The capital city of Bangkok and Chiang Mai are two main places that you should add on your Thailand itinerary 1 week. For history buffs, a visit to Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi is lovely too. You are planning a trip to Thailand and wondering what to do in this country for a week. Below suggestions may help:
Explore plenty of places in Bangkok
Most international flights fly in and out to/from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport. Then this capital city is definitely the first place to check – out before you make your way further to the mountain or the islands. There are some main Bangkok attractions that you should not miss such as Wat Po, Grand Palace, Golden Mount Wat Saket. Enjoying a boat trip on Chao Phraya River to see the local lives along the rivers at sunset is also an interesting activity.
At night, there are many things to do in Bangkok. You can go for dinner with Thai traditional dance show or book a nice dinner cruise on Chao Praya river to see the city when the sun goes down and the lights lit. For those who keen on martial arts, Muay Thai Live is a good show to spend your night. The show starts from 19:00 to 22:30 and it is not available on Monday.
Take a day trip from Bangkok
If you are interested in history, an Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok is a very nice idea. Ayutthaya is well known as the former Royal Capital. Thailand tours from Bangkok to Ayutthaya is classic, yet it can be done in a very unique way. Experiencing local train is always a fun activity and a great opportunity for local learning. From your hotel in Bangkok, take a ride to the railway station then jump on a local train and head to the north. You will have a chance to see Bang Pa In, also called summer palace which was formerly used by the ancient kings of Thailand.
The next adventure is taking a boat trip to Ayutthaya to feel like traveling back in time like how world merchants did. It worths to hire an expert tour guide for your day trip so you can know interesting stories about Portuguese, Japanese and Dutch traders who stayed and did business there. The last attraction on this trip is exploring old temples and ruins in the central area.
Experience markets floating on water
Searching where to go for 7 days in Thailand itinerary, you will surely encounter some articles/blogs mentioning floating markets in Thailand. The most famous place is Damnoen Saduak floating market. This well-known floating market can be combined with the River Kwai-area to make another full day of experience. The special way to see the market is by a long-tailed boat, rowing through narrow canals and orchards.
There is only one special warning – make sure that your cameras are fully charged as photo opportunities will be endless. I enjoy watching the Thai old ladies chatting and laughing on their small little wooden boats and the way they use their long sticks to hand your changes over to you. After spending half day at the market, you will also have a chance to see Kanchanaburi, pay a visit to the Thai-Burma railway museum and then show your respect during a short stop at World War II Cemetery.
Enjoy the lovely Chiang Mai old town
Thailand itinerary 7 days will not be completed without Chiang Mai. It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. This is just a short flight so cheap airlines also work pretty well if you want to save costs.
There are many nice temples in Chiang Mai Thailand. Yet if you are not a big fan of temples, Doi Suthep is the place that you should cover. For family vacations, taking care of elephants may be great fun for your kids, so make sure you plan a one day trip to Chiang Mai elephant sanctuary. Best places for elephant caring are Elephant Nature Park, Patara Elephant Farm, Eco Elephant Care.
Joining this activity, you will have a day without stress, just live with nature with a lot of fun. Preparing good for the baby elephants, taking them to the waterfalls and bath for them. This is also a good experience for your children to teach them how to treat animals with respect and love.
Is one week in Thailand enough?
7 days in Thailand is very tight to enjoy the beach. It would be great if you are able to extend your vacation, at least three extra nights for beach relaxation. From Chiang Mai, there are direct flights to Phuket and Koh Samui – the best islands to visit in Thailand. Phuket may be more touristy and crowded by backpackers so if your budget allows, go for Koh Samui. Another options for beach, if you have more than three nights, are Krabi and Phi Phi Island, you will take a flight to Krabi, stay the first night in Railay Beach then take a speed boat/local ferry to Phi Phi Island on the next day.
Planning a Thailand itinerary 1 week may be an overwhelming task as there are so many appealing places. Unless you have more than a week for this country, Bangkok and Chiang Mai will be the best options for first comers.
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Huyen Nguyen – Travel Specialist
