Thailand itineraries from India: 5, 7 and 10 days

Five days: Bangkok and one beach

Best for a long weekend extended either side.

1. Day 1 — Overnight or early flight into Bangkok. Check in near the BTS. Evening at a riverside market.
2. Day 2 — Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the morning, Chinatown after dark.
3. Day 3 — Morning flight or bus to Hua Hin or Pattaya, both reachable without a second flight.
4. Day 4 — Beach and a night market.
5. Day 5 — Return to Bangkok for an evening departure.

Seven days: the classic first trip

1. Days 1–3, Bangkok — palaces, Chatuchak if it is a weekend, a day trip to Ayutthaya, one rooftop evening.
2. Day 4 — Morning flight to Phuket or Krabi.
3. Days 5–6 — Island-hopping to Phi Phi or the Hong Islands, one slow beach day.
4. Day 7 — Fly Phuket–Bangkok–home, or take a direct return where one exists.

Ten days: north and south

1. Days 1–2, Bangkok.
2. Days 3–5, Chiang Mai — old city temples, an ethical elephant sanctuary, a cooking class, and a day up to Doi Inthanon or Pai.
3. Day 6 — Fly Chiang Mai to Krabi or Phuket.
4. Days 7–9 — Beaches, a long-tail boat day, and one quieter island such as Koh Yao Noi or Koh Lanta.
5. Day 10 — Return.

Family variation

Swap Chiang Mai for Hua Hin, keep flights to one internal sector, and choose a resort with a kids'' club. Bangkok with children works best around Siam — aquarium, malls and the Skytrain rather than temple-hopping in the heat.

Honeymoon variation

Two nights Bangkok, then five to seven on Koh Samui, Koh Yao Noi or the Phang Nga coast. Skip the multi-stop routing; the transfers cost more than the extra destination is worth.

Transfer rules of thumb

• One internal flight per week of travel. Overland transfers eat half-days.
• Ferries to the Gulf islands from Bangkok take most of a day; fly to Samui or Surat Thani instead.
• Leave a buffer night in Bangkok before an international departure if you are on separate tickets.