Are You Interested?
Contact UsBangkok is a bustling city life speckled with traditions and culture where the traffic might be surprising! The first spot anybody should visit on arrival in Bangkok is the Grand Palace, where the Royal family of Thailand resides and the nearby complex of Wat Pho, which houses Thailand’s most extensive collection of images and statues of Buddha.
Visiting the palace grounds and the many open temples in the early morning when the crowds are sparse while admiring the architecture is fantastic.
Next, take a stroll across the street towards the Wat Pho complex to admire the reclining Buddha’s famous statue and the surrounding temple grounds.
End your first morning, enjoying heavenly views of Bangkok city, from the top of the Wat Arun Temple, situated by the Chao Phraya river. If you get here just before sunrise, the setting is picture-perfect from the opposite side of the river.
Spend the afternoon riding up and down from the central pier point on the Chao Phraya river in a water taxi.
Not only is it relaxing and inexpensive, but you get a good description of the important sites as you pass them. Spend the evening on Khao San road, the 24×7 activity hub of the city.
Start your day with a mix of relaxation, culture and adventure! Head out as early as possible to the famous Khlong Lat Mayom floating market in Taling Chan, about 10 km east of downtown Bangkok.
Eating here is easily the highlight of your visit to Bangkok, as visitors can order dishes like boat noodles and oyster omelet cooked fresh on a tiny wooden boat stationed beside your table.
You could also head off on a boat tour yourself and order while on it, then continue enjoying your meal as your guide takes you around explaining the floating market’s history and culture and why it is an essential livelihood for the people here.
Other things sold at the floating market in addition to fresh vegetables, food and fruits are fresh flowers, home decor, toys and clothing.
Exploring the floating markets takes about three-quarters of your day, so once done, head to your hotel to get some rest before heading out to grab dinner.
In the earlier days, the Grand Palace area used to be where Chinese traders usually traded; they then moved to Yaowarat Road, which is where the heart of Chinatown is located.
Whether you are traveling alone or with friends and family, a stopover at Chinatown is a must.
The smells and sounds of this captivating neighborhood is an outstanding sensory experience. For anyone visiting Bangkok for the first time, a full day spent in the labyrinth of alleys and street food vendors in this buzzing place makes for a memorable last day in Bangkok.
If spending the whole day here isn’t something you’re keen to do, and if your visit coincides with you spending the weekend (Friday to Sunday) in Bangkok, you could spend part of your day exploring Chatuchak Market.
One of the biggest markets in the country, it is a shoppers paradise, and you should be able to find everything you’re looking for here!
Once you’ve shopped to your heart’s content, head off to grab a nice traditional meal to wrap off the first leg of your 1 week in Thailand.
Spend 2 days in Kanchanaburi on your 7 days in Thailand Itinerary
Kanchanaburi is located about 150 kilometers away from Bangkok. Despite it being home to the famous WWII Death Railway, built by prisoners of the war and pleasant riverside retreats, few people visit Kanchanaburi, even though it is a little over two hours by road from Bangkok.
As this Thailand 7 day itinerary has Phuket next on the list, it is best to visit Kanchanaburi and return to Bangkok as it’s easier to fly to Phuket from Bangkok.
Many prioritized Kanchanaburi due to its proximity to the Tiger Temple, a controversial place where visitors could take pictures with tigers and pet them. However, over the years, many now are aware that it’s inhumane to have animals treated this way and hence prefer to visit Kanchanaburi now for its rich history and culture.
If you have the budget, depending on how many people you have traveling with you, you should hire a private car to get around or opt for a day trip.
Head straight for a relaxed lifestyle lunch by the riverfront The Village Farm To Cafe once you get here for a hearty meal.
Next, take yourself back in history and visit the Bridge over the River Kwai. Some of you may have watched the movie of the same name, the inspiration for which was this very site. The Bridge is equally mesmerizing at night when lit up. While there isn’t much to do around it, there are sometimes some street-food stalls you can grab a bite at here.
If you’re looking to learn more about the conditions here during the war, the Bridge and the dreadful conditions of the Allied prisoners of war while building the Bridge, the Death Railway Museum is an interactive way to do so. .
Enjoy the rest of the evening at the gorgeous open-air Dejtosapak Restaurant for a memorable dining experience amidst green sights.
Later, you can also opt for a raft ride offered by the restaurant to wrap the day up. Once done, head to your preferred resort to spend your first night in Kanchanaburi.
Once you’ve had your breakfast and are ready to start the day, you could opt to climb the 157 steps to get to the top of the stunning Wat Tham Suea temple. Once you’re at the top, you will be rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the rural Kanchanaburi.
If hiking isn’t your thing (is it worth it though), head directly to the JEATH War Museum, which shed light on the state of Kanchanaburi before World War.
The museum is open from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
The rooftop of the museum offers a great view of the River Kwai Bridge from above.
Spend the second half of the day exploring the touristy, recently opened Mallika R.E 124. Perfect if you’re tired or have kids, this city put together to showcase people’s way of life during King Rama’s V’s reign; it brings life to the architecture from those times. You can also indulge in street food, local fruits and even buy souvenirs to take back from here.
The next city on your 7 day trip to Thailand is in southern Thailand; the island territory of Phuket. Since this is a quick trip, the flight+taxi option will take about four hours to reach Phuket.
Spend your first time away from the buzzing city at Karon beach and then visit the island’s most well-known attraction and an excellent viewpoint for Big Buddha.
If you can’t keep away from exploring, visit the historical area of Phuket Old Town, which has not just great architecture but many cute cafes and boutiques where you can spend hours on foot. If temples are your attraction of choice, Wat Chalong is the biggest Buddhist temple in Phuket that supposedly houses a bone fragment from Lord Buddha. These attractions help one get away from the beach and taste the island’s culture.
First-time visitors must set aside one full day to visit the Phi Phi Islands, located about 50 kilometers away from Phuket. This enthralling group of six islands tower high above the water displaying their incredible limestone cliffs.
It’s almost the end of your 7 days in Thailand, so it seems ideal to spend the day relaxing in the Pearl of the Andaman Sea and discover the dramatic coast on your own terms.
Hit the Kata Beach or the Nai Harn Beach to spend some time under the shady palms with just a few scattered vendors to keep you company.
If island-hopping is why you’re in Phuket, hire a speed boat or opt for a tour that will take you island-hopping around Phang Nga Bay. James Bond Island (of Kaho Na Pyaar Hai and James Bond fame) is located here.
Coconut Island, Ko Lon and Ko He are some other islands you can choose to visit if you’d like to keep away from James Bond (officially Khao Phing Kan or Ko Khao Phing Kan) and Phi Phi.
If you’ve missed seeing elephants and love wildlife, the Green Elephant Sanctuary Park is the most ethical way of seeing these gentle animals in their natural habitat. You can not only swim with them here but also feed and clean them too.
Francoise is the president and founder of Celestial Voyagers. She graduated with a tourism degree at Nice University in France and has worked as a tour director and operations manager in France, Australia and Mexico. Settling in New York City, she founded Celestial Voyagers with the aim of creating uniquely curated group travel for adults and Academia.