dinner.
Day 7: Doi Suthep and cooking class
- Morning: Doi Suthep temple (45 minutes up the mountain). Cooler air, dramatic views.
- Late lunch back at the hotel.
- Afternoon: half-day Thai cooking class. Thai Farm or May Kaidee.
- Casual dinner at the night bazaar or at North Gate Jazz Co-op.
Day 8: Chiang Mai to Krabi
Mid-morning flight to Krabi via Bangkok (5 hours door to door including layover). Hotel transfer from Krabi airport.
Tubkaek beach is 30 minutes from the airport. Check in by mid-afternoon. Light dinner at the hotel.
Stay: The Tubkaak for the boutique adult vibe. Beyond Krabi for the newest design. Centara Grand for families.
Day 9: Krabi pool and beach
Pool morning. Lunch at the hotel. Beach walk in the cooler late afternoon. Sunset dinner.
Day 10: Phang Nga Bay or Hong Island day trip
Full-day speedboat trip from your hotel. Hong Island in the morning, lunch on the boat, snorkel stop in the afternoon. Back by 5pm.
If anyone in your group is prone to seasickness, do a half-day kayak from the hotel instead.
Day 11: Krabi to Koh Yao Noi or Phuket
Two options for the second beach stop.
Option A – Koh Yao Noi (recommended):
- Drive from the Tubkaek to Ao Por pier (45 minutes).
- 30-minute speedboat to Koh Yao Noi.
- Arrive by lunch.
- Check in to Six Senses Yao Noi or Treehouse Villas.
Option B – Phuket:
- Drive from Tubkaek to Krabi airport (30 minutes).
- 30-minute flight to Phuket.
- 45-minute drive to your hotel.
Yao Noi is quieter, smaller, more isolated. Phuket has restaurants, shopping, and more luxury options. If it’s a first Thailand trip, Phuket is the easier finale. If it’s a return trip, Koh Yao Noi is the upgrade.
Stay: Six Senses Yao Noi on Koh Yao Noi. Trisara, Amanpuri, or JW Marriott on Phuket.
Day 12: Pool villa morning
Wherever you ended up, the right call on day 12 is to do nothing. Pool morning. Long lunch. Spa or beach. Sunset cocktails. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 13: One last activity
- Koh Yao Noi: half-day longtail tour of nearby islands, or rent bicycles and ride the island’s interior.
- Phuket: half-day to Phang Nga Bay (different from the Krabi version, same bay from the other side), or lunch in Phuket Old Town.
Back at the hotel by 4pm. Sunset on the beach.
Day 14: Fly home
Sleep in. Big breakfast. Beach or pool morning. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon transfer to the airport. Fly home, usually via Bangkok or Singapore.
Variations worth considering
Skip Chiang Mai, do three beaches. Bangkok 3, Krabi 4, Phuket 3, Koh Samui 4. Only do this if you’ve been to Thailand before and know you’re a beach person.
Add Pai for the slow finale. Bangkok 2, Chiang Mai 3, Pai 3, beach 6. Pai is 4 hours north of Chiang Mai by minivan on a winding mountain road. Slow, beautiful, low-key.
Add Khao Sok between cities and beach. Bangkok 3, Chiang Mai 3, Khao Sok 2, Krabi or Phuket 6. Khao Sok is the jungle stop between regions. Cheow Lan Lake is one of the most photographed landscapes in Thailand.
Reverse it. Beach first, then Chiang Mai, then Bangkok last. I don’t recommend it. The trip is better when you arrive in Bangkok and end on a beach.
If you want help tuning this to your group, email me at hello@bangkokjohn.com.
Frequently asked questions
Why split the beach time instead of staying in one place?
Because the Andaman has two completely different vibes within 90 minutes of each other. Krabi is for limestone scenery, kayaking, and day trips. Koh Yao Noi (or Phuket) is for the pool villa and the slow finish.
Splitting the beach 4 plus 3 gets you both. If you really hate moving once you've unpacked, stay 7 nights in one place. Krabi at the Tubkaak or Phuket at Trisara are both worth 7 nights.
Can I substitute another destination for one of these?
Yes. Common swaps:
- Koh Samui instead of Krabi or Phuket – simpler logistics, calmer water, slightly easier with very young kids - Pai instead of part of Chiang Mai – add the slow countryside finale to the north - Khao Sok between south stops – one-night jungle break before the beach
How much luggage should I bring?
Less than you think. Hotels do laundry overnight. Pack for one week, not two. Bring one pair of nice shoes, one swimsuit each, two pairs of light pants or shorts, a few breathable shirts, sunscreen, and that's most of it.
With kids how does this change?
Anantara Bangkok and Anantara Chiang Mai both work well for kids 5 and up. For the south, swap the Koh Yao Noi finale for Phuket and stay at the JW Marriott Mai Khao or Anantara Layan. Skip the speedboat day trip if anyone gets seasick.
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About Bangkok John
Bangkok John was started in 2020 when I posted my first hotel review. The site now publishes regularly updated guides to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi, Hua Hin, and all of Thailand.
I'm a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member and an Emirates Skywards Gold member, so I lean toward Marriott properties when the choice is close. I pay for my own rooms.
Questions? Email me at hello@bangkokjohn.com.