Thailand 1-month itinerary on a backpacker’s budget (Northern part)

You’ve come to the right place if you dream of spending a few weeks traveling in Thailand. In this article, I introduce you to my 1 month itinerary. You can adapt it according to your desires and the length of your trip.

On this page, you’ll find a lot of information on my 1 month Thailand itinerary. Still, you’ll also find a series of ideas for places to visit during your trip and budget restaurants and accommodations.

If you’re looking for some practical information about Thailand and things you need to know before planning your trip to Thailand, check my other related articles:

• HOW DO YOU GET AROUND IN THAILAND?
• THAILAND TRIP PLANNER: USEFUL INFORMATION BEFORE YOUR TRIP
• THAI SEASONS: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THAILAND?

I had the opportunity to explore Thailand during a six-month trip to Southeast Asia in 2023. This experience enabled me to discover this country from every angle on a backpacker’s budget, taking the time to soak up every moment.

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Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. By booking through them, you won’t pay any more but I’ll earn a small commission that will allow me to continue developing this blog.

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Introduction

Thailand is an amazing destination with much to offer travelers, whether they’re visiting for a few weeks or exploring the country for a long time.

We spent 1 month in Thailand during February. We remember the significant differences between the north and south of the country from a cultural, religious, natural, and financial point of view. That’s what makes this country so beautiful and diverse.

Although tourism is very present in Thailand, we discovered a country full of natural and cultural surprises.

So why travel to Thailand?

• Thailand’s islands are renowned for their beautiful beaches, relaxed atmosphere, and excellent activities, such as scuba diving.
• Thailand is inexpensive compared to other tropical islands.
• Thais are generally very welcoming, hence their nickname of “the land of smiles“.
• The food is exceptional.

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Itinerary Tips From North To South In Thailand

Don’t try to do too much with an overloaded itinerary. Thailand is a very large country, and transport can take a long time from one point to another. For example, to get to the island of Koh Phangan from Bangkok it takes almost 10 hours unless you take the plane.

A Classic” 2 to 3-week itinerary to discover Thailand from north to south

This is the most popular itinerary, giving you a great overview of Thailand, with its mix of city, nature, and beach, for your first trip to the land of smiles:

• 2-3 days in the capital Bangkok.
• 1-2 days exploring the temples of Ayutthaya, before taking the night train to Chiang Mai.
• 3-4 days in the north with Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai.
• Fly to Thailand’s southern islands, from a few days to 1 week by air from Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai > Phuket or Chiang Mai > Krabi). From Phuket or Krabi, you’ll have the opportunity to discover magnificent islands such as Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, Koh Phi Phi,…
• Or, you can bask in the sun on the Trat Islands (Koh Kood, Koh Chang, and Koh Mak). These islands can be reached from Bangkok in 8 hours by bus + boat. These are 3 heavenly islands, which I highly recommend!

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My Thailand 1 month itinerary overview

To help you plan your trip, here’s an overview of my 1 month Thailand itinerary.

I’ve indicated the number of days I spent in each destination, how I traveled between destinations, and the cost of transport.

I’d like to point out that we arrived on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia and left the country from the north, Chang Rai, to Laos.

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My Thailand 1-month itinerary: North part

I’ve divided my itinerary into two parts: the south part and the north part. Click below to see my itinerary for southern Thailand.

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1 week northern Thailand itinerary

Below, you will find my 1 week itinerary from central Thailand to North Thailand.

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📍​ Bangkok – 3 nights

Bangkok is a traveler’s paradise with so much to offer! Thailand’s capital is the country’s richest destination and one of the most visited places in the world. The city has numerous attractions, magnificent temples, incredibly varied street food, huge shopping malls, nightlife, and more. There are so many reasons why Bangkok is a must-visit city Bangkok!

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Must-sees in Bangkok

• Temples: Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Grand Palace.
• Places to go: Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, renowned for its exceptional cuisine, Siam shopping malls, Khao San Road, and Lumpini Park.
• The Chao Praya River: Take it by public transport boat or cruise and visit the klongs (Bangkok canals) in these traditional boats.
• Rooftops: Enjoy a cocktail from one of the many skyscrapers in the Silom district, with a breathtaking view of the city. One example is the Tichuca Rooftop Bar.
• Floating markets: Some very active and important ones in Bangkok are still well worth a visit, like Taling Chan. Another popular market is Damnoen Saduak, which is outside the city.
• Friday to Sunday: the huge Chatuchak market north of the Siam district. You’ll find EVERYTHING here!

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Where to stay in Bangkok?

Here are the most popular areas to stay in Bangkok:

• Sukhumvit and Silom – A modern, cosmopolitan area to stay in Bangkok.
• Siam and Pratunam – Easy access for shipping and getting around the city.
• Riverside – Stay by the river for a breathtaking view of the river and Bangkok’s nearby attractions.
• Khaosan— This lively district is an excellent introduction to Bangkok’s atmosphere. It’s one of the city’s liveliest districts where most backpackers stay. You’ll find endless bars, stores, restaurants, and street food vendors.
• Chinatown Bangkok— Stay and eat in one of Bangkok’s oldest neighborhoods. This district has numerous youth hostels and charming hotels.

For accommodation, I recommend the Thanabhumi or The LOL Elephant. They are great value for money and are very well located close to the main sites.

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My good addresses in Bangkok

• Localfood: a small restaurant that is very good and close to the Chao Praya River.
• One of the rooftops we visited was the Tichucha rooftop. While there are many rooftop bars in Bangkok, Tichucha is a newcomer with a distinctive jungle theme. It is located on the 46th floor of the T-One Building and offers a breathtaking view of the city. The bill was steep. But as we know, the view is what you pay for! We paid around 30 euros for 2 cocktails.
• If you want to dine on one of the city’s rooftops, I recommend the Pastel Rooftop Bar & Mediterranean Dining. Perched at the top of the Aira Hotel, the Pastel Rooftop offers a Mediterranean-inspired culinary journey. In a friendly, festive atmosphere, the Pastel Rooftop Bar & Mediterranean Dining is a place for sharing good meals and nights enlivened by talented musicians, dancers, and DJs.

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📍​ Ayutthaya – 1 night

Ayutthaya was Thailand’s capital for 400 years. At the time, Thailand was still called “Siam”. In 1767, Ayutthaya was attacked by the Burmese. The temples were abandoned and overrun by jungle.

Today, many vestiges of this bygone era remain to be discovered, making Ayutthaya a must-see on your trip to Thailand. The city is only an hour and a half’s drive from Bangkok, and you’ll need just a full day to explore the most beautiful ruins. There are dozens of temples, and it can be difficult to choose. That’s why you’ll find an overview of the most diverse and important temples.

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What to see in Ayutthaya?

Ayutthaya Historical Park, where the main temples are located, is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to most temples is about 50 bahts per person, but some lesser-known or less-touristy temples charge 20 bahts or are even free.

It is possible to book a guided tour from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. GetYourGuide has plenty of tours!

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If you have the time and intention to visit several temples and would like to visit them on your own, both in the historic park and in the more remote areas, you can buy the Pass, which allows you to visit six temples for just 220 Baths. It is available at the entrance to each of the six temples and is valid for 30 days. So, if you’re spending two days in Ayutthaya, there’s no need to rush to visit all six temples.

Here’s the list of the 6 temples included in this pass:

• Wat Mahathat
• Wat Ratchaburana
• Wat Phra Si Sanphet
• Wat Phra Ram
• Wat Maheyong
• Wat Chai Watthanaram

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Getting around Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya isn’t very big, so you can easily explore the temples on your own by bike or scooter. You can rent a bike (50 baht) or scooter from your hotel, but if not, you’ll also find them opposite the train station.

You can also hire a tuk-tuk to visit the historic park. The tuk-tuk will drop you off at the entrance to each temple and wait for you there. The fare is usually 200 baht per hour (of course, this isn’t the cheapest option!) or 1,200 baht per day, but you can try to negotiate a little.

Where to stay in Ayutthaya?

We stayed at the Siriwal guesthouse. It is a very comfortable guest house with very kind and helpful hosts. You feel right at home. Tea, coffee, and snacks are always available. I would recommend it. Bicycles can be hired for 50 baht.

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📍​ Chiang Mai – 3 nights

Chiang Mai is a cultural and natural stopover that is not to be missed when traveling the northern route. It is also easily accessible by bus, train, or plane from Bangkok.

Chiang Mai is the capital of the North and is Thailand’s second-largest city. Chiang Mai is also known as the temple capital of Thailand. You’re likely to see a temple on every street corner in the city.

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Facts about Chiang Mai

• After Bangkok, Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second-largest city.
• Chiang Mai is home to around 300 Buddhist temples.
• Chiang Mai is also home to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain at around 2,500 meters.
• Chiang Mai Flower Festival referee: Every early February, Chiang Mai organizes a spectacularly beautiful flower festival. The city center is decked out in bright colors during the three-day festival. There are a multitude of flower exhibitions, floral beauty contests, sales of handmade items, and much more.
• Chiang Mai holds the Lantern Festival: Chiang Mai’s Lantern Festival, held in November, continues an ancient local tradition and is the Northern Thai version of the famous Loi Krathong (“Loi = light kartong = floating”) celebrations held throughout Thailand.
• The most popular dish in Chiang Mai is khao soi. Khao Soi is a curried noodle soup. The most common version of this dish is a coconut curry soup with braised chicken.

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Some must-sees in Chiang Mai

• Visit the temples: Chiang Mai is renowned for its many Buddhist temples scattered in and around the city.
• Stroll through the city’s many markets, such as the Sunday Nightmarket. A must-see in my opinion.
• Rent a scooter and explore Doi Suthep. Located 30 min from the city

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My good addresses

• Lucky too – Charming little café/restaurant, with friendly staff and a varied menu (Thai and Western cuisine).
• Coffee telling – Good coffee. It’s just a small place, but it’s a nice place to relax and the owner is very friendly (excellent banana bread)
  

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Where to stay in Chiang Mai?

We stayed at the Doodle guesthouse. The staff are very nice and friendly! I enjoyed my stay at Doodle Lodge. My room (single) had everything I needed. Coffee, water, and snacks were available all day.

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📍​ Chiang Rai – 2 nights

Chiang Rai is home to some of the most unique and photogenic temples in Thailand. Perhaps none is more photogenic and Instagrammable than the White Temple! Two other must-sees in Chiang Rai are the Blue Temple and the Big Buddha.

Although Chiang Rai is an increasingly popular tourist destination and has been on backpackers’ itineraries for years, it is still less explored than Chiang Mai and many of Thailand’s other major cities. It takes 24 hours to visit this city.

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How to spend 24 hours in Chiang Rai?

• Visit the White Temple: A little way out of town (best reached by scooter), you can’t miss the famous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). It was completed in 1997 by an artist who wanted to symbolize the purity of the Buddha. Almost every element of the temple represents a religious or symbolic message.
• Continue with a visit to the Blue Temple. Its name means the dancing tiger, although I found no tiger inside.
• Visit the Big Buddha (Wat Huay Pla Kang): At 40 meters tall, Wat Huay Pla Kang sits atop a mountain surrounded by several green mountains in the heart of Chiang Rai.
• Spend your evening at Chang Rai’s night market.

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I hope you enjoyed this one-month Thailand itinerary. If you’d like more details, please feel free to browse through our other articles about Thailand. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! If you’re interested in Asia, look at our other destinations.

Other related articles :

• HOW DO YOU GET AROUND IN THAILAND?
• THAILAND TRIP PLANNER: USEFUL INFORMATION BEFORE YOUR TRIP
• SOUTHERN THAILAND ITINERARY: MY 3-WEEK ITINERARY
• TRAVELING THAILAND: ISLANDS CLOSE TO BANGKOK
• THAI SEASONS: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THAILAND?

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